Father Gigante has rebuilt much of the South Bronx. But who has profited more, his parish­ioners or the mob family run by his own brother?

“The notion that John Gotti — or any single mob figure — was some sort of omnipotent New York mafioso is ludicrous. The word 'Godfather' had a nice, Brando-­esque ring, but the title itself is a fraud.”

“The most popular explanation hinged on the impatience of one John Gotti, a violent little fat man from Howard Beach”

“No doubt I’ll always be interested in underworld sto­ries. But no cutesy films about mama’s pas­ta and people getting married. I can’t stand that.”

“I’m scared,” says a Federal investigator of Brooklyn boss Meade Esposito. “We’ll work our ass off for the next six months to make a case. We’ll work 18 hours a day. But I admit it. I’m afraid of what happens after that. This guy Meade has more power than the Pope.”

“What ‘The Godfather’ is trying to peddle us is that turning to crime was not a choice but a necessary absorption in order to get along in a hostile country. Thus it is an ode to impotence and a grave insult to the Italians”

"Joey loved the Village as only those who move here from some other where can. He spoke of his Brooklyn home as someone else might speak of Ashtabula."

"Gallo and company had been to the Copaca­bana earlier for Don Rickles's opening and to celebrate Joey's 43rd birthday. About 4 a.m. they hopped into Joey's 1971 Cadillac­ and drove to Little Italy for an early morning snack...."

“I suggested the ‘Joey’ song to Bob,” says Jacques Levy. “You know, Bob has always had a thing about outlaws.”

On the scene of a dog day afternoon in Queens