The Godfather (book series)

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The Godfather book series is a series of crime novels about Italian-American Mafia families, most notably the fictional Corleone family, led by Don Vito Corleone and later his son Michael Corleone. The first novel, The Godfather , written by Mario Puzo, was released in 1969. It was adapted into a series of three feature films, which became one of the most acclaimed franchises in film history.

Contents

Puzo also wrote the second novel, The Sicilian , which was released in 1984, and was made into a film (with Godfather references removed) in 1987. Mark Winegardner wrote the next two novels, The Godfather Returns and The Godfather's Revenge , released in 2004 and 2006 respectively. Edward Falco wrote the fifth novel, based on a draft script by Mario Puzo, titled The Family Corleone , which also served as a prequel to Puzo's first novel. It was released in 2012.

Novel series

TitleAuthorISBNDate of publicationSummary
The Godfather Mario Puzo 0-399-10342-2 10 March 1969The Corleone family fights a mob war with the other four Mafia families in New York in the years after World War II. The war sees the ascent of Don Vito Corleone's youngest son Michael, who previously held his family's crime enterprise in low regard. With Vito retired at the conclusion of the war, Michael orchestrates a plan to relocate the family's power base to Las Vegas while eliminating its remaining rivals in New York.
The Sicilian 0-671-43564-7 November 1984Michael Corleone, about to return from exile in Sicily at the end of the Five Families War, is instructed by his father to help Sicilian bandit Salvatore Giuliano escape to America with him. Giuliano's rise from an ordinary Sicilian peasant to a power in Sicily rivaling even the Mafia is chronicled. However, Giuliano makes enemies in both law enforcement and organized crime circles, and his quest to free Sicily from oppression is ultimately unsuccessful.
The Godfather Returns Mark Winegardner 1-4000-6101-6 16 November 2004The story picks up immediately after the end of the first novel. The events of the film The Godfather Part II take place within the time frame of this novel, but are only mentioned in the background. Many of Puzo's characters are expanded upon, especially Fredo Corleone, consigliere Tom Hagen, and Johnny Fontane, and new characters like Nick Geraci, Mickey Shea, Danny Shea, and Francesca Corleone are introduced. The other half of the novel goes deeper into Michael's role as Don and his dream of legitimizing the Corleone family. The novel expands on Michael's service in World War II as well as his brother Fredo's secret life. The novel shows how Sonny, Fredo and Tom Hagen join the family business, as well as the deaths of Peter Clemenza and Salvatore Tessio.
The Godfather's Revenge 0-399-15384-5 7 November 2006Michael Corleone is coping poorly after ordering the murder of his brother Fredo and giving custody of his children to his former wife Kay Adams. Michael and Tom Hagen try to thwart the revenge plans of the former Corleone family caporegime Nick Geraci. Their plans are thrown into disarray when Hagen is framed for the murder of his mistress. Meanwhile, organized crime fights against increased law enforcement efforts led by Attorney General Danny Shea (historically analogous to Robert F. Kennedy) and his brother, President Jimmy Shea (analogous to John F. Kennedy).
The Family Corleone Ed Falco 0-446-57462-7 8 May 2012A prequel set during the Great Depression, near the end of Prohibition, it tells how Vito Corleone consolidated his power to become the most powerful Don in New York City. Also, it tells of Sonny Corleone's inauguration into the family business. The novel also reveals how Luca Brasi became associated with the Corleones, and introduces a number of new characters, including rival crime boss Giuseppe Mariposa.

Chronology

  1. The Family Corleone (2012) – set from 1933 to 1934
  2. The Godfather (1969) – set from 1945 to 1955
  3. The Sicilian (1984) – set in 1950
  4. The Godfather Returns (2004) – set from 1955 to 1962
  5. The Godfather's Revenge (2006) – set from 1963 to 1964

Sales

The first novel remained on The New York Times Best Seller list for 67 weeks and sold over nine million copies in the two years following its release. [1]

The series has sold 120 million copies.[ citation needed ]

Film adaptations

The Godfather

The Godfather trilogy is one of the most acclaimed franchises in film history. The Godfather , released in 1972, is an adaptation of the Puzo novel of the same name. The Godfather Part II , released in 1974, also adapts elements from the first novel - mostly the early life of Vito Corleone. The story of The Godfather Part III , released in 1990, is not taken from any novel. The Winegardner novels, released after Part III, incorporate and explain elements from Part II and Part III. Falco's novel, The Family Corleone, was based on an unproduced screenplay written by Puzo (intended for a fourth Godfather film, which was abandoned after Puzo's death).

The Sicilian

The 1987 film The Sicilian , based on Puzo's novel of the same name, stars Christopher Lambert as Salvatore Giuliano. [2] Due to copyright issues, all Godfather references were removed and the characters of Michael Corleone and Peter Clemenza were not included in the film.

Paramount Pictures sued the Puzo estate for the publication of The Godfather's Revenge and also sought to block the publication of The Family Corleone , claiming that it had only authorized publication of one sequel, The Godfather Returns . The lawsuit claimed that the novel tarnished the legacy of the films and misled readers into believing that the novels were authorized by Paramount.

With the release of the fifth novel, The Family Corleone, the estate of Puzo had sought to keep Paramount Pictures from producing a feature film based on the novel. [3] This has been resolved, with Paramount gaining the rights to make more Godfather films (as of early 2020, no plans had been announced). [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>The Godfather</i> (novel) 1969 novel by Mario Puzo

The Godfather is a crime novel by American author Mario Puzo. Originally published in 1969 by G. P. Putnam's Sons, the novel details the story of a fictional Mafia family in New York City and Long Island, headed by Vito Corleone, the Godfather. The novel covers the years 1945 to 1955 and includes the back story of Vito Corleone from early childhood to adulthood.

<i>The Godfather Part II</i> 1974 epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola

The Godfather Part II is a 1974 American epic crime film. The film is produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, loosely based on the 1969 novel The Godfather by Mario Puzo, who co-wrote the screenplay with Coppola. It is both a sequel and a prequel to the 1972 film The Godfather, presenting parallel dramas: one picks up the 1958 story of Michael Corleone, the new Don of the Corleone family, protecting the family business in the aftermath of an attempt on his life; the prequel covers the journey of his father, Vito Corleone, from his Sicilian childhood to the founding of his family enterprise in New York City. The ensemble cast also features Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Morgana King, John Cazale, Mariana Hill, and Lee Strasberg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mario Puzo</span> American author, screenwriter, and journalist

Mario Francis Puzo was an American author and screenwriter. He wrote crime novels about the Italian-American Mafia and Sicilian Mafia, most notably The Godfather (1969), which he later co-adapted into a film trilogy directed by Francis Ford Coppola. He received the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the first film in 1972 and for Part II in 1974. Puzo also wrote the original screenplay for the 1978 Superman film and its 1980 sequel. His final novel, The Family, was released posthumously in 2001.

<i>The Godfather Part III</i> 1990 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola

The Godfather Part III is a 1990 American epic crime film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola from the screenplay co-written with Mario Puzo. The film stars Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Andy García, Eli Wallach, Joe Mantegna, Bridget Fonda, George Hamilton, and Sofia Coppola. It is the third and final installment in The Godfather trilogy. A sequel to The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974), it concludes the fictional story of Michael Corleone, the patriarch of the Corleone family who attempts to legitimize his criminal empire. The film also includes fictionalized accounts of two real-life events: the 1978 death of Pope John Paul I and the Papal banking scandal of 1981–1982, both linked to Michael Corleone's business affairs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Corleone</span> Fictional character from The Godfather

Michael Corleone is a fictional character and the protagonist of Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather. In the three Godfather films, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Michael was portrayed by Al Pacino, for which he was twice-nominated for Academy Awards. Michael is the youngest son of Vito Corleone, a Sicilian immigrant who builds a Mafia empire. Upon his father's death, Michael succeeds him as the don of the Corleone crime family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vito Corleone</span> Fictional character from The Godfather

Vito Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather and in the first two of Francis Ford Coppola's film trilogy. Vito is originally portrayed by Marlon Brando in the 1972 film The Godfather, and later by Oreste Baldini as a boy and by Robert De Niro as a young man in The Godfather Part II (1974). He is an orphaned Sicilian immigrant who builds a Mafia empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Hagen</span> Fictional character from The Godfather series

Thomas Hagen is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather and Francis Ford Coppola's films The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974). He is portrayed by Robert Duvall in the films. He also appears in the Mark Winegardner sequel novels The Godfather Returns and The Godfather's Revenge, as well as Ed Falco's novel The Family Corleone. Duvall was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and a BAFTA for his performance in the first film.

<i>The Godfather</i> 1972 American crime film by Francis Ford Coppola

The Godfather is a 1972 American epic gangster film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mario Puzo, based on Puzo's best-selling 1969 novel of the same title. The film stars an ensemble cast including Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, and Diane Keaton. It is the first installment in The Godfather trilogy, chronicling the Corleone family under patriarch Vito Corleone (Brando) from 1945 to 1955. It focuses on the transformation of his youngest son, Michael Corleone (Pacino), from reluctant family outsider to ruthless mafia boss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Clemenza</span> Fictional character from The Godfather series

Peter Clemenza is a fictional character who first appeared in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather. He is played by Academy Award-nominee Richard Castellano in Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 film adaptation of the novel, and by Bruno Kirby in The Godfather Part II (1974).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luca Brasi</span> Fictional character in The Godfather

Luca Brasi is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather, as well as its 1972 film adaptation. In the film, he was portrayed by Lenny Montana, an ex-wrestler and former bodyguard and enforcer for the Colombo crime family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carmela Corleone</span> Fictional character from The Godfather series

Carmela Corleone (1897–1959) is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather. Carmela is portrayed by Italian-American Morgana King in Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 film adaptation of the novel, and in The Godfather Part II (1974). King also played Carmela Corleone in the 1977 television mini-series, The Godfather Saga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salvatore Tessio</span> Fictional character from The Godfather series

Salvatore "Sal" Tessio is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather, as well as two of the films based on it: The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974). His given name was created for the films; in the novel he is referred to only as "Tessio". In the film The Godfather, Tessio was portrayed by Abe Vigoda. In The Godfather Part II, John Aprea portrayed the younger Tessio, while Vigoda reprised the role in a flashback, set in late 1941, at the end of the film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Neri</span> Fictional character from The Godfather series

Albert "Al" Neri is a fictional character appearing in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather and Francis Ford Coppola's trilogy of films based on it. In all three motion pictures, he is portrayed by actor Richard Bright. He functions as Michael Corleone's personal enforcer, bodyguard and assassin.

<i>The Godfather Returns</i> 2004 novel by Mark Winegardner

The Godfather Returns is a novel written by author Mark Winegardner, published in 2004. It is the sequel to Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather and The Sicilian (1984). The publisher, Random House, selected Winegardner to write a sequel after Puzo's death. As the original novel covered the years 1945 to 1955, and included significant backstory on Don Vito Corleone's life, Returns covers the years 1955 to 1962, and includes significant backstory on Michael Corleone's life prior to the first novel. It is the third book in The Godfather series of novels.

<i>The Godfathers Revenge</i> 2006 novel by Mark Winegardner

The Godfather's Revenge, a 2006 novel written by author Mark Winegardner, is the sequel to his 2004 novel The Godfather Returns. It is the fourth book in The Godfather novel series and is chronologically set last.

Mark Winegardner is an American writer born and raised in Bryan, Ohio. His novels include The Godfather Returns, Crooked River Burning, and The Veracruz Blues. He published a collection of short stories, That's True of Everybody, in 2002. His newest novel, The Godfather's Revenge, was published in November 2006 by Putnam. His Godfather novels continue the story of the Corleone family depicted in Mario Puzo's The Godfather.

The Godfather is a trilogy of American crime films directed by Francis Ford Coppola inspired by the 1969 novel of the same name by Italian American author Mario Puzo. The films follow the trials of the fictional Italian American mafia Corleone family whose patriarch, Vito Corleone, rises to be a major figure in American organized crime. His youngest son, Michael Corleone, becomes his successor. The films were distributed by Paramount Pictures and released in 1972, 1974, and 1990. The series achieved success at the box office, with the films earning between $430 and $517 million worldwide. The Godfather and The Godfather Part II are both seen by many as two of the greatest films of all time. The series is heavily awarded, winning 9 out of 28 total Academy Award nominations.

<i>The Family Corleone</i> Novel by Edward Falco

The Family Corleone is a 2012 novel by Ed Falco, based on an unproduced screenplay by Mario Puzo, who died in 1999. It is the prequel to Puzo's The Godfather. It was published by Grand Central Publishing and released May 8, 2012. It is the fifth and final book published in The Godfather novel series but, being a prequel, it is chronologically set first.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connie Corleone</span> Fictional character from The Godfather series

Constanzia "Connie" Corleone is a fictional character in The Godfather, a 1969 novel by Mario Puzo, and the 1972 film The Godfather. In the film, Connie is portrayed by Talia Shire, the sister of the director Francis Ford Coppola. Shire was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Connie Corleone in The Godfather Part II.

References

  1. ↑ ""The Godfather" Turns 40". CBS News. CBS Interactive Inc. March 15, 2012. Archived from the original on July 17, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  2. ↑ "The Sicilian". Variety. 1987-01-01. Retrieved 2019-03-15.
  3. ↑ Schulder, Michael (4 September 2012). "CNN Profiles: Ed Falco's prequel to 'The Godfather'". CNN Radio. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  4. ↑ Patten, Dominic (21 December 2012). "Paramount & Puzo Estate Settle 'Godfather' Suit".
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