Who was the Union delegate during the “Sleepwalk” scene? *Spoilers*
The guy who was assassinated by the black guy
shareThat was Joe Colombo, who was, among other things, founder of the Italian-American Civil Rights League.
shareLike from the Colombo crime family? Was his shooting a significant event/turning point in mafia history, and if so why was the movie so vague about who he was not even mentioning or explaining it at all?
shareYes, he was head of the Colombo family, and founder of the Italian American Civil Rights League. He wasn't actually killed by the shooter, at least not right away. He spent the next 7 years in a coma before dying. As for why it was shown, but not really explained, I have no idea. While the shooter was a black guy with no mafia ties, and the police never pursued it past that, everyone knew Joey Gallo had arranged the hit. We later saw Gallo gunned down, so maybe Scorsese was connecting the two shootings. We did see Pesci sporting an IACRL pin, showing he supported Colombo's cause, but I agree that it was a little vague, and someone who didn't go into the film already knowing about that incident would be left confused.
shareInteresting, thanks!
shareI thought it was strange how Scorsese would pause the film and give useful information about the fate of other characters (I like how that was done), but he chose not to give any information on this Joe Colombo scene which also confused me as I did not know who he was.
They briefly flash the "Italian-American Civil Rights League" symbol but you almost have to turn your head to read it fast.
Although now that I think about it, Scorsese only paused the footage for the mobster characters who met an unfortunate fate...with the exception of Joe Kennedy passing away.
Yeah zero exposition on the Colombo guy. Everyone knows about the Bay of Pigs invasion yet he fully explained that. Maybe it was edited out a lot because of the film's already lengthy run time?
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