Messenger, Christian K. The Godfather and American Culture: How the Corleones Became "Our Gang" New York: State University of New York P, 2002. 173-206.

Chris Messenger’s book, The Godfather and American Culture: How the Corleones Became “Our Gang” focuses on the tremendous impact The Godfather has had on American culture. While The Godfather proved to be influential on the screen, Messenger chooses to detail the powerful popular culture effect that has reverberated since the movies premier in 1972 to the present day. In particular, the chapter entitled “The Godfather and American Culture: How the Corleone’s Became “Our Gang” attempts to explain how a family, who resorts to gruesome violence and is  one of the leaders in illegal gambling rackets, is so beloved even among the most unexpected, scrupulous individuals. He suggests that the Corleones become “Our Gang” mainly because onlookers aspired to exude many of the chief attributes and tenets of the Corleone family such as respect and power.  Although mafia involvement is not typically viewed in a positive light, Messenger contends that a unique emotional connection is established which is rarely associated with such illegal and corrupt activities. For example, male dominance and authority in the family and household settings displayed initially by Don Corleone himself and eventually by his sons are particularly appealing traits to American men today. With the rise in the role in women in the latter half of the 20^th century and into the 21^st, men find a certain emotional reassurance in the controlling male figure.

Coppola presents the viewers with a precarious situation as the family members are both proponents of murder and traditional, loyal family values. It is possible that often the Corleones are granted such clemency because their heinous actions are justified as means of necessities to protect and provide for family members. In one instance The Don remarks, “Do you spend time with your family? Good. Because a man that doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man.”  Had Coppola not included extreme characterization to reveal similarities among the average viewer and the Corleone family, few would be found cheering on these “good” murderers. In general, those who came to admire the Corleone family were successively persuaded by Coppola to view mafia involvement as a mere daytime job; just as one’s character is usually not judged on their profession, viewers should look beyond the traditional Italian-mafia stereotypes and into the caring, trustworthy natures of the Corleone family members.