The Godfather (1972)

Taglines:

An offer you can't refuse.

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »

Official Sites:

Official site | Add/edit official sites  »

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian | Latin

Release Date:

24 March 1972 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Mario Puzo's The Godfather See more »

Filming Locations:

110 Longfellow Road, Staten Island, New York City, New York, USA See more »

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$302,393 (USA) (19 March 1972) (6 Screens)

Gross:

$245,066,411 (Worldwide) (11 May 1997)

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Alfran Productions See more »

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Runtime:

175 min

Sound Mix:

DTS (re-release) | Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

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. See more »

Goofs

Factual errors: Michael was awarded the Navy Cross for heroism while in the Marines but he does not have the ribbon for this decoration on his uniform during the wedding scene. The highest ribbon that he is wearing is for the Silver Star, which is the next lowest in order of precedence for US bravery awards. In The Godfather: Part II, during his testimony to the Congressional hearing he states that he was awarded the Navy Cross in the war. See 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]
[...]
See more »

Crazy Credits

In the end credits, Marlon Brando's name is the only one that is not accompanied by the character name that he plays (e.g. "as Vito Corleone").
See more »

Connections

Spoofed in "Married with Children: Psychic Avengers (#6.19)" (1992) See more »

Soundtracks

"Brindisi (Libiamo ne' lieti calici)"
from La Traviata
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave See more »