Connie Corleone
Encyclopedia
Constanzia "Connie" Corleone (previously Constanzia Corleone-Rizzi), is a fictional character
from The Godfather
by Mario Puzo
. In the films
, Connie is portrayed by Talia Shire
, the sister of director Francis Ford Coppola
.
Vito Corleone
and Carmela Corleone. She is the sister of Sonny
, Fredo
and Michael Corleone
. In The Godfather, she marries Carlo Rizzi, a small-time hood from Nevada
and a friend of Sonny's. This choice (and the fact that Carlo is of Northern Italian
descent) greatly displeases her father, who only agrees to the marriage on the condition that they hold an old-style Sicilian
wedding. She has two sons by Carlo: Victor and Michael Francis. A brief glimpse in Mama Corleone
's funeral scene is the only time that Victor appears in the trilogy.
Carlo — whom Puzo characterizes as "a punk sore at the world" — periodically abuses
and cheats on Connie. She complains to her parents, but her father coldly refuses to help, presumably to punish Connie. In truth, Vito is very upset at how Connie is being treated, but Italian tradition forbids a father — even one as powerful as Vito — from interfering in his daughter's marriage. However, her brothers grow to resent Carlo for his mistreatment of their sister, and Sonny has to be restrained from attacking Carlo.
One day Carlo gives Connie a particularly severe beating. Sonny gets wind of it when visiting Connie, finding her in tears and covered in bruises. Sonny finds Carlo hanging out in the street, chases him and mercilessly beats him up in front of a large group of people. Sonny threatens to kill Carlo if he ever harms Connie again, kicks him into the street, and leaves the scene. Carlo then schemes with her brother's and father's rivals, Philip Tattaglia
and Emilio Barzini
, to have Sonny killed. As part of the plan, Carlo once again beats Connie badly, this time in order to entice Sonny out for the ambush. Connie calls Sonny in a state of terror. Driven almost blind by rage, Sonny drives to Connie's house; while en route he is ambushed while paying a toll and is shot by Barzini's Tommy gun
-wielding bodyguards.
Eight years later, Vito dies and Michael inherits the family. While Michael is standing as godfather
to Michael Francis, the other heads of the Five Families
are killed in a massive slaughter that re-establishes the Corleone family's reputation. Later that day, Michael avenges Sonny by having Carlo garrote
d by Peter Clemenza. Once Connie finds out what Michael has done (though apparently not knowing of Carlo's role in Sonny's death), she flies into a hysterical rage and denounces him in front of his wife, Kay; she resents Michael for some time afterward.
In the novel, Connie at first berates Michael for Carlo's death but a week later apologizes to her brother, claiming she didn't really mean it. She remarries less than a year later.
. In the years since Carlo's death, she has had a series of meaningless affairs and marriages just to spite Michael, even borrowing money and abandoning her children temporarily. She returns to the family after their mother dies, and becomes more involved in the family business. She even intercedes on Fredo's behalf after Michael disowns him for conspiring with Corleone rival Hyman Roth
, pleading with Michael to forgive him. She is presumably unaware that Michael had Fredo assassinated, as she later says that Fredo had drowned. After Michael and Kay divorce, Connie helps care for Michael's two children, Anthony
and Mary
. In a flashback at the end of the film, it is revealed that Sonny introduced her to Carlo in 1941.
In The Godfather Part III
, Connie becomes a much more active member of Michael's inner circle, and is perhaps the closest he has to a true consigliere
in the film. She is instrumental in persuading Michael to take their nephew Vincent Mancini-Corleone
under his wing and groom him as the new Don. While Michael is recuperating in the hospital, she gives Vincent the go-ahead to kill Joey Zasa
. She also (reluctantly) poisons Don Altobello
, her godfather, in retaliation for his attempted assault
on the family.
's sequel
novels The Godfather Returns
and The Godfather's Revenge
.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from The Godfather
The Godfather (novel)
The Godfather is a crime novel written by Italian American author Mario Puzo, originally published in 1969 by G. P. Putnam's Sons. It details the story of a fictitious Sicilian Mafia family based in New York City and headed by Don Vito Corleone, who became synonymous with the Italian Mafia...
by Mario Puzo
Mario Puzo
Mario Gianluigi Puzo was an American author and screenwriter, known for his novels about the Mafia, including The Godfather , which he later co-adapted into a film by Francis Ford Coppola...
. In the films
Godfather Trilogy
The Godfather is a crime drama film trilogy directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It is based on the novel by Mario Puzo about the fictional Corleone Mafia family.-Films:* The Godfather * The Godfather Part II...
, Connie is portrayed by Talia Shire
Talia Shire
Talia Shire is an American actress most known for her roles as Connie Corleone in The Godfather films and Adrian Balboa in the Rocky series.-Personal life:...
, the sister of director Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's most innovative and influential film directors...
.
In the novel and first film
Connie is the youngest child, and only daughter, of DonMafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
Vito Corleone
Vito Corleone
Vito Andolini Corleone is a fictional character and the main character in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather, as well as Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather trilogy, where he was portrayed by Marlon Brando in The Godfather and by Robert De Niro in The Godfather Part II. Premiere Magazine listed Vito...
and Carmela Corleone. She is the sister of Sonny
Sonny Corleone
Santino "Sonny" Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather and its 1972 film adaptation. He also appears as an infant, as a young boy, and an adult in The Godfather Part II....
, Fredo
Fredo Corleone
Frederico "Fredo" Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather. In the fictional universe of the novel and its film adaptation, he is the second son of Vito Corleone , head of a powerful Mafia family...
and Michael Corleone
Michael Corleone
Michael Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's novels, The Godfather and The Sicilian. He is also the main character of the Godfather film trilogy that was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, in which he was portrayed by Al Pacino, who was twice nominated for an Academy Award for his...
. In The Godfather, she marries Carlo Rizzi, a small-time hood from Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
and a friend of Sonny's. This choice (and the fact that Carlo is of Northern Italian
Northern Italy
Northern Italy is a wide cultural, historical and geographical definition, without any administrative usage, used to indicate the northern part of the Italian state, also referred as Settentrione or Alta Italia...
descent) greatly displeases her father, who only agrees to the marriage on the condition that they hold an old-style Sicilian
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
wedding. She has two sons by Carlo: Victor and Michael Francis. A brief glimpse in Mama Corleone
Carmella Corleone
Carmela Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's The Godfather. She is the wife of Don Vito Corleone. Though she features somewhat prominently in the book and the films, she is nowhere given a name, and is only referred to as "Mama". She receives one seemingly as an afterthought in the...
's funeral scene is the only time that Victor appears in the trilogy.
Carlo — whom Puzo characterizes as "a punk sore at the world" — periodically abuses
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
and cheats on Connie. She complains to her parents, but her father coldly refuses to help, presumably to punish Connie. In truth, Vito is very upset at how Connie is being treated, but Italian tradition forbids a father — even one as powerful as Vito — from interfering in his daughter's marriage. However, her brothers grow to resent Carlo for his mistreatment of their sister, and Sonny has to be restrained from attacking Carlo.
One day Carlo gives Connie a particularly severe beating. Sonny gets wind of it when visiting Connie, finding her in tears and covered in bruises. Sonny finds Carlo hanging out in the street, chases him and mercilessly beats him up in front of a large group of people. Sonny threatens to kill Carlo if he ever harms Connie again, kicks him into the street, and leaves the scene. Carlo then schemes with her brother's and father's rivals, Philip Tattaglia
Philip Tattaglia
Philip Tattaglia is a fictional character appearing in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather, the first installment of The Godfather film trilogy and The Godfather video game. He was portrayed by actor Victor Rendina.-In the story:...
and Emilio Barzini
Emilio Barzini
Don Emilio Barzini is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather and in its film adaptation, in which he is portrayed by Richard Conte-In the novel:...
, to have Sonny killed. As part of the plan, Carlo once again beats Connie badly, this time in order to entice Sonny out for the ambush. Connie calls Sonny in a state of terror. Driven almost blind by rage, Sonny drives to Connie's house; while en route he is ambushed while paying a toll and is shot by Barzini's Tommy gun
Tommy Gun
Tommy Gun may refer to:*Thompson submachine gun or Tommy gun, a submachine gun*"Tommy Gun" , a song by The Clash...
-wielding bodyguards.
Eight years later, Vito dies and Michael inherits the family. While Michael is standing as godfather
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
to Michael Francis, the other heads of the Five Families
Five Families (The Godfather)
The Five Families are five major Mafia crime families in the novel and film The Godfather. The families are based on the real life New York Five Families, five major Italian American crime families.- The Five Families :The Corleones...
are killed in a massive slaughter that re-establishes the Corleone family's reputation. Later that day, Michael avenges Sonny by having Carlo garrote
Garrote
A garrote or garrote vil is a handheld weapon, most often referring to a ligature of chain, rope, scarf, wire or fishing line used to strangle someone....
d by Peter Clemenza. Once Connie finds out what Michael has done (though apparently not knowing of Carlo's role in Sonny's death), she flies into a hysterical rage and denounces him in front of his wife, Kay; she resents Michael for some time afterward.
In the novel, Connie at first berates Michael for Carlo's death but a week later apologizes to her brother, claiming she didn't really mean it. She remarries less than a year later.
In the sequels
Her role in the films continues in The Godfather Part IIThe Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II is a 1974 American gangster film directed by Francis Ford Coppola from a script co-written with Mario Puzo. The film is both a sequel and a prequel to The Godfather, chronicling the story of the Corleone family following the events of the first film while also depicting the...
. In the years since Carlo's death, she has had a series of meaningless affairs and marriages just to spite Michael, even borrowing money and abandoning her children temporarily. She returns to the family after their mother dies, and becomes more involved in the family business. She even intercedes on Fredo's behalf after Michael disowns him for conspiring with Corleone rival Hyman Roth
Hyman Roth
Hyman Roth is a fictional character, and the primary antagonist in The Godfather Part II, played by the actor and acting teacher Lee Strasberg, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the role...
, pleading with Michael to forgive him. She is presumably unaware that Michael had Fredo assassinated, as she later says that Fredo had drowned. After Michael and Kay divorce, Connie helps care for Michael's two children, Anthony
Anthony Corleone
Anthony "Tony" Vito Corleone is a fictional character in The Godfather trilogy of films directed by Francis Ford Coppola. He is portrayed by Anthony Gounaris in the first film, James Gounaris in the second, and singer Franc D'Ambrosio in the third...
and Mary
Mary Corleone
Mary Corleone is a fictional character in The Godfather Part III, portrayed by Sofia Coppola. She is the daughter of Michael Corleone and Kay Adams and sister of Anthony Vito Corleone.-The Godfather Part II:...
. In a flashback at the end of the film, it is revealed that Sonny introduced her to Carlo in 1941.
In The Godfather Part III
The Godfather Part III
The Godfather Part III is a 1990 American gangster 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...
, Connie becomes a much more active member of Michael's inner circle, and is perhaps the closest he has to a true consigliere
Consigliere
Consigliere is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The word was popularized by Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather , and its film adaptation...
in the film. She is instrumental in persuading Michael to take their nephew Vincent Mancini-Corleone
Vincent Mancini-Corleone
Vincent Santino Corleone is a fictional character in the 1990 feature film The Godfather Part III, in which he is portrayed by Andy García, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance...
under his wing and groom him as the new Don. While Michael is recuperating in the hospital, she gives Vincent the go-ahead to kill Joey Zasa
Joey Zasa
Joey Zasa is a fictional character appearing in The Godfather Part III. He was portrayed by Joe Mantegna. He is based on a mix of three real Mafia members: Joseph Colombo, Joe Gallo and John Gotti.-Character overview:...
. She also (reluctantly) poisons Don Altobello
Don Altobello
Osvaldo "Ozzie" Altobello is a fictional character and the primary antagonist of the film The Godfather Part III. He also appears in the novels The Godfather Returns and The Godfather's Revenge. In the film, he is portrayed by Eli Wallach....
, her godfather, in retaliation for his attempted assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
on the family.
In other media
Connie appears as a supporting character in Mark WinegardnerMark Winegardner
Mark Winegardner is an American writer born and raised in Bryan, Ohio. His novels include The Godfather Returns, Crooked River Burning, and The Veracruz Blues. He published a collection of short stories, That's True of Everybody, in 2002. His newest novel, The Godfather's Revenge, was published...
's sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
novels The Godfather Returns
The Godfather Returns
The Godfather Returns is a novel written by author Mark Winegardner, published in 2004. It is the sequel to Mario Puzo's The Godfather, which was originally published in 1969, and The Sicilian...
and The Godfather's Revenge
The Godfather's Revenge
The Godfather's Revenge, a 2006 novel written by author Mark Winegardner, is the sequel to The Godfather, The Sicilian, and The Godfather Returns. The story takes place from 1963–1964, and picks up the story from where The Godfather Returns left off...
.
Family
- Vito CorleoneVito CorleoneVito Andolini Corleone is a fictional character and the main character in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather, as well as Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather trilogy, where he was portrayed by Marlon Brando in The Godfather and by Robert De Niro in The Godfather Part II. Premiere Magazine listed Vito...
— Father - Carmela Corleone — Mother
- Santino 'Sonny' CorleoneSonny CorleoneSantino "Sonny" Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather and its 1972 film adaptation. He also appears as an infant, as a young boy, and an adult in The Godfather Part II....
— Brother - Sandra CorleoneSandra CorleoneSandra Corleone is a fictional character appearing in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather, the Godfather film trilogy, and the Godfather video game...
— Sister-in-law - Fredo CorleoneFredo CorleoneFrederico "Fredo" Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather. In the fictional universe of the novel and its film adaptation, he is the second son of Vito Corleone , head of a powerful Mafia family...
— Brother - Michael CorleoneMichael CorleoneMichael Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's novels, The Godfather and The Sicilian. He is also the main character of the Godfather film trilogy that was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, in which he was portrayed by Al Pacino, who was twice nominated for an Academy Award for his...
— Brother - Kay Adams-Corleone — Sister-in-law
- Anthony CorleoneAnthony CorleoneAnthony "Tony" Vito Corleone is a fictional character in The Godfather trilogy of films directed by Francis Ford Coppola. He is portrayed by Anthony Gounaris in the first film, James Gounaris in the second, and singer Franc D'Ambrosio in the third...
— Nephew - Mary CorleoneMary CorleoneMary Corleone is a fictional character in The Godfather Part III, portrayed by Sofia Coppola. She is the daughter of Michael Corleone and Kay Adams and sister of Anthony Vito Corleone.-The Godfather Part II:...
— Niece - Vincent Mancini-CorleoneVincent Mancini-CorleoneVincent Santino Corleone is a fictional character in the 1990 feature film The Godfather Part III, in which he is portrayed by Andy García, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance...
— Nephew - Carlo Rizzi — First Husband
- Michael Francis Rizzi — Son
- Victor Rizzi — Son
- Tom HagenTom HagenThomas "Tom" Feargal Hagen is a fictional character in the Godfather books and films. He was portrayed by Robert Duvall in the films. He is the informally adopted son of Don Vito Corleone and serves as the family lawyer and consigliere . Mild-mannered and soft-spoken, he often serves as a voice of...
— Stepbrother