Vito Corleone’s real right-hand man was hidden by his godfather and only appeared in a deleted scene

Vito Corleone has many trusted associates in The godfatherfrom his lawyer to his first business partners, but the Don’s true right-hand man can only be seen in a deleted scene. While running the Corleone crime family, Vito has many close confidants in The godfather saga. Salvatore Tessio and Sonny’s godfather, Peter Clemenza, were caporegimes within the family. They were essential to Vito’s rise to power, as seen in the previous storyline of The Godfather Part II.

Don Corleone’s lawyer and consigliere Tom Hagen is one of his closest business associates. Vito wasn’t actually Tom’s father, but he practically raised him. Tom is as much a son to Vito as Michael, Sonny or Fredo. Vito passes all his decisions through Tom first to understand what he thinks. If anything, Tom is Vito’s sidekick, although he trusts him so much that it could be argued that he is his right-hand man. But none of these characters are Vito’s true right-hand man.

Genco Abbandando only appears in a deleted scene from The Godfather

Vito visits his childhood best friend on his deathbed in a deleted scene

Vito’s real right-hand man is his childhood best friendGenco Abbandando. Vito and Genco quickly developed a friendship when young Vito was hired to work at Genco’s father’s grocery store in Hell’s Kitchen. In fact, Genco does not appear on screen at all. The godfather; he can only be seen in a deleted scene. Deleted scene shows Genco on his deathbedwhere Vito comes to visit him. Genco dies of cancer the day after Connie and Carlo’s wedding. Francis Ford Coppola ultimately decided to cut the scene from the film.

Genco’s true role in Vito Corleone’s empire explained

Genco was Vito’s first consigliere

When Vito became the new Don of the neighborhood, he recruited Genco to be his first consigliere (the job Tom would eventually take). Genco meant so much to Vito that when Vito launched an olive oil company as a legitimate front for his criminal activities, he named it after his best friend: the Genco Pura Olive Oil Company. Genco served Vito with the utmost loyalty and his insights allowed Vito to consolidate more wealth and power as his empire grew.

After Vito won the Olive Oil War and became untouchable, Genco and his family moved to a house on Vito’s massive Long Beach estate. When Sonny wanted to get involved in the family business, Genco helped show him what to do. Genco remained one of Vito’s most intelligent and helpful advisors for years. He only left office when he was diagnosed with cancer and became so ill that he was no longer able to carry out his duties. Without Genco, Vito might not have become The godfather.