{"product_id":"9781250181398","title":"Hollywood Godfather : My Life in the Movies and the Mob","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eHollywood Godfather\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Gianni Russo, Patrick Picciarelli\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHollywood Godfather\u003c\/i\u003e is Gianni Russo's over-the-top memoir of a real-life mobster-turned-actor who helped make \u003ci\u003eThe Godfather \u003c\/i\u003ea reality, and his story of life on the edge between danger and glamour.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGianni Russo was a handsome 25-year-old mobster with no acting experience when he walked onto the set of \u003ci\u003eThe Godfather\u003c\/i\u003e and entered Hollywood history. He played Carlo Rizzi, the husband of Connie Corleone, who set her brother Sonny—played by James Caan—up for a hit. Russo didn't have to act—he knew the mob inside and out: from his childhood in Little Italy, where Mafia legend Frank Costello took him under his wing, to acting as a messenger for New Orleans mob boss Carlos Marcello during the Kennedy assassination, to having to go on the lam after shooting and killing a member of the Colombian drug cartel in his Vegas club.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Along the way, Russo befriended Frank Sinatra, who became his son's godfather, and Marlon Brando, who mentored his career as an actor after trying to get Francis Ford Coppola to fire him from \u003ci\u003eThe Godfather\u003c\/i\u003e. Russo had passionate affairs with Marilyn Monroe, Liza Minelli, and scores of other celebrities.  He went on to become a producer and starred in \u003ci\u003eThe Godfather: Parts I \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eII\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eSeabiscuit, Any Given Sunday\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eRush Hour 2,\u003c\/i\u003e among many other films.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eHollywood Godfather\u003c\/i\u003e is a no-holds-barred account of a life filled with violence, glamour, sex—and fun.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Gianni Russo walks the walk and talks the talk. What a life. Fascinating. A worthy read.\" —\u003cb\u003eRobert De Niro, two-time Academy Award-winning actor\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Gianni Russo has seen a lot, done a lot, and tells it all. Amazing.”—\u003cb\u003eNick Pileggi, Academy Award-nominated screenwriter of \u003ci\u003eGoodfellas\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Gianni Russo is a true character who has led a most colorful life.”—\u003cb\u003eGay Talese, journalist and \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e bestselling author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Recounting a life that reads like a narrative for a mob-movie script, a mobster, actor, and Las Vegas presence delivers numerous eye-opening revelations about national and world events...Russo is an engaging raconteur.\" —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“In this robust, fast-paced memoir, Russo describes his life going from being a real-life mobster to landing a role playing one in \u003ci\u003eThe Godfather\u003c\/i\u003e…[his] exhilarating memoir packs a punch.”\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e —Publishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Russo tells a fascinating story about how a kid from New York’s Little Italy grew up to be a genuine mobster (and actor, singer, and restaurateur)...it’s a hell of a story either way, and Russo comes across as a hell of an interesting guy.\"\u003cb\u003e —\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eBooklist\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\"Russo's writing style reads like narration from \u003ci\u003eGoodfellas\u003c\/i\u003e...Fans of mob movies and unlikely success stories will find Russo's account compelling.\" —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9781250181398\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"St. Martin's Press","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":40686594752718,"sku":"9781250181398","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/getimage_d6e7fa3a-bcb4-46ec-b03a-798dff4e1d64.jpg?v=1640233435","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9781250181398","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}