Forty years after the initial release of The Godfather, Francis Ford Coppola's trilogy continues to fascinate viewers old and new. The Godfather Effect analyzes the reasons behind this ongoing global phenomenon. With behind-the-scenes anecdotes from all three Godfather films, Tom Santopietro explores the historical origins of the Mob and why they thrived in America, how Italian-Americans are portrayed in the media, and how a saga of murderous gangsters captivated audiences around the globe. Laced with stories about Brando, Pacino, and Sinatra, and interwoven with a memoir about the author's own experiences growing up with an Italian name in an Anglo world of private schools and country clubs.