Background

One of the most heralded films of all time, The Godfather (1972) was nominated for 11 Academy Awards – winning for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor (Marlon Brando). In the film, Brando played the role of Don Vito Corleone, the head of the most powerful mafia family in New York City.

Hot Toys (produced) and Sideshow Collectibles (license and distribution) teamed up to bring the head of the Corleone family to collectors.  Through their Movie Masterpiece Series, Hot Toys has released The Godfather: Don Vito Corleone 1:6 scale figure.

The Facts



Don Vito Corleone
Series: Movie Masterpiece Series
Authorized Likeness: Marlon Brando
Manufacturer: Hot Toys
Material: Hard plastic body and vinyl head
Height: 12”
Points of Articulation: Over 32 (TrueType body)
Accessories: Classic chair; Glass – half full; Cat; 3 interchangeable hands; Display stand w/Godfather nameplate; Display Base w/nameplate; Cardboard display background; Black hat – Sideshow Exclusive
Outfit: Black three piece suit with red rose; White shirt; Black tie; Black shoes and socks; padded fat suit underneath

Packaging

The Don Vito Corleone figure is packaged in what might be the most ornate 1:6 scale packaging ever. Yes…that’s a red flocked layer showing the Godfather silhouette. The figure is packaged in dual interlocking plastic trays and comes with a high-quality pamphlet detailing the background and production of the figure. There’s a lot of packaging…it probably weighs eight pounds all by itself.

Our Opinion

If you’ve ever seen The Godfather, you probably know why it makes nearly every list of the top 10 films of all-time. While the second film was slightly less impressive, and number three was altogether forgettable, The Godfather stands as the ultimate tale of the mafia in the early 20th Century.

And while I was happy to hear that Sideshow got the license for figures based on the film, I was excited to hear that Hot Toys would be producing the 1:6 scale figures. From the photos, you can tell that the company takes pride in the work they do. How else could they perfectly nail the Marlon Brando head sculpt?

And the amazing thing is that it’s not just the sculpt. There are a lot of great sculptors out there. But Hot Toys backs that up with the most amazing paint application. Age spots of his face? Veins in his hands? Even the ends of his fingernails are painted! I have no idea how they’re able to pay such attention to these details, but Hot Toys is in a class unto themselves.

With Vito Corleone, you have a pair of display possibilities. You can go with the traditional stand or the chair with the display base. Personally, I’d choose the chair and the base. All of the accessories are film accurate, and if you pick up the Sideshow exclusive you’ll get the black hat.

The outfit is great, although it will pick up dust (and dog hair) since it’s black. The figure has a fat suit over the plastic body, however, it blends in and isn’t bulky.

I had thought that Hot Toys’ Bank Robber Joker would clean up with our 2009 Toy Awards, but it’s going to be tough to unseat the Don. From the packaging to the figure to the accessories, the 1:6 scale Don Vito Corleone is 100% quality.

You can pick one up at the following:

Sideshow: $149.99 - Sideshow Exclusive

Don Vito Corleone 1:6 Scale Grades:

Figure Quality: 10/10
    Sculpt: 10/10
    Paint: 10/10
Accessories/Outfit: 9/10
Packaging: 10/10
Durability: 9/10
Fun Factor: 9/10
Value: 9/10

Overall: 10/10