Details
Movie Description
Based on Mario Puzo's best-selling novel, THE GODFATHER is Francis Ford Coppola's Mafia masterpiece. The film tells the story of the powerful Corleone family, headed by patriarch Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando). Coppola sets a new standard for cinematic violence intercut with Italian-American family life. Al Pacino, in his breakout role, is riveting as youngest son Michael, a war hero turned ruthless gangster. The musical score by Nino Rota along with such classic lines as, "I made him an offer he couldn't refuse," make this epic mobster movie unforgettable.
Synopsis
Based on the best-selling novel by Mario Puzo (who cowrote the screenplay with director Francis Ford Coppola), THE GODFATHER is an epic tale of Mafia life in America during the 1940s and '50s. Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) is the family patriarch balancing a love of his family with an ambitious criminal instinct.
At the wedding of the don's daughter, Connie (Talia Shire), youngest son Michael (Al Pacino), a decorated war veteran, is reunited with his family. After an assassination attempt leaves the Godfather too ill to run the family business, sons Michael and Sonny (James Caan), with the help of consigliere Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall), lead the Corleones into a vendetta-filled war with the other mob families. Violent revenge ensues as the family tries to change from its old criminal ways into legitimacy. Diane Keaton, in a stark departure from her usual comedic roles, plays Kay, the long-suffering wife of Michael Corleone. Brilliant casting, music, and storytelling help make THE GODFATHER a classic.
Film Notes
The film premiered March 11, 1972.
THE GODFATHER is number 3 on the American Film Institute's list of America's 100 Greatest Movies.
The baby in the baptism scene is the director's daughter, Sofia Coppola, who later starred in THE GODFATHER, PART 3 and directed THE VIRGIN SUICIDES.
Singer Vic Damone was originally cast in the role of Hollywood crooner Johnny Fontane, eventually played by Al Martino. The character is supposedly based on Frank Sinatra.
Marlon Brando was a no-show at the 1972 Academy Awards and sent a stand-in, an "Apache" woman, who came with a 15-page speech to read if the star won. Howard Koch, the show's producer, said that if she went over 40 seconds, he would forcibly remove her from the stage. When Brando's name was called, the woman, Sacheen Littlefeather, explained that Brando would not accept the award, as he was protesting the treatment of American Indians by the film industry. The speech met with a mixed reaction, and certainly left most of the audience stunned. Jane Fonda told the press, "I think what he did was wonderful." Actor Michael Caine said, "If you're going to make a humanitarian gesture, I think a man who makes $2 million a picture should at least give half of it to the Indians." Coppola's response was "I was so sure I was going to win Best Director." (He didn't.)
The film was shot on location in New York and Sicily. The estimated budget was $6 million. The film was originally 177 minutes but was cut by 6 minutes when it was released theatrically. The film was released with its two companion pieces on video as part of the reedited 450-minute "THE GODFATHER SAGA."
The film was selected in 1990 for inclusion in the Library of Congress's National Film Registry, which denotes certain American films as "Film Treasures."
Jack Woltz's horse, which ends up decapitated in his bed, is named Khartoum.
Louis Malle did the English-French translation of the film for its release in France.
Marlon Brando was only 47 wh
Industry Reviews
Rating: A
Entertainment Weekly - Steve Daly (03/26/1991)
Quotations
"Would you like a drink before you kiss me?" Dorothy Parker
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