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The Godfather: An American Dream Story Essay

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The Godfather: An American Dream Story

The Godfather is the “dark-side of the American dream story” (Turan, pp2). The film follows the practices of a fictional Italian mafia family, the Corleone’s. Though most Americans do not condone the practices of the Italian mafia, they cannot deny that Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather is a cinematic masterpiece. This film gave insight to a mysterious way of life that the average person does not have knowledge of. As the audience is educated about the mafia they also are introduced to many stereotypes. Many of the film’s important scenes begin with one key character, Don Vito Corleone and the word “Godfather…” The setting is very dark as the film opens and a man is asking for …show more content…

The women of the Corleone and other families are subservient to their men; Sonny, the Don’s son is engaging in an affair during the wedding. Of course there are big uneducated men to carry out Corleone’s dirty business. There is also an added character that plays an interesting role; he is a singer, Johnny Fontane, from Hollywood and Corleone is his Godfather. Many people suspect that he is actually Frank Sinatra and it is the story of how he made it big in the entertainment business.

Vito Corleone and his family have been made an offer by another family to join the narcotics business. To clear up any hostility on their turning down the idea he sends one of his men, Luca Brasi, to settle things. Luca is killed at a bar during his meeting at which he was supposed to kill the other man. Meanwhile the Godfather is leaving work without his regular driver. As he is purchasing fruit from a stand two men run by and shoot him. The press and the other families believe the Don Vito Corleone is dead from gunshot wounds. This scene begins the uproar between all of the families causing many changes and problems for the Corleone family. Another important part of the film is the change of Michael, the good son; he becomes involved in the family business of cleaning up the mess caused by the shooting of his father. This takes place after the Don has been shot and he has been beaten up by a corrupt police officer in a restaurant. Michael

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