As the story of the Cortino family unfolds over nearly a century, young and innocent Vincenzo Cortino is driven from his home in Sicily and forced to swim to America. There he grows up to become the infamous patriarch of a powerful crime family. However, in his twilight years Vincenzo realizes the reins of power must be handed down to one of his sons: either the psychotic Joey (Burke or the war hero Anthony (Mohr). Strong family loyalty, the struggle for power and relentless treachery form the unlikely background for this parody.