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Francis "Frankie" Monaldi is the overarching antagonist in the 1984 gangster film Once Upon a Time in America.

He was portrayed by Joe Pesci, who also portrayed Mr. Big in Moonwalker, Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas, Harry Lime in the Home Alone franchise, Ronald Grump in Sesame Street All Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! and Nicky Santoro in Casino.

Biography[]

Frankie Monaldi is a powerful Italian-American Crime Lord, and the Boss of the Combination. According to the novel that the movie is based off of, frankie’s brother Joe Monaldi founded the organization, but he handed the title of boss over to Frankie. He is initially introduced Alongside Joe, having a dinner meeting with Noodles, Max, and their gang at Fat Moe’s. Sharing jokes with them at the dinner table. He then tasks them with robbing diamonds which are about to be shipped to Holland, and bring them back to Joe. They successfully pull off the heist. When they return and go to an abandoned wharf to exchange their diamonds for a payoff from Joe, they massacre Joe and his men. Noodles is shocked and disturbed by the double-cross, but Max explains that it was all part of Frankie’s plan, thus unveiling Frankie's true colors. Max justifies this decision as looking out for the gang, because theirs no turning down frankie's orders, as he has the entire combination in the palm of his hand.

When the gang’s boss Jimmy O'Donnell is in the hospital, Frankie appears in the lobby as max and noodles exit, and is last seen going up the elevator. Frankie, as well as O'Donnell, his attorney Sharkey, and Max, Put together a plan to fake max's death and get rid of the rest of the gang. After Patsy and Cockeye died in a shootout with the police during a bootlegging deal with Frankie’s people, Noodles went to a Chinese Opium Theater, guilt ridden over calling the cops in the first place (which was in part due to max's manipulation using his girlfriend Carol). Frankie sent his 3 enforcers, Beefy, Trigger, and Mandy, out looking for Noodles, killing his girlfriend Eve in the process, as well as brutalizing Fat Moe, and assaulting a couple at the opium theater. Noodles evaded them, and fled the city.

Over the years, frankie, jimmy, and max (now going by the name Christopher Bailey) remained friends. However, after a corruption scandal came down on bailey, Frankie and the others started getting worried that he would incriminate them. It is revealed by O'Donnell during a dinner party at bailey's home, that they have marked him for death.

Personality[]

Frankie is at first introduced as a mild mannered, intelligent, and wisecracking gangster, who seems to get along well with the gang, and his brother. Joe’s murder ultimately reveals Frankie’s true nature as greedy, treacherous and corporate coward who wanted all the money, diamonds and power for himself only. While Michael Corleone is guilty of similar crimes, including killing his own brother Fredo after the latter betrayed him and his family, Michael shows remorse and guilt for what he did and ultimately spends the rest of his life trying to repent for the sin of fratricide. Frankie however, shows no remorse and guilt for what he did, only concerned about himself, and his power and personal gain. Also the fact that he was handed the position of boss on a platter by his brother only to have him killed for his own gain. Thus, along with Bugsy, he stands out as one of the film's vilest characters as he shows little to no guilt at all when he commits horrible crimes, with nothing but business as an unjustifiable excuse.

Trivia[]

  • When Max’s son David meets his girlfriend during the party at his mansion, she is driving a white limo which is similar to the one seen outside Fat Moe’s before the gang’s meeting with Frankie and Joe. It’s possible this girl could be related to Frankie. Maybe his daughter or granddaughter.
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