The Godfather Saga

Fall, 1945

Don Vito Corleone is a man sitting on top of the world. Known by many as "Godfather", the Don is one of the most respected--and feared--men in all of New York City. He is the proud father of four and the successful businessman behind the hugely profitable Genco Olive Oil Company in Little Italy. He is also the head of one of the nation?s most famous criminal organizations.

The Don was born Vito Andolini in 1892 in Corleone, Sicily. Fleeing the mafia violence that took the lives of his father and brother, the young Vito boarded a cargo ship for America and landed on Ellis Island, where he was renamed Vito Corleone. He began his life of crime at an early age, selling stolen goods out of an olive oil truck, but his career didn?t really take off until he started using his truck to deliver bootleg liquor.

Corleone's bootlegging business allowed him to expand into other areas and build power and influence in New York's underworld. By doing people favors and demanding only loyalty in return, Corleone solidified his power and gained many lifelong friends. Peter Clemenza and Salvatore Tessio, for example, are loyal Corleone organization members who have been with Don Vito since his early days in crime.

Thanks to the Don's shrewd business sense and loyal following, the Corleones have become one of the Five Families of New York. The Corleones operate primarily out of Little Italy, while the Tattaglia family controls Brooklyn, the Straccis operate out of New Jersey, and the Cuneo family claims Hell's Kitchen. It is the Barzini family, however, who many regard as the city's real power brokers. They reign over the lucrative Midtown. Violence occasionally erupts between the Five Families, though they currently maintain an uneasy truce. All in all, business for all of them has been good as of late.

As the Don enters his autumn years, the next generation of Corleones is taking a more active part in the family business. First-born son Santino ("Sonny") serves as an Underboss and seems eager to take over when Don Vito retires--or is retired. Frederico ("Fredo") also holds the title of Underboss, though it's been rumored that the Godfather has less confidence in his second born. Youngest son Michael is considered a "civilian" and appears uninterested in family affairs. He recently returned home after serving the nation overseas, where he won several medals for his exploits in combat, but more importantly to Mike, those medals were awarded without his father?s influence.

Corleone also raised another man as his son. Tom Hagen now acts as the Don's Consigliere, or advisor. During these relatively peaceful times Tom's advice is mainly restricted to business operations. However, many say a new period of violence in the New York mafia world is now at hand. Don Vito survived an attempt on his life during the last major war, which occurred nearly ten years ago. Luca Brasi, one of the Don's soldiers, expedited the end of those hostilities, known as the Olive Oil War, and earned the Don's eternal gratitude by taking care of anyone associated with the assassination attempt.

Many rumors have surfaced recently regarding the Don. Some say his grip on Little Italy is weakening, while others say he is quietly planning a major offensive to seize control of all New York City. Whatever the truth may be, the Don is putting all of his business concerns to the side, if only for a short while, to celebrate the upcoming wedding of his only daughter, Constanzia (Connie).