Former Philadelphia mafia boss turned government witness Ralph Natale is set to tell his life story in his upcoming book Last Don Standing: The Secret Life of Mob Boss Ralph Natale.
According to reports from Deadline he has also made a deal to have The Last Don Standing which hits shelves on March 21, 2017, developed into a feature film starring actor Frank Grillo. The new book from author and longtime New York Daily News reporter Larry McShane along with producer Dan Pearson contains Natale’s accounts of the mafia takeover of Atlantic City, Jimmy Hoffa’s final days, and boxing corruption including fixing of matches between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston.
“Ralph Natale”
Natale also chronicles his rise through the ranks of Cosa Nostra including his stints in prison and his decision to turn on his fellow wiseguys and cooperate with the feds. Natale was part of a faction led by Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino during a bloody mafia war with boss John Stanfa for control of the crime family. The arrest of Stanfa in 1994 allowed the Merlino faction to take over with Natale assuming the duties of boss and Joey serving as underboss. According to Natale, he became the don of Philly but Merlino associates later described him simply as a front boss for Merlino who was trying to avoid attention from law enforcement.
After striking a deal with the feds Natale would take the stand and testify against Merlino during a 2001 racketeering trial. He was then sent to prison for 13 years in 2005 and entered the witness protection program after his release in 2011. There has yet to be any kind of timeline for the film but more information should be forthcoming. The new mafia book should have some interesting takes on how things were from Natale’s point of view and the mafia movie to follow may be just as intriguing.
Wow first a book and now a damn movie deal. Seems like a lot for a guy who from most reports was nothing more then a front man for Merlino who was always really the one in control. I mean how much of this book and movie will be well “accurate”.
Yeah, I don’t get it. All the real bosses and crews out there and they’re gonna make a movie about this clown. These Hollywood guys are so stupid.
I was thinking the same thing! There just seems to be so many much better ways to go for a new movie then Ralph who by so many reports is well kind of full of it.
Agreed. His membership itself was questionable. As he was made in jail by merlino, who was a solider. Even as a captain, that can’t be done without approval from boss. Timeline is murky, 95 era Stanfa was not well respected. So maybe he was boss. Either way, he’s a low level front boss at a time when family was crippled. He had little if any actual power. Joey is a hot head, but he’s a stand up guy. This rat is a about as important as jimmy fratiano. Not at all. These fringe gangsters always act like they were more.
I don’t think he was ever actually the “boss” except for in his own mind which is how Merlino intended it to be. Sure most of the guys played along again because its how Joey wanted it and the guy was simply a lightning rod of sorts. Although Natale’s accounts are well rather different and according to him in most cases he was like Don Carlo. This book and movie should be interesting simply from point of view of how much of it will be actual facts.
Ralph Natale was a glorified drug dealer….He was minor leagues..Joe merlino used him as a stooge…All Ralph Natale cared about was young girlfriend of his daughter….Ralph Natale was a legend in his own mind……New York La cosa nostra didn’t not respect him…..This book and movie is Ralph banging his own drum…..Joe merlino now matter what is a stand up guy and Capable….Ralph is full of his own bull..
Agreed as i mentioned above he pretty much did what Joey told him to do and he was pumped up to make him think in his own head he was running things. If anything that book and movie will be worth checking out to see exactly how much of the “facts” according to Ralph are thrown in there.
I will read the book /Movie , to see if he talks about his obsession with his 20 year old daughter’s best friend….Many inside MERLINO’S crew mocked him about this….And more importantly what Ralph says about Mobster Ron Turchi found dead in trunk of his carin South Philly…Hog tied Scarfo Style
Oh I am sure he will somehow forget to add that in (as to the daughters friend)
I never thought Natale was actual boss. I meant Joey in theory could have been boss in jail, when he made Natale. I think Joey was just a solider, but because he sparked rebellion, maybe he declared himself boss. My point was that Natale’s membership itself was in question. He was a poor man’s Tony Salerno. (Salerno was a front boss with real power)
I know some do talk about past crimes,but does anyone REALLY think anyone would about Hoffa? I don’t if only b/c he’s “The Holy Grail”in MIA Mafia Hits. Natale wouldn’t have gotten any time if he knew Hoffa Info
True and really how much info if anything at all could Natale have about Hoffa. I mean through all these years the guys who actually were in the know have been remarkably tight lipped.
Sure hope he makes at least enough to get some f@&$ing teeth. Good thing he gave up life of criminal. I bet “gum jobs” heavily sought in prisons.