What Did the Italian Lines in Godfather Mean When the Guy Went to Visit the Other Family

"A lawyer with his briefcase tin can steal more than than a hundred men with guns."

―Vito Corleone^[src]

Thomas "Tom" Hagen was the consigliere and head lawyer of the Corleone family, as well as existence the adoptive son of Vito and Carmela Corleone and the adoptive brother of Sonny, Fredo, Michael and Connie Corleone.

one Biography
- 1.1 Living with the Family
- 1.2 Becoming Consigliere
- 1.3 Failing Role
- ane.four Nevada
- ane.5 Reinstatement
- 1.half-dozen Decease and legacy
2 Family
three In sequel novels
- iii.ane The Godfather Returns
- iii.2 The Godfather's Revenge
- three.3 The Family Corleone
4 In video games
- 4.1 The Godfather: The Game
- iv.2 The Godfather II
v Personality and traits
vi Influences
seven Gallery
8 Behind the Scenes
9 Notes and References

Biography

Thomas "Tom" Feargal^[4] Hagen was the son of German-American Martin Hagen^[5] and Irish gaelic-American Bridget Hagen.^[6] He was born in 1916^[ane] in New York City. Martin was a hard-working carpenter, but he was also a violent alcoholic. When Hagen was eleven years former, his mother caught an eye infection that resulted in incomprehension, and died before long later on from venereal disease. Tom also caught the heart infection, which went untreated until he lived with the Corleones. Torn upwards with grief, Tom'southward father drank himself to death. Tom and his sister were sent to an orphanage, but Tom ran away. His sis ended up in a foster home, just the social agencies of the time did not follow up on Tom's case. Tom lived on the streets alone for more than a twelvemonth.

Living with the Family unit

"I accept a special practice. I handle one client."

―Tom Hagen^[src]

Tom at the surprise altogether party for Vito.

Subsequently encountering a homeless Tom on the streets, Sonny took him home and persuaded his father to take him into the family. Although the Don never formally adopted him, thinking that this would have been an act of disrespect to Hagen'southward parents, Hagen thought of Vito Corleone as his true father. In many ways, Vito'south adoption of the street urchin Hagen paralleled how Vito himself was taken in past Signor Abbandando when he was a kid.

After graduating from law school, Hagen offered to work for Corleone as though he were one of the Don'southward own sons. He did so knowing full well that Vito wasn't simply an olive-oil importer, just the most powerful crime dominate in the nation. Vito was more than than willing to take Tom into his employ, saying that a lawyer could steal more than than a phalanx of gunmen. His High german-Irish beginnings precluded his formal membership in the Mafia, which did not accept non-Italians. Despite this, Tom wielded immense ability within the Corleone family unit under Vito, as he was both Vito's abet and his virtually trusted advisor in most matters — his cunning and diplomacy had always been a more valuable nugget than Sonny's open aggression.

Becoming Consigliere

"Mr. Corleone never asks a second favor once he'due south refused the kickoff, understood?"

―Tom Hagen^[src]

In mid-1945, longtime Corleone family unit consigliere Genco Abbandando became seriously sick, and Hagen was named acting consigliere. Don Corleone formally appointed Hagen to the post later Genco'south death, making him the first non-Italian to reach that of import position. In the novel, it was said that Hagen'due south ascension to consigliere caused certain rival Mafia families to refer jokingly to the Corleones, behind their backs, equally "the Irish gang" due to Hagen'southward Irish beginnings.

In 1945, shortly afterward Connie Corleone's wedding, Hagen was dispatched past Vito Corleone to Hollywood in order to convince Jack Woltz, a big-time movie studio head, to give vocalist Johnny Fontane (Vito's godson) the atomic number 82 role in his new state of war film. When Woltz discovered who exactly Hagen worked for, he invited him over to his deluxe manor for dinner, and showed him his prized horse, Khartoum. During the dinner, when Hagen once more "suggested" that Woltz give Fontane the function, Woltz erupted at him and revealed that Johnny would never get the career-making role because of his ruination of i of Woltz'south brightest up-and-coming female person stars. After, men stole into Woltz's stables and Rocco Lampone decapitated Khartoum, then placed the horse's severed head and a large amount of its claret in Woltz'southward bed. Shortly afterwards, Johnny was given the part by Woltz.

Declining Role

"Maybe I could assistance."
"Y'all're out, Tom."

―Tom Hagen and Michael Corleone^[src]

Tom's personal power began to decline almost immediately after the showtime assassination try on Vito, despite the fact that Sollozzo and the rival Familieswanted him to remain consigliere for the Corleones. Knowing that he was very close to Sonny (who was at present interim Don) they needed his diplomacy skills to convince Sonny to take the narcotics deal, as both he and Sonny had realized its' potential when Vito refused it. All the same, Sonny'south temper caused him to ignore most of the communication Tom gave him, and initiate a costly mob state of war that lasted several years.

While he loved all the Corleones, Hagen e'er idolized Sonny, and when Sonny was murdered, Hagen blamed himself. He had to drink some anisette to calm his fretfulness before breaking the news to Vito. With Vito still unwell, Tom became Interim Don. Afterward Michael Corleone became operating head of the Corleone family, he removed Hagen as consigliere on his father's advice, restricting him to handling the family's legal business concern in Nevada, Chicago, and Los Angeles. When Tom asks why he was being removed, Michael answers by telling him he simply isn't "a wartime consigliere", adding that it was no reflection on the work he had done for them in the past.

Despite his reduced role, Tom worked closely with Michael in planning the massive slaughter of the other New York dons. Immediately after Michael formally becomes the Don (following his purge of the other Families) Tom is reinstated to his former position.

Nevada

"I requite you consummate power: over Neri... Fredo, everyone. I am trusting you with the lives of my wife and children, and the future of this family, solely resting on your judgment and talent."

―Michael Corleone^[src]

Tom Hagen at the Mafia hearings in 1959.

Tom remained on when Michael made the movement to Nevada, albeit in the somewhat reduced part that he disliked. For instance, he was excluded from the negotiations with Hyman Roth. He too made moves towards becoming a Nevada Congressman, which were ultimately unsuccessful.

Afterwards an attempt on Michael'south life at their Nevada compound, Hagen was appointed as interim Don past Michael, a mark of deep trust. Michael explained that this was why Michael had to exclude him before and trusted only him at that point; he knew that Tom didn't know certain things and therefore had no motive or information to make moves against him. Hagen was instrumental in both securing the friendship of powerful Senator Patrick Geary and defending Michael as his lawyer during the Senate hearings on the Mafia.

Reinstatement

The autumn of Fulgencio Batista's government in Republic of cuba to the communists forced Michael to temporarily carelessness his dream of becoming a legitimate businessman and retake his place as the Don of the Corleone family unit. He also reappointed Tom as consigliere. Despite considerable misgivings about Michael'southward vendetta with Roth, Tom rejected offers for jobs elsewhere and helped Michael defeat Roth and his other enemies. He was instructed by Michael to convince turncoat and former caporegime Frank Pentangeli to commit suicide to secure his silence, protecting Michael and the Family from his testimony forever. With Pentangeli and other enemies dead, the Corleone family every bit information technology regained its position equally the nearly powerful crime family in the nation

Decease and legacy

"His father was a great lawyer... Didn't live to meet him ordained."

―Michael Corleone^[src]

Quondam in the 1970s, Tom died. He did not live long enough to see his son Andrew ordained every bit a priest. Michael would later aid Andrew receive a prestigious post at the Vatican. Tom'south wife and children continued to attend Corleone events and remained close to the family. Tom's role as the Corleone family chaser was later taken over by B.J. Harrison after his death. Michael acknowledged his adoptive brother years after his death, stating in 1979 that Tom "was a swell lawyer".^[7]

Family

Tom Hagen was married to an Italian-American adult female named Theresa. Together they had iv children: Frank, Andrew, born in the 1940s, Gianna and Christina, built-in in the 1950s. They also owned a dachshund named Garbanzo and a border collie named Elvis. Andrew later becomes a priest, while Frank followed in his father'due south footsteps and becomes a lawyer.^[4] ^[seven] Since he was Andrew'south godfather and uncle, Michael helped Andrew become a position in the Vatican.^[7]

In sequel novels

The Godfather Returns

The Godfather Returns, Marking Winegardner'due south 2004 sequel to Puzo's original novel, portrays Hagen's role equallyconsigliere in the first few years after Michael ascends to the head of the family. The novel, which covers the catamenia from 1955-1962, portrays Hagen once once again interim as Michael'due south right-hand adviser and taking an important role in the Corleones' dealings with a powerful political family, the Sheas (analogous to the Kennedys). Hagen makes a deal with patriarch Mickey Shea (Joseph Kennedy) that the Corleone family unit would help get his son, James, (John F. Kennedy) elected President on condition that his youngest son, Danny (Robert Kennedy), the new attorney general, would accept a soft stance on organized law-breaking. Meanwhile, Hagen has sights on a political career, running for a House of Representatives seat in Nevada (which Hagen was initially appointed to and serves a partial term as) with the ultimate goal of becoming the state's governor; he is badly defeated, however, due to his connections with the Corleones, and he abandons any hopes of holding public function.^[6]

The novel also portrays Hagen covering up for Michael'south blood brother Fredo when he kills a homo in San Francisco, and bailing him out of jail when he attacks his married woman's lover. Hagen and Fredo get into an intense argument over Fredo'due south recklessness and Hagen'due south bullheaded loyalty to Michael. When Michael has Fredo killed (as originally portrayed inThe Godfather Part Ii), Hagen guesses what really happened, simply remains willfully ignorant.^[6]

In 1961, post-obit the failed plot by traitorous former caporegime Nick Geraci and Don Vincent Forlenza against the Corleones, Louie Russo invited Tom Hagen to his supper gild/gambling house in rural Illinois with the intention of killing him. Russo, Hagen, a rower, and ii of Russo's bodyguards went out on a gondola in his human being-made lake. On the class of the trip, as part of Michael's revenge, Hagen killed one man by strangulation with his belt while the rower hit the other with his oar. Hagen then personally killed Russo on his boat, with Russo'southward own gun, and dumped the bodies in the lake.^[half-dozen]

The Godfather's Revenge

In Winegardner'south 2006 novelThe Godfather's Revenge, Hagen acts equally Michael'south right-hand man in dealing with the Shea family, especially Attorney General Danny Shea, who publicly declares war on organized criminal offense.^[4]

During a Commission meeting in 1963, Tom was arrested under suspicion of murdering his mistress, Judy Buchanan, whose death had in fact been orchestrated by enemies of the family. This state of affairs ruined any chance he had of a political career, despite existence acquitted. During this time, he was represented by Jewish lawyer Sid Klein. His married woman Theresa left him for a brief time after discovering the affair, but the 2 reconciled soon after and Theresa was present when Tom went to visit Jack Woltz again later in the year.^[4]

In 1964, shortly earlier the president'due south bump-off, while on vacation with his family in Florida, Tom was doing some business for Michael at the Deauville Hotel in Miami, after meeting with Ben Tamarkin and Senator Patrick Geary. He left and was surprised by Nick Geraci who had been hiding in the back of Tom's car and secretly following him for days. He had Tom bulldoze to a rural, swamp filled area and then knocked him unconscious with his pistol.^[4]

When Tom came to, he realized that his hands and feet had been duct-taped together and that his automobile was sinking into the swamp and quickly filling with thick, chocolate-brown water. While waiting for his death, Tom recalled some of his fondest memories: meeting Sonny, beingness taken in by the Corleone family unit, his married woman Theresa, his 2 sons Frank and Andrew, and his two daughters Gianna and Christina. He died with happy memories in his mind, as the water engulfed Tom and the car totally. Though his body was never establish, Michael Corleone was sent by Nick Geraci a expressionless baby alligator with Tom Hagen's wallet in its rima oris, to imply that Tom Hagen "slept with the alligators" (an allusion to Luca Brasi'due south decease years earlier, in which his murderers sent the Corleones a dead fish to signify that Brasi "slept with the fishes"). Tom was 54 years old.^[four]

The Godfather's Revenge and The Godfather Returns are not considered canon by Paramount Pictures, and so this death is not canonical in the films, which implied Tom died of natural causes some time in the 1970s.^[8] ^[9]

The novel also expands on how Hagen became an informally adopted member of the Corleone family. Hagen recalls that when he was living on the streets, he saved Sonny Corleone from a pimp who was notorious for raping and murdering boys. Tom grabbed a board with a nail sticking out of it and brought it down on the back of the man'south head, killing him. Sonny was so grateful that he brought Hagen home to live with his family. ^[4]

The Family Corleone

The Family Corleone is a 2012 prequel novel by Ed Falco, which takes identify in 1933-1934, before the events of The Godfather. Tom Hagen is portrayed equally a college student attending law school. He had a i night stand up with Kelly O'Rourke, unaware that she was Luca Brasi's girlfriend. It was only due to Vito'due south intervention (bribing Brasi to forget the insult) that Tom was not murdered by Brasi in revenge for this action. It is also revealed that Tom's father was killed on the orders of Vito Corleone before Tom was taken in by the Corleones, though only Vito, his caporegimes and Sonny were enlightened of this.^[2]

In video games

The Godfather: The Game

"The Don is a man of ragione, of reason."

―Tom Hagen to Aldo Trapani^[src]

Tom Hagen appears in The Godfather: The Game, with Robert Duvall reprising his role. He is saved by Aldo Trapani after existence kidnapped by Sollozzo, and serves equally an advisor throughout the story.

The Godfather II

"Consigliere but like old times."

―Tom to Dominic Corleone.^[src]

In The Godfather II, Tom Hagen becomes consigliere for the Trapani Family, afterwards Michael is in problem with the trial and subsequently Aldo's decease in Cuba. He is therefore added to Dominic'due south family unit tree. Tom becomes to a loyal consigliere to Dominic and is present at the Mangano Compound following the defeat of the family's enemies.

Personality and traits

"Tom, you're my brother."
"I always wanted to be thought of as a blood brother by you Mikey, a real brother."

―Michael Corleone and Tom Hagen^[src]

Tom ever tried to arroyo a dangerous situation with hopes of a negotiated, civil upshot. He was known throughout the Family as a kind and loyal person who would aid in times of demand. He loved his adoptive family, the Corleones and was devastated past the death of Sonny, equally the two were best friends e'er since Sonny brought him in to the family unit as a child. Tom did have a temper simply never really showed it as he knew to human activity calm in dangerous situations. Tom was one of the almost intelligent of the Corleones, as he had to exist to exist consigliere. However, he was never much of a fighter and, though well-intentioned, was never roughshod enough to be a great wartime consigliere.

Influences

Tom Hagen is believed to be loosely based on gangsters Joseph North. Gallo, who was the Gambino offense family consigliere, and Frank DeSimone, who started his career as a lawyer, but ended up being the Los Angeles crime family unit boss.^[10]

It is said that Mario Puzo was inspired past the shapes of the Jewish Leo Berkowitz and Alfred Polizzi's family to feature the character of Tom Hagen and his human relationship with the Corleone brothers.

All the same, information technology is believed he could also be inspired past Chicago Outfit mobster Murray Humphreys.

Gallery

Behind the Scenes

In The Godfather's Revenge, Tom Hagen is murdered past Nick Geraci in 1964. However, the supplements disc of the Blu-ray states that Tom Hagen died somewhere in the 1970s. Additionally, Paramount Pictures has stated that it did non authorize The Godfather'due south Revenge, which means that his death in the novel is noncanonical.^[eight] ^[9]
In Dean Reisner's draft ofThe Godfather Office III, Hagen was in his machine along with his driver Fritz and Michael'south son Anthony "Tony" Adams. They were escorted by various buttonmen working for Rocco Lampone when suddenly, a shotgunner gets out from a nearby car, carrying a 12-estimate pump gun. The commencement hit blows Fritz'south head off and the machine goes out of command. The second hit kills Hagen instantly. The shotgunner and so disappears and when the automobile crashes nearby, Rocco and several buttonmen jump out of their cars and rush to the crash site. Tony was the only survivor of this ambush.
In a subsequent 1989 draft of Part Iii, Hagen remained a prominent character, with Michael slating him to become head of their legitimate business one time it has been assisted by the Vatican bank. It is Tom'southward altogether, rather than Michael'due south celebration after being inducted into the Order of St. Sebastian, which is beingness celebrated at the movie's opening.

Notes and References

↑ ^one.0 ^i.i The original novel states that Tom was of the same age as Sonny, whose yr of birth was changed from 1910 to 1916 in The Godfather Function II.
↑ ^two.0 ^two.one The Family Corleone
↑ The Godfather Supplements
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 ^4.4 ^4.5 ^4.6 The Godfather's Revenge
↑ Tom Hagen's begetter was called Martin Hagen in The Godfather Returns and The Godfather's Revenge past Mark Winegardner. He was called Henry Hagen in The Family Corleone.
↑ ^6.0 ^half-dozen.i ^{half dozen.two} ^6.3 The Godfather Returns
↑ ^7.0 ^seven.i ^7.2 The Godfather Part III
↑ ^eight.0 ^8.1 Paramount Sues to Stop New 'Godfather' Book From Mario Puzo Estate
↑ ^9.0 ^ix.ane Mario Puzo Estate Sued past Paramount Over 'Godfather' Prequel
↑ Cowie, Peter (1997). The Godfather Book. Faber and Faber, p. 196. ISBN 0571190111.

Consigliere to the Corleone law-breaking family
Preceded past: Genco Abbandando	1945-1954	Succeeded by: Vito Corleone

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Source: https://godfather.fandom.com/wiki/Tom_Hagen