The Godfather: Book vs. Movies
The two Godfather movies, released between 1972 and 1974, are adapted from Mario Puzo's one book, published in 1969. Each book has its own page; this is where you vote on the series as a whole.
From Books Adapted
How much of the book it covers
The first two movies use the same novel
| Movie | Book or story adapted |
|---|---|
| The Godfather (1972) | The main story of Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, with substantial cuts to the book’s background stories. |
| The Godfather Part II (1974) | Vito’s earlier life from that same novel, alongside a new continuation of Michael’s story written by Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola. |
| The Godfather Part III (1990) | An original continuation written by Puzo and Coppola, not an adaptation of a third novel. |
Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (2020) is a new edit of Part III, not a fourth story. Coppola changed its beginning and ending and rearranged scenes, shots, and music.
The other novels do not match the movie sequels
Puzo’s The Sicilian includes Michael Corleone, but its central story concerns the bandit Salvatore Giuliano. Michael Cimino adapted it as a separate movie in 1987. That movie leaves out Michael.
Mark Winegardner’s The Godfather Returns and The Godfather’s Revenge continue the family’s history in the books. They are not the sources of Part II and Part III. Ed Falco’s The Family Corleone goes back to Vito’s family in 1933. Those three novels have not been made into the Godfather movies.
Another novel, Connie by Adriana Trigiani, is announced for fall 2027. Authorized by the Puzo estate, it will tell the story from Connie Corleone’s perspective. It is an upcoming book, not a source for an existing movie.
What changed from the book
Johnny Fontane and Tom Hagen have more history in the book
The novel gives Johnny Fontane a life and career beyond his request for help getting a movie role. It also spends more time on Tom Hagen’s background and his closeness to Vito and Sonny. The first movie cuts down both men’s stories.
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Kay’s final scene changes
The first movie ends as Kay watches the door close on Michael after he has denied ordering Carlo’s death. The novel continues to Kay’s conversion to Catholicism and her prayers for Michael’s soul.
How it was adapted
Coppola worked directly from an annotated copy of the novel
Coppola made a notebook containing Puzo’s pages, his own marginal notes, scene summaries, and the central idea he wanted each scene to convey. He also recorded problems to avoid while filming. It was later published as The Godfather Notebook.
Every movie has its own page
Vote on them one at a time: each has its own question, results and comments.
- Book 1
The GodfatherMovie, 1972 · Directed by Francis Ford Coppola · 2 hr 55 minFrom The Godfather · 1969 · 448 pagesFrancis Ford Coppola’s 1972 film The Godfather adapts Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel. As threats against the Corleone family grow, Michael is drawn toward the criminal business he has tried to avoid.Which was better? Vote - Book 1
The Godfather Part IIMovie, 1974 · Directed by Francis Ford Coppola · 2 hr 45 minFrom The Godfather · 1969 · 448 pagesFrancis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part II (1974) draws partly on Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel The Godfather, following Vito Corleone’s early life alongside a new story about Michael’s leadership of the family.Which was better? Vote
The book
Details
- Author
- Mario Puzo
- Year
- 1969
- Pages
- 448
- Audiobook length
- 18 hr 48 min
- Narrator
- Joe Mantegna, Anthony Puzo, Angelo Di Loreto
- Series
- The Godfather, book 1
Vito Corleone grants favors that the law will not provide, binding the people who seek his help to a network of debts and loyalty. As rival criminals challenge his position, the novel follows his family and their dependents through the business of power, including the growing involvement of Michael, the son who has tried to remain apart.
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