Profile of Sollozzo in Mob Candy's Godfather Issue

Lettieri knew how
to speak Sicilian fluently. Lettieri was said to be  friends
with Colombo mobster Joe Gallo.Got a couple of longer stories in the works -- one of which will be posted tomorrow (perhaps both.) 

Meanwhile, here's a story I wrote for Mob Candy's celebration of the Godfather's 40th Anniversary issue, a profile of Virgil "The Turk" Sollozzo and the great actor who played him, Al Lettieri, who died too young. I link to a brief interview with him that mentions he was a writer before an actor. 
Also you have to see Lettieri in The Getaway, in which he plays the "heavy." The actor, who spoke Sicilian, put on weight (you won't believe you're looking at the sleek, barrel-chested guy who played the Turk when you see the film) and plays one of the most sadistic rapist/outlaw you've seen in a movie. He hunts the one-and-only Steve McQueen who mistakenly thought he'd whacked the villainous back-stabber. 
Only Lettieri's character wore a bulletproof vest -- contrary to what he'd told "Doc" (MacQueen's character in the film) during a short debriefing before a bank heist that nearly went sideways....hope you enjoy:




Clicking on image should make it larger; if you can't read let me know in comments;
I will prepare a copy for download....