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The Godfather
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The Godfather (1972) More at IMDbPro »

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The Godfather (1972) -- The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 5% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Writers:
Mario Puzo (novel)
Mario Puzo (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Godfather on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 March 1972 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Drama | Thriller more
Tagline:
An offer you can't refuse.
Plot:
The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won 3 Oscars. Another 19 wins & 17 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(191 articles)
Coppola Wanted Scorsese to Direct 'Godfather 2'
 (From Cinematical. 7 July 2009, 11:15 AM, PDT)

Reviewing The Oldies: Donnie Brasco
 (From FilmShaft.com. 7 July 2009, 4:56 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Magnificent portrait of organized crime more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Mario Puzo's The Godfather (USA) (complete title)
more
Runtime:
175 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | Italian | Latin
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS (re-release) | Mono

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Francis Ford Coppola wanted to cast actor Timothy Carey but Carey turned the part down so he could film a television pilot. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: The blood on the bed in the "horse head" scene. First it's there, then it disappears. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Bonasera: I believe in America. America has made my fortune. And I raised my daughter in the American fashion. I gave her freedom but I taught her never to dishonor her family. She found a "boy friend," not an Italian. She went to the movies with him. She stayed out late. I didn't protest. Two months ago he took her for a drive, with another boy friend. They made her drink whiskey and then they tried to take advantage of her. She resisted. She kept her honor. So they beat her. Like an animal. When I went to the hospital her nose was broken. Her jaw was shattered, held together by wire. She couldn't even weep because of the pain. But I wept. Why did I weep? She was the light of my life. A beautiful girl. Now she will never be beautiful again.
[He breaks down at this point, and the Don gestures to his son to get him a drink]
Bonasera: Sorry...
[He regains his composure and carries on]
Bonasera: I went to the police, like a good American. These two boys were brought to trial. The judge sentenced them to three years in prison, and suspended the sentence. Suspended sentence! They went free that very day! I stood in the courtroom like a fool, and those two bastards, they smiled at me. Then I said to my wife, "For justice, we must go to Don Corleone."
Don Corleone: Why did you go to the police? Why didn't you come to me first?
Bonasera: What do you want of me? Tell me anything. But do what I beg you to do.
Don Corleone: What is that?
[Bonasera gets up from his seat and whispers into the Don's ear; for a long moment the Don is silent]
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Torque (2004) more
Soundtrack:
This Loneliness more

FAQ

Who are the "Five Families"?
Why was Fredo not shot along with Don Corleone?
Why was there an attempt on Vito's life?
more
377 out of 551 people found the following comment useful:-
Magnificent portrait of organized crime, 25 December 2002
10/10
Author: ks4 from EU

This is by far the best movie ever to give a portrait organized crime, this movie goes deep inside and shows it all inside out..

With superb acting by especially Al Pacino as Mike Corleone and Marlon Brando as Don Vito corleone this movie shows how one of the head mafia families in New York works, it gives a detailed picture of how their business runs and what kinda chances they got to take on their business, for example their denial to step inside the narcotic business brings on alot of troubles, but also it shows what kinda sacrifices they make, every day could be their last day..

Al Pacino shines above all in this movie, as the smart boy of the family he returns after fighting a war for his country, at that time not involved in the family business, but it doesn't take long before the war breaks lose and he see no other ways than to step in and fight for his family.

This is definetely a "must see" masterpiece.

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