Godfather

Do u think Don Corleone was as famous a Don before he came on big screen?Marlon Brando couldn't have replaced himself and asked anyone to take his place and do justice to the character of Vito Corleone.
I just read it again and can't stop comparing Vito's character to Marlon Brando.Even Robert Deniro as the young one came to page upon page.i wonder how people would have taken the novel had the film not been made,basically i have little real knowledge about the truth regarding this fact but i do believe it was Marlon and de'Niro who epitomized Godfather.
Consider Puzo's other books like 'sicilian' or 'omerta' don't u think they do lie parallel if not above the grandeur of 'The Godfather'? Especially common people who do not have any literary taste would have firsyt seen the movie and then probably would have cared to read perhaps. So is not the time ripe that we take Puzo's other great works to screen as well so that they get their proper due and recognition.