In the film, Fontane reaches out to Vito to help him get out of a contract he was unhappy with. The similarities between the character of Johnny Fontane (played by Al Martino) and singer Frank Sinatra were so conspicuous that Sinatra was purportedly irked by it. Johnny Fontane was inspired by Frank Sinatra Like Costello, Vito used his diplomatic skills and his connections to influential businessmen and politicians to keep his power in place and also discouraged his underlings from getting involved in the narcotics business. However, the Godfather character is most similar to real-life mobster Frank Costello, who was strategic, reasonable and known as 'The Prime Minister' of the mob because of his wise counsel. Like Carlo Gambino, Vito had a reputation for being a modest, under-the-radar figure. Like real-life mobster Joe Profaci, Vito had an olive oil business to serve as a front for his illegal activities and kept his circle small and intimate.
Portrayed by Brando, the character of Vito was actually a combination of a few mobsters. Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone Frank Costello Photo: Paramount/Getty Images (left), Apic/Getty Images (right)
