Corruption In The Godfather

Tommy gun shootouts, big cities full of crime, and a mob boss in a smoke filled room. These are all things that one might think of when referring to a gangster film. However, many fail to see the underlying traits that most of these “cold hearted killers” possess. Take the movie The Godfather for instance. Yes, the Corleone family do kill and cheat in their personal lives and operations, but beneath all that is a sense of loyalty, determination, and business sense. Now, that’s not to say that it justifies any of their lawless actions, but nobody can deny that they know how to get things done. Very rarely do we ever see a poor gangster, and that is for good reason. The classic “Gangster” as portrayed in movies is essentially the ultimate businessman who finds himself on the opposite side of the law.

It is a position of power that holds the complete influence and respect of those under him. He oversees all the operations of the family, but never gets directly involved, much like a CEO would. Now, it goes without saying that the actions that the Don condones are far from legal, but disregarding all the violence and crime, the family is one large business. The rest of the Corleone family acts as the counsel and begin the descending chain of command. The Don is the head, and the nameless grunt is at the bottom. Each member is loyal to every other member of the family, but especially when concerning those above them. Building loyalty from those around and under him is a top priority from any gangster, and the concept is no different for any business