Michael vs Vito Corleone – who was a better don in The Godfather?

Those who’ve watched “The Godfather” and its awesome follow up “The Godfather II” inevitably draw comparisons between the old Vito and the new Michael Corleone. Who was the better Don? Everyone seems to agree that Michael was a more successful Don in terms of money and power. But was he a better one? Let’s look at some differences.

Vito listens to a personal request
Vito listens to a personal request

Vito was Personal while Michael was Business

The classic opening scene of The Godfather starts with the undertaker asking the Godfather to mete out justice for his daughter and Don agrees only on the condition that the undertaker accepts him as his friend. He doesn’t ask for payment – in fact he takes offence at the talk of money. He says that one day (and that day may never come,) the Don may ask him for a favor. That’s it. An undertaker. Not a man with power or assets. What service could an undertake render the Don? But Vito doesn’t care. He’s not interested in money.

Similarly on his daughter’s wedding, the Don painstakingly grants personal favors to various people in friendship.

Michael on the other hand has no friends. He couldn’t care less about an undertaker’s daughter and no undertaker would ever come to him asking for help. Instead in the opening scene of part II, there is a ceremony like the first part with Michael taking care of “business.” But his business is about high powered deals with Senators and expanding his business interests in the state. To me, nothing illustrates the difference between the two Dons than the first 20 minutes of each movie.

Vito had friends. Michael only had enemies

In the first part, when Vito was in the hospital after the assassination attempt, the baker’s son dropped by with some flowers. This in itself is amazing. You can be sure that if Michael was in hospital in part II, not a single real friend would have come to see him. Furthermore, on learning that Vito’s life was again in danger, the baker’s son offers to stay and help saying “For your father.” This is a don whom people love and respect. Not one who is obeyed out of fear.

Michae has no friends
Michae has no friends

Vito built a family. Michael lost his

Vito’s was a death which everyone desires to have. He lived to a nice old age, and died amongst his tomato plants while chasing his grandson around. His family was with him and he wasn’t bitter despite having lost his eldest son. He had his loving wife, his children, and adopted son.

Michael on the other hand loses his entire family despite seeming to try harder. He regularly asks his wife if she feels her son will be a boy, and shows an obsessive interest in continuing his family line. He could never adopt a son like Vito had merely out of the goodness of his heart. He drives his wife away by lying to her and not giving a shit about how she feels, has his own brother murdered, and the rest of his siblings hate him. He also tried to alienate Tom  – the only person who really stood by him all through.

So though Michael’s tenure as Don was marked by a great expansion in business – both geographically and monetarily, he was never a real success. He dies alone and abandoned. We’re reminded of the words “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

What do you think of this post?
  • Agree (237)
  • Don't Agree but Interesting (49)
  • You're an asshole (47)

30 thoughts on “Michael vs Vito Corleone – who was a better don in The Godfather?”

  1. Michael was the realest don, the most brutal, all business. He was absolutely ruthless and he earned respect. Vito was more of a family man, more understanding. Maybe not able to make the decisions that needed to be done rather than what was wanted.

    Reply

    • In reply to Nick

      Vito understood what mattered, family first. And if you consider the God Father part 3 a worthy instalment, you’d see Micheal’s realization of this as he grew older: once when he had some stroke of a sort, calling out to the brother he had killed (made me nearly cry). Micheal succeeded at a loss of honour, loss of respect, family and a legion of enemies that had their way with him but Vito succeeded with respect, reverence and as an honourable man; even his rivals had respect for him as the Don.
      I say, Vito was successful in ways that many would want to be.

      Reply

  2. Phillip of Macedon vs. Alexander the Great

    Both impressive at different capacities. Phillip built Macedon, especially its army, while Alexander used it flawlessly to create an empire. It’s like comparing apples and oranges

    Reply

  3. I personally believe Micheal Corleone was the real Don because when Vito was shot, out the 3 brothers only micheal was the one who handled the situation perfectly. Micheal corleone was the preserver of the family and inherited the seat when the family was in deep trouble. As far as killing his brother and brother in law is concerned, Micheal had made it very clear that any one who sides with the enemies or speaks against the family would be treated like an enemy. Both of them knew the rules and consequences when they decided to betray their own family.
    As far as Kay is concerned, i think it was foolish of micheal to marry such a woman who doesnt give value to the traditions of his family. Micheal should have married someone who was from an itialian decent, and would have adopted the family culture easily. Kay not only ruined her life but also micheals life.

    Reply

  4. Vito became a mafia from a nobody. Thus he knows why he is a mafia. He follows fate.
    Michael was forced to become a godfather. He resisted the fate and tried to clean his family up. But he didn’t understand one thing: They are mafia because they were losers to the “good guys”.

    Reply

  5. Michael never wanted this life of a don, he planned something else but circumstances pulled him in his family business and he had to take care of the family in the absence of Vito Corleone, his elder brother was shot dead, Fredo was not that smart and Tom Hagen never tried to be the Boss. Vito may be a better don and a better person but Michael had to do what was not in his interests….. We all know one thing that we should choose a career of our interest , it is a universal thing, if you are doing something you never have planned or which you never thought of then you may not be successfull in what you do. He could’ve been a better don if he dreamt to become a don from his young age, but instead he went to serve his country in US Marines. But I know this clearly that Don Vito Corleone was more of a family man and friendly to all, and Michael just focused on growing his family business and save their lives from enemies but created more enemies in the process.

    Reply

  6. The turning point in Michael’s life was when he went to the hospital to see Vito, and found all the bodyguards gone. At that moment, he took it upon himself to protect his father, and by extension, his father’s legacy. Nothing else mattered to him from that point on. That’s why he so coolly laid out the plan to kill Sollozzo and McCluskey; he was becoming the future Don in that scene. In turn, that’s why I think he became so ruthless–he had to preserve his father’s legacy at any cost. It was his way of keeping his father alive.

    Reply

Leave a Comment