The Godfather by Mario Puzo was adapted to a theatrical version by Francis Ford Coppola in 1972. The film closely follows the book in terms of story line, characters, and timeline. The story takes place during the 1940s and 1950s, which coincides with the mafia's expansion in the United States.

Don Vito Corleone, head of the Corleone family, is aging quickly and trying to juggle raising his own personal family and the "business." His son Michael has recently returned from overseas, which gives evidence to the 1945 timeline. Vito is wounded in an assassination attempt later that year, and Michael gets revenge by murdering the man behind the plan in 1946. He then fleas to Sicily.

The story then follows Michael in Sicily from 1946 to 1948 while he's in hiding and being protected by a friendly family. It also periodically checks in on Don Vito as he recovers from the gunshot wounds. Sonny, Vito's other son who heads the family while the Don recovers, is assassinated in 1948. This was the reason Michael returned to New York later that year.

From 1948 to 1954, Michael is slowly gaining control of the family business, as Vito is near retirement. His health is deteriorating, and Sonny, who was expected to take over, is dead. Vito dies in 1955, and Michael assumes the role of the head of the family.