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| “ | Goddamn gentleman Dickie Moltisanti. Always comes to me to handle his nasty work. | „ |
| ~ Harold commenting on his doing work for his once-friend, Dickie. |
Harold McBrayer is the main antagonist of the 2021 crime drama movie The Many Saints of Newark, which is a prequel to the critically-acclaimed HBO TV series The Sopranos. When the movie begins, he starts out as a major protagonist, as he's Dickie Moltisanti's business associate and close friend, but Harold soon betrays Dickie when he gets the idea to start his own army.
His character, as well as his traitorous and bold motivations as the film goes on, play a symbolic role on racism and culture shifts in the 60s and 70s, which include the Civil Rights Movement of the 60s. His interactions with his once-friend, Dickie Moltisanti, also show a schism between races, especially in New Jersey and the mafia underworld.
Despite being a major character in The Sopranos storyline, he is never seen nor mentioned in the series, as the character was newly created for the film.
He was portrayed by Leslie Odom Jr.
History[]
It is revealed that Dickie and Harold knew each other when they were young, and even played baseball together. Given the interactions between Dickie and Harold, it is evident that they've not only known each other since childhood, but have been business partners for many years prior to the events of the movie.
Harold also reveals that he wanted to join the army when he was younger, but couldn't due to his previous convictions, showing the viewer that Harold's criminal lifestyle has been a large part of his life. Given the prominence of racism during the era the film takes place in, coupled with the fact that many Italian mobsters have racist views against African-Americans, there are awkward relationships between Harold and the Italian mobsters Dickie works with.
Biography[]
By the start of the film, which takes place in 1967, Harold McBrayer is a business associate and "numbers runner" for DiMeo Crime Family soldier Dickie Moltisanti. Throughout the course of the film, Dickie shows great respect for Harold (while the other mobsters seem to throw racial remarks at him), although Dickie often makes Harold feel discouraged and embarrassed.
When the Newark riots begin, Harold murders someone, prompting him to borrow money from Dickie and leave town. Due to Dickie and Harold being so close, Dickie gives Harold $500 as a gift, and not a loan, so that Harold doesn't have to worry about paying it back.
In 1972, Harold listens to poetry tailored to struggling African-Americans, giving Harold the drive and courage to start his own crime business, and even face down the Italian mafia. The racism of the era mixed with the reasoning behind the riots only fuel Harold's intentions. Harold shoots and kills an Italian mobster, stealing extortion money. One of Harold's relatives and associates, Cousin Cyril, is captured and tortured for information of who planned out the murder. Cyril reveals that it was Harold alone that planned the act, and is then killed soon after. In retaliation for Cyril's death, Harold's gang performs a drive by shooting on the Italian mobsters, with Dickie being among them.
This leads to a standoff between Dickie and Harold, but this is cut short as they both hear police sirens. As time goes on, Harold's business becomes stronger, despite Harold being on the run from the mafia. After Dickie has a fight with his goomar, Guiseppina, she sleeps with Harold. While laying in bed, Harold tells Guiseppina that he'd financially back anything she wants to do.
After Dickie promises Guiseppina a beauty parlor, she feels compelled to tell Dickie the truth about who she slept with. When she reveals that she slept with Harold, Dickie flies into a blind rage and drowns her in the nearby sea. Dickie later dies at the hands of an unknown assailant, which was ordered by Uncle Junior.
At the end of the movie, it's revealed that Harold's business is a success, and has also moved into a predominantly Caucasian neighborhood.
Personality[]
Harold is shown to be a headstrong, well-spoken and mature individual at the start of the film, although this nature somewhat changes to a more traitorous, bloodthirsty and wrathful one after Harold decides to start his own army and face down the mafia. Although there's a fierce rivalry between Harold's army and the mafia, Harold remains relentless in his pursuit to shape his own faction, which he ultimately succeeds by the end of the film.
Gallery[]
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 Villains
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DiMeo Crime Family Lupertazzi Crime Family Vittorio/Zucca Camorra family Philadelphia Crime Family/Buscetta Crime Family Other | ||