This question has been on my mind for a while and I have not found a hundred percent convincing answer for that yet. I thought I share it here so everyone could say what he/she think of this logo. I've added some lines from this trilogy in the end. In the first line Vito is saying he has not been the puppet on the strings but I don't think he held the strings either because he's saying that he wanted Mike to become a Senator or Governor to hold the strings. Why Godfather is shown like a puppet on the strings and whose hand is up there. I'd like to hear your ideas about this logo.

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1-I never wanted this for you. I work my whole life, I don't apologize, to take care of my family. And I refused -- to be a fool -- dancing on the string, held by all those -- bigshots. I don't apologize -- that's my life -- but I thought that -- that when it was your time -- that -- that you would be the one to hold the strings. Senator - Corleone. Governor - Corleone, or something... (Vito, 1st part)
2-Michael why -- why didn't you come to us? I mean Pop had to pull a lot of strings to get you a deferment. (Tom, 2nd part)
3-You still have your fingers on the strings, even now. Let's see more of each other. (Michael to Don Altobello, 3rd part)
4-Tony says that I’m a front for the foundation. That you’re using me just to pull the strings. To get the money where you want it...(Mary, 3rd part)
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Thank you.

I have always been under the impression that the hands belonged to Vito, since he was the one that was had the power to "pull strings" to get things done. If I am not mistaken the logo was also used on the dustjacket on the book.

I agree with Ola. The bottomline is this, unlike other movies of the same genre, the GF trilogy shows men of power with the ability to pull strings to get what they want, they have the money and the power to do so. I think the original logo is directly related to Vito, since he had an enormous amount of connections, even more if you consider what's said in the book.

Your first quote is very compelling, but I think Vito did hold the strings. Same with Barzini, Roth, Senators, Governers, etc. There are many powerful men holding different sets of strings. Some putting on puppet shows for each other, some having others dance on strings their strings. I think this is the nature of power. GF almost exclucivly centers around the corleone family so I think the logo refers to Vito. Now if was to be held accuratly as you said, well then there would be about 50 sets of strings and people dancing on them, some entangeled, it would be a big mess.

And on an extension of what I said I will say it is the set of strings held by the Corleones that are being manipulated in this because Michael comes out on top in the last one. The first quote that you said also is an indication that despite how powerful you are, there is going to be someone else who is just as powerful, a president, a senator.

Remember the GF takes place in a closed world so I think the set of strings totally has to do with the ones held by the Corleones

A lot of people say that it was Vito's hand, but towards the end, the power (and the strings) were passed on to Michael. I think it was both Mike and Vito's hand. It was the Don's hand.

Has anyone really noticed, though, how the strings on the logo go into The Godfather. This shows that whoever's hand that is, he/she is controlling the Godfather. I always tought that it was what Vito wanted for Micheal. You know, "I always thought you would be the one holding the strings". I thought that it showed irony that the guy that Vito never wanted to become don, the guy that was suppose to be controlling people legitimetely ended up besomeing one of the most ruthless dons around. I don't know, just something to think about.

Yes, Godfather is shown as a puppet in this logo. That's what makes me think whose hand could be up there. Here is some thought. Take the 18th amendment to the constitution of the US back in 1920s. Would people stop drinking with that new law? Of course not, it would just limit a business to a small group supported by some of those who passed the law to make them rich. So there would be still demand for liquor and there would be people who take interest to do the dirty job but they would need the support from high up to do the business with no trouble. The majority of cash would flow up there to keep the business going. There would be cops on payrolls and higher and higher they would get their bigger share to keep their silence. Look at narcotic business. It is illegal. However if we want to get it, it would be as easy as reaching out our hands. And who we would know responsible for these stuff? Godfather. That's what I think about the hand up there. But still what I don't understand is that why Vito said he refused to be a puppet on the strings? Or he just thought he is not one of those puppets and he was?

"Just when I thought every thing was covered on the board, they drag me back in with the logo!"

Lets look at the time line of the logo. It started being on the dustcover of the novel. The novel was essentially about Don Corleone and his role as "Godfather", following this line of thought I would assume that the hands are that of Don Corleones. To be fair, it could be argued that he wasn't the only godfather, but I would say, "thats true, but he was the Godfather the Novel was written about, ergo they are his hands, "pulling the strings"

Hello everyone

First time poster here, im a big fan of the GF series, but i gotta disagree with some of you on the logo

I have always felt that THE major goal and major themes of the godfather was to become legitimate in America. Though the Dons and Mafia chief's held considerable power and control they could only exert their influence on fellow Sicilians because of the code of silence omerta, and people mixed up in the underworld who could not turn to the police. In order to keep control they still had to pay their "tribute" to those on top, the ones they could not touch, senators, judges, policemen. These are the people who controlled the country, pulling the strings; Vito said it himself in his last days with Michael he wished he'd had more time so that Michael could have been the one pulling the strings as a senator or a judge.

The logo is the embodiment of the Godfather's goal, HIS american dream. To have his children become leaders in the legitimate world. And truly control. It is a symbol of the political leaders of America because they are gangsters in their own right.

Hey killerGFfan, what's up, welcome.

Astute observation. Personally I feel it's always been the goal of Vincent and Michael to become legit. The temptation in the GF series is the familiarity of the characters to running a criminal family. Their genius is entirely misdirected as they attempt not to take the road less traveled and slip into what they know.

For instance Vincent with his knowledge of the Omerta and Cosa Nostra way has a tactical advantage of Fannucci who, as the book indicates, doesnt' have true mafioso power. He establishes his empire by his action. Michael accordingly does do a noble thing for his father, but instead of then turning away he gets sucked into the life and can't escape.