Kiss of death (mafia)
The kiss of death (Italian: Il bacio della morte) is the sign given by a mafioso boss or capo that signifies that a member of the crime family has been marked for death, usually as a result of some perceived betrayal.[1] However much is based on fact and however much on the imagination of authors, it remains a cultural meme[2][3] and appears in literature and films. Illustrative is the scene in the film The Valachi Papers when Vito Genovese (Lino Ventura) gives the kiss of death to Joe Valachi (Charles Bronson) to inform him that his betrayal of "the family" is known, and that he will be executed.
The "kiss" has also been used as a terror tactic to aid in extortion or debt collection by reducing victims to a state of panic where they will commit to anything to save their lives.[1]
Contents
Origin
The exact origin is unknown, but an Italian source identifies the bacio della morte as the kiss given to the assassin delegated to "execute" a death sentence, as if to seal the solemn judgment and to wish success on the assignment. Some believe it refers to the kiss of Judas which was given to Jesus to betray him to the soldiers seeking him out. [4] Its use goes back to at least the early 19th century in Sicily.[5]
In life
- While in prison, Vito Genovese gave Joe Valachi a kiss on the cheek,[6] which, Valachi later testified, he believed was the "kiss of death".[7]
In literature
In the cinema
- 1947 Kiss of Death directed by Henry Hathaway, original story by Eleazar Lipsky
- 1972 The Valachi Papers aka Cosa Nostra directed by Terence Young
- 1974 The Godfather Part II produced, directed, and co-written (with Mario Puzo) by Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) gives his brother Fredo Corleone (John Cazale) the kiss of death after he discovers Fredo's betrayal.
- 1995 Kiss of Death directed by Barbet Schroeder, screenplay by Ben Hecht, Charles Lederer, and Richard Price
On television
- In "Bart the Murderer", The Simpsons, season three, episode four, the Big Cheese gives Fat Tony the "kiss of death" after being served poorly made Manhattans.[8]
- In "Mayored to the Mob", The Simpsons, season ten, episode nine, Fat Tony asks Homer to give Mayor Quimby a gift for him, being that Homer recently became the Mayor's bodyguard. The gift was a kiss. Homer believes it was a gesture of goodwill, but Mayor Quimby, upon receiving it, recognizes it as the Mob's infamous kiss of death.[9]
- In "Hell is Other Robots," Futurama, season one, episode nine, Fry receives the kiss of death from Big Vinny while delivering a package of subpoena orders on the Mob Planet. Fry expresses his belief that Big Vinny was actually homosexual.
- In "A Mother's Work," Sons of Anarchy, season six, episode thirteen, Jax embraces Juice (before he turns himself into the police) and kisses him on the cheek and whispers "you betrayed me."
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found., originally published in 1998.
- ↑ Metaphorically, it has come to mean anything that is a forerunner of failure or termination, or something that causes a future failure. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ L'espresso (1979), in Italian, Volume 25, Issues 26-34, page 86
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Further reading
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