The Godfather
The Godfather
by Mario Puzo

Albert “Al” Neri Character Analysis

Neri is a former Sicilian American New York City police officer who becomes Michael Corleone’s loyal and trusted bodyguard and enforcer. As a police officer, Neri amassed a fearsome reputation as short-tempered and prone to meting out violent punishment on offenders. His favored weapon was a large flashlight, which he used to crack the skulls of perpetrators. After Neri accidentally kills the abusive African America pimp, Wax Baines, a judge convicts him of voluntary manslaughter. Tom Hagen and Peter Clemenza liken Neri’s personality to that of Luca Brasi and secure his release from prison. After meeting with Michael, Neri swears his loyalty to the Corleone Family and becomes Michael’s personal enforcer. Neri carries out the assassinations of both Moe Greene and Emilio Barzini.

Albert “Al” Neri Quotes in The Godfather

The The Godfather quotes below are all either spoken by Albert “Al” Neri or refer to Albert “Al” Neri. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
).

Chapter 30 Quotes

He understood that he would be happier in the world the Corleones had created than in the world outside.

Related Characters: Michael Corleone, Albert “Al” Neri
Page Number and Citation: 407
Explanation and Analysis:
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Albert “Al” Neri Character Timeline in The Godfather

The timeline below shows where the character Albert “Al” Neri appears in The Godfather. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 27
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
Michael Corleone arrives in Las Vegas with his new bodyguard, Albert Neri, and Tom Hagen. That evening, Michael dines with Fredo, Tom, Lucy, Jules, Nino, and Johnny.... (full context)
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
...see that Nino is clearly at death’s door. Before they depart for the airport, Al Neri tells Michael that he has Moe Greene “mugged and numbered up here.” (full context)
Chapter 28
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
Loyalty and Betrayal Theme Icon
...find Moe Greene shot to death in his mistress’s Hollywood home. A month later, Al Neri returns home to New York after a vacation in the Caribbean by way of Las... (full context)
Chapter 30
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
Loyalty and Betrayal Theme Icon
Albert Neri is in his Bronx apartment dressing in his police officer’s uniform to prepare for an... (full context)
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
Loyalty and Betrayal Theme Icon
One night in Harlem, however, Neri beat a pimp, drug dealer, and abuser named Wax Baines so badly that Baines died.... (full context)
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
Loyalty and Betrayal Theme Icon
Before his death, Don Corleone believed that Neri could be a new “Luca Brasi” for the Family. Once, Michael asked his father why... (full context)
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
Loyalty and Betrayal Theme Icon
Back in the present, and dressed in his police uniform, Al Neri prepares to do battle for Don Michael Corleone. (full context)
Chapter 31
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
Loyalty and Betrayal Theme Icon
...sex with a prostitute, and fires four bullets into his stomach. Later, Lampone drives Al Neri to Rockefeller Center, where Neri approaches Don Barzini and his bodyguards en route to meet... (full context)
Power Theme Icon
Masculinity and Patriarchy Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
...Michael answers. Relieved, Kay goes into the kitchen to make drinks when she sees Clemenza, Neri, and Lampone enter Michael’s room with their bodyguards in tow. “Don Michael,” Clemenza says. Kay... (full context)
Chapter 32
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
Loyalty and Betrayal Theme Icon
...his own New York Family, while Rocco Lampone is now the Corleone’s senior caporegime. Al Neri is in charge of security in the Corleone-owned Vegas hotels, while Tom Hagen stays as... (full context)