The Godfather is a three parts based movie which became one of the most acclaimed movie franchise of all time.
The movie is based on crime novel based on American- Italian mafia families headed by Carleone family and their rise from ashes to power. The first novel of the series was written in 1969 by Mario Puzo selling more than 21 million copies. Which was later turned into 3 feature films by the name of Godfather.
Themes: Loyalty and betrayal: Loyalty in the series is considered as the most prized possession among the organized crime families. However where there is struggle for power or a chance to get revenge, betrayal become a tool for it. Though betrayal is a sin in a book punishable by death yet ther
e are instances
where weak minds lean towards the wrong path of betrayal and pay the ultimate price for it.
Don Carleone gain loyalties through favors and love but if it wasn’t enough he tend to have it through fear and violence. Don Carleone family is protected through these loyal soldiers of the family. When Paulie a long time loyal of Don Carleone family betray the family, he is executed instantly without giving him a second chance, which shows the importance of loyalty in the movie and consequences of betrayal. The Carleone clan values loyalty over every worldly materials. Don Carleone assures his allies that favors is granted and debt repaid as long as loyalty is there.
Patriarchy: God Father Realm is dominated by men and female characters are kept to the minimal. Violence is the key factor among this male dominant society where they had to be in a constant battle for domination. Male domination for these characters become a trait and they do apply these toward the women in their society as well. Women are not considered as an equal but they are considered a means of lust an object to be controlled through use of violence to assert dominance in the family and society. Don Carleone is a symbol of patriarchy not only for his personal family but for his crime family, he is the head of the table and hold a formal title of Godfather. “Luca Brasi did not fear the police, he did not fear society, he did not fear God, he did not fear hell, he did not fear or love his fellow man. But he had elected, he had chosen, to fear and love Don Corleone.
”Puzo characterized Don Vito Carleone’s eldest son, Sonny Carleone as an aggressive, abuser masculine figure.
Puzo compare him with a bull. Despite being a married man he is seen with different women in an intimate encounters, which could be described as his personality equally feared and desired by women. Another case of patriarchy can be Johnny Fontane views girls as prizes to be collected and not souls. Major Difference between novel and movie: The first major difference between the movie Godfather and novel is that book have much more explicit sex scenes which couldn’t made it to the film. Characters are in much more details in the book, each character have a backdrop story and vivid characterization but the movie solely focuses on the main characters and its development. The novel is narrated detailed and descriptive while movie is a bit fast paced adaption and avoid narration to keep the energy intact and keep it flowing. Johnny Fontane plays a much bigger role in the novel than in the movie. His service to Don Vito Corleone pays off. He became a movie star and later on a film producer too, he became successful in the movie and become a movie producer. In the movie it is never explained how Don Carleone bring Michael back home from Sicily when police were after him. Book give us the answer to this question when Don Vito Carleon e find a scapegoat for his son’s freedom by framing a guy from a small Sicilian mob family. Historical Context: The Godfather is historically significant because it show the lives of post-World War II Americans specifically Italian American between 1940s to 1950s. It shows the economic and social change brought by war and the rapidly growing organized crime. Organized crime did find a foothold post world war II after the prohibition era. The end of the war made it possible for mob families to operate and expand their operations.
They were once in shadows but now they have come to the forefront of American market.
and work openly Cultural Value: The Godfather is an epitome of The American dream. A young immigrant Italian working hard to provide for his family until the judicial system fails him. Don Vito Carleon quickly realizes that American dream cannot be achieve solely with working hard but power is a key figure to achieve this milestone. American culture and American constitution gives the liberty to life full of happiness and opportunity, how you have to get there and achieve it is a different story. The Godfather gives its audience and readers the glimpse of that American dream and culture. Both American and Italian culture collide in Don’s pursuit of American dream. It is a reminder for Italian readers of how their ancestors came to this nation and made it to the top of the society.
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