"The Godfather" is based on the novel of the same name by Mario Puzo, which chronicles the story of the Corleone family, an Italian-American Mafia family. The film stars Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone, the powerful and respected head of the family, and Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, his youngest son, who reluctantly becomes embroiled in the family's business.