as a massive godfather fan,as you know the corleone family are at one point the most powerful family in america, apart from don tomassinos connections in sicily do you think they had connections in any parts of the world.

also was the family based on a real family..

In that era, I would have to say no. The connections of the Corleone's were probably tied only into Italy.

The answer to your second question is yes, The Corleone's were based on several real families. There have been several posts in the past addressing this exact question.

Go to search and type in Inspiration For Godfather Characters and you will find the answer to your question.

Don Cardi

Well, don't forget Hyman Roth mentions to Micheal that he's been coming in Havana since the Twenties to run molasses, the trucks owned by Vito. I bet that Roth would have his connections there, so Vito would have them too at that time.

Oh yes i forgot about that

The Godfather was mostly fiction, but based on alot of true events and families. For the most part It was based on the Bonnano Family Giuseppe ( Joseph or don Pepino ) Bonnano, for Vito. And his son Salvatore ( Bill ) Bonnano as Micheal.

If you read both of their autobiographies, you will see many, many simalarities from their lifetime stories to the Godfather.

Joseph Bonnano - A Man of Honor
Bill Bonnano - Bound By Honor

Vito Corleone is a composite of several real-life Dons:
--He was the top olive oil importer in the US, like Joe Profaci.
--He was the victor in a Mafia war in the early Thirties, and left his rival dead with bread in his mouth, like Salvatore Maranzano.
--He was grooming his son to become the new Don, like Joe Bonanno.
But he was most like Frank Costello: he "had all the judges in New York"; was the most politically powerful; was big in gambling and unions; frowned on drugs; retired after an unsuccessful assassination attempt, and died peacefully.

Turnbull if those are the comparisons you are goign to use, non sone d'accordo.

In fact I think you make yourself more wrong by citing the comparisons you use. Read Joe Bonnanos book, as well as interveiws with Mario Puzo.

Bonnano was Maranzanos top man, so he too won the war. Bonnano in fact was Maranzanos "man at arms" Joe Bonnano also retired after the failed attempt on his life. He never wanted his son Bill to be a part of. But after being in the hospital Bill took charge. And as Bill was now padre of the family, Joe retired and helped his son as the counsiliere.

Joe Bonnano and Profaci were also very close. Bonnano had all of the politicians and judges in his pocket and introduced these contacts to Joe Profaci. Bonnano also was the only one in the five families to object to drugs. Profaci was on the conservative side of the commision with Bonnano as head. Profaci did things alot after conferring with Bonnano.

Youd have to read the book, there are so many comparisons, at times its like reading the Godfather itself.

Puzo himself also stated that the wedding scene in part 1 was based on the wedding of Bill Bonnano to Rosalee Profaci. Vito as Joe of course hosting the wedding and everyone from families all over the counrty coming. Also Johhny Fontaine was based both on Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. Tony Bennett sang at the wedding of Bonnano to Profaci and came to see his "godfather", as did Johnny Fontaine. Frank Sinatra was a guy from NJ who Willie Moretti liked so Moretti put all Sinatras records in the jukeboxes that the Cosa Nostra owned. Back then it was kinda like forcing radio stations to play someones records these days.

Im real tired now, so I cant think of any more, but get those books, as well as doign soem research on the 5 families and then and you can see.

A domani!!