Michael Corleone is introduced in The Godfather as the youngest son of Mafia kingpin Vito Corleone. In contrast with his brothers, he wants nothing to do with the Corleone "family business", wanting instead to lead a more Americanized life. Vito does not want Michael to be involved in the Mafia, either, hoping instead that his favorite son will enter politics.
When the United States enters World War II in 1941, Michael drops out of Dartmouth College and enlists in the Marine Corps, and fights in the Pacific War. During the war, Michael is promoted to the rank of Captain and awarded the Navy Cross for bravery. In 1944 his picture is printed in Life magazine with a photo layout of his heroism. He is discharged early in 1945 to recover from a disabling wound; unbeknownst to him, his father had arranged his release. Michael stays home for a few weeks, then, without consulting his family, reenters Dartmouth, and so leaves his father's house. He returns to attend Connie's wedding with his girlfriend, Kay Adams, a former classmate.
When his father is nearly assassinated by drug kingpin Virgil Sollozzo just before Christmas 1945, he is thrust into the world he has avoided for so long. He reaffirms his loyalty at his father's bedside, then thwarts a second attempt on his father's life by Sollozzo and corrupt NYPD Captain McCluskey. Later, arguing that Sollozzo will likely take another run at Vito, he volunteers to kill both Sollozzo and McCluskey. Sonny, who is running the family in their father's absence, refuses at first; it has long been a hard and fast rule in the Mafia that policemen are not to be harmed. However, Michael convinces Sonny that since McCluskey is a corrupt police officer serving as Sollozzo's bodyguard, he has crossed into their world and is fair game. After caporegime Peter Clemenza plants a gun for him, Michael kills both men at a restaurant.
Following the murders, Michael flees to Sicily, where he lives for two years under the watch of family friend Don Tommasino. While there, he falls in love with and marries a young woman named Apollonia. A few months later, he learns that Sonny has been murdered. As he and Apollonia prepare to move to a villa in Siracusa, she is killed by a car bomb intended for Michael, planted by his corrupt bodyguard, Fabrizio.
Michael returns to the United States in the spring of 1951 and becomes fully involved in the family's criminal enterprises, taking Sonny's role as Vito's heir apparent. Soon afterwards, he and his father plan to wipe out the other New York Dons, deliberately allowing them to whittle away at the Corleone family's interests so that they will not expect the blow when it comes. At the same time, he convinces his father that it is time to remove the family from the Mafia. Then, more than a year after his return, he reunites with Kay and, promising to make the family legitimate within five years, he marries her. Within two years, they have two children, Anthony and Mary.
After his father goes into semi-retirement in 1954, Michael becomes operating head of the family. One of his first acts is to try to buy out casino owner Moe Greene's stake in the casino, intending to move his family to Nevada. Michael officially becomes Don after his father's death in 1955. Before his death, Vito had warned Michael that Emilio Barzini, head of a rival family, would make an attempt on Michael's life under the pretense of organizing a meeting to make peace between the two families. After caporegime Salvatore Tessio inadvertently reveals that he had conspired with Barzini against him, Michael decides to "settle all family business" on the day he stands godfather to his niece, Mary. He orders the murders of the leaders of the New York Mafia's other Dons: Barzini, Philip Tattaglia, Carmine Cuneo, and Victor Stracci, as well as Greene, Tessio, and Carlo Rizzi, Connie's abusive husband, who had earlier set Sonny up to be murdered. In one stroke, Michael reestablishes the Corleone family as the most powerful crime family in the nation, and makes a reputation for himself as being even more cunning and ruthless than his father.
When Connie finds out about Carlo's death, she flies into a rage and accuses Michael of killing him. Michael dismisses her accusations as hysteria, and when pressed by Kay, denies any involvement in the murder. Moments later, Michael meets with his capos, where Clemenza greets him as "Don Corleone" and kisses his hand much as he did with his father.
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Famous quotes containing the word godfather:
“His white head hung out like a carpet bag
and his crotch turned blue as a blood blister,
and Godfather death, as it is written,
put a finger on his back
for the big blackout,
the big no.”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)
“Even the strongest man needs friends.”
—Mario Puzo, U.S. author, screenwriter, and Francis Ford Coppola, U.S. director, screenwriter. Don Lucase, The Godfather III, advice given to Vincent (Andy Garcia)