- Johnny Fontane
Infobox character
colour = #DEDEE2
name = Johnny Fontane
caption =
first = "The Godfather (novel) "
last = "The Godfather Part III "
cause =
nickname =
alias =
species =
gender = Male
age =
born = birth date|1913|6|11
death = death date and age|1999|7|6|1913|6|11
occupation = Singer/actor
title =
family =Corleone family
spouse =
children =
relatives =Vito Corleone (Godfather)
episode =
portrayer =Al Martino
creator =Mario Puzo John "Johnny" Fontane is a fictional character in
Mario Puzo 's novel "The Godfather" and the series of films based upon it. InFrancis Ford Coppola 's film adaptation of the novel, he was portrayed byAl Martino , the role having been turned down byVic Damone .In the novel and film, Fontane is a famous
crooner and occasionalmovie star in the vein ofFrank Sinatra , upon whom the character appears to be at least partially based. He is also the godson ofDon Vito Corleone , the head of a majorMafia crime family. Audiences learn of four occasions on which Corleone intervenes to help his career. The first, years before the main time frame of the original novel and film, is when he uses violent persuasion (an "offer he can't refuse") to buy out a contract that Fontane is locked into with a big band leader. Sinatra was also let out of a strong contract, with big band leaderTommy Dorsey , in his case for reasons never entirely clear. The second, the infamous "horse-head" scene, is an act of intimidation, carried out at the Godfather's behest, to ensure Fontane receives a part in awar film . The third occasion the Godfather's help wins Fontane anAcademy Award forbest actor , and in the last occasion, Fontane is lent money to start his own film studio. Sinatra won an Academy Award for his role in the war film "From Here to Eternity ", although as a supporting actor.Fontane is a minor character in the movie adaptation. In the original novel, however, the character is far more central, with large portions of the book dedicated to his adventures and misadventures in
Los Angeles and Las Vegas; his precarious relationship with childhood friend and former partner Nino Valenti; and his struggles with losing the singing voice that made him famous.The character is expanded upon in the novel "
The Godfather Returns " byMark Winegardner which make the parallels with Sinatra more explicit. In the 2004 novel, Fontane campaigns for the presidential election of his friend, James Kavanaugh "Jimmy" Shea, a young and privileged governor fromNew Jersey (as Sinatra did for then-SenatorJohn F. Kennedy fromMassachusetts ). The other members of theRat Pack are also represented (albeit with different names).In Winegardner's sequel "
The Godfather's Revenge ", Fontane becomes romantically involved with the daughter ofSonny Corleone ,Francesca Corleone . They are married at the end of the novel. Also, curiously in this novel, the real Sinatra is mentioned twice, even within a discussion between Fontane and Francesca.Notes and References
http://www.lycos.com/info/frank-sinatra--tommy-dorsey.html
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.