Carmine Falcone - character in the movie Batman: The Beginning and the television series Gotham

The Batman comic book featured a lot of villains, most of whom, incidentally, had mental problems. However, the leader of the Gotham mafia Falcone, whom the whole city police could not handle for many years, was not crazy. He became one of the most famous opponents of the Dark Knight, whom he barely managed to defeat. It is for this reason that this anti-hero comic book was made one of the main characters in the films and the television series about Batman.

The "master" of Gotham

Carmine Falcone is the first serious opponent of the Knight of Gotham.

This man created a real criminal empire, which, like a web, entangled the whole city. Thanks to bribery, contract killings and intimidation, this mafia has gained control of the entire Gotham. He called his organization the Roman Empire, and he himself was nicknamed "Roman."

The influence of the Falcone clan on all crime in the city was so great that only with the death of its leader did the purification of Gotham from crime begin.

Unlike other Batman enemies, many of whom were brilliant and crazy at the same time, Don Falcone almost never acted on emotions. All his actions were dictated by cold calculation, thanks to which he managed to rule the city, teeming with crazy people and maniacs.

Falcone prototype

Traditionally, this mafioso was portrayed as a gray-haired man, with a mustache and a scarlet flower in his buttonhole. Those who saw the film “The Godfather” will immediately recognize in this hero Don Corleone in the ingenious performance of Marlon Brando.

To draw more parallels between the Falcone and Corleone families, Carmine’s relatives were copied from the family members of the legendary Godfather.

Carmine Falcone character in Batman comics

This antagonist first appeared in Batman comics in 1987. According to the plot, Carmine was the son of Vincent Falcon. During another clash with a rival clan Maroni, young Carmine was injured, and only through the efforts of his father Bruce Wayne, the guy survived.

After the death of his father, Carmine Falcone became the head of the family business. Being a brilliant strategist and manipulator, he ensured that his family ruled Gotham. This man created a corruption system of fantastic proportions, thanks to which he could get away with any crime.

Don’s ability to stand above the law was one of the reasons Bruce Wayne began the fight against crime under the guise of Batman. The dark knight of Gotham not only upset the plans of the mafia, but, penetrating his house, threatened the main criminal. Because of this, Don Falcone gave an order to all the policemen whom he “fed” to find a brazen avenger in a mask, but all the efforts of the Gotham police were unsuccessful.

At the same time, James Gordon, the only honest policeman in the city, interfered with Carmine. To deal with it, the criminal don ordered his wife and son to be stolen. However, Batman prevented this and, teaming up with Gordon and the prosecutor Harvey Dent, set about releasing Gotham from the power of the Falcone clan.

One of Carmine’s sons Alberto always seemed to his father weak and unable to run a “business”. In retaliation, the young man began to wield in the streets of Gotham under the guise of a festive killer. He brutally dealt with the people of his clan and with strangers. As a result, Falcone’s power weakened.

Unsuccessfully trying to find the Holiday killer, the Roman decides that he is Harvey Dent. For this reason, he orders the prosecutor to be killed. However, Dent survives, in addition, his schizophrenia, with which he fought for many years, is activated, and the former prosecutor kills Don Falcone right at his house. With the death of a Roman, the power over Gotham of his mafia clan ends.

Character Falcone in the movie Batman Begins

On the movie screen, one of the most striking appearances of this hero occurred in the first part of the Batman Christopher Nolan trilogy .

According to the plot, the parents of young Bruce Wayne are killed by a criminal named Joe Chil. After some time, he falls into the hands of justice, but they are soon going to be released from prison, as he agreed to testify against the Falcone family.

However, this does not happen, because right in the courtroom, Joe is killed by a killer sent by Carmine. Bruce goes to don Falcone, but he mocks the guy, proud of his impunity. Young Wayne leaves Gotham for several years to find answers on how to deal with the injustice surrounding him. After returning, he, wearing a mask of the avenger, becomes Batman.

Soon, Wayne manages to catch the people of Carmine while trying to import a huge batch of drugs into the city and transfer them all to the hands of the police.

However, Carmine Falcone and his assistants are trying to pretend to be insane so as not to stand trial. Fearing disclosure of his involvement in the affairs of the mafia, the psychiatrist Jonathan Crane (“Scarecrow”) with the help of a special drug drives the almighty don crazy.

In the future, Carmine Falcone is not mentioned in the plot, since Batman and his associates have to fight with more serious opponents.

Despite the fact that the script of this tape was written on the basis of the Dark Knight comics - “Year One” and “Long Halloween”, in which Don Falconet played one of the key roles - not a lot of space was given to his character. This is done in order to show other Wayne’s enemies: “Scarecrow” and the head of the Shadow League Ra's al Ghul.

As for the canonicity of the image of Carmine Falcone in “Batman: The Beginning”, there are a lot of differences from the comic book.

Firstly, the appearance of this hero is somewhat changed. So, the leader of the mafia appeared before the audience as a gray-haired fat man. In addition to his mustache, he also did not have a scar on his cheek inflicted on him by Catwoman in the past. In addition, the character in the film has a rather noticeable British accent.

Secondly, the nature of the mafia is different. The screen don is more like a pompous smug turkey, which boasts of its power and ability to inspire fear in others. However, faced with serious opponents, he quickly loses to them.

Despite the fact that Don Falcone is not given much space in the movie, through the efforts of the wonderful British actor Tom Wilkinson, the hero turned out to be rather entertaining.

Tom Wilkinson - Carmine Falcone in Batman Begins

This actor is easily able to play both villains and good people. Prior to joining Batman: The Beginning, Wilkinson was twice nominated for an Oscar for supporting roles.

Among his main achievements, participation in such projects as “Priest”, “Mind and Feelings”, “Oscar and Lucinda”, “Ould”, “Shakespeare in Love”, “Girl with a Pearl Earring”, “Conspirator”, “Mission Impossible: Protocol Phantom "and others.

For his services in the field of theater and cinema in 2005, Tom Wilkinson became a holder of the Order of the British Empire.

Falcone in the television series "Gotham" (Gotham)

If in the film of Nolan the Roman character was given a little screen time, then in the television series Bruno Heller about crime in Gotham, this error was corrected.

The series “Gotham,” which has been successfully broadcast on television for three seasons, talks about the criminals of this strange city. The protagonist at the moment is a young policeman James Gordon. Young Bruce Wayne is playing a secondary role in the events. But Carmine Falcone was almost in the center of events of the first season.

According to the plot, despite the fact that Falcone is the "master" of the city, recently his power has been shaken, and his competitors plan to remove the Roman and take his place. At the end of the first season, Don Falcone voluntarily leaves the city and Oswald Cobblepot nicknamed “Penguin” becomes the new criminal ruler of Gotham.

In season two, Carmine appears only once to help James Gordon get out of prison, where he ended up on a false charge.

Like the Nolan movie, the Gotham series introduces viewers to Falcone, too, quite distant from the canon from the comics, but the new look at this character is quite interesting. Despite the fame of a fierce criminal, the Roman is actually the only one who upholds the law in the city of lawlessness. Despite his heavy character and notoriety, he arouses respect and even sympathy among the audience.

Carmine Falcone (Gotham) - actor John Doman

In the television series, the role of the "owner" of Gotham was played by American actor John Doman. Like Tom Wilkinson, John became famous for playing secondary roles.

This actor was best known for his participation in numerous criminal television series such as Law and Order, New York Police, Prison Oz, wiretap, CSI: Crime Scene, Naval Police: Special Department, and Rizzoli and Isles, etc.

Interestingly, the role of the leader of the mafia in “Gotem” is not the first for this artist. Earlier, he had already played the leader of the mafia in the movie "Puppet". However, most often Doman plays police, military and politicians.

Tom Wilkinson vs. John Doman: who is the best Falconet

If we compare the Roman in Batman: The Beginning and Gotham, then the advantage will, of course, be on the side of the latter. The fact is that Falcone in the television series simply has more screen time than his "brother" in the movie.

Also, the character character in “Gotham” is spelled out better, since it is one of the central key figures of the plot, while in the picture of Nolan - only one of many.

As for the acting, then Wilkinson and Doman are quite difficult to compare, since both played great. Wilkinson managed to create an image of a brutal mafia on the screen, inspiring fear and enjoying it. At the same time, Falcone Domana is a wise man who has seen a lot, is well aware of who he is dealing with and not afraid to get his hands dirty.

Carmine Falcone Quotes

• On the verge of death, people become honest. Listening to them is helpful.
• I will die - and Gotham will come to an end.
• Wearing a hat indoors is bad form.
• If you run away, you have to run all your life. Someone even gets used to it.

Carmine Falcone is not Batman’s most famous opponent, but he is one of the most memorable. To date, in the comics (officially killed), and in the television series (left the city), there are many secrets associated with it. Will they be revealed? Future will tell...