The Family Corleone

Based on an unpublished Mario Puzo screenplay, Falco’s solid Godfather prequel fills in the backstory of the iconic New York City Mafia family over a two-year period. In 1933, 17-year-old Sonny Corleone struggles to come to terms with the truth about how his father, Vito, makes a living. At first, the narrative dwells on the brutal thug Luca Brasi, at the expense of more interesting characters, such as the Corleones’ adopted son, Tom Hagen, who’ll grow up to be the family’s consigliere, and the hotheaded Sonny’s younger brother, Michael. Those who persevere will be rewarded with scenes of Machiavellian plotting by Vito, who fends off both Italian and Irish rivals. Falco (Saint John of the Five Boroughs) takes the story right up to Sonny’s wedding, and if he offers few new insights into characters’ motivations, Puzo fans will find this a refreshing change from, say, Mark Winegardner’s inferior sequels, The Godfather Returns and The Godfather’s Revenge. Agent: Neil Olson, Donadio & Olson. (May)