The Godfather (1972) Full Plot Spoilers & Detailed Summary: An in-depth look at Francis Ford Coppola's masterpiece, detailing Michael Corleone's transformation from war hero to ruthless mafia boss and the fall of the Five Families.
Synopsis
In post-war New York City, Don Vito Corleone presides over a powerful mafia empire built on gambling, protection, and political influence. While his hot-headed son Sonny is eager to expand the family business, his youngest son, Michael, a decorated Marine, wants nothing to do with a life of crime. However, when a refusal to enter the drug trade triggers an assassination attempt on his father, Michael is dragged into a bloody gang war that threatens to tear the family apart and force him to embrace a dark destiny he long sought to escape.
Information |
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Language |
English |
Country |
United States |
Premiere date |
March 24, 1972 |
Running time |
175 minutes |
Genre |
Crime Drama |
Budget |
$6,000,000 |
Box Office |
$246,120,974 |
Crew |
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Directed by |
Francis Ford Coppola |
Produced by |
Albert S. Ruddy |
Written by |
Mario Puzo Francis Ford Coppola |
Music by |
Nino Rota |
Cinematography |
Gordon Willis |
Edited by |
William Reynolds Peter Zinner |
Production Co. |
Alfran Productions |
Distributed by |
Paramount Pictures |
Top Cast |
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Official Trailer |
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Movie Collection |
Movie Order: #01 in The Godfather Collection
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The Plot
The Wedding and the Don's Justice
In late summer 1945, the sprawling Corleone estate is alive with festivities for the wedding reception of Don Vito Corleone's daughter, Connie, to Carlo Rizzi. While the guests dance and celebrate outside, the Don, known affectionately as "Godfather," holds court in his darkened study. Accompanied by Tom Hagen, his adopted son and family lawyer, Vito hears requests for favors, adhering to the Italian tradition that "no Sicilian can refuse a request on his daughter's wedding day." Among the petitioners is Amerigo Bonasera, an undertaker who seeks justice for his daughter, brutally beaten by two young men who received only suspended sentences. Although disappointed that Bonasera had previously shunned his friendship to avoid the stigma of organized crime, the Don agrees to have the men punished—but not killed—in exchange for Bonasera's future loyalty, reminding him that his wife is godmother to the undertaker's daughter.
Outside, the Don’s youngest son, Michael, a decorated Marine hero recently returned from World War II, introduces his girlfriend, Kay Adams, to the family's inner circle. He recounts anecdotes about his father's criminal enterprise, including the story of Luca Brasi, the Don's terrifying enforcer. Despite the grim nature of the stories, Michael reassures a shocked Kay that "that's my family, Kay. It's not me," signaling his intention to lead a legitimate life. Meanwhile, the family dynamics are laid bare: Fredo, the middle son, is drunk and dim-witted; Sonny, the hot-tempered eldest son and heir apparent, sneaks away for an illicit tryst with bridesmaid Lucy Mancini; and Johnny Fontane, the famous singer and Vito's godson, arrives from Hollywood to beg for help in salvaging his career.
An Offer He Can't Refuse
Johnny Fontane explains that studio head Jack Woltz is refusing to cast him in a war film that could revitalize his stardom. Don Corleone dismisses Johnny's weeping but promises to resolve the matter, famously assuring him, "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse." Following the wedding, Tom Hagen travels to Los Angeles to negotiate with Woltz. The studio head initially treats Hagen cordially but flies into a rage when the subject of Fontane is raised, revealing he holds a deep grudge because Johnny seduced a starlet Woltz was grooming. Woltz vows never to cast the singer.
The Don's persuasion manifests in a horrific manner the following morning. Woltz wakes in his luxurious bedroom to feel something wet in his sheets. Pulling back the covers, he discovers himself lying in a pool of blood, with the severed head of Khartoum—his prized $600,000 stud horse—placed at the foot of the bed. Terrified and broken, Woltz immediately grants Johnny the role.
The Sollozzo Proposal and Betrayal
Upon Hagen’s return, the family meets with Virgil "The Turk" Sollozzo, a heroin trafficker backed by the rival Tattaglia family. Sollozzo requests political protection and financing to import and distribute narcotics in New York. Despite the promise of immense profits, Don Corleone declines, reasoning that his political connections would sever ties if he involved himself in the drug trade. During the meeting, Sonny impulsively speaks out, questioning the security of the investment, inadvertently revealing a crack in the family's unity. The Don privately rebukes Sonny for letting an outsider know what he was thinking.
Sensing a threat, the Don dispatches Luca Brasi to infiltrate Sollozzo’s operation by feigning dissatisfaction with the Corleones. However, the plan fails; during a meeting with Bruno Tattaglia and Sollozzo, Brasi is stabbed in the hand and garroted to death. Shortly after, as Don Corleone buys fruit in the street, he is ambushed and gunned down. Fredo, who was accompanying his father, fumbles with his weapon and fails to return fire as the assassins escape. The Don survives but is left in critical condition.
War in the Streets
In the wake of the shooting, Sollozzo abducts Tom Hagen to deliver a new ultimatum to Sonny: accept the drug deal or face total war. Sonny, now acting head of the family, refuses to negotiate. He receives a grim package from the Tattaglias—two fresh fish wrapped in Luca Brasi’s bulletproof vest—a Sicilian message signifying that "Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes." Realizing they are at war, the family "goes to the mattresses," preparing safe houses for their soldiers.
Clemenza, one of the Don's caporegimes, is tasked with purging the traitor within their ranks. Paulie Gatto, the Don’s bodyguard who called in sick on the day of the shooting, is driven to a remote location by Clemenza and Rocco Lampone. While Clemenza relieves himself by the roadside, Rocco executes Paulie with a shot to the head, leaving his body in the car.
The Hospital and the Restaurant Hit
Michael visits the hospital and finds his father unguarded; the police, influenced by Sollozzo, had cleared the floor. Realizing another assassination attempt is imminent, Michael moves his father to a different room and stands guard outside with Enzo the baker. When Captain McCluskey, a corrupt police officer on Sollozzo's payroll, arrives, he viciously breaks Michael’s jaw for interfering. Tom Hagen arrives with private detectives just in time to save the Don, but the incident cements Michael's involvement in the family business.
Michael convinces Sonny and the capos that the only way to end the threat is to kill both Sollozzo and McCluskey. Although the family is skeptical about killing a police captain, Michael argues that McCluskey is corrupt and therefore fair game. A meeting is arranged at a small Italian restaurant. Michael, having retrieved a planted revolver from the restroom, returns to the table and shoots Sollozzo and McCluskey dead at point-blank range. He immediately flees to Sicily to hide while the Five Families of New York erupt into all-out war.
Exile in Sicily and Sonny's Demise
While Michael hides in Sicily under the protection of Don Tommasino, he falls in love with and marries a local woman named Apollonia. Back in New York, the war takes a toll. Sonny, enraged by reports that Carlo is physically abusing the pregnant Connie, brutally beats his brother-in-law in the street. Humiliated, Carlo conspires with the rival Barzini family. He stages another domestic dispute to lure Sonny out. As Sonny races to his sister's aid, he is ambushed at a toll booth on the Long Island Causeway and riddled with bullets by a squad of machine-gun-wielding hitmen.
Tragedy also strikes Michael in Sicily. As he prepares to move to a safer villa, a car bomb intended for him kills Apollonia instead. The betrayal is traced to his bodyguard, Fabrizio, who flees immediately before the explosion.
The Peace Treaty and Michael's Return
Devastated by Sonny's death, Vito Corleone calls a meeting of the heads of the Five Families to negotiate a ceasefire. He realizes that Don Barzini, not Tattaglia, is the true mastermind behind the war. To ensure Michael's safe return, Vito agrees to provide political protection for the heroin trade, provided it is kept respectable and away from schools. Michael returns to America, reunites with Kay, and they marry. With Vito semi-retired and Fredo considered too weak to lead, Michael assumes the role of head of the family, promising Kay he will legitimize the business within five years.
The family prepares to move its operations to Nevada. Michael travels to Las Vegas to buy out Moe Greene, a casino owner sheltering Fredo. Greene rudely refuses Michael’s offer, and Fredo publicly sides with Greene during the argument. Later, Michael coldly warns his brother: "Fredo, you're my older brother, and I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the Family again. Ever."
The Baptism of Blood
Vito Corleone dies of a heart attack while playing in his garden with his grandson. At the funeral, Tessio, a trusted capo, approaches Michael with a proposal for a meeting with Barzini, confirming Vito’s earlier prediction that the family traitor would be the one to suggest the meeting. Michael sets a plan in motion to settle all family accounts on the day he stands as godfather to Connie and Carlo's newborn son.
As Michael renounces Satan during the baptism ceremony in the church, a montage of brutal assassinations unfolds across the city. Clemenza blasts Don Stracci in an elevator; Moe Greene is shot through the eye while receiving a massage; Don Cuneo is trapped in a revolving door and executed; Don Tattaglia is gunned down in bed; and Al Neri, disguised as a policeman, kills Don Barzini on the steps of his office. The Corleone rivals are wiped out in a single stroke.
The Final Betrayals
Following the baptism, Tessio believes he is escorting Michael to the peace meeting, but he is surrounded by Michael’s men. Realizing his fate, he tells Tom Hagen, "Tell Mike it was only business. I always liked him." Tessio is led away to his death. Michael then confronts Carlo regarding Sonny's murder. Under pressure, Carlo admits that Barzini approached him. Michael assures him he will not be killed but is exiled from the family business. However, as Carlo enters a car to leave for the airport, he is garroted to death by Clemenza.
A hysterical Connie confronts Michael, accusing him of murdering her husband and orchestrating the slaughter. After she is removed, Kay asks Michael if the accusations are true. Michael initially refuses to answer but finally allows her one question. When he denies killing Carlo, Kay is visibly relieved and believes him. She leaves the room to fix a drink. In the final moment, capos Clemenza, Neri, and Rocco enter the office, kissing Michael's hand and addressing him as "Don Corleone." As Kay watches from the hallway, Al Neri quietly closes the door, shutting her out of Michael's world completely.
