The Godfather: Movie vs. the Book
The outstanding book about crime written by Mario Puzo The Godfather became the fastest selling novel of its time since the years it was published. The popularity of the story tremendously increased with the release of movie The Godfather by Francis Ford Coppola in 1972. Both book and movie were indeed accepted by the readers and viewers. The book broke the records of sales of its time, and the movie got several Academy Awards. Even nowadays critiques admit that this was one of the greatest movie ever produced, and over twenty one million of printed copies sold worldwide prove its general recognition.
The most prominent theme of the book is the concept of the mafiosi business. The entire book is filled with the phrase, “it’s business, not personal.” This way, gangsters try to convince everybody they deal with (policemen, congressmen, judges, and even themselves) that they are only businessmen, running so-called family business. Because they understand all malicious effects of their “business,” they try to remove guilt by referring to their affairs as family business, which is too good not to step into. Another important theme of the book is the concept of respect. The whole mafia family is absorbed with the need to be respected. Once any of the family members beholds disrespect from subordinates, the violator is immediately rewarded with sudden death. 
One of the key themes in the movie is the experience of emigrants in the United States. The idea of freedom is also very important: it is evident that these are Don Corleone and his peers who set the rules. They live by their own laws and demand the others to subdue to them. The theme of family relations is depicted in details in the movie. Though the mafiosi may be engaged in the family business, the affairs of office and home should never be mixed. Don Corleone tries to prevent his family from all violence and problems associated with his criminal activity. Besides, the problem of police corruption as well as the questionable politicians’ morality is also highlighted in the movie. 
The main character of the story, Vito Corleone, is the central figure of all events described in the novel. Vito Corleone, or the Godfather, was the leader of organized crime in the United States in the 1940s. He was a recognized ruler, demanding loyalty from those who were under his protection, and being merciless with those who decided to cross his way. The crime lord reveals enormous power and strength protecting his empire and family from numerous enemies who threaten his life and business. It seems that two opposite characters leave together in the Don Corleone: on one hand he is a caring family man, but on the other he is a ruthless killer who has no mercy.
What is surprising about the movie is that the number of times a particular family member appears in the screen directly relates to his position in the family hierarchy. For example, most important character like Kay, Connie, and Michael appear frequently in all three parts of the movie. Accordingly, secondary characters appear less often, or get killed. Important characteristics of the movie are the visual effects and the underlying sense of doors and windows. Window are like screens through which movie characters can see the outside world, on the other hand, windows are gateways through which the outsiders can watch mafia. Windows separate the criminal world from the rest. Doors, on the other hand, serve as separators within the criminal realm; they separate men from their families, meaning spouses and children. 
The plot of the first part of the epic saga is fastened around Michael’s development from a little dependent boy to a mature man who has to take a very serious and significant decision. He needs to determine whether he will stay away from his family’s criminal business or will he assist his father and becomes a Mafioso. This is a very difficult choice for Michael as on one side of the coin is a respectable and calm life outside the Mafia, and on the another is his family. 
Nowadays, The Godfather films, based on the motives of the same name novel, are considered to be the classics of American movie industry, representing the experience of Sicilian- Americans of the twentieth century.