The Godfather (1972)

User Rating:

9.1/10   

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 | Business | Wedding | New York | Violence

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

Colour:

Colour (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:

During the sequences filmed in Sicily, Michael's broken-jaw make-up does not match the make-up used during the sequences filmed in New York. This is because Paramount Pictures would not pay the costs of sending makeup artist Dick Smith to Italy with the rest of the crew.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Michael gets in the car in which Sollozzo and McCluskey are, we see that there is a long distance between the two men on the back seat and Michael on the front seat. However, in the next shot, with Michael in close-up, the two others appear just behind him.

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:

Manhattan Serenade

perfect

This movie is strong, good script, great casting, excellent acting, and over the top directing. It is hard to fine a movie done this well, it is 29 years old and has aged well. Even if the viewer does not like mafia type of movies, he or she will watch the entire film, the audiences is glued to what will happen next as the film progresses. Its about, family, loyalty, greed, relationships, and real life. This is a great mix, and the artistic style make the film memorable.