Film Lore

Don Vito Corleone is the head of a New York Mafia "family". Problems arise when a gangster supported by another Mafia family, Sollozzo, announces his intentions to start selling drugs all over New York. Don Vito hates the idea of drugs, and he is quite happy with the gambling/protection etc. that make him money, so an attempt is made on his life. Sollozzo then kidnaps one of Don Vitos advisors, and tries to make him force Don Vitos son to agree to sell drugs, but the plan goes wrong when Sollozzo finds out that Don Vito is still alive.

Don Vito Corleone -Marlon Brandon
Don Vito Corleone is the spider at the centre of a web of deceit, murder and larceny. Easy with the fear the he induces, interpreting it as respect, Corleone is kept busy even on his daughter Connie's wedding day. While guests eat and drink and dance on the lawns of his spacious estate, Corleone grants an audience to people who want something from him - a service that no one else can provide. His visitors range from the lowliest undertaker to the most famous singer, Jimmy Fontane, but they all have something in common. After Corleone has granted his favour they will always be in his dept and one day much to their fear he will collect. When Sollozzo, a rising force in the city, comes to Corleone for assistance and offers a healthy cut of the profits in return, the Godfather refuses. He listens patiently but he refuses to risk his political contacts and prestige for such tainted money. Other mob families have no such qualms and as such back Sollozzo igniting one of the periodic wars that wrack the metropolis and leaves behind a trail of corpses and bad blood. If the Godfather is not wise and careful enough he may well find himself joining the growing mound of the dead.

Michael Corleone -Al Pacino
The youngest son of Vito Corleone is that of Michael and as such he has never really been involved in the family business. He was part of the army during World War II and was made a war hero. At the conclusion of the War he returned home to his girlfriend Kay Adams whom he would later marry. During his time at home Michael found himself slowly being drawn into the family business. He soon learns of an assassination attempt on his father. A result of this failed assassination attempt is that Vito is no longer able to continue in his role as head of the business. Angered by this Michael and his brother Sonny arrange a meeting with Sollozzo and Mcluskey, whom they learned were the responsible parties for the failed assassination attempt on their father. Michael executes the two with gunshots to the head and subsequently flees to Sicily to avoid being caught. While in hiding the new head of the business, Michaels brother Sonny, is killed and this forces Michael to return and take control.

Sonny Corleone -James Caan
Sonny Corleone is the oldest son and is extremely hot headed and trigger-happy with a very violent streak to his nature. However these qualities have not hindered him in the fact that he is second to that of the Godfather along with his adopted brother Tom Hagen. The pair make an extremely good team. However his violent nature worries not only his father but Tom as well. And one day Sonny lets loose against his brother in law Carlo for beating his Sister Connie. Connie tries to take the blame for the bruises that cover her face. However this attempt to try and protect Carlo from Sonny fails and Carlo suffers Sonny's wrath. However shortly afterwards rival Mafia chief Barzini guns down Sonny at the causeway tollbooth when Carlo informs him of Sonny's whereabouts in an act of traitorous revenge.

Tom Hagen -Robert Duvall
is the adopted son of Vito Corleone and extremely important to the running of the family business as the consiglari (Italian for councillor). He is responsible for all the Godfathers affairs and acts as the family lawyer and representative at Mafia meetings. He is a very calm and quite individual who appears to have no connection with crime at all but that is nothing more than an ale-berate front. Tom is sent by the Godfather to make an offer to a big director about giving his grandson Jonny Fontaine a part in his movie. The director refuses and turns down Tom's and therefore the Godfathers offer. Tom informs the director that he best make good his escape from town because the Godfather does not like to hear bad news. The next morning the director awakes to find that his thoroughbred horse has had its head cut off and places beside him in his bed. Tom's involvment in this shows that he has a well hidden and controled brutal side to his nature.

Kay Adams -Diane Keaton
Kay Adams is Michaels fiancé by the time he returns from the war and shortly after his return they are married. Eventually Kay become involved in the seedy world of the Mafia as at first Michael is forced to flee after committing a double murder and then eventually ascends to the head of the family business and head of the Corleone household.

Sal Tessio -Abe Visoda
Sal Tessio is one of the Godfathers top henchmen and has been connected to the Corleone family for over 25 years. He aids Michael in the revenge killings of Sollozzo and Mcluskey for the attempted murder of his father. Tessio arranges the meeting and also picks up Michael after the murders. However when Michael assumes control of the family after the death of the Godfather Tessio shows no respect for the new Godfather and attempts to go it alone. At Don Vito's funeral however Michael learns that Sal is attempting to have Michael killed. This act of treason by a person who has been loyal to the Corleone family for over 25 years is regarded as a huge criminal disloyalty.

McLuskey -Sterling Hayden
McLuskey is the tall Irish bent police officer that is taking back handers from the Sollozzo family who are trying to push the drugs trade into the Mafia dealings. McLuskey's first job for the Sollozzo family was to arrest the bodyguards of the Godfather outside the hospital who were protecting him after the failed assassination attempt. Michael arrives at the hospital to find that there is no protection for his wounded father so he decides that he will be the one to look after his father. Shortly afterwards McLuskey arrives and tries to arrest Michael but after questioning him about how much he is being paid and Michaels refusal to co-operate McLuskey lashes out striking Michael breaking his jaw. This is a terrible mis-calculation on McLuskeys part as he is later shot through the head by Michael in a café.