The Godfather (1972)

Director:

Francis Ford Coppola

Writers:

Mario Puzo (novel)
Mario Puzo (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

24 March 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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.

Plot Keywords:

Mafia | Wedding | Lawyer | Violence | Organized Crime

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 19 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Marlon Brando	...	Don Vito Corleone
Al Pacino	...	Michael Corleone
James Caan	...	Santino 'Sonny' Corleone
Richard S. Castellano	...	Peter Clemenza (as Richard Castellano)
Robert Duvall	...	Tom Hagen
Sterling Hayden	...	Capt. McCluskey
John Marley	...	Jack Woltz
Richard Conte	...	Don Emilio Barzini
Al Lettieri	...	Virgil 'The Turk' Sollozzo
Diane Keaton	...	Kay Adams
Abe Vigoda	...	Sal Tessio
Talia Shire	...	Connie Corleone Rizzi
Gianni Russo	...	Carlo Rizzi
John Cazale	...	Fredo Corleone
Rudy Bond	...	Don Carmine Cuneo

Also Known As:

Mario Puzo's The Godfather (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

175 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian | Latin

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS (re-release) | Mono

Certification:

Colombia:18 | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Spain:13 (re-rating) | Canada:18A | Philippines:R-18 | UK:15 (DVD) (2007) | Australia:MA (2008 re-rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | India:A | Italy:T (DVD re-rating) | Argentina:18 | Austria:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Chile:18 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-16 (re-rating) | Finland:K-18 (original rating) | France:-12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:16 | Ireland:18 | Israel:PG | Italy:VM14 | Japan:R-15 | Mexico:C | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:18 | Peru:18 | Portugal:17 (original rating) | Portugal:M/18 (re-rating) | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (video rating) (1987) | UK:X (cut) | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Poland:15 | Brazil:14

Filming Locations:

110 Longfellow Road, Staten Island, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Alfran Productions

Trivia:

Gianni Russo used his organized crime connections to secure the role of Carlo Rizzi, going so far as to get a camera crew to film his own audition and send it to the producers. However, Marlon Brando was initially against having Russo, who had never acted before, in the film; this made Russo furious and he went to threaten Brando. However, this reckless act proved to be a blessing in disguise: Brando thought Russo was acting and was convinced he would be good for the role.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the wedding scene, immediately after Kay Adams meets Tom Hagen, the cigarette in her hand disappears and then reappears.

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]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Masters of Production: The Hidden Art of Hollywood (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Mona Lisa

"The Godfather" is pretty much flawless, and one of the greatest films ever made

Rather than concentrating on everything that is great about The Godfather, a much easier way for me to judge its quality is on what is bad about it. Almost every film has something that I don't like about it, but I can honestly say that I wouldn't change anything about The Godfather. There is nothing weak about it and nothing that stands out as bad. That's why it gets ten out of ten.

This is one of those films that made me wonder why I hadn't seen it earlier. The acting from everyone involved is great, Marlon Brando comes across perfectly as the head of the family, and James Caan and Al Pacino are excellent as his sons. The soundtrack by Nino Rota is also very memorable, bringing back memories of the film every time I hear it. The plot has to be excellent for it to get ten out of ten, and it is, it's far from predictable and the film is the definition of a great epic.

The film is pretty shocking in the way every death occurs almost instantaneously, and as it spans ten years so many different things happen and every minute of it is great entertainment. It's a well-made and entertaining film that is only the first part of a trilogy, but it stands on its own as a wonderful film in its own right. If you haven't seen it, what are you waiting for? This was one acclaimed film that didn't disappoint.