The Last Don (1997– )

Sprawling Mario Puzo novel about an Italian family of gangsters draws the inevitable comparison to "The Godfather", but does find its own direction. Headed by Don Domenico Clericuzio, the ... See full summary »

Stars:

Danny Aiello, Joe Mantegna, Daryl Hannah

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Danny Aiello	...	Don Domenico Clericuzio

Storyline

Sprawling Mario Puzo novel about an Italian family of gangsters draws the inevitable comparison to "The Godfather", but does find its own direction. Headed by Don Domenico Clericuzio, the family executes a rival gang on the night of the Don's daughter's wedding, including her new husband, the son of his rival. Unfortunately the daughter gets pregnant and the repercussions of the night drift into the future. Spanning 1964-1985, the film jumps forward with the growing up of the grandson who has grown ruthless and scheming. A co-rival in the family is a nephew who has been raise to take his father's place in the family as a hitman and has established his place by assassinating a man who killed a Senator's daughter. However, he is proven to not be ruthless enough and moves into the family's casino business in Vegas. When the nephew falls in love with a beautiful actress, everything is set in place for the grandson to set up a coupe to take over the family.

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Plot Keywords:

daughter | grandson | rival | gangster | family relationships | 

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Taglines:

Power Isn't Everything... It's The Only Thing.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

11 May 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mario Puzo's The Last Don

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Konigsberg/Sanitsky Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

258 min 138 min (compact video)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The score was recorded at Paramount Studios with a 75-piece orchestra. A smaller orchestra of about 40 recorded additional music at Capitol Studios, Hollywood. The score was orchestrated conducted by Roger Bellon.

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Goofs

There is a scene which has Dante relaxing in a bathtub with his head propped against a pillow. However, Dante's head only rests against the pillow during the close ups, anytime the camera pulls away for a wide shot the pillow is resting behind Dante's head on the edge of the bathtub.

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Connections

Referenced in The Simpsons: Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner? (1999)

User Reviews

The first class of the «Last Don» (DVD)

If you are a fan of the Godfather Trilogy, you'll like this feature. Otherwise, if you raise an eyebrow of interrogation, well, don't worry: after seeing this show, you will run to rent this another famous trilogy.

Indeed, the «Last Don» has all the flavour of Mario Puzzo, that is to say an immersion in the big families of the Cosa Nostra. The thematic values already developed in the before mentioned classic movies, are met again in this adaptation of another of his novel: Family, Tragedy, Love, Honour, Wedding, Loyalty, Murder, Plots and Sicilia.

It is always surprising how dichotomized or schizophrenic all those religious families can be. They give absolute devotion to the family, but they can wipe it all in one moment if the codes have been broken. There is no place for empathy, for forgiveness.

The good point in the «Last Don» would be that the classic material is shown in new directions or territories: Childhood, Teenagers life, Hollywood, California. It may be interesting to find how the story could be the real sequel of the Godfather, part II. Maybe, Mario Puzzo, not really convinced by the part III, would have liked to tell the last story of his dreams. I didn't read any interviews of his motives to write the «Last Don», so I can't tell more.

About the movie, sure, Clifford isn't Coppola, Aiello isn't Paccino or Brando, and TV isn't theater. But the story is very well introduced, all the actors are convincing. At the end, you'll get a fine feeling to this show, and that is what must count.

And remember: Books are great too ! So, you are also invited to read the Godfather and the Last Don, available at your nearest library.