100 Movies Every Catholic Should See #18: The Godfather Trilogy (1972-1990)

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Screenplay by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola.

“Fredo, you’re my older brother, and I love you, but don’t ever take sides against the family again.” These are the words of Don Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) to his brother Fredo (John Cazale) after a failed Las Vegas deal. These are the words that encapsulate the Godfather movies. 

The hit mafia movie released in 1972 and its sequels have imbued themselves into American culture. Numerous phrases from the movie have become staple references in popular culture and inspired other media such as the acclaimed HBO show The Sopranos. But, overlooking the romanticization of the mafia and action is a real story about the perversion of the highest good to strive for. 

Family is the one word that thematically ties together all of the Godfather movies: the trilogy focuses on the rise and fall of the infamous Corleones. Love for one’s family is a sacred belief in Italian culture: the murders and criminal activity committed by Vito (Marlon Brando in Part I and Robert De Niro as a younger Vito in Part II) and his son Michael are done for their family. Director Francis Ford Coppola makes these characters surprisingly relatable by showing their lives outside of their illegal activities: Vito Corleone can charm the audience with his care for his children and honor code, but his immoral deeds highlight the mafia’s greatest perversion—the perversion of family.

One’s godfather is a crucial figure in one’s Catholic life. When one is baptized into the Catholic faith, one’s godfather mentors the newest member of the mystical body of Christ. The Godfather is a spiritual father who tries to bring one closer to Jesus. Even in Italian cultures, godparents are just as important to someone’s spiritual journey as one’s parents: but not the godfather of Francis Ford Coppola’s movies. Vito and Michael Corleone use this title for evil ends; while the two men care about their families, their actions ultimately cause more destruction than edification, best represented in the baptism scene at the end of the first movie. 

Vito Corleone, the most iconic role Marlon Brando has played, is a man who is shown to love his family. After the murder of his parents and conflict with the mafia in Sicily causes a young Vito to flee his homeland, he soon builds a vast mafia empire. Vito lives the “American dream” and seems to have it all: a lovely and supportive wife, five children, a mansion, power, and respect from others. The opening wedding of the first Godfather movie shows how great his life is. There’s music, laughter, love, and even celebrities. But beneath Vito's dream life is the blood that Vito either intentionally or unintentionally spilled. 

Vito is a godfather for the material, not one for the soul. The pleas that Don Corleone receives are completed through dirty means such as gambling and boot-legging. The don uses violence, blackmail, and extortion to help needy people, raising the relevant moral dilemma of the ends justifying the means. Vito personally stabs his parents’ murderer as vengeance for their deaths. In The Godfather Parts I and II, Michael murders to protect his family and solidify his power. All the actions of the godfathers are done for a greater end than themselves. The justice and good sought are completed by vicious and evil ends. But, by the end of the trilogy, the result is evident. The family is destroyed.

By Godfather Part III¹, the Corleone family is in total disarray compared to what was seen at the opening wedding. The mafia criminal lifestyle has destroyed the Corleone family and any virtue it may have had; said activities eventually take the lives of many of those closest to both Vito and Michael. The final scene of Godfather III accentuates the true fate of one who chooses this lifestyle even into old age: it serves as a stark visual reminder of how choosing evil, despite any good intentions behind it, will only lead to isolation and sorrow. The godfather of these movies is not the godfather who can bring about a flourishing family: the evil of supporting a family such as the Corleone family will eventually take its toll. The Godfather movies show the result of a life of crime. No matter how noble the ends are, the lots shall also be if the means are vicious.

Catholics should watch these movies with great attention to the dangers of pride and perversion. Catholicism orients our desires beyond ourselves and manifests itself in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Pride, the queen of all sins, does the opposite and instructs all man's desires towards oneself. While Michael acts to make the family legitimate, his methods involve murder and extortion. The duty and responsibility of one’s family are meant to transcend worldly desires. The family serves as the quintessential building block of society, and its importance involves the orientation of our actions toward the well-being of the family. There is duty, sacrifice, and honor in adequately raising a family. Raising a family involves more than just child-rearing but the willingness to instill virtue and hope into one’s children. The creation of a family is meant to glorify God and reflect our true communion with God that was lost in the Garden of Eden. 

Despite the perverted mafia lifestyle, there are some virtues that a faithful Catholic can learn from the Corleone family. Loyalty is the first virtue that can be gleaned from this movie. The virtue of loyalty is something that our culture lacks. People have often been willing to betray friends, leaders, and even family for individual means. Betrayal is so evil that Dante puts it as the sin that makes up the last circle of hell. The line, “don’t ever take sides with anyone outside the family again,” remains an essential lesson for any good Catholic not to betray their family.

This loyalty does also extend to one’s family, and although the characters will sometimes go too far in service of relatives there are lessons to be gleaned. In this movie's first act, Vito tells one of his “godsons,” Hollywood superstar Johnny Fontane (Al Martino), that “a man can never be a true man unless he spends time with his family.” The Godfather trilogy is about family, and despite the perversion of family life and virtue exhibited, it argues for the importance of having a sound familial life. Despite the chaos that keeps the Corleones together, it reminds the audience that everything should be done for the family. Michael’s rise and fall should be seen as a tragedy and a reminder of the consequences of abandoning one’s family for personal power. It is often easy to leave one’s familial responsibilities for the self, but, the Catholic must serve one’s family as oneself.

The Godfather trilogy, even the controversial third film, stand together as cinematic giants. The story, music, acting, and themes create a beautiful story about the rise of one Italian-American family. But behind the incredible action and stereotypes is a real family story: a story that provides Catholics with a warning of the dangers of letting our desires cloud our decisions. Catholics should not watch this movie to glean any virtue knowledge but should watch it as a warning. Do not let your family fall apart. Keep your family close to virtue and lead them to their final destination, heaven. The Godfather movies are ones you cannot simply refuse! 

1. Recently retitled by Coppola to be The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone upon its recent re-release