Michael Corleone was loosely based on Salvatore “Bill” Bonanno, Joseph Bonanno's son, who was groomed to go into the straight life after law school but got prematurely pulled into the family business after his old man was kidnapped.

Was Michael Corleone based on a real person?

Michael Corleone is loosely based on Joseph Bonanno and Vito Genovese. Bonanno became a boss of his own family at a very young age and he relocated some of his businesses to Arizona in the 1960s. Genovese had fled to Sicily in the 1930s due to murder charges and ordered the deaths of rival bosses in the 1950s.

Who is the real life Corleone family?

Just like Vito Corleone, Carlo Gambino had four children: Thomas, Joseph, and Carlo, and a daughter, Phyllis Gambino Sinatra. Gambino's oldest son, Thomas, led a life similar to that of Sonny Corleone as well, being a longtime caporegime of the Gambino crime family.

Who is Michael Corleone supposed to be?

Of Vito's children, he is certainly the best candidate to take over the family. But Michael was never supposed to get involved in the Mafia. He was supposed to become a senator, perhaps even president. Even when he does begin working for his father, he doesn't seem fully reconciled to the decision.

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Do the five families still exist?

Yes. The Five Families are still intact in New York City, are still the five most powerful Italian mafia families in the US, are still very lucrative, and still are a focus for the FBI. The Genovese and Gambino are the stronger families, the Colombo is regarded as the weakest of the five.

Did the Corleone family exist?

Fictional history. The fictional Corleone crime family traces its roots to 1920, when Vito Corleone assassinated Little Italy's padrone, Don Fanucci, and took over Fanucci's territory along with his friends Genco Abbandando, Peter Clemenza and Salvatore Tessio.

Did Michael regret killing Fredo?

He is also mentioned many times throughout the film; the dialogue makes it clear that Michael is tormented with guilt over ordering his brother's death, and that it has alienated him from his ex-wife, Kay (Diane Keaton), and his son, Anthony (Franc D'Ambrosio), both of whom know the truth about Fredo's death.

Who killed Mary Corleone?

After her brother's debut concert, the assassin Mosca tries to kill Michael. One bullet grazes Michael's shoulder, but the other accidentally hits Mary in the chest, fatally wounding her. Michael is devastated by Mary's death, and screams in torment while cradling her dead body.

Why did Fredo betray Michael?

Fredo's decision is most likely a result of resentment toward Michael, by whom he felt he had been passed over. Michael was Fredo's "kid brother," and the fact that their father chose for Michael to take over the "family business" came as a great insult to Fredo, who was neither as intelligent nor as strong.

How old was Michael Corleone when he died?

His place of birth is listed as Hell's Kitchen, New York. And even though his death comes in the third installment (which was released in 1990), the closing events take place in 1997. This means Michael is 77 years old at the time of his death.

Who killed Sonny Corleone?

Enraged, Sonny speeds towards Connie's apartment in Hell's Kitchen ahead of his bodyguards. At the Long Beach Causeway toll plaza, Barzini's men trap Sonny and shoot him to death. During a meeting with the other crime family dons to establish peace, Vito realizes that Barzini masterminded Sonny's murder.

Who was the traitor in The Godfather?

Ultimately, Tessio betrays Michael by helping arrange his assassination at a peace summit with Barzini and Philip Tattaglia. The summit will be held in Tessio's fiefdom in Brooklyn, where Michael will presumably be safe. In return, Tessio was to inherit the Corleone family upon Michael's death.

Is any part of The Godfather true?

The Corleone family in The Godfather, though fictional, drew inspiration from real-life mafia figures. Characters and scenes in The Godfather, like Don Vito Corleone and the restaurant scene, are based on true events and people.

Why did Michael marry Kay?

Michael's pursuit of Kay was partly motivated by the fact that she was free-spirited, she was the humanity in Michael in which he lacked. Michael was desperate to have a white-Americanized life Ironically, Michael himself would be used in the same way, when he married Apollonia Vitelli.

What was Michael Corleone's famous line?

Michael Corleone : Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment.

Why did Kay leave Michael?

Meanwhile, Kay decides to leave Michael and take their children with her, believing Michael will always live in a world of crime and violence.

Why did Michael Corleone wife get killed?

He then flees to Sicily, where he falls in love with Simonetta Stefanelli's Apollonia. Tragically, she's later killed in a car bomb planted by Michael's bodyguard Fabrizio (Angelo Infanti), who betrayed him to his enemies. While Michael gets revenge on those who ordered the hit, Fabrizio is never seen again.

Who ordered the killing of Michael Corleone?

Vincent tells Michael that Altobello has hired Mosca, a veteran hitman, to assassinate Michael. Mosca, disguised as a priest, kills Corleone family friend Don Tommasino as he returns to his villa. While Michael and Kay tour Sicily, Michael asks for Kay's forgiveness, and they admit they still love each other.

Who killed Fredo in the boat?

As Fredo prays the Hail Mary (which he claimed brought him luck whilst fishing), Neri shoots him in the back of the head, not knowing that Anthony was watching from his bedroom window.

What exactly did Fredo do to Michael?

Betrayal. While in Havana, Michael learned that Fredo betrayed him when Fredo accidentally let it slip that he and Johnny Ola had been to a sex show in Havana. He confronted Fredo at a New Year's party in Havana, telling Fredo that he knew he was the traitor and giving him the "kiss of death".

What happened to Fredo's wife?

In the novel, Fredo and Deanna divorced prior to his death. She began to heavily abuse alcohol and drugs and had no connection with Fredo's family.

Who took over the Corleone family after Michael?

Vincent is the illegitimate son of Sonny Corleone and his mistress Lucy Mancini. He eventually succeeds his uncle Michael as head of the Corleone family.

What happens to Tom Hagen?

The third and final film in the Godfather saga, The Godfather: Part III, set in 1979, explains that Hagen had died a few years earlier. His son, Andrew, is ordained to the priesthood, and is assigned to the Vatican on Michael's recommendation. While talking with Andrew, Michael remembers Hagen fondly as a great lawyer.

What happened to Clemenza?

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Most noteworthy, the novel depicts Clemenza's fatal heart attack (mentioned in The Godfather Part II), and the many conspiracy theories that he had actually been murdered by the Rosato Brothers, former Corleone soldiers who had formed their own gang after a dispute over the future of the family.