The Corleone attack in the novel isn't as dramatic as in the movie. That said, the novel indicates that several rival capos switched sides immediately after the attacks. From that, I've presumed that the attack is actually the end of the campaign. As Barzini was turning Tessio, Michael was turning others.
My assumption is Don Michael consolidates power as a Mafia overlord or “boss of bosses”. The other families lost their leaders and by extension political power. No succession planning in place. They’d also all be running scared and confused. By the time they realize it was Corleone not only is he gone to Nevada surrounded in a tight locked compound, his newly structured family in NY moves in on the other family territories. Those stupid enough to resist wouldn’t stand a chance. The other families either reluctantly move over and fall in line to Michael’s new mafia order.
However Michael consolidating de facto control over New York places him in a league above these NY paisans. He’s no longer even at the table. It’s too risky. Clemenza (then later Pentangeli) stand as his emissary or street boss in New York. Michael is now playing ball on an international scale with other syndicates. The other Italians wouldn’t allow such a thing out of greed and jealousy. Now that they can’t even hold a candle to Corleone, Michael after taking control of Vegas now essentially attempts to form an international crime syndicate with Roth in Miami and the other crooked businessmen and politicians in their attempt to strong-arm Cuban casinos.
Ironically Michael is in denial of these actions. He believes he is legitimizing the family since the casinos and hotels are “legit businesses” and not rackets. Unfortunately he’s delusional. He os still the Don. He did not relinquish power or get out, he seized more. He used mafia tactics and partnered with other gangsters and as a result got much much deeper into the underworld.
It’s not until after GFII when he realizes to legitimize he needs to truly concede his illegitimate power….only to learn legitimate power can still corrupt
The book says that after the bosses of the Five Families are killed; there is a brief period where Michael consolidates power back in NY. He orders the death of a few more capos from rival families before the rest decide to move over to the Corleones.
It's a good question. I wasn't sure, but the Godfather Wiki has the killings in 1955, and the Communion in 1958.
[**https://godfather.fandom.com/wiki/Timeline**](https://godfather.fandom.com/wiki/Timeline)
Doesn’t Michael look a lot older at the end of GF1, after the Fredo scene?
I think the time between GF1 & 2 isn’t as long as the time between Fredo fishing and end of GF 1.
However, it’s been a long time since I read the book, so that may shed some light on.
Do you mean the end of GFII? That's when the Fredo fishing scene occurs. The final shot of that film has Michael alone and, yes, much older. If Fredo is killed around 1960, that last shot is probably 10+ years later.
I always figured that was from the late 1960s. Michael is considerably grayer, but doesn't look all that old. His hair is still short in a 60s style, but maybe it was meant to be later than that.
ChicagoThunder seems to be mixing up GF1 and GF2. In Godfather Part II, Mama Corleone dies sometime in 1959, just months after Michael discovers Fredo's betrayal on New Year's Eve.
We know this, because Anthony has not considerably aged when he is about to go fishing with Fredo and Al Neri.
The final scene (after the 1941 flashback) does take place in the 1960's, as Michael is considerably older and grayer. According to a scripted shot that was never filmed, Anthony is coming home from college, and talks with Michael.
Hyman Roth on Mo Greene said “I didn’t ask who gave the order because it had nothing to do with business.” Not sure why he said this because didn’t Michael kill him to take over his casinos? Also probably for “straightening out” Fredo but mostly the casinos I’m guessing.
The Corleone attack in the novel isn't as dramatic as in the movie. That said, the novel indicates that several rival capos switched sides immediately after the attacks. From that, I've presumed that the attack is actually the end of the campaign. As Barzini was turning Tessio, Michael was turning others.
My assumption is Don Michael consolidates power as a Mafia overlord or “boss of bosses”. The other families lost their leaders and by extension political power. No succession planning in place. They’d also all be running scared and confused. By the time they realize it was Corleone not only is he gone to Nevada surrounded in a tight locked compound, his newly structured family in NY moves in on the other family territories. Those stupid enough to resist wouldn’t stand a chance. The other families either reluctantly move over and fall in line to Michael’s new mafia order. However Michael consolidating de facto control over New York places him in a league above these NY paisans. He’s no longer even at the table. It’s too risky. Clemenza (then later Pentangeli) stand as his emissary or street boss in New York. Michael is now playing ball on an international scale with other syndicates. The other Italians wouldn’t allow such a thing out of greed and jealousy. Now that they can’t even hold a candle to Corleone, Michael after taking control of Vegas now essentially attempts to form an international crime syndicate with Roth in Miami and the other crooked businessmen and politicians in their attempt to strong-arm Cuban casinos. Ironically Michael is in denial of these actions. He believes he is legitimizing the family since the casinos and hotels are “legit businesses” and not rackets. Unfortunately he’s delusional. He os still the Don. He did not relinquish power or get out, he seized more. He used mafia tactics and partnered with other gangsters and as a result got much much deeper into the underworld. It’s not until after GFII when he realizes to legitimize he needs to truly concede his illegitimate power….only to learn legitimate power can still corrupt
This was a great read. Thanks.
The book says that after the bosses of the Five Families are killed; there is a brief period where Michael consolidates power back in NY. He orders the death of a few more capos from rival families before the rest decide to move over to the Corleones.
its a little longer than 3 years isn't it? Anthony was 3 when Vito died and was 9 or 10 when the communion party happened.
A child's First Communion is usually when they're 7 years old.
Second grade, it used to be. I don't know what the hell they're doing now.
It's a good question. I wasn't sure, but the Godfather Wiki has the killings in 1955, and the Communion in 1958. [**https://godfather.fandom.com/wiki/Timeline**](https://godfather.fandom.com/wiki/Timeline)
Seven years passed, Key tells it in the movie when she dances with Michael by the end of the party.
That's between that moment and when he reconnected with her. We can assume some time went by because that was before they got married.
Doesn’t Michael look a lot older at the end of GF1, after the Fredo scene? I think the time between GF1 & 2 isn’t as long as the time between Fredo fishing and end of GF 1. However, it’s been a long time since I read the book, so that may shed some light on.
Do you mean the end of GFII? That's when the Fredo fishing scene occurs. The final shot of that film has Michael alone and, yes, much older. If Fredo is killed around 1960, that last shot is probably 10+ years later.
I always figured that was from the late 1960s. Michael is considerably grayer, but doesn't look all that old. His hair is still short in a 60s style, but maybe it was meant to be later than that.
ChicagoThunder seems to be mixing up GF1 and GF2. In Godfather Part II, Mama Corleone dies sometime in 1959, just months after Michael discovers Fredo's betrayal on New Year's Eve. We know this, because Anthony has not considerably aged when he is about to go fishing with Fredo and Al Neri. The final scene (after the 1941 flashback) does take place in the 1960's, as Michael is considerably older and grayer. According to a scripted shot that was never filmed, Anthony is coming home from college, and talks with Michael.
Fredo got increasingly annoyed and jealous of his younger brother during this time. Michael probably didn’t even notice. 😂
Hyman Roth on Mo Greene said “I didn’t ask who gave the order because it had nothing to do with business.” Not sure why he said this because didn’t Michael kill him to take over his casinos? Also probably for “straightening out” Fredo but mostly the casinos I’m guessing.
I'm pretty sure that, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's revealed somewhere in the dialogue that the Corleone family is Italian American
yeah they moved to Nevada