The Godfather Book Vs Movie

Matthew Grange
Miss Bohanon
Comp 1
March 21, 2013

The Legacy of Michael Corleone

Have you ever heard someone say that the book is always better than the movie? Most avid readers hold this belief to be indubitably true. In most cases, the differences between the book and the movie are minute. However, one movie series based on a book has three astronomical differences that change the entire message conveyed by the writer. Even though said franchise is considered a cult classic and has been ranked number three on AFI’s (American Film Institute) top one-hundred films list for the last fifteen years, not many have actually read the book that the franchise is based upon. The film franchise I refer to is of course, The Godfather trilogy.
On the long list of books made into movies The Godfather stands as a shining example of the right way to do it. When The Godfather debuted in 1972 it was an instant classic. Based off of Mario Puzo’s novel The Godfather coupled with actors like Marlon Brando (Don Corleone) and Al Pacino (Michael Corleone) it was as if Don Corleone himself had been resurrected to direct the film. Hitting most of the key scenes from the movie and going into great detail was no easy task but was well worth the time and effort. However, like all movies based on books it had its flaws.
The first of which occurred within the first minutes of the film. During the opening scene of the film Don Corleone is shown conversing with various guests in his office on the day of his daughter’s wedding. It is explained that a Sicilian cannot refuse any request made of him on the day of his daughter’s wedding. In the film a baker comes to Don Corleone in need of assistance, the baker proceeds to explain that his daughter has fallen in love with a young man who works at his bakery but that he will soon be deported if he cannot find a legitimate job in the United States and asks Don Corleone for help. The Godfather honors his request and arranges his soon to be son in law to work at one of his various warehouses making a respectable amount of money. In the film they make it seem as if the only reason the Godfather did this was because he was obligated to. This however is not the case, in the novel it is explained that the baker had shown great respect and admiration to the Godfather and had brought various cakes and other pastries to his home every Sunday. He had always remembered when one of the Corleone’s had a birthday and lavished them with gifts of cakes, pies and other delectable pastries. For this the Godfather was eternally grateful and was eager to see the baker and help him with whatever troubled him. By changing this they make Don Corleone seem cold and distant when in reality he was like anyone else, he always helped those who showed him respect even when they weren’t in
need. The second difference occurs when Michael and Sonny are plotting to kill Solozo for the attempt on their fathers’ life. After much deliberation Michael suggests that he should be the one to kill Solozo in which Sonny replies that he is taking it personally and is irrational to which Michael replies “it’s strictly business, it’s not personal.” This however is not how it occurred in the novel, when Sonny proposes that Michael is taking it personally he instead replies that “if there’s anything I’ve learned from pop is that it’s all personal, none of it is strictly business.” By changing this in transition from the book to the movie they change Michael’s entire outlook on the family business forever altering his future decisions and his reasoning behind them. The third and final grievance occurs during the closing scene of the film. During the closing scene as Michael takes his place at his father’s desk his wife Kate asks him whether or not he killed his sister’s abusive husband. Michael tells her that he did not but as she leaves she turns and looks at him as if he were a monster knowing that he is lying to her and had his brother in law killed for his offenses. This is the complete opposite of what happened in the book, earlier in the book it is said that Michael’s mother goes to church every day. Kate later questions her as to why she goes every day to which she responds that because she understands the necessity of what Vito (The Godfather) does and the decisions he has to make she goes to church every day to pray for his soul so that he may go to heaven when he passes. In the ending chapter of the novel Kate accompanies Mama Corleone to church every morning to pray for the soul of Michael Corleone. This is the most important difference between the book and the movie. This pivotal point changes Michael Corleone’s entire future, because of this change Kate has an abortion and leaves Michael in the second film his children grow to despise him and in the end Michael dies old and alone with no one left to carry on his legacy.