the godfather The films center on the formidable Corleone family, many of whom become Mafia Dons, with varying levels of success. The Corleone family has 22 members, headed by the patriarch, Vito Corleone, who is often called “the gift,” meaning “the boss“Vito is a powerful member of the mafia, and while some members of his family want to get involved in the business, others don’t. the godfather is one of the best films of all time, and this is partly due to the outstanding performances of its actors.
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He Godfather The films starred Marlon Brando and Robert Duvall, as well as many unknown actors who later achieved great success. This includes Al Pacino, who played the initially moralistic Michael Corleone. the godfather is one of the films that defined Al Pacino’s career, and Pacino was nominated for an Academy Award twice. Although Pacino did not win, the Godfather The trilogy would win nine Academy Awards and the original film still has a 98% positive audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The Corleone family remains one of the most iconic in cinema, and their story is told in three films.
From Vito to Vincent, the story of Don’s position in the Corleone family is also the story of Michael’s rise and fall. While Pacino’s character was not first in line, he ended up becoming his father’s true successor. However, Michael Corleone was neither the first nor the last character to become the family Don after Vito Corleone’s death.
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6Vito Corleone
Played by Marlon Brando
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Vito Corleone is called “The godfather” because the term was used in mafia circles. This is a translation of “godfather.” Vito is the first Don of the Corleone family that viewers see in the godfatherwhen, according to Sicilian tradition, he grants favors at his daughter’s wedding. Vito Corleone values his family above all else, and while he is fiercely loyal to them, he is also ruthless and violent.
Vito doesn’t mind beating up people in his path and finding unusual and gory ways to persuade people to do what he wants. This is shown early during the godfatherIt’s infamous”horse head” scene. However, while intelligent and an excellent strategist, Vito is set in his ways and is reluctant to change to adapt to more modern criminal enterprises. His decision to trust his family instead of new partners, even when his children are shown to be untrustworthy, leading to his downfall.
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Related The Godfather Ending Explained (What Happens and What It All Means)
The Godfather contains one of the most classic and dramatic endings in the history of cinema. But how does the ending play out and what does it mean?
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Vito’s health worsens and he is aware that he must choose one of his sons to become the new Don. Choosing a successor who can be as loving and ruthless as Vito is a difficult decision. That being said, the decision is his to make when he is shot and finds himself clinging to life in the hospital. While Vito recovers, the Corleone family does not until Michael takes over. Vito may have made mistakes, but his fate is surprisingly peaceful for a man with such a violent history, as he dies of a heart attack in his garden.
5Sonny Corleone
Played by James Caan
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Sonny is Vito’s eldest son and possibly the first choice for his successor based on birth order. That being said, Sonny was one of the worst possible candidates for the new Corleone family, Don. Sonny was impulsive and hotheaded, and made a major mistake during the drug dealing meeting with Sollozzo, disagreeing with Vito in front of Sollozzo.
This gives Sollozzo the impression that if Vito is killed, Sonny will take over and lead the Corleone family into the drug trade. After Vito is shot, Sonny becomes the acting Don, nearly ruining the Corleones. Sonny has some of the best quotes on the godfatherand James Caan shows him as more than a caricature, which could easily have happened.
Although Sonny is violent, he cannot harm women or people he considers helpless. While this makes Sonny more admirable than many other characters in the Godfather movies, also leads to his downfall. Sonny Corleone is easily manipulated, and when Carlo hits Connie, causing her to call for help, Sonny rushes to her aid. Sonny’s murder ends his time as Don of the Corleone family.
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4Michael Corleone
Played by Al Pacino
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While the Godfather The trilogy begins with Vito Corleone, it is actually about the rise and fall of Michael Corleone, who is Vito’s favorite son. Michael was on a straighter path, without ties to the mafia. Vito expected Michael to go into politics, but because Michael shares Vito’s loyalty to his family, he is left behind when Vito is shot. Although Sonny is the acting Don, viewers can see that Michael is the better choice, as he does everything he can to prevent an all-out war between the families by preventing Sonny from acting rashly.
Vito expected Michael to go into politics, but because Michael shares Vito’s loyalty to his family, he is left behind when Vito is shot.
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Michael’s loyalty to his family leads him deep into the mafia business, where he becomes more formidable than any of the Corleone Dons. After Sonny is murdered, it is Michael who begins to repair relationships in the Corleone family, and although he appears to be a kinder and more peaceful alternative to Sonny, this is not entirely the case. Michael is more patient than Sonny, which allows him to play the long game and prepare a revenge that went down in cinema history.
The 7 Related Characters Michael Corleone Kills in The Godfather Finale (And Why)
Michael Corleone had seven people killed simultaneously at the end of The Godfather, but each of them was killed for a different reason.
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the godfatherThe baptism scene is one of the most famous film scenes in history and has been replicated and honored many times. At the end of the godfatherMichael has all of the Corleone family’s enemies killed, changing New York’s criminal world in a single day. Michael is the most iconic of all the Corleone Dons and is played by Al Pacino in all three films. The saga describes his continued corruption. During Michael’s reign, other members of the Corleone family become deputy Dons, before Michael relinquishes the title and dies alone and regretful.
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3Tom Hagen
Played by Robert Duvall
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Tom Hagen was Vito Corleone’s adopted son and advisor, and Vito really listened to Tom throughout the process. the godfather. Tom is usually the voice of reason in the Corleone family and has a legitimate job as a lawyer. Still, when it came time for Vito to be replaced as Don of the Corleone family, it was Michael who succeeded him.
While Michael made his mark in the criminal underworld, he did not behave as Vito would have. If the Corleone family wanted a peaceful alliance, Tom should have been The Godfather instead of Michael Corleone. Tom cannot become a full member of the mafia because he is not Italian, but he briefly becomes the Don of the Corleone family in The Godfather Part II.
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When Michael survives an assassination attempt, he realizes there is no one in his inner circle he can trust and sets out to find out who tried to kill him. During this time, Michael appoints Tom Hagen as the acting Don of the Corleone family. This is a sign of deep trust, and Tom remains the Don until Michael returns and then resumes his position as a lawyer.
2 Connie Corleone
Played by Talia Shire
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One of the harsh realities of looking again the godfather It is the small role that the female characters play. Connie Corleone is one of the most overlooked characters in the Godfather movies and yet she plays a key role. Connie is the only daughter of Vito Corleone and is never considered his successor.
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Connie spends most of her time the godfather trapped in an abusive marriage, then spends The Godfather Part II struggling with her romantic life and her strained relationship with Michael. However, Connie is present in The Godfather Part III. The Godfather Part III He is not as highly regarded as the first two, although many consider him underrated. The third film of Godfather The trilogy allows Connie to take on a more central role and she proves to be a competent leader.
When Michael suffers a diabetic stroke, Connie steps in to make decisions, including hitting Joey Zasa. Even Michael comes to respect her as a leader, subjecting her only to his authority while he recovers, which is a significant step for a character (and a movie) that had left women on the sidelines for too long.
1 Vicente Mancini
Played by Andy Garcia
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Vincent Mancini is the illegitimate son of Sonny Corleone, born from an affair he had with his wife’s lady-in-waiting, Lucy Mancini. This was a significant change from the godfather book, where Lucy and Sonny do not have any children. Andy Garcia was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Vincent, who is a blend of all the temperaments of the Corleone family’s previous Dons.
Vincent had the potential to be just as problematic as his father, but Michael’s guidance turned him into a powerful and more measured person.
After Vincent kills two hitmen hired by Joey Zasa, Michael becomes his mentor and realizes that he has inherited his father’s impulsiveness. Vincent had the potential to be just as problematic as his father, but Michael’s guidance turned him into a powerful and more measured person.
Throughout The Godfather Part IIIVincent shows his respect for Michael by asking him for permission for actions such as retaliation, showing that he has the potential to be different from Sonny. At the end of The Godfather Part IIIMichael has formally named Vincent as his successor, naming him Don Vincent Corleone.
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the godfather
the godfather is one of the most iconic and influential film franchises in cinema history. Based on Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel of the same name, the series chronicles the rise and fall of the powerful Corleone crime family. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the franchise consists of three films that explore the complex dynamics of organized crime, loyalty and family. The films are celebrated for their outstanding performances, direction, and thematic depth, especially regarding power, betrayal, and morality within the mafia world. The first two films, in particular, are widely considered to be some of the best films ever made.
Created by Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola Cast Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, John Cazale, Talia Shire, Andy García, Sofia Coppola Characters Vito Corleone, Michael Corleone, Sonny Corleone, Fredo Corleone, Kay Adams , Tom Hagen , Connie Corleone , Vincent Corleone , Peter Clemenza , Salvatore Tessio