FILOMENO, Ford; GELERA, Peter

STEM 11-Achelous

The Godfather

Mario Puzo

Insights of the Viewer

1. Who is the author? What are his achievements and other written works?

Mario Puzo is an author, screenwriter, and journalist of Italian

heritage but of American nationality. He won Best Adapted Screenplay
for his most popular work the Godfather Parts 1 and 2 in 1972 and
1974, respectively. It is also important to note that he wrote the
original screenplay for the 1978 Superman film. He was born in a
meager neighborhood in New York into a poor family of Italian
immigrants. He writes novels, nonfictions, short stories, and
screenplays for film adaptations. Some of his books are The Dark Arena
(1955), The Fortunate Pilgrim (1965), The Runaway Summer of Davie
Shaw (1966), Six Graves to Munich (1967) for the novels; The
Godfather Papers and Other Confessions (1972), Inside Las Vegas
(1977) for the nonfictions; and The Last Christmas (1950), John 'Red'
Marston's Island of Delight (1964), Big Mike's Wild Young Sister-in-law
(1964), The Six Million Killer Sharks That Terrorize Our Shores (1966),
for his short stories. In his early career, he wrote under the pseudonym
Mario Cleri while working for the Magazine Management Company
which is owned by publisher Martin Goodman. He, along with other
eventual prominent writers like Bruce Jay Friedman, was in the line of
mens magazines. He also wrote World War II adventures during the
time.
His most famous work, The Godfather, was encouraged by a
suggestion of the publisher of his The Fortunate Pilgrim (1965) who
thought that if there was more mafia then, it would have been more
successful. The story for the said novel was rejected many times by
several publishers but after being accepted and, later on, being
adapted into film which was directed by fellow Italian Francis Ford
Coppola, it won three of the eleven Academy Awards, one of which is
the Best Adapted Screenplay. The novel was also seen in New York
Times Best Seller List for nine months.

2. What personality/childhood/personal history of the author contributed to

the creation of the book?
 Although only being sparked by a colleague for Puzo to start on
an Italian mafia novel, the creation of The Godfather was very much
dear to his heart and in the words of Robert Evans of Paramount film
productions, ethnic to the core not only because he was Italian, but
mainly because of his growing up as a poor Italian in Hells Kitchen
which was originally known for its poor inhabitants of both Irish
Americans and Italian Americans (although the neighborhood
gentrified eventually in the 70s). Puzos works are mostly of the crime
genre, specifically the Italian mafia, because growing into such world,
he saw firsthand the business of the crime. Because of this, most of his
books reflect heavily his heritage. Like almost all of the authors, this
childhood of Puzo sparked in him a natural desire to narrate a story of
Italian mafia and make the world see this side of the world.

3. Who are the lead characters of the film? Provide a brief description of their
personality, motives in life/ambition, and the problem/s they are
encountering.

The story revolves around the Corleone family, an Italian mafia

family during the post-World War II era where the crime business of
mostly Italians generally flourished. The story centered two main
characters (although every character is essential): 1Vito Corleone
the patriarch of the Corleone family and the Don of the familys crime
business. He is the Godfather from which the title was derived [though
not limited to him because it extends to his son (refer to the next
character)] and the story revolved around. Vito manages the family
business that is founded on gambling, bootlegging, and corruption, but
he is known as a generous man, living by a strict moral code of loyalty
to friends and, above all, family. Because of this, he somehow justifies
his evil business through his good deeds. He is also a traditionalist who
demands respect equaling his acquired high status that even his
closest friends refer to him as "Godfather" or "Don Corleone" rather
than merely "Vito". 2Michael Corleone Vitos youngest son who is
the only professional (college-educated) member of the family. He is a
decorated World War II hero and had wanted to live an American life
with his American girlfriend Kay Adams, away from his Italian criminal
family. This is also what Don Vito wants, for Michael to live a good life
and have a legitimate occupation. But after being provoked by a series
of events that pierced his heart in the early parts of the film, he is
steered into the family business he once stayed away from. He was a
supposedly sweet son who only wanted the good in life but once in the
whirlwind of the business, he was known to be a more ruthless boss
than his father. Michaels progression from a peaceful life into the
 mafia world as a heartless Godfather is the main subject matter of the
film.

4. Who are the secondary characters? How did they contribute in the flow of
the story?

The sons of Vito and Michaels girlfriend provide meaningful auxiliary

characters: 1Sonny Corleone the eldest son of Vito and the heir
apparent to his fathers throne, he has a fiery temper and a very volatile
character. Because of this and the fact that he is underboss, several
events were shot up in the air in an abrupt manner that could have led the
Corleone family to its downfall. 2Kay Adams Michaels longtime
girlfriend and second wife, she is an outsider to the Corleones world, and
symbolizes Michael's initial desire to live a more Americanized and honest
life, separate from his family's. During the first scene of the film when she
and Michael attend his sisters wedding, they sit at a table away from the
family. 3Tom Hagen the adopted son of Vito, he is Irish American and
the familys lawyer and consigliere (councilor). He symbolizes the
conscience of a ruthless boss that balances the heartlessness of a
godfather.

5. What is the problem presented in the story?

The Corleone familys business include gambling, bootlegging, and

corruption (and protection racket at times) but never drugs. During the
Yuletide season, however, drug baron Virgil Sollozzo, backed by the fellow
Italian mafia Tattaglia family, asks Vito for investment and, thus,
involvement in his narcotics business and protection through Vitos
political connections. Vito declines according to his strong belief that
drugs ruin not only peoples lives but also his political insiders. From this
point onwards, the whirlwind of events happened, most important of
which is the thrust of Michaels life in the callous world of his family. Don
Vito sends his caporegime and old friend Luca Brasi to spy on Sollozzo
after having a hunch of treachery after he declines the drug offer. Brasi is
strangled with a wire by Sollozzo and Bruno Tattaglia, a protector and
backer of Sollozzo, during their first meeting. To finish off, Sollozzo gunned
down Vito while the Corleone patriarch was buying fruits in a narrow street
and kidnapped Hagen. With the original Don gone, underboss Sonny was
now in command but because of his temper-led leadership, his actions
almost led the family to its end. During this hurricane of fast happenings,
Michael decided to kill Sollozzo and McCluskey, a corrupt police captain
under Sollozzos payroll, in an attempt to settle the dispute. With the
blessing of now-Don Sonny, he kills them both and flees to Sicily, Italy for
protection.
6. How was the problem resolved?

This problem is solved or, at least, addressed through an apparently

another problem. After consuming his time in Sicily, Michael returns to New
York to find out that the state of the Corleone family is in an almost ruins with
Sonny ambushed and Vito in stress. Moreover, Michael founds out that the
current state of the family now considers going into the once-forbidden drug
proximity. With no choice left and, ironically, willful demand, he then takes
over the family business he once wanted to stay away from. This was the
starting point of him being the Godfather of the Corleone family and the real
namesake of the film. As he assumes office, he immediately orders ruthless
actions for the dispute to be settled. This includes the immediate killing of
people that gets in his way, even if it includes bosses of other Italian mafias.
The succeeding events gave way for a sequel to be released as there is
something to wait for Michaels leadership now that he is Don Corleone.

7. How did the author present the story or the plot? How did it start?

Though a bit different from the book, the film started with the now-
famous line, I love America. America has made my fortune. This line is
later on revealed to be coming from someone talking to Don Vito who,
with his consiglieres and caporegimes, is seated and somehow stealthily
situated in his smoky office, concealed from the gayness of the event that
surrounds him the wedding of his daughter. This man talking to the Don
is clearly asking for his favors and the Dons character is clearly seen and
revealed as a boss. This portrayal of the Vitos character is immediately
interesting and gives the viewers a fast grasp on what is to be the general
theme of the film.
The conflict started with, as what has been said, the disagreement of
the Corleone family in the drug offer by Sollozzo and from this point, the
main subject matter of the film is seen.

8. Why do you think the story was entitled that way by the author?

An effective title would be something that is intriguing and will get the
reader wanting more of what is in the book. Puzo probably put a large
The Godfather in white text in black background alongside a drawing of
a puppeteers hand to give the readers an intriguing grasp that the book
may be talking about a powerful godfather who controls people. As one
reads the book or watches the film, Don Vito is the godfather for the
superficial understanding but one is directed to the character of Michael
as the real godfather how he is put into the position that requires
 ruthlessness from a peaceful point as a WWII hero and a seemingly sturdy
pedestal of a decorated war hero.

9. Why or why not would you recommend the book/movie to your friends?

A film that is acclaimed to be one of the greatest films of all time

is deemed as such not just for nothing. The Godfather presents the
genuine state of the gang life in the 50s (and even until now): fierce
tribal loyalties, deadly little neighborhood quarrels in Brooklyn, and a
form of vengeance to match every affront, brushing aside the flashy
glamour of the traditional gangster picture. If readers want a
mainstream yet deep interpretation and understanding of the gang life,
this is an excellent pick as this will give both the overview of the mafia
life and the heart of its motives. Considered a classic, a reader or a film
enthusiast is smitten upon his credentials if he has not read or watched
this yet. Though beauty is subjective and relative, The Godfathers
beauty is in all means perceivable and appreciable for readers of any
genre. It also introduced Italian mafia terms to the English-speaking
world. Such words include consigliere, caporegime, Cosa Nostra, and
omerta, giving a genuine Italian feel to both the readers and watchers.
This tells us that the novel gives the readers a taste of everything and,
thus, a great pick for both leisure and informative reading. It will stir in
us a thinking of the world around us.