The Don Is Dead

Frank Regalbuto is the ambitious son of mafioso Don Paolo Regalbuto. He plans a heroin deal with the help of Tony Fargo and his brother Vince. But when a gangland snitch secretly tips off the cops, Frank's drug deal results in a violent gun battle, which Frank and the Fargos narrowly survive. Later, on discovering who set them up, Frank learns of his father's death due to illness.
A meeting called among the various mob families to select a new Don to succeed Paolo. It is decided that Frank, still too young to take over for his dead father, will instead learn the business under the wing of his father's lifelong friend, Don Angelo DiMorra. In doing so, Angelo becomes a sort of protector to the future Don.
Angelo begins a romance with aspiring singer Ruby Dunne, who unbeknownst to him has been dating Frank. Frank is tipped off, sending him into a destructive rage during which he beats Ruby so badly she is hospitalized. She informs Don Angelo, who swears vengeance against Frank. Frank survives the attempt on his life but the incident causes escalating violence between the factions to choose sides, and a bloody, all-out war is waged in the streets. Luigi Orlando advises both factions.
Many are killed, including Vince Fargo and Frank himself. Tony Fargo is galvanised by the losses and pursues Angelo's faction ruthlessly. Angelo suffers a heart attack as a result of the stress and is wheelchair bound and unable to speak. Tony successfully guesses that Orlando was the one who tipped off Frank about Angelo sleeping with Ruby, and Orlando is killed. Tony demands control over half the city in the settlement, with Angelo removed from power but provided for, to which a mute defeated Angelo assents.