May He Sleep with the Fishes

The real Godfather, Bernardo "The Tractor" Provenzano, was finally caught after hiding in Sicily for 43 years. He was born in Corleone, Sicily, which of course is featured in the novel The Godfather and in the film trilogy. Corleone is indeed a real place. In the book, the Godfather was born Vito Andolini but changed his name to Corleone when he left Sicily to go to America, after the mafia killed his father. Mario Puzo certainly researched the birthplace of this real Godfather when writing his book.

How did “The Phantom of Corleone” evade capture all these years? Obviously, government officials, police, and locals were paid not to talk. Also the rest of the citizens feared for their lives so they kept quiet. The Capo di tutti Capi (boss of all bosses), never spoke on the phone, but sent his orders through little type-written notes. Provenzano used a manual Olivetti typewriter that he carried with him everywhere. Olivetti used to be a top world company until Microsoft destroyed them. In hiding since 1963, was he better off without a personal computer and internet access? Although traceable by law enforcement, mobsters could probably murder much more efficiently if they had email.

Another interesting note is that no one knew what he looked like - the last picture taken of him was in 1959. Now for the really hilarious part of this story, is that when the Godfather had prostate surgery in France in 2003, he applied for Italian Medicaid! Why with all the money in his empire, did he go the government to get the operation paid for? This ultimately led to his capture, because DNA taken during the operation proved he was still alive. I say you cannot afford to make mistakes like that!