"Don" Vito Corleone is the head of a New York mafia 'family.' His beloved son Michael has just come home from the war, but does not intend to become part of his father's business. Not given a choice, the business of the family is just like the head of the family, kind and benevolent to those who give respect, but gives in to ruthless violence whenever anything stands against the good of the family. An up and coming rival of the Corleone family wants...

Now in his 60s, Don Michael Corleone is dominated by two passions: freeing his family from crime and finding a suitable successor. That successor could be his fiery nephew Vincent--but Vincent may also be the spark that turns Michael's hope of business legitimacy into an inferno of mob violence.