Thomas "Tom" Hagen is a fictional character in the novel Mario Puzo Godfather and Francis Ford Coppola The Godfather and The Godfather Part II
Video Tom Hagen
Character summary
Hagen is the adopted son of Mafia don Vito Corleone. He is a qualified attorney and consigliere for the Corleone mafia family. With polite and soft-spoken, he serves as a sound sense in the family. The first novel and film set out that he is of German-Irish descent.
Sonny Corleone befriends the 11-year-old Tom, who lives on the road after fleeing from an orphanage. When Sonny took Tom home and demanded that he be brought in, the Corleone family allowed him to stay. Hagen regards Vito as his real father, though Vito has never officially adopted him, believing that it will disrespect Hagen's dead parents.
After law school, Hagen worked in Corleone's "family business". His non-Italian ancestors blocked official membership in the mob family, but when consigliere Genco Abbandando died, Hagen was given his position. As a result, other New York families scorned the Corleones as "The Irish Gang".
Although Hagen immersed himself in the Sicilian-American lifestyle and spoke Sicilian, he did not look like an Italian. In fact, his physical appearance in Northern Europe benefits his work, enabling him to travel and run a family business openly without potential witnesses remembering him.
While Hagen loves all Corleones, he idolizes Sonny and blames himself for Sonny's murder. When Vito was semi-retired in 1954 and his youngest son, Michael, succeeded him as head of family operations, Michael removed Hagen as consigliere, preferring his father to informally assume the role; Michael claims Hagen is not a "war-time" consigliere. Thus, Hagen is restricted to handle legitimate family businesses.
The first novel and film depicts Hagen helping Vito and Michael Corleone in the war against the powerful New York Mafia family. In The Godfather Part II, set in the late 1950s, Hagen served as Michael's right hand during his power struggle with Hyman Roth. In the The Godfather Part III , set in 1979-1980, he was said to have died several years earlier in an unspecified way. His role in the story between the second and third films, including his death, is portrayed in the sequel novel of Mark Winegardner, The Godfather Returns and The Godfather's Revenge.
Maps Tom Hagen
Appearance
The Godfather (novels and movies)
In both novels and films, Hagen was introduced as an important member of the Corleone family. As a child he was raised in a broken family, the son of a crude alcoholic. Sonny Corleone found an orphaned Hagen who lived on the streets and suffered a severe eye infection, took him home, and demanded he live with the Corleone family. Vito Corleone became a substitute father for Hagen, but never officially adopted him in honor of the boy's father.
In the novel, Hagen asks to work for Vito after graduating from law school, knowing well that his adoptive father is the most powerful Mafia leader in the country. Vito is more than willing to take Hagen into his work, often saying that lawyers can steal more than one gangster phalanx. Hagen married an Italian woman, Theresa, with whom she had two sons, Frank and Andrew, and a daughter, Gianna.
After a long time Vito consigliere Genco Abbandando was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Hagen became acting consigliere and succeeded to post officially after Abbandando's death. Vito was initially reluctant to give Hagen a full-time post, considering Hagen was not a Sicilian.
When the famous singer/actor Johnny Fontane sought his godfather help Vito in securing a film role that could revitalize his sagging career, Vito sent Hagen to Hollywood to persuade Jack Woltz, the big-time movie producer, to cast Johnny in his new war movie. Hagen offered the generous help with the Woltz union problem and also informed him that one of his actors had passed from marijuana to heroin; the deleted scene in the movie indicates that this information will be used to damage the Woltz studio. Woltz refused Hagen but became friendly after learning he worked for the Corleones. Woltz still refuses to cast Fontane, who sleeps with one of Woltz's protagonists, but offers to do other things for Vito Corleone. Hagen refused, and before long, Woltz woke up in bed with his head severed by his tall horse planted under the covers, intimidating him to put Fontane into the film.
Tom arranges a meeting between Vito and the drug kingpin Virgil Sollozzo. Sollozzo wants Vito to help finance the narcotics business and provide legal protection and political influence. Sollozzo praised Hagen for discovering that Sollozzo also collaborated with the Tattaglia Family, a rival of Corleones. Vito eventually refused the deal, however, on the grounds that Vito would lose his influence over judges and police if they knew he was in drug trafficking.
Sollozzo had killed Luca Brasi, Vito fired, and Hagen was kidnapped from the streets. Sollozzo informs Hagen that Vito has been shot and killed outside his office and Hagen's duties to persuade Sonny to reconcile and accept the narcotics deal. Hagen said he would do his best but warned Sollozzo that Luca Brasi, the fanatical and loyal Don's guards and assassins, would wage vengeance. Unbeknownst to Hagen, Sollozzo and Bruno Tattaglia had killed Brasi. The meeting was disrupted when Sollozzo received word that Vito survived the shooting, ruining Sollozzo's original plan. It was a testament to Hagen's persuasive ability that he succeeded in convincing Sollozzo to let him go unharmed, having convinced Sollozzo that he would keep making a narcotics deal for him with Corleones.
Tom meets Sonny, Michael, and Corleone caporegimes Peter Clemenza and Salvatore Tessio, and suggests that if Vito dies, Sonny must agree to Sollozzo's deal, and that other Mafia families will most likely support Sollozzo to avoid a bloody war the long one. Two fish wrapped in bulletproof vests of Luca Brasi arrived at the Corleone complex, a message undoubtedly that Brasi had been killed by Sollozzo. Sonny orders Clemenza to execute Vito's bodyguard who may be a traitor, Paulie Gatto.
After Michael stops a second attempt on Vito's murder by Sollozzo, he summoned Corleone's compound to warn Sonny. Tom went to the hospital with a private detective who had permission to carry firearms to protect Vito and stop Captain Mark McCluskey, a corrupt NYPD officer on Sollozzo's salary, from bringing Michael into police custody. Sonny then ordered Bruno Tattaglia, son and underboss ally of Sollozzo, Philip Tattaglia, to be killed. Sollozzo asked for a meeting and suggested that Michael be sent to mediate the truce. Sonny, believing it was a hoax, refusing and demanding that another Mafia family hand over Sollozzo to the Corleone family or face war. Tom manages to convince Sonny to wait because McCluskey has agreed to become Sollozzo's bodyguard and warns Sonny that killing McCluskey will violate old mafia rules to not kill law enforcement members. Violation of rules will lead to strong reactions from Mafia families and rival law enforcement. Michael suggested they approve Sollozzo's meeting but insisted that it was held in public, to put Sollozzo to safety. Michasel plans to kill Sollozzo and McCluskey, with Michael arguing that their shills paid in newspapers will be able to successfully convince everyone that the police are a fair game because he is corrupt. Sonny agrees and accepts the click.
Tom was careful in putting Michael at risk, but Sonny found the location of the meeting from a policeman on Corleone's payroll at the McCluskey police station. The murders of Sollozzo and McCluskey and the subsequent Mafia wars between the Corleone family and the Five Families triggered a massive crackdown by law enforcement. Michael is hiding in Sicily and Vito goes home. Tom informs Vito that the police have taken action against all Mafia operations. Tom tells Vito that it was Michael who killed Sollozzo and McCluskey and therefore had to run away. As an irritable Sonny took over the Corleone family's command while his father recovered, Tom suggested a warning while Sonny was hot to take revenge. Impatient with Tom's rationality, Sonny attacked and belittled Tom's ability as a wartime consigliere, but soon apologized.
Tom again acted as an intermediary when Michael Kay Adams's fiancé arrived at the Corleone complex who wanted to contact Michael. Tom denies knowing Michael's whereabouts and refuses his letter. Tom suggests that he be patient and Michael will finally contact him.
Connie's husband, Carlo Rizzi, helped rival Corleone Emilio Barzini trap Sonny by beating up a pregnant Connie, whom she knew would inspire a grumpy Sonny to leave the Corleone compound in haste and without protection, to kill her. Barzini had set up an ambush for Sonny on the Long Beach Causeway toll plaza, and shot him before Sonny's bodyguard could catch up.
Tom was destroyed after Sonny's murder and with tears telling Vito about his son's death. Tom accompanied Vito to the funeral home of Amerigo Bonasera, where Vito had Bonasera repair Sonny's body before his funeral. Vito did not order retaliation for Sonny's murder and asked Tom to arrange a meeting with another Mafia boss to end the war. Vito made peace with Philip Tattaglia and gave his words he would not break the peace. After the meeting, Tom asks Vito about a drug dealer who has a clean record when he meets the Tattaglia family but Vito corrects him saying Tattaglia is a pimp who can never defeat Sonny and that Emilio Barzini was the one who masterminded Sonny's murder.
Vito was semi-retired in 1954 and Michael became head of family operations. Michael removes Hagen as a consigliere supporting Vito's position, limiting Tom to handle family law business in Nevada, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Michael and Vito explain that the risk of Corleone incites a fight with a move to Nevada, and they need a "wartime consigliere". Tom accepted the decision and remained faithful but deeply hurt. In fact, Michael and Vito secretly continued Sonny's plans to remove Don New York that would form the Corleone family as the most powerful criminal family in the country. Vito explains he suggested Michael to take Tom out as consigliere and although Vito considers Tom as a good consigliere and as Michael has all of Vito's beliefs, there is a reason why Tom should not have a part of the plan, and Tom accepted the decision. In the novel (and in the deleted scene of the film), Tom notices that Rocco Lampone's bodyguard has been secretly promoted to caporegime and Almani hitman reports directly to Michael and than through Clemenza and Tessio. Vito reminded Michael that he warned her that this detail would not escape Tom's attention.
Tom was present when Tessio was taken away for execution for betraying the family and was also present when Connie's husband, Carlo Rizzi, was killed for his involvement in Sonny's death a few years earlier. Though Tom was hardened with violence and accepting the treachery was never forgiven, in the novel he was disgusted with Tessio's imminent death and even asked if Tessio could be spared.
In the novel, Michael's wife, Kay finds out that Michael ordered the death of his brother-in-law Carlo and fled to his parents' house in New Hampshire. Michael sent Tom there to persuade Kay to come back. Tom eventually risked his life by "hypothetically" revealing some family secrets to Kay so he could understand Michael's motives.
Movie sequel
The Godfather Part II
In The Godfather Part II , Hagen remains Michael's lawyer after they moved to Nevada, but his role in the family has diminished. For example, he was expelled from negotiations with Hyman Roth to legitimize the Corleone family by going into business with Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. After the attempted murder committed on Michael's life, Michael realizes he can not trust anyone in his inner circle. Guaranteeing their fraternity ties and explaining that he is holding back information from him in awe, Michael declares Hagen acting Don when he goes and tries to uncover his traitor. Hagen's promotion marked his renewed influence in the family and secured the rough work of Senator Pat Gear.
The fall of the Batista regime in Cuba forced Michael to temporarily abandon his plan to become a legitimate businessman, and he continued his role as Don of the Corleone family. During the Senate hearing on the Mafia, Hagen played a defense role when Michael was interrogated. Towards the end of the film, Hagen can not hide his dislike for Michael's increasing anger and paranoia, questioning the need to kill a dying Hyman Roth. In response, Michael confronts Hagen about his competitive job offerings, and indirectly threatens to tell Hagen's wife about his girlfriend. Bewildered by an empty point to confirm his loyalty to the Corleone Family, Hagen responds to Michael (in Sicilian) that he remains faithful. He obediently fulfills his role as legal counsel, and also in the traditional role of consigliere ' as an impartial family messenger. He gave Frank Pentangeli, who had betrayed Michael, the "idea" of committing suicide so that Pentangeli's family would be guarded, while agreeing with Pentangeli that at one point the Corleone Family was "like the Roman Empire".
In the deleted subplot, Sonny's widow Sandra Corleone becomes Tom's mistress, a fact that Michael uses to blackmail Hagen to remain faithful despite Sandra urging Hagen to leave the Corleone family.
The Godfather Part III
According to The Godfather Part III , Hagen had died before the film's timeframe, 1979-1980. There is no specific indication in the film about when or how he died, except that it was before his son, Andrew, ordained a Roman Catholic priest.
Novel sequel
The Godfather Restore
The Godfather Returns, the sequel to Mark Winegardner in 2004 for Puzo's original novel, describes Hagen's role as consigliere in the first few years after Michael ascended to the head of the family. The novel, covering the period from 1955-1962, describes Hagen once again acting as Michael's right advisor and taking an important role in Corleone's affairs with a strong political family, Sheas (analogous to Kennedys). Hagen made a deal with the patriarch Mickey Shea (Joseph Kennedy) that the Corleone family would help his son, James, (John F. Kennedy) choose the President on condition that his youngest son, Danny (Robert Kennedy), the new attorney general, would take a lenient stance on crime organized. Meanwhile, Hagen has a view of his political career, running for the seat of Congress in Nevada (originally designated by Hagen) with the ultimate goal of becoming a state governor; he is greatly defeated, however, and leaves all hope of holding public office.
The novel also describes Hagen covering the brother of Michael Fredo when he killed a man in San Francisco, and freed him out of jail when he attacked his wife's lover. Hagen and Fredo were involved in a deep quarrel over Fredo's carelessness and Hagen's blind loyalty to Michael. When Michael had killed Fredo (as originally portrayed in The Godfather Part II), Hagen guessed what really happened, but still did not want to know.
Towards the end of the novel, Hagen personally kills the rival Corleone, Louie Russo, who conspires with the novel antagonist, Corleone traitor Captain Gerardo Nick Geraci.
Godfather Revenge
In Winegardner's 2006 novel The Godfather's Revenge, Hagen acted as Michael's right hand in dealing with the Shea family, especially Attorney General Danny Shea, who publicly declared war on organized crime. When Hagen's old lady, Judy Buchanan, was killed by a criminal working for Don Carlo Tramonti, Hagen became interested in the investigation.
In August 1964, Geraci kidnapped Hagen and drowned him in the Florida Everglades. Geraci then sends Michael a packet of dead baby crocodiles along with Hagen's wallet. This message is similar to the one Sonny received following the death of Luca Brasi, where a Brasi's bulletproof vest containing two dead fishes was sent to the Corleone compound. Michael then has Geraci ambushed and killed.
The novel also expands on how Hagen became an unofficial member of the Corleone family. Hagen recalls that when he lived on the streets, he saved Sonny Corleone from a famous pimp for raping and killing a boy. Sonny is very grateful that he brought Hagen home to live with his family.
Behind the scenes
Hagen's character was originally intended to be featured in The Godfather Part III , but was written because of a salary dispute between Duvall and the film producer. Coppola has stated that Part III is to show the split between Michael and Hagen as his central plot, as the seeds of disputes are planted in the first two films.
Coppola stated in the film's comments that Duvall demanded the same salary as Al Pacino (who plays Michael Corleone). However, Duvall said in an interview that he was happy for Pacino to get twice his salary, but not three or four times for the same movie.
Family
- Vito Corleone - Unofficial adoptive father
- Carmela Corleone - Unofficial foster mother
- Santino, Michael, Fredo, and Connie Corleone - unofficial adopted siblings
- Theresa Hagen - Wife
- Frank and Andrew Hagen - Children
- Gianna Hagen - The Princess
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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