The story begins in Corleone, Sicily, in 1901, where we meet Vito Andolini, a young man who would later become Vito Corleone, the powerful Don of the Corleone family. The early 20th century was a time of great change and upheaval, with World War I and the rise of organized crime in America.
The climax of the trilogy is not a gangland shootout, but an opera. As Anthony Corleone sings Cavalleria Rusticana , a story of betrayal and death, the remnants of Michael’s world are slaughtered on the steps of the theater. The death of his daughter, Mary—shot by an assassin’s bullet meant for him—is the final judgment. Michael does not die in the gunfight; he dies screaming in silence, a howl of despair that echoes across the decades. the godfather trilogy 1901 to 1980
As the years pass, Vito Corleone becomes a powerful and respected Don, known for his business acumen and commitment to family. The story begins in Corleone, Sicily, in 1901,
For newcomers: Watch in release order (I, II, III). For veterans: The chronological cut (1901–1980) is a punishing, beautiful tragedy about the death of the American dream. As Anthony Corleone sings Cavalleria Rusticana , a
If Vito is the Old World father, Michael Corleone is the New World son, and The Godfather (and the first half of Part II ) is the story of the son devouring the father. Michael begins as the embodiment of Vito’s legitimate aspirations—a war hero in a uniform rather than a pinstripe suit, a Dartmouth graduate. He distances himself from the family business, famously telling his girlfriend Kay, "That's my family, Kay. It's not me."
As Vito Corleone's health declines, his youngest son Michael, a war hero, becomes increasingly involved in the family business.