Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Godfather II

1. In Godfather II, the hierarchical structure of the Corleone family is headed by Michael Corloene, youngest son of Don Vito Corleone; next in line is Tom Hagen, his adopted brother. Fredo, Michael's oldest brother, is also part of the family but does not play a part in the hierarchical structure as he was found to be associated with the enemies of the family.

2.The crimes that the family are involved in are organized killings for ownership of hotels and casino businesses.

3. In this film the hierarchical structure follows the heads of the businesses owned by the "American Industrialists". Each family owns and controls a different business within the crime syndicate which ranges from the General Food Corporation owned by William Shaw, Pan American Corporation, owned by Regional Vice president, Mr. Petty, Neveda Tourism and Leisure activities owned and controlled by Michael Corleone, United Telephone and Telegraph Company, owned by Messiers Corngold and Dan, South American Sugar, owned by Robert Allen, and from Florida Hyman Roth.

4. The aspects of the film that I believe to be factual and realistic are:

- The use of Don Fanucci's power to influence a restuarant owner to fire a trusted employee in order to give his nephew a job
- The display by Fredo's wife at the wedding of Michael and Kay, in attemping to cope with the mafia lifestyle.
- The setting up of the Florida Senator in an attempt to get him to acquiese to the wishes of Michael Corleone.
- The relationship between Fredo Corleone, an overlooked son, and Johnny Ola, Hyman Roth's messenger, and the attempted murder of Michael.
- The arranged death of Fredo on the lake by Michael and the death of Frankie in the bathtub
- The scene where Michael Corleone tells hie wife Kay that she will never be able to take his kids away from him
- Franklin Pentangeli's denial of his sworn statement given to the FBI against Michael Corleone due to the presence of his brother in court, who was brought to America by Michael.
- The discussion between Michael Corleone and his brother Tom where Michael intimated that killing someone was difficult but not impossible

5. The aspects of the film that I believe are fiction and unrealistic are:

- The wanton shootings in the street after the attempted murder of Franklin Pentangeli inside the bar.
- The street parade involving the carrying of Jesus on the Cross with paper money pinned onto him
- The abortion of Kay's baby boy after a three and a half month term due to the fact that she was tired of the mafia lifestyle and did not want another son to grow up in it.

6. One of the persons discussed in class who can be identified is Hyman Roth ,business associate of Michael Corleone.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Sunday, February 15, 2009

1. The hierarchical structure of this family was based on a combination of succession in part and committment to the family business. It consisted of :
Don Corleone - the Godfather
Santini Corleone, also called Sonny - eldest son
Michael Corleone - youngest son
Tom Hagen - adopted son
Fredo - son

2. The crimes that the Family are involved in are gambling and mafia style murders.

3. The structure of all the syndicates consists of the heads of the families within the syndicate and are as follows:

New York/New Jersey - Don Brazini
The Bronx - Carmine Cuneo
Brooklyn - Phillip Tattaglia
Staten Island - Vito Stracci

Next in line were the oldest sons of these families.

4. The aspects of the film that I believe to be factual and realistic are:
-The syndicate meetings of the heads of the families to resolve and find solutions within the network
-The revenge killings involving Sollozzo Tattagalia, Santini Corleone, and Carlo, the brother in law
-The killing of the owner of the Las Vegas hotel and casino in order to acquire the business.

5. the aspects that are fiction and unrealistic in my view are :
- The incident at the hispital when the vehicle approached the gates and noticed Michael and Enzo standing on the steps and sinply drove off
- The incident at the restuarant onvolving Captain McClusky of the New York Police Department, Sollozzo Tattaglia, and Michael Corleone, where the latter proceeded to the bathroom and retrieved a planted gun behind the old toilet tank.

6. I can identify the Godfather, Don Corleone.