The film tells the story of the Corleone family, an Italian-American Mafia family, and their rise to power. The story revolves around Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), the powerful head of the family, who is known as "The Godfather." As Don Vito ages, he passes the reins of power to his youngest son Michael (Al Pacino), a war hero who wants to stay out of the family business.