The catalyst for the events inThe Godfatheris an important wedding, where viewers meet many core characters, including the antagonistic Don Barzini (Richard Conte).The Godfatherstill holds up today as one of the best movies of all time, partly due to its characters and their various tense allegiances. Many of the relationships intheGodfathertrilogyare different from how they appear, with characters being required to show respect, even to their enemies. This is especially apparent in the first movie when Don Barzini attends the wedding hosted byThe Godfather’s powerful Corleone family.
Of alltheGodfathertrilogy’s Five Families of New York, the Corleone family is at the top in the business. Their fight to keep their position as the most powerful and prosperous crime family in New York drives the events in the first movie. At the beginning of this movie, the Corleones are in a strong position, with Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) being the Don of the family.Vito is one of the best Dons inThe Godfather, with his business sense and traditional mindset informing his decisions,including inviting Don Barzini to Connie Corleone’s (Talia Shire) wedding.
Don Barzini’s Attendance At The Corleone Family Wedding Was A Mark Of Respect
Don Barzini Likely Used The Wedding To His Advantage
When Don Vito Corleone invited Don Emilio Barzini to Connie’s wedding, it was not a sign of friendship but of respect, so despite the bitter history between the two families, Barzini was treated like an honored guest. His decision to attend the wedding was, similarly, a sign that he respected Don Corleone. With tradition being so important to Vito, it would have been unthinkable for him not to invite the other crime bosses to the event.Vito Corleone made many mistakes inThe Godfather, but inviting Barzini to the wedding was not one of them.
Barzini resents the Corleone family for winning the Olive Oil War and is already planning retaliation.
Barzini is one of themain villains inThe Godfatherand as smart a businessman as Vito. While he is intelligent enough to show respect at the wedding, he likely used the event to further his goals. Barzini resents the Corleone family for winning the Olive Oil War and is already planning retaliation.Don Barzini spends most ofThe Godfatheras a figure observing from the shadowsand, as many people would have their guard down at the wedding, this would have given Barzini a chance to note the Corleone family’s dynamics.
The Godfather’s Five Families Maintain A Facade Of Friendliness (Despite Working Against Each Other)
The Godfather Ends With Michael Corleone Using Another Family Event To Get Revenge
WhileThe Godfatherbecomes bloody and violent after the attempt on Vito Corleone’s life, the Five Families keep up the appearance of civility. This unwritten rule of keeping the peace allows Barzini to work against the Corleones in secret. With such a complex web of allegiances at the heart ofThe Godfather’s Mafia families, if one family falls out with another, there are repercussions for everyone. When themobsters betray Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) inThe Godfather, this tradition of politeness allows him to get revenge in one of the most brutal scenes in the trilogy.
All 6 Corleone Family Dons In The Godfather Explained
From Michael to Vincent, the Godfather trilogy sees many characters take on the role of head of the family following Vito Corleone’s death.
Even after several assassinations and attempted murders, the Five Families of New York still need to maintain appearances and continue to invite each other to events. Barzini uses Connie’s wedding to learn about the Corleone family, but Michael uses the tradition for a far more significant reason. Inviting the heads of the other families to his nephew’s baptism looks like respect, butthe shocking ending ofThe Godfathershows him assassinating them all.The Godfathershows how tradition can be exploited, with the heads of the families attending the baptism, without knowing that they are going to their deaths.
