Anyone have ideas as to which real life players the characters are based upon? Getting ready to reread it, and I figure this might help it along since I already know the story.

I think the only thing based on real people in that novel was Puzo’s insane obsession with how writers get fucked over by the studios. There IS truth in that. But Puzo really let that bitterness show in that book.

I've had my criticisms of Puzo, too. I think he was jealous of Sinatra. The endless chapters in The Godfather on Johnny Fointaine (Sinatra) were just salty.

The Last Don can get tedious, too, but I'm pretty sure Alfred Gronevelt is based on Moe Dalitz, considering how he built a hospital in Vegas, lived in the casino hotel until his death.

Even though the Clericuzio family is based in New York, the way this Gronevelt is staked by them likens them more to Cleveland's Mayfield Road gang.

Anyhow, had this book just sitting there collecting dust. Thought I'd try to give it another read and draw the connections, but yes, it drags on about Hollywood way too much. The story line between the actress and the jealous boyfriend is like having teeth pulled, and I still don't remember how they factor into the story's ending except maybe the actress ends up hooking up with one of the younger Clericuzio. Even so, not worth the boring plot to get to that point.

It's just unbearable. Puzo can't resist putting everything he learned in Hollywood in his novels (including GF). The main reason "The Last Don" movie is a lot better than the novel is that the movie dispenses with most of that Hollywood BS.

That's what Coppola did with The Godfather, too. Cut out most of the Hollywood stuff.