

In 1923, Vito and his family visit Sicily, during which he and his business partner Don Tommasino visit Don Ciccio, ostensibly to ask for Ciccio's blessing on their olive oil business. Vito becomes a formidable and well-respected community member by helping locals in exchange for "favors". Vito later kills Fanucci in his apartment. During a neighborhood festa, Vito pays an incredulous Fanucci a much smaller amount and is offered a job as an enforcer. Vito convinces his skeptical partners that he will talk Fanucci into accepting a smaller payment. This enterprise attracts the attention of Fanucci, who extorts them. Meanwhile, Vito, Clemenza, and new partner Salvatore Tessio make income by stealing goods and reselling them door-to-door. The Corleones have three more children: sons Fredo and Michael, and daughter Connie. His neighbor Peter Clemenza asks Vito to hide a bag of guns as thanks, Clemenza enlists Vito's help in stealing a rug, which he gives to Carmela. He loses his job due to the interference of Don Fanucci, a local Black Hand extortionist. In 1917, Vito lives in New York with his wife, Carmela, and their infant son, Sonny. Vito escapes to New York City and is registered on arrival as " Vito Corleone". In 1901, nine-year-old Vito Andolini flees his country after his whole family is killed in Corleone, Sicily when his father insults local Mafia chieftain Don Ciccio. The film interweaves between events some time after The Godfather and the early life of Vito Corleone.

The Godfather Part III, the final installment in the trilogy, was released in 1990. National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 1993, being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". It was selected for preservation in the U.S. In 1997, the American Film Institute ranked it as the 32nd-greatest film in American film history and it retained this position 10 years later. It is considered to be one of the greatest films of all time, as well as the rare example of a sequel that may be superior to its predecessor. Like its predecessor, Part II remains a highly influential film, especially in the gangster genre. Pacino won Best Actor at the BAFTAs and was nominated at the Oscars. Its six Oscar wins also included Best Director for Coppola, Best Supporting Actor for De Niro and Best Adapted Screenplay for Coppola and Puzo. The film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, and became the first sequel to win Best Picture. It grossed $48 million in the United States and Canada and up to $93 million worldwide on a $13 million budget. The Godfather Part II premiered in New York City on December 12, 1974, and was released in the United States on December 20, 1974, receiving divided reviews from critics its reputation, however, improved rapidly, and it soon became the subject of critical re-appraisal. Principal photography began in October 1973 and wrapped up in June 1974.

Coppola, who was given more creative control, had wanted to make both a sequel and a prequel to The Godfather that would tell the story of the rise of Vito and the fall of Michael.

The ensemble cast also features Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Morgana King, John Cazale, Mariana Hill, and Lee Strasberg.įollowing the success of the first film, Paramount Pictures began developing a follow-up, with many of the cast and crew returning. The film is partially based on the 1969 novel The Godfather by Mario Puzo, who co-wrote the screenplay with Coppola, and it is both a sequel and a prequel to the 1972 film The Godfather, presenting parallel dramas: one picks up the 1958 story of Michael Corleone ( Al Pacino), the new Don of the Corleone family, protecting the family business in the aftermath of an attempt on his life the prequel covers the journey of his father, Vito Corleone ( Robert De Niro), from his Sicilian childhood to the founding of his family enterprise in New York City. The Godfather Part II is a 1974 American epic crime film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
