Carmella Corleone

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Carmella Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's The Godfather. She is the wife of Don Vito Corleone. Though she figures 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 DVDs' special features. Mrs. Corleone is portrayed by Morgana King, who is better known as a singer, and she is briefly given a chance to show some of her vocal skills in the wedding reception scene of The Godfather.

In the novel, Mama Corleone is portrayed as a rather traditional Italian immigrant woman who speaks in very broken English (in the movies, her English is almost perfect) and develops a close relationship with Michael's wife Kay. She is given more interesting lines of dialogue in The Godfather Part II, notably when she confronts her daughter Connie about her acts early in the film, and when she discusses family life with her son, Michael, who is becoming worried as he realizes that his strong-hand Don methods are alienating him from the other members of the family. She dies toward the end of the second movie.

In the Novel the backstory of Vito Corleone rising as a Don reveals that Carmella was disturbed by Vito's change from a kind, quiet young man to a pragmatic and brutal criminal. This is similar to Kay's reaction to Michael becoming Vito's heir. However Carmella seems to forgive Vito for the murders and crimes he commits as he seems to never distance his family or lose his kindness a major difference from Michael (who notices this in Godfather Part II and asks Carmella if Vito's actions alienated and destroyed his family.)

In the novel, devoutly Catholic Carmella went to Mass every day to pray for her husband's soul. In the end of the Novel Kay does the same for Michael.

In the flashback scenes of The Godfather Part II, the young Carmella is portrayed by Francesca de Sapio.

Family Members

• Vito Corleone — Husband; played by Marlon Brando in Godfather I, played by Robert De Niro in Godfather II
• Tom Hagen — Adopted son; played by Robert Duvall
• Santino 'Sonny' Corleone — first born son; played by James Caan
• Sandra Corleone — Daughter-in-law; played by Julie Gregg
• Costanzia 'Connie' Corleone-Rizzi — Daughter; played by Talia Shire
• Frederico 'Fredo' Corleone — middle son, Underboss to Michael; played by John Cazale
• Michael Corleone — Youngest son; played by Al Pacino
• Kay Adams — Daughter-in-law; played by Diane Keaton
• Anthony Corleone — Grandson; played by Anthony Gounaris in Godfather I, played by James Gounaris in Godfather II, played by Franc D'Ambrosio in Godfather III
• Mary Corleone — Granddaughter; played by Sofia Coppola
• Vincent 'Vinnie' Mancini-Corleone — Grandson; played by Andy Garcia.