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You hit the ground running, and you don't look back, huh?
― Feech La Manna[src]

Michele "Feech" La Manna is a supporting character on The Sopranos. He is an old-school, respected captain in the DiMeo crime family, and was released from prison in 2004 as part of a class of mobsters who were incarcerated during the 1980s. He is portrayed by Robert Loggia.

Biography[]

Background[]

There was this old… old Mustache named… Feech La Manna. Now, what the hell "Feech" meant, who the fuck knows but he was made on the other side so, you know, he was an original.
Ralph Cifaretto on Feech[src]
Feech La Manna Old Mugshot Two Tonys

Feech's old side view mugshot.

Feech was born in Sicily during the early-to-mid 20th century, and he became a made man in the Sicilian Mafia at a young age,[2] later immigrating to the United States and settling in New Jersey. He joined the DiMeo crime family and eventually became a captain, becoming an immensely respected figure partly for his status in Italy but also thanks to his moneymaking expertise. In his early career, he served as the personal driver for mobster Tommy Pinto.[3] A leader of various shylocking and gambling operations, Feech controlled the hugely profitable Executive Game, a high-stakes card game that attracted many notorious players, including mobsters, celebrities and athletes.[4][3]

In the late 1970s, Jackie Aprile and Tony Soprano, then connected low-level street thugs, decided to rob Feech's game to enhance their standing and further their rise within the family; their friend Ralph Cifaretto was set to go as well, but he apparently contracted gonorrhoea and didn't end up joining them. When Jackie and Tony stuck up the game, Feech obliged and gave them the money, which was close to $20,000. Though he protested to the family leadership about the pair's disrespectful nature, Feech was forced to let them get away scot-free after a sitdown where Tony's father, Johnny, and Jackie's older brother, Richie, both capos in the family, stood up for them.[2][3][5] Although tensions were resolved peacefully, their daring act still achieved the purpose the two sought, with Jackie and Tony becoming made shortly afterwards.[2]

It's all about setting a precedent.
― Feech on his stay in prison[src]
Feech La Manna Surveillance Picture 1 Two Tonys

Law enforcement surveillance picture of Feech in the 1970s or '80s.

In 1984, Feech was rounded up as part of a multitude of organized crime members arrested on racketeering charges by law enforcement. Facing a 20-year sentence, Feech stuck to his old mob principle and refused to cooperate or inform on his associates in exchange for leniency, serving his sentence at the Federal Correctional Complex in Allenwood, Pennsylvania. Feech claimed to have set "a precedent" during his first day in prison by approaching a hulking, Black inmate in the mess hall and beating him to the ground, though it is likely that Feech invented the story.[4]

Season 2[]

You forget? When you and my kid brother stuck up Feech La Manna's card game? Feech was made before the electric light, if it wasn't for me, you two kids would have caught a vicious beating to say the least.
Richie Aprile to Tony Soprano[src]

When Tony refuses to address the newly released Richie Aprile face-to-face with respect to a business matter due to mounting scrutiny, Richie reprimands him later on at a mall, telling him he should show him more respect since it was thanks to him vouching for them that Tony and Jackie got off without a scratch after robbing Feech's card game in their youth.[5]

Season 3[]

What could Feech do? There was a sitdown, and the right people got some of their money back, but the point was made; your father and Tony were rising stars that had to be respected.
Ralph Cifaretto on Jackie Aprile and Tony Soprano robbing Feech's card game[src]

Ralph recounts the story of the robbery of Feech's game to Jackie Jr. and his friend Dino, which results in them both getting the idea to do the same with soldier Eugene Pontecorvo's gambling den, with the two of them ultimately being killed for it.[2][6]

Season 5[]

The reason I wanted to see you, Junior, — Tony, too — now that I'm out, I'd like to get back in the game.
― Feech after his release from prison[src]
Tony Soprano Bobby Baccalieri Junior Soprano Feech La Manna Eating at Junior's House Two Tonys

Feech at Junior's House with Junior, Tony and Bobby.

In 2004, various mobsters, including Feech, are released from prison after serving their sentences imposed during the 1980s, and after being freed, Feech goes over to Junior's House to eat; he converses with Bobby and Junior as he's making some chicken about all the societal changes he has to get accustomed to after his 20 years in custody, remarking he was most surprised at "broads shaving their bushes". Sitting down at the table, he begins going through his first time in prison when Tony suddenly arrives. Feech warmly greets him, surprised at his burly disposition, and continues his story on beating another inmate senseless in his first day. After finishing his tale, he confesses that he wanted to meet with Junior and Tony to receive their permission to get back in business, stating he's thought about putting back together his old shylocking and sports book operation. The two reluctantly agree, with Tony shrewdly advising him not to "step on anybody's toes", which Feech promises not to do. He later has dinner with Tony, Paulie, Silvio, Christopher and their respective goomars, including his own mistress, Bernice, at Bamonte's Restaurant where Christopher doesn't feel like paying the tab despite it being expected of him.[4]

Crowd at the Bada Bing Tony Blundetto Welcoming After Party Two Tonys

Feech offers Tony B a wad of money after his release from prison.

Since Tony's cousin Tony Blundetto is also being released from prison around the same time as Feech, Tony organizes a welcome party for him, telling Feech about it at the house. Feech asks whether or not he has something in line for Tony B to get involved again, to which Tony responds that he is planning on hooking him up in an airbag stealing ring, with Bobby explaining the scheme to Feech, who wasn't around when it was popularized. Mesmerized at the new order in their business, he asks Tony to say hello to his cousin for him before leaving. Having brought some nettles for Junior, he tosses them aside once Feech is out of the house, remarking it feels like eating red fescue. Later on, at Tony B's welcoming after-party at the Bada-Bing, Feech salutes Tony B and reconvenes with him; Tony, looking over from upstairs, sees Feech handing Tony B a cash envelope to get situated again, with him expressing surprise that Feech is already making money after spending so little time outside.[7]

You want me to fuck off?! How about I fuck off all over your stupid fucking face?! You fucking mutt, huh?! You don't work this neighborhood!
― Feech to Sal Vitro while he is beating him down[src]
Feech La Manna Sal Vitro You Fucking Mutt Wheres Johnny?

Feech repeatedly pummeling Sal Vitro over a disagreement.

After a day of work at Kim's Laundry in Montclair, Tony B has lunch with Feech and the two are later driving around in Feech's car; while speaking, Feech misinterprets Tony B's search for a legitimate occupation as a front for criminal activity, and compares it to his bakery business. When the subject turns towards Tony, he scoffs and derogatorily calls him "the boy king", showing his distaste for him. The conversation is interrupted when Feech spots something that piques his interest; he parks the car and tells Tony B he has to tend to something briefly. After noticing a landscaping company cutting grass in the neighborhood Feech claims belongs to his nephew Gary, a gardener, he approaches the man trimming the lawn, Sal Vitro. After asking what he thinks he is doing, Sal berates Feech and insults him, asking him to leave him alone, but Feech responds aggresively, kicking Sal in the groin and knocking him to the curb; on the ground, Feech continues pummeling him while verbally insulting him, placing his arm on the edge of the sidewalk and stomping on it, thus breaking it. Tony B is forced to intervene, reminding Feech to cut it out as they're on parole, while a severely hurt Sal is left screaming in agony.[8]

Paulie Gualtieri Feech La Manna Arguing Wheres Johnny?

Feech and Paulie enter into conflict.

Incidentally, Sal was a family friend of Paulie's who used to mow the lawns on Paulie's aunt Mary's neighborhood, and after she complains to her nephew about Feech's nephews Gary and Jimmy coming in to work, Paulie talks to Sal and assures he will sort out the issue with Feech in exchange for a percentage of his proceeds. Paulie amiably greets Feech at his bakery, and after making small talk about Tony and Carmela's marital problems, Paulie lays out the conflict with Sal; he explains that he hopes Feech will do him a favor since Sal is a longtime friend who has been working Franklin Parkway for more than 20 years, and he bluntly tells him to get his nephews out of there. Feech becomes menacingly quiet, offering Paulie some biscotti which he rejects, but Feech states that he's more than entitled to take Sal's neighborhood since he previously rejected a proposal by one of Paulie's customers to claim a piece of his action, becoming aggravated and hollering at Paulie over his perceived disrespect despite having served his time. He stays firm, arguing that since only recently did Feech get released he doesn't comprehend the new order of things and doesn't possess any privileges, which infuriates the veteran mobster and he angrily orders Paulie to get out of his store.[8]

Gallery[]

Appearance[]

Episodes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3
Season 4
Season 5
Season 6

References[]

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