The Godfather Part III is a 1990 American crime film written by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, and directed by Coppola. It completes the story of Michael Corleone, a Mafia kingpin who tries to legitimize his criminal empire. The movie also weaves into its plot a fictionalized account of real-life events – the 1978 death of Pope John Paul I and the Papal banking scandal of 1981-1982 – and links them with each other and with the affairs of Michael Corleone.
The film stars Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire and Andy García, and features Eli Wallach, Joe Mantegna, George Hamilton, Bridget Fonda, and Sofia Coppola. Despite being part of a popular movie series, Part III has received mixed reviews and receptions. However, according to the director’s commentary on the DVD, Coppola mentions that Puzo and himself originally wanted that the real title of the film to be The Death of Michael Corleone. Paramount Pictures however would not accept that title. Coppola mentions that The Godfather series is in fact two sequels, and Part III is the epilogue.
The film begins on February 23, 1979. Michael Corleone is nearly 60 and feeling tremendous guilt for indulging in his ruthless ambition over the years, especially for ordering the murder of his brother Fredo two decades before. Although his previous conquests have made him a very rich man, the thoughts of his children, their future, happiness, and his legacy are now his primary motivations, and he has all but retired from the Mafia, selling the Las Vegas casinos and leaving the Corleone family’s criminal interests in the hands of former enforcer Joey Zasa. His adopted brother Tom Hagen is now dead and the Corleone compound at Lake Tahoe has been abandoned.
Michael and Kay have been divorced since 1959, and Michael gave her custody of their children, Anthony and Mary. He has since returned to New York City, where he is using his wealth and power to restore his reputation via numerous acts of charity. In an attempt to break with the past, Michael creates a charity, the Vito Corleone Foundation, in memory of his father, which he has endowed with $100 million to use for the betterment of Sicily.
