Analysing Leadership In The Godfather Film Studies Essay

“The Godfather is exciting as it was upon its release in March of 1972. The statement “I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse” still resounds with recognition in the instant. Vito Corleone was a man of morals, principle and valor in a world sorely lacking in either. Vito Corleone’s first name means “life,” or “alive,” and his last means “lionhearted” are in every way his own man. He has made his life providing people with things denied by other people, gambling, women and justice. Throughout the film, in contrast to the morality of the Don and the corruption of the State. In the wedding scene, we begin to see the relationship between the Don and the State when Tom Hagen tells him that a senator and “some of the judges” had called to apologize for not being there, but that “they’ve all sent gifts.” And late in the film, it spoke very specifically about the State when Michael said that his father is “no different than any other powerful man, any man who’s responsible for other people, like a senator or a president.” The Don is violent but not corrupt. He cannot be bought and used violence with great restraint. He approaches directly and honestly. In the film, Don is the most principled man. He rejected to participate in the drug business since it would be wrong on moral grounds even at the risk of his own life. Family, friends and integrity are far more important than mere money. The Godfather; the main character is a man who is strong, brave and highly principled to defy the power of the State.”

(A) Provide a synopsis of the movie relating to aspects of leadership.

The storyline

Guests were gathered for the wedding reception of Don Vito Corleone’s daughter Connie and Carlo Rizzi in 1945. Vito is known to friends and associates as “Godfather.” He and family’s lawyer and counselor, Tom Hagen are hearing wishes for special treatment because it is tradition that a Sicilian cannot refuse a request on his daughter’s wedding day. The Don’s youngest son Michael an adorned Marine war hero attempted to tell his girlfriend Kay Adams about his family especially his father’s criminal living; he assures her that he is not like his family.

Among the guests at the celebration is the famous singer Johnny Fontaine, Corleone’s godson, who has come to appeal for Vito’s help in landing a movie role that will rejuvenate his declining career. Jack Woltz the head of the studio, refuses to give Fontaine the part and Hagen is sent to California to heal the problem but Woltz told him that he will never cast Fontaine in the role because Fontaine had ruined a starlet that was special to Woltz. Woltz changed his mind anyway when he wakes up early the next morning, pulled back the sheets and finds the severed head of his prized $600,000 horse, Khartoum.

When Hagen returns, the family meets with Virgil Sollozzo who is backed by Tattaglia, the rival family. Don Corleone was asked to finance and give political and legal protection for the importation and distribution of heroin. Corleone refused even though he could make a huge profit. The Don’s eldest son, Sonny breaks ranks during the meeting. Don Corleone was angry at Sonny’s disagreement in a non-family member’s presence, secretly reprimanded him later.

Later, Don Corleone was shot down in a shooting. Tom Hagen was abducted and they used him to persuade and offer Sonny the deal offered to his father earlier. Sonny refused to think over it and issued a challenge or a war would break. They refused and instead sent Sonny Luca Brasi’s bulletproof vest as a sign that they had murdered him.

Michael visited his father at a small private hospital. He was shocked to discover that no one was watching over him. He then realized that his father was yet again being set up to be murdered; he called Sonny for assistance; removed the Don to another room, and went to observe the entrance from outside. Michael engaged help from Enzo the baker who came to the hospital to pay his respects. Together, they managed to deceive Sollozzo’s men. Police cars appeared bringing the dishonest Captain McCluskey. Captain McCluskey broke Michael’s jaw when Michael indirectly said that Sollozzo paid McCluskey to kill the Don. Hagen then arrived to protect Don Corleone and took Michael home. Sonny retaliated by killing Bruno Tattaglia, his son and the under-boss of Don Phillip Tattaglia.

Ensuing to the attempt at the hospital on the Don’s life, Sollozzo requested a meeting with the Corleones. Michael volunteered to kill both men during the meeting but the rest of the family members found it amusing but Michael persuaded them that he was serious in the killings which he feels was in the family’s interest. Michael argued that McCluskey was corrupt and had illegal dealings with Sollozzo; hence he should be killed as well.

Prior to the congregation in an Italian restaurant, McCluskey checked for weapons on Michael and he was clean. Michael went to the bathroom, took out a revolver and gravely shot Sollozzo then McCluskey. Michael ran and hid in Sicily.

Sonny beat Carlo Rizzi for attacking the Connie who was pregnant. He threatened to kill Carlo if he battered her again. Carlo responded and plotted with Tattaglia and Don Emilio Barzini to kill Sonny. In order to ensnare Sonny, Carlo thrashed Connie again. Sonny in an enraged state drove off alone to execute his threat. He was ambushed on the way at a toll booth and shot to death in his car.

In New York City, Don Corleone returned home from the hospital and was distraught to learn that Michael had killed both Sollozzo and McCluskey and that Sonny was dead. Don Corleone met with the heads of the other rival Families to bargain a ceasefire and not seek revenge for Sonny’s killing. Ending the conflict was the only way to bring Michael home safely. Revenge would only drain their assets which will then threaten their survival. Vito, changing his mind on the previous decision, agreed that the Corleone family would provide political protection for the Tattaglia’s heroin trafficking as long as it was controlled and not sold to children. Don Corleone could figure out at the meeting that it was Don Barzini and not Tattaglia who was actually behind the gang war and Sonny’s death.

Michael waited patiently in Sicily for his exile to end whilst being protected by an old family friend. Michael wandered the countryside aimlessly together with the bodyguards, Carlo and Fabrizio. Michael met and fell in love with Apollonia Vitelli, the beautiful daughter of a bar owner in the village. They got married but Corleone’s enemies were soon aware of Michael’s presence. Apollonia was killed as the couple was about to be shifted to a safer place when their car was bombed; Michael barely got away alive but spotted Fabrizio leaving the grounds hastily seconds prior to the explosion hence incriminating him in the murder plot.

Michael returned home when his safety was guaranteed. A year later, he met up with his former girlfriend Kay after four years. He proposed to her and Kay accepted although she was hurt that it took him so long to contact her. With the Don semi-retired, Sonny dead and the middle brother Fredo deemed incompetent to run the family business, Michael was put in charge. He promised Kay he would legitimize the family business completely in the next five years.

Peter Clemenza and Salvatore Tessio are the Corleone Family’s two captains who complained that they were being shoved around by the Barzini Family and asked for consent to strike back but Michael rejected the appeal. He planned to shift the family’s operations to Nevada and soon after Clemenza and Tessio may sever and form their own families. Michael promised Connie’s husband, Carlo, that he would be his senior man in Nevada. Tom Hagen was removed and became the family’s lawyer only; with Vito serving as the consigliere. Hagen complained about his status change and questioned Michael on the new command of “soldiers” being secretly built under Rocco Lampone but Don Vito explained that Michael was being advised by him.

Michael met with the casino boss Moe Greene in Las Vegas. Michael was rejected rudely when he offered to take over Greene. He believed the Corleones were fragile and that he could obtain a better pact from Barzini. Fredo sided with Moe when Moe and Michael were negotiating intensely. Later, Michael cautioned Fredo to never again go against the family.

When Michael returned home, Vito told him his expectation that the Family’s enemies would attempt to execute Michael by using a trusted link to collaborate a meeting on a ploy for assassination. Vito never meant for Michael to lead a life of crime and hoped that his youngest son would hold a lawful power as a government officer. Soon after, Vito crumpled and died in his tomato garden whilst playing with his grandson Anthony. Tessio suggested meeting with Barzini at the burial which made Tessio as the defector that Vito was anticipating.

Michael organized a series of murders while he became the godfather to Connie and Carlo’s newborn son at the church to happen at the same time. Don Stracci: shot down together with his men in a lift. Moe Greene: was shot in the eye by an unidentified assassin while being massaged. Don Cuneo: shot dead by Willi Cicci: while trapped in a revolving door and Don Tattaglia: murdered in his bed by Rocco Lampone and an anonymous associate. Don Barzini: was shot along with his bodyguard and driver, by Al Neri, disguised in his old police uniform.

After the baptism, Tessio thought he was on the way with Hagen to the meeting between Michael and Barzini which he had arranged. He was however circled by Willi Cicci and other hired men instead as Hagen moved away. Tessio realized that Michael had discovered his treachery. He told Hagen that he had always revered Michael, and that his disloyalty “was for business only.” He asked Tom to release him for “old times’ sake,” but Tom could not do so. In the mean time, Michael faced Carlo about Sonny’s murder and compelled him to admit his involvement in the ambush. Michael assured Carlo he would not be killed, but excluded from all family business. He gave Carlo a plane ticket to banish himself to Las Vegas. Nonetheless, he was killed on Michael’s orders by Clemenza, while getting into the car which was headed for the airport.

A frantic Connie confronted Michael and accused him of killing Carlo. Kay questioned Michael about Connie’s charge but he declined to respond, telling her again never to question about his business. She persisted and Michael lied; assuring her that he did not know and has no part in Carlo’s death. Kay believed him and was felt relieved. Clemenza and the new captains Rocco Lampone and Al Neri pay their respects to Michael. Clemenza bowed to Michael greeted him as “Don Corleone.” Michael became the new Godfather.

Who is or are the leader/s in the movie

Vito Corleone, Sonny Corleone, Michael Corleone

The leader/s role in the movie

Negotiating, Discussing, Delegating and Instructing

(B) Explain the context for each incident relating to leadership aspects in the synopsis.

Incidents within the movie involving the leader/s

(1) Don Corleone telling Johnny Fontaine that he would help him to be the star in the movie by offering Jack Woltz “something that he can’t refuse”. Leadership in solving problems.

(2) Sollozzo had asked Don Corleone to finance and give political and legal protection for the distribution of heroin but Corleone refused even if he could make huge profits saying that his political influence would be in jeopardy by a moving into the narcotics business. Leadership in being responsible to ensure the safety of others.

(3) When Sonny who had earlier advocated the family to enter the drug trade broke ranks during the meeting, his father, angry at Sonny’s rebellion in a non-family member’s presence, reprimanded him privately later. Leadership in solving matters/rebuking subordinates not in front of external parties.

(4) Michael visited his dad at the hospital and became suspicious when there was no one guarding the Don. He realized that there was yet another murder being set up and he called Sonny for help and removed the Don to another room. Michael enlisted aid from Enzo the baker who had gone to the hospital to give his respects. Together, they managed to deceive the killers. Leadership in recognizing a situation and deciding to solve them.

(5) Upon the an assassination attempt on Don Corleone at the hospital, Sonny retaliated by killing Bruno Tattaglia, son and the under-boss of Don Phillip Tattaglia. Leadership in taking the responsibility to solve the problems themselves.

(6) When Don Corleone came home from the hospital; found out that Michael had killed both Sollozzo and McCluskey and Sonny’s death, Don Corleone met with the heads of the rival families to confer a ceasefire instead of seeking revenge for Sonny’s killing. Ending the conflict was the only way to bring Michael home safely. Revenge would exhaust their assets and threaten their survival. Vito agreed that the Corleone family would provide political protection for the Tattaglia’s heroin trafficking as long as it was restricted and not sold to children. Leadership in recognizing and finding an amicable way to solve the problems.

(7) Sonny severely beat Carlo Rizzi for viciously attacking the pregnant Connie, and threatened to kill him if he ever battered her again. Leadership in taking the lead and meting out the punishment.

Incidents and the leader/s interaction within the context of the movie

(1) Johnny Fontaine, Corleone’s godson came from Hollywood to lobby Vito’s help in getting a movie role to revive his failing career. Jack Woltz, refused to give Fontaine the part. Don Corleone t Hagen to discuss with Woltz and assured Fontaine he would get the role.

(2) Don Corleone was asked to finance and give political & legal protection for distributing heroin. Even with a huge profit to be made, Corleone refused.

(3) Sonny who had urged the family to enter the drug trade broke ranks during the meeting between Sollozzo and the Corleone Family. The Don, angry at Sonny’s disagreement in a non-family member’s presence, secretly admonished him later.

(4) Michael asked for help from Enzo the baker who had gone to the hospital to give his respects. Together, they managed to deceive Sollozzo’s men. Hagen then arrived with guns to protect Don Corleone and took Michael home. Sonny retaliated by killing Bruno, the son and Don Phillip Tattaglia

(5) Michael wanted to kill both men during the meeting and he persuaded them that he was serious on the killings.

(6) McCluskey searched Michael for weapons before the meeting in an Italian restaurant, and did not find any weapons. Michael excused himself to go to the bathroom where he got back a revolver and upon coming to the table, seriously shot and killed Sollozzo followed by McCluskey.

(7) Sonny beat Carlo Rizzi for viciously attacking the Connie, and told him he would kill him if he ever mistreated her again. Angry Carlo then plotted with Tattaglia and Don Emilio Barzini, the Corleones’ head rivals, to kill Sonny. Carlo thrashed Connie again in order to trap Sonny. In an angry state, Sonny drove off alone to execute his warning. He was ensnared on the way at a toll booth and shot to death in his car.

(8) Don Corleone met with the heads of the rival families to discuss on a ceasefire and not seek revenge for Sonny’s killing. Ending the conflict was the only way to bring Michael home safely.

(9) The Don is now semi-retired, Sonny dead and brother Fredo deemed incompetent to run the family business, Michael was put in charge. He promised Kay he would legitimize the family business completely within five years.

(10) Michael promised Carlo that he would be his lead man in Nevada. Hagen was removed as the consigliere and became the family’s lawyer only; with Vito serving as the consigliere.

(11) Vito Corleone explained to Hagen that Michael was being guided by him.

(12) Fredo sided with Moe during the intense negotiation. Michael cautioned Fredo never to take sides with anyone other than the family again.

(13) Vito told Michael that he expected the Family’s enemies would try to kill Michael by using a link to collaborate a meeting on a pretext for murder.

(14) Michael organized a series of murders while attending the baptism of Connie and Carlo’s newly born son at the church to happen at the same time. Don Stracci: shot down together with his men in a lift by Clemenza. Moe Greene: shot through the eye by an unidentified assassin while being massaged. Don Cuneo: shot dead by Willi Cicci while trapped in a revolving door and Don Tattaglia: murdered in his bed along by Rocco Lampone and an anonymous associate. Don Barzini: shot along with his bodyguard and driver by Al Neri in his old police uniform.

(15) Michael faced Carlo about Sonny’s murder and compelled him to admit his involvement in the ambush. Michael assured Carlo he would not be killed but excluded from all the family’s businesses. He gave Carlo a plane ticket to banish himself to Las Vegas.

(16) Connie confronted Michael and accused him of killing Carlo. Kay questioned Michael about Connie’s charge but he declined to respond, telling her again never to query him about the business. She persisted and Michael lied; assuring her that he played no role in Carlo’s death. Kay understood him and was relieved.

Know your leader/s behavior and characteristics

– Leadership is behavior of an individual when he is directing the activities of a group towards a shared goal.

– A leader is someone who sets direction in an effort to influence people to follow that direction.

(C) Describe and discuss why the leadership behavior was effective or ineffective

Leadership behaviors like – task oriented; relations oriented; participative leadership

(1) Sonny could keep things as they were but he was unable to make certain situation better. He was not able to make wise decision and always acted rashly. For example when his sister was attacked for the second time. He did not think things through and rushed off alone. As a result, he got himself killed. Sonny was not innovative. He needed someone else to make decision for him and for him to carry things out. He was able to sustain but could not improve them. (Ineffective)

(2) Vito Corleone possessed the traits of a leader which were effective. He made decisions which he thinks is the best for the family regardless if the others are not in agreement with him. As a leader, he showed that he was thinking of the long term future. For example when he refused to cooperate with Tattaglia on the heroin trafficking. He was thinking of the family’s future – ethics and values. (Effective)

(3) Michael made the proposal to kill the police chief and head rival. He put the police chief’s motives in the newspaper to control the damage. He removed Hagen as the family’s chief advisor since Hagen was always protesting against the way Michael made his decisions. (Effective)

Change agent capabilities

(1) Sonny was not able to grasp changes and improve them. He could manage to make wise decisions and needed others to decide for him. He could only sustain whatever was at hand. Sonny was more of a manager who could maintain things.

(2) Vito Corleone was a leader who would adopt changes for the family even if the others are not in sync with his decisions. He has the leadership traits in him to lead the family well into the future. He forethought what would be in the best interest for the family in the next ten years rather than short term.

(3) Michael many changes and ideas to make the Family’s business legal in five years as he promised Kay before he married her. He proposed on the new idea to kill the corrupt police chief who was working with the family’s rival even though others were amused by his suggestion. He removed Hagen from the advisor role when Hagen was always criticizing and questioning his new ideas.

Able to support, able to develop new ideas and recognizing achievement

(1) Sonny’s style of leadership was ineffective because even though he was able to support new ideas, he was not able to develop the ideas to make them better. He could not make wise decision for the family. He did not think situations thoroughly and would just rush off when there was family crisis. He was not inventive and did not have a thought process of a leader. He could achieve when decisions were made for him. He would exclude other people or matters involved when tackling the problems or issues. He could sustain the situations or conditions but could not improve or make the better.

(2) Vito Corleone style of leadership was effective because he could adopt and adapt to new changes or ideas. He was not a person who would just maintain a situation. He would create new improvements in order to achieve his goals. When he was asked by Tattaglia to help in the drug trafficking business, he refused even though he knew it would be benefit the Family greatly. He envisioned the future and hence rejected to cooperate in the business. Even when Sonny rebuked and sided with the other party, he tolerated the outburst but stayed true to his decision. He showed his leadership in adopting changes well after the killings and death of Sonny from his earlier refusal to assist. Upon his hospitalization and many attempts to assassinate him, he relinquished his role as the Don and became an advisor to Michael in the running and leading of the Family’s business. He was ethical and declined to get involved in unnecessary killings especially when the younger generations are concerned.

(3) Michael Corleone’s style of leadership was effective because he was working towards improving the family’s business and making it better. He promised Kay he would legitimize the business in five years and he tried hard to ensure that it happened. He made the proposal to kill the police chief and head rival and later spread the police chief’s actual motives in the newspapers as a measure to control the damage. Hagen who was a great manager of the family’s business could not understand Michael’s new ideas and thoughts protested. In response to Hagen’s actions, Michael relegated his advisor position in the family to just family lawyer despite Hagen’s complains. Michael was able to achieve his goals working with subordinates who are willing to cooperate and follow his lead. He was able to lead and manage the family to greater success and made himself renown and respected by his rivals.

(D) Identify and explain at least two different incidents involving the same leader(s). If the incidents involve two individuals or a group making a decision, leadership behavior by the different individuals can be identified.

Executive summary of the two different selected incidents

In the opening scene when a funeral director explained to Don Corleone about the men who had beaten and mutilated his daughter got deferred sentences and how the State buffed him the justice which he thought he deserved. He went to see Don Corleone seeking fairness and initially had wanted to ask Corleone to kill them but the Don said out that would not be justified because the daughter was still alive. Bonasera tried to bribe him with money but Corleone was above that. The only price to him for supplying justice was friendship because some day, he would call upon Bonasera to do a service for him. He refused to do “murder for money” for Bonasera because that would not be justice.

(2) The Don was not corrupt but violent. Even though he bought politicians, he himself could not be bought. He used violence but he is not evil. He refused to acquiesce to the State. He used this violence with restraint. The same thing happened with the movie director. The Don first offered friendship to do some specific services; that is making his godson as the star in his new movie but the director refused reasons and in the end woke up with a dead horse’s head in his bed. The Don’s approach was direct and honest. He was the most principled man in the film. He refused to kill in the Bonasera’s case because that would not be fair and he declined to take part in Sollozzo’s drug business, because that would be wrong. He told Sollozzo that drugs were a dirty business. It did not make any difference to him what people do for a living but the drug business is dangerous.

Making decision within team, group and individual setting

(1) The family met with Virgil Sollozzo who asked Don Corleone for financing, political and legal backings in importing and distributing the heroin. Corleone refused despite knowing the huge profit that could be made explaining that his political pressure would be compromised by going into the drug trade. The Don’s eldest son Sonny, who had earlier supported the family to enter the drugs trade, broke ranks in the meeting and queried Sollozzo’s assurances and guarantees as to the Corleone Family’s investment by the Tattaglia Family. Don Corleone was angry at Sonny’s opposition in a non-family member’s presence, reproached him later in private. Don Corleone then sent Luca Brasi to penetrate Sollozzo’s organization and revert with information. Brasi was stabbed in the hand and subsequently garroted by an assassin.

(2) Michael went to visit his father at the private hospital. He was alarmed to find out that no one was watching over him. He then realized that his father was yet again being set up to be murdered; hence he called Sonny for assistance; removed the Don to another room, and went to observe the entrance from outside. Michael engaged help from Enzo the baker who had gone to the hospital to give his respects. Together, they managed to deceive Sollozzo’s men. Police cars appeared bringing the corrupt Captain McCluskey. Captain McCluskey hit and broke Michael’s jaw when Michael implied that Sollozzo paid McCluskey to net Vito Corleone. Hagen arrived with licensed guns to protect Don Corleone and took Michael home. In retaliation, Sonny killed Bruno Tattaglia, son and the under-boss of Don Phillip Tattaglia.

Charismatic and transformational roles

(1) Vito Corleone’s first name meant “life,” and his last name meant “a man with a lion’s heart” and who was in every way his own person. He said to his son Michael in the film, “I refused to be a fool dancing on a rope held by all those people and he has made his life providing people with things that those “people” had deprived them of among them gambling, women and justice.

(2) Michael waited patiently in Sicily for his exile to end whilst protected by an old family friend. Michael roamed the countryside aimlessly together with the bodyguards, Carlo and Fabrizio Michael fell in love with Apollonia Vitelli, the beautiful daughter of a bar owner in the small village. They got married but Corleone’s enemies were soon aware of Michael’s presence. Apollonia was killed as the couple was about to be shifted to a safer place when their car was bombed; Michael barely got away alive but spotted Fabrizio leaving the grounds hastily seconds prior to the explosion hence incriminating him in the murder plot.

Michael returned home when his safety was guaranteed. A year later, he met up with his former girlfriend Kay. He wanted to marry her and Kay accepted his proposal although it took him so long to contact her. The Don who was semi-retired; Sonny dead and the middle brother Fredo deemed incompetent to run the family business, Michael was put in charge. He promised Kay he would legitimize the family business completely in the next five years.

Peter Clemenza and Salvatore Tessio, the Corleone Family’s captains were not happy being shoved around by the Barzini Family and asked for consent to strike back but Michael rejected the appeal. He planned to shift the family’s operations to Nevada and soon after Clemenza and Tessio may sever and form their own families. Michael promised Connie’s husband, Carlo, that he would be his lead man in Nevada. Hagen was removed as the consigliere and became the family’s lawyer only; with Vito serving as the consigliere. In private, Hagen complained about his status change and questioned Michael on the new command of “defense force” being secretly cultivated under Rocco Lampone. Don Vito explained that Michael was being advised by him.

Michael met with the Moe Greene in Las Vegas. Michael was rejected rudely when he offered to take over the casino. Greene believed the Corleones were fragile and that he could obtain a better pact from Barzini. Fredo sided with Moe when Moe and Michael were negotiating intensely. Later, Michael cautioned Fredo to never anyone against the family ever again.

When Michael came home, Vito explained that the family’s enemies would endeavor to execute Michael by using a trusted link to collaborate a meeting on a ruse for assassination. Vito also said that he had never meant for Michael to lead a life of crime and hoped that his youngest son would hold a legitimate government office. Soon after, Vito crumpled and died in his tomato garden. Michael then arranged for a sequence of murders to take place at the same time while he was attending Connie and Carlo’s newborn son’s baptism at the church.

Critically analyze each of the two or more incidents and consider other options the leader (s) could have considered and made (30%)

Participative leadership, delegation and empowerment

(1) Sonny could have delegated the task of killing or teaching his sister’s to his men instead of rushing off alone to handle the crisis. His death caused the family to be in a worse situation then before.

(2) Michael could have been taken seriously by the other family members when he suggested killing the police chief and head rival. He should have participated earlier in the family’s activities and not only after his father had assassination attempts made upon him. It could have saved Sonny’s life if Michael was around to make decisions. Don Corleone should have foreseen Michael’s capabilities and empower him to take the lead in the family.

Power and influence

Vito Corleone was a strong man; sufficiently brave and principled enough to stand up to challenge the power of the State. The type of man we all wished to be and emulate. Vito Corleone’s family, friends and integrity were far more important than money.

Managerial traits and skills

Sonny was not able to make wise decisions for his family. He has no clear thought process. For example when his sister was attacked by the husband for the second time, he just rushed off during the crisis. He was a more a manager where he carried out decisions made by others. He could not make anything better because he was not innovative enough to do so.

Leading change

Michael did not want to get involved in the Family’s activities and happy to be a “civilian”. However when his father, Don Corleone was threatened and had many assassination attempts made on him, his brother Sonny killed and his elder brother deemed incompetent to lead, he had no choice but to take over the realm with Don Corleone as his advisor. He promised Kay before he married her that he would make the business legitimate in five years

He planned to shift the family’s operations to Nevada and soon after Clemenza and Tessio may sever and form their own families. Michael promised to make Connie’s husband his right lead man in Nevada. Hagen was removed and became the family’s lawyer only; with Vito serving as the consigliere. Hagen complained about his status change and questioned Michael on the new command of “defense force”. Don Vito explained to Hagen that Michael was being counseled by him.

Michael met with the casino boss Moe Greene in Las Vegas and offered to take over the casino from Greene. Michael was rejected rudely by Greene believing the Corleones were pathetic and that he could obtain a better pact from Barzini.

Vito never meant for Michael to lead a life of crime and hoped that his youngest son would hold a legitimate power in the government. Soon after, Vito died in his tomato garden whilst playing with his young grandson Anthony. Michael then organized a series of murders while he was in a church for his godson’s baptism ceremony.

Strategic leadership

Michael organized a series of murders while he was in church witnessing Connie and Carlo’s new son to happen at the same time. After the baptism, Tessio thought he was on the way to the gathering but was however circled by Willi Cicci and other hired men. In the mean time, Michael faced Carlo about Sonny’s murder and assured Carlo he would not be killed and gave him a plane ticket to banish himself to Las Vegas. Nonetheless, he was killed by Clemenza, on Michael’s orders, when he got into the car headed for the airport. Connie confronted Michael and accused him of killing Carlo but he declined to respond. She persisted and Michael lied; assuring her that he had no part in Carlo’s death.

Ethical issues

You must be honest if you want to live outside the law. The Don was violent but not corrupt. Even though he bought politicians, he himself could not be bought. The Don was the most honorable man in the film. He refused to murder for money in Bonasera’s case since that would not be justified and he refused to participate in Sollozzo’s drug business because that would not be the right vice and drugs are a dirty business. It would bring down the Family’s ethics, values and protection. It made no difference to him the amount of money he would lose in not making the deal and the risks involved but on moral and ethical ground, his family, friends and integrity were more important than money.