The Godfather is a classic crime novel by Mario Puzo, detailing the story of a fictional Mafia family in New York in the 1940s and 1950s. This novel introduced America to the first family of crime fiction - the Corleones, and it remains a classic in American popular culture. Power, greed, and family loyalty all play out in this portrayal of the mafia underworld. Author Mario Puzo wrote the book based on his personal need for the cash advance, and the paperback rights for The Godfather went on to sell for a record $410,000. The mega-blockbuster 1972 film directed by Francis Ford Coppola featured Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and James Caan, among others.