I have to say, IMO, one of the biggest flaws in Godfather Part III, besides Michael's haircut, was the way Connie was involved in the Family business.

I'm sorry but in a MAFIA family that's just laughable. Then (in 1979) and now. Making a non-Italian like Tom Hagen Consigliere was considered a mistake back in the 1940s but was accepted...But having Connie act as de facto Underboss...I think that was way to far. I don't see how any of the other Families could've respected Michael for having a woman (his sister or not) so involved with things.

Having Connie's character take care of Michael and act as a caretaker to him, being loyal to the Family she'd run away from, justifying her brother and her father's lives, would be one thing--and it'd be in line with her character arc as shown in Pt. II. It'd make her like Meadow Soprano, in a way. The brat daughter who goes from hating her father's way of life to accepting and defending it.

I just see having Connie sit in and comment on high level sitdowns (like the one between Zasa and Vincent) and having her help arrange hits is a bit too unrealistic even for The Godfather series. I'm surprised Coppolla had none of the other Mafia characters in Part III comment on this.

I don't see this as a flaw.

It doesn't seem implausible for Connie, over the course of years, to have insinuated herself behind the scenes as a vocal presence in the Family.

I might agree if she were at Commission meetings or had a crew, but the only time she comes close to giving an order is when Michael is incapacitated and the Family is in disarray.

Again, this doesn't seem implausible to me.

I agree. Besides, she was the only one who Michael could trust.

You're right, Willie, if the Corleones had been a traditional Mafia family. But, at that point, Michael believed himself to be "completely legitimate"--sold the interest in the casinos, big philanthropist, global financier, Knight of St. Sebastion, etc. So, in what may have been an unintended (but swell) irony, Connie acted in a way that woman wouldn't have if her brother still claimed to be a Mafia Don.

Even more ironic: when Michael emerges from his coma he berates Connie by shouting: "I still command this Family." It's clear that what he means by "family" isn't just his sister and children: he means the Corleone Mafia Family.

"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me in." Yeah, sure, Michael: you were never "out"--by your own choice.

TB, I agree. Women are not without influence in Mafia circles.

This Connie matter is nothing compared to what happens in some today's fims: for example, what the Italians did in their series "Antimafia squad" ("Squadra antimafia"), where not only do we have women as official capi-mandamento, but even crazy youngsters almost without criminal connections who nevertheless manage to slaughter the whole mafia commission to avenge their father's death, while the mafiosi are completely unable to react in any way.
Really, I almost feel sorry for the mafia when I see such things

It seemed nobody stood in Michael's way even though he wouldn't use violence but would come to a peace approach. The charts should that Michael's 1980s regime was the size of the St. Louis crime family.

While Connie's participation may have been unusual, oli makes an excellent point. Everyone that Michael held close (except for Al), are either dead or estranged, like Kay and his son, Mama, his father, Tom, Fredo, Rocco, all gone. Who else can Michael trust? It's Connie, who also helps him assuage his guilt by repeating the lie about Fredo's death.

I have said it many times before, but I repeat........... of all the characters in the trilogy, Connie is the person who becomes the most transformed. She goes from the "spoiled quinea brat," to a complete slut, to Michael's caregiver, to someone who engineered the succession of Vinvent to becoming Don and then making her bones with that cannoli.

I agree DT. She evolved quite a bit. I remember a review of III that stated that she was "perfectly blousey", an apt description

I thought it was pretty cool actually. Considering how she had grown from Part 1 to the final movie. She went from being abused, to growing up and having resentment for her brother and the family, to coming back into the fold when she had nothing and all she could depend on was family. Then by three she was so obviously loyal and at the same time pretty cold hearted from being exposed to the family business. I came away from part 3 that she was the real boss of that family, and that Vince was only the boss in name.

Oh, I'm new. Hello everyone.

Welcome! Hope to see many more thoughtful posts from you.