New York City

Lore & Background

In the mid-1940s, New York City housed the Corleone family under patriarch Vito Corleone. The narrative begins at a wedding where Michael introduces his girlfriend Kay Adams to his family, explicitly stating he wants no part in their business. However, the city's underworld quickly pulls him in when Don Vito refuses protection for drug baron Virgil "The Turk" Sollozzo. This refusal sparks a war between the Five Families. Key turning points include Luca Brasi being garroted by Tattaglia family enforcers and Sonny Corleone taking over as acting boss after his father is gunned down by two assailants. The geography of the city dictates these conflicts; from the hospital where Vito recovers to the highway toll booth where Sonny is ambushed, every location carries weight. The peace negotiations that follow involve heads of other New York families conceding to a controlled drug trade.

In Their Own Story

The plot thickens when Michael Corleone visits his father in a New York hospital, only to find Captain McCluskey has ejected the bodyguards. Realizing the danger, Michael moves Vito to another room and stands guard, scaring off assassins before McCluskey breaks his jaw. This act of defiance leads Michael to propose a meeting at a local restaurant with Sollozzo and McCluskey. With a gun planted beforehand, Michael shoots both men dead in a moment that changes the course of history for the family. Following this, he flees New York for Sicily to escape the heat, only to return years later after his father's death. Upon returning, he negotiates with Moe Greene in Las Vegas but reprimands his brother Fredo in New York for defending Greene. The story culminates in a series of simultaneous assassinations during his nephew's baptism, ending with Michael accepting the title of Don Corleone as the family capos offer their allegiance.

Reader's Guide

Filming took place primarily in locations around New York City and Sicily, completed ahead of schedule. Director Francis Ford Coppola signed on after several candidates turned down the position, though disagreements arose over casting Vito and Michael. The production utilized real streets to ground the narrative in authenticity, including the restaurant scene where Michael kills Sollozzo and McCluskey. While specific permits or union negotiations regarding New York filming are not detailed in the source, the use of actual locations is confirmed as a primary method for capturing the film's atmosphere. The score was composed principally by Nino Rota with additional pieces by Carmine Coppola. The film premiered at the Loew's State Theatre on March 14, 1972, before its wide release in the United States on March 24, 1972.

Did You Know?

• Paramount Pictures obtained the rights to Mario Puzo's novel for $80,000 before it gained popularity.
• The film was completed ahead of schedule during filming in New York City and Sicily.
• Michael Corleone breaks his jaw after breaking Captain McCluskey's nose while defending his father in a hospital.
• The severed head of Jack Woltz's racehorse Khartoum, valued at $600,000, was found in the producer's bed.
• Francis Ford Coppola's infant daughter Sofia appears uncredited as Michael Rizzi in the baptism sequence.