The Godfather (1972)

Director:

Francis Ford Coppola

Writers:

Mario Puzo (screenplay) and
Francis Ford Coppola (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

24 March 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

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 | Organized Crime | Violence

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 25 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Marlon Brando	...	Don Vito Corleone
Al Pacino	...	Michael
James Caan	...	Sonny
Richard S. Castellano	...	Clemenza (as Richard Castellano)
Robert Duvall	...	Tom Hagen
Sterling Hayden	...	Capt. McCluskey
John Marley	...	Jack Woltz
Richard Conte	...	Barzini
Al Lettieri	...	Sollozzo
Diane Keaton	...	Kay Adams
Abe Vigoda	...	Tessio
Talia Shire	...	Connie
Gianni Russo	...	Carlo
John Cazale	...	Fredo
Rudy Bond	...	Cuneo
Al Martino	...	Johnny Fontane
Morgana King	...	Mama Corleone
Lenny Montana	...	Luca Brasi
John Martino	...	Paulie Gatto
Salvatore Corsitto	...	Bonasera
Richard Bright	...	Neri
Alex Rocco	...	Moe Greene
Tony Giorgio	...	Bruno Tattaglia
Vito Scotti	...	Nazorine
Tere Livrano	...	Theresa Hagen
Victor Rendina	...	Philip Tattaglia
Jeannie Linero	...	Lucy Mancini
Julie Gregg	...	Sandra Corleone
Ardell Sheridan	...	Mrs. Clemenza
Simonetta Stefanelli	...	Apollonia - Sicilian Sequence
Angelo Infanti	...	Fabrizio - Sicilian Sequence
Corrado Gaipa	...	Don Tommasino - Sicilian Sequence
Franco Citti	...	Calo - Sicilian Sequence
Saro Urzì	...	Vitelli - Sicilian Sequence
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Max Brandt	...	Extra in Furniture-Moving Scene (uncredited)
Tybee Brascia	...	Dancer in Wedding Scene (uncredited)
Carmine Coppola	...	Piano Player in Montage (uncredited)
Gian-Carlo Coppola	...	Baptism Observer (uncredited)
Italia Coppola	...	Extra (uncredited)
Roman Coppola	...	Boy on Street Who Attended Funeral (uncredited)
Sofia Coppola	...	Michael Francis Rizzi (uncredited)
Don Costello	...	Don Victor Stracci (uncredited)
Robert Dahdah	...	Crowd (uncredited)
Gray Frederickson	...	Cowboy on the Set at Woltz's Studio (uncredited)
Ron Gilbert	...	Usher in Bridal Party (uncredited)
Anthony Gounaris	...	Anthony Vito Corleone (uncredited)
Joe Lo Grippo	...	Sonny's Bodyguard (uncredited)
Sonny Grosso	...	Cop Outside Hospital (uncredited)
Louis Guss	...	Don Zaluchi (uncredited)
Merril E. Joels	...	Toll Both Collector (uncredited)
Randy Jurgensen	...	Sonny's Killer #1 (uncredited)
Peter Lemongello	...	Singer (uncredited)
Tony Lip	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Frank Macetta	...	(uncredited)
Lou Martini Jr.	...	Boy at Wedding (uncredited)
Raymond Martino	...	Corleone Family Member (uncredited)
Joseph Medeglia	...	Priest at Baptism (uncredited)
Carol Morley	...	Night Nurse (uncredited)
Rick Petrucelli	...	Man in Passenger Seat (uncredited)
Burt Richards	...	Floral Designer (uncredited)
Sal Richards	...	Drunk (uncredited)
Tom Rosqui	...	Rocco Lampone (uncredited)
Nino Ruggeri	...	Mobster at Funeral with Barzini (uncredited)
Frank Sivero	...	Street Extra (uncredited)
Filomena Spagnuolo	...	Extra in Wedding Scene (uncredited)
Joe Spinell	...	Willi Cicci (uncredited)
Gabriele Torrei	...	Enzo the Baker (uncredited)
Nick Vallelonga	...	Wedding Party Guest (uncredited)
Ed Vantura	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Matthew Vlahakis	...	Clemenza's Son (uncredited)

Directed by
Francis Ford Coppola

Writing credits
Mario Puzo		(screenplay) and
Francis Ford Coppola		(screenplay)
Mario Puzo		(novel "The Godfather")

Produced by
Gray Frederickson	....	associate producer
Albert S. Ruddy	....	producer
Robert Evans	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Nino Rota

Cinematography by
Gordon Willis		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
William Reynolds
Peter Zinner

Casting by
Louis DiGiaimo
Andrea Eastman
Fred Roos

Production Design by
Dean Tavoularis

Art Direction by
Warren Clymer

Set Decoration by
Philip Smith

Costume Design by
Anna Hill Johnstone

Makeup Department
Philip Leto	....	hair stylist (as Phil Leto)
Phil Rhodes	....	makeup (as Philip Rhodes)
Dick Smith	....	makeup

Production Management
Fred C. Caruso	....	unit production manager: Oaktree Productions (as Fred Caruso)
Valerio De Paolis	....	production manager: sicilian unit
Ned Kopp	....	production manager: second unit (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Brandt	....	assistant director: sicilian unit
Fred T. Gallo	....	assistant director: Oaktree Productions (as Fred Gallo)
Stephen F. Kesten	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Steven P. Skloot	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Samuel Verts	....	assistant art director: sicilian unit
William Canfield	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Robert Hart	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Robert Scaife	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Charles Grenzbach	....	re-recording (as Bud Grenzbach)
Christopher Newman	....	production recording
Richard Portman	....	re-recording
Howard Beals	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Steve Cook	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Pierre Jalbert	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Les Lazarowitz	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Sass Bedig	....	special effects: Oaktree Productions
A.D. Flowers	....	special effects: Oaktree Productions
Joe Lombardi	....	special effects: Oaktree Productions
Paul J. Lombardi	....	special effects supervisor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Kevin Chaja	....	data management (2007 restoration)
Chris Clausing	....	MTI operator: digital image clean up (2007 restoration)
Padraic Culham	....	compositor (2007 restoration)
Daphne Dentz	....	senior digital intermediate producer (2007 restoration)
Karina Desin	....	data management (2007 restoration)
Joe Dubs	....	MTI operator: digital image clean up (2007 restoration)
Lloyd Kaplowitz	....	MTI operator: digital image clean up (2007 restoration)
Valerie McMahon	....	MTI operator: digital image clean up (2007 restoration)
Mike Moreno	....	MTI operator: digital image clean up (2007 restoration)
Edgar Orlino	....	MTI operator: digital image clean up (2007 restoration)
Cathy Quiroz	....	MTI operator: digital image clean up (2007 restoration)
Bill Roper	....	film recordist (2007 restoration)

Stunts
Paul Baxley	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Joe Bucaro III	....	stunt double: young Vincenzo (uncredited)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Chapman	....	camera operator
Howard Block	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)
Bill Butler	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Russell Engels	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)
Ed Kammerer	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Edward Knott	....	grip (uncredited)
Jim Meyerhoff	....	generator operator (uncredited)
Anthony R. Palmieri	....	camera loader (uncredited)
Ed Quinn	....	best boy grip (uncredited)
Robert Royal	....	rigging key grip (uncredited)
Joe Rutledge	....	electrician (uncredited)
Peter Salim	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Tibor Sands	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Jack Stager	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Edward Tonkin	....	best boy electric (uncredited)
Robert M. Volpe	....	dolly grip (uncredited)
Dusty Wallace	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Robert Ward	....	key grip (uncredited)
Ray Williams	....	rigging best boy grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Riccardo Bertoni	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
George Newman	....	wardrobe supervisor
Marilyn Putnam	....	wardrobe: women's
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Christopher Gillaspie	....	scan manager (2007 restoration) (as Chris Gillaspie)
Kathleen Largay	....	digital conform (2007 restoration)
Walter Murch	....	post production consultant
Jan Yarbrough	....	senior digital intermediate colorist (2007 restoration)
Pierre Jalbert	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Marc Laub	....	editor: New York (uncredited)
Barbara Marks	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Maurice Schell	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Murray Solomon	....	editor: New York (uncredited)
Jack Wheeler	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Carlo Savina	....	conductor
John C. Hammell	....	music editor (uncredited)
Tommy Johnson	....	musician: tuba (uncredited)
Jimmy Maxwell	....	musician: trumpet solo (uncredited)
Paul Salamunovich	....	choir conductor: boys choir (uncredited)
Stephen Salamunovich	....	boy soprano, soundtrack (uncredited)
Albert T. Viola	....	soloist: mandolin (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Raymond Hartwick	....	driver (uncredited)
Charles Lazzarro	....	driver (uncredited)
Edward Venn	....	driver (uncredited)
Louis Volpe	....	driver (uncredited)
John Whelan	....	driver (uncredited)
Ed Wilson	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Robert Barth	....	unit coordinator: Oaktree Productions
Tony Bowers	....	location coordinator
Michael Briggs	....	location coordinator
Gary Chazan	....	assistant to producer
Anna DiNuovo	....	project manager (2007 restoration)
Nancy Hopton	....	script continuity (as Nancy Tonery)
Robert S. Mendelsohn	....	executive assistant
Daniel S. Rosen	....	senior staff scientist and digital consultant (2007 restoration)
Peter Zinner	....	foreign post production
Rocco Derasmo	....	teamster (uncredited)
James Giblin	....	teamster captain (uncredited)
Sonny Grosso	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Johnny E. Jensen	....	cinemobile technician (uncredited)
Randy Jurgensen	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
George Lynch Jr.	....	teamster (uncredited)
Richard Nelson	....	car coordinator (uncredited)
Howard Newman	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Jasmine Sabu	....	animal trainer: horses (uncredited)
Maurice Schell	....	adr loop group (uncredited)

Thanks
Joe Caracappa	....	thanks: Pro-Tek Media Preservation Services, a Kodak company, negative preparation (2007 restoration)
Jeff Cava	....	thanks: for Paramount Pictures (2007 restoration)
Martin Cohen	....	thanks: for Paramount Pictures (2007 restoration)
Francis Ford Coppola	....	special thanks (2007 restoration)
Allen Daviau	....	thanks (2007 restoration)
Brian Drischell	....	thanks: The Academy Film Archive (2007 restoration)
Jessi Jones	....	thanks: The Academy Film Archive (2007 restoration)
Liana Kroll	....	thanks: Pro-Tek Media Preservation Services, a Kodak company, negative preparation (2007 restoration)
Joanne Lawson	....	thanks: for the Film Preserve (2007 restoration)
Scott MacQueen	....	thanks: Pro-Tek Media Preservation Services, a Kodak company, negative preparation (2007 restoration)
James T. Mockoski	....	thanks: for American Zoetrope (2007 restoration) (as James Mockoski archivist)
Heather Olson	....	thanks: The Academy Film Archive (2007 restoration)
Michael Pogorzelski	....	thanks: The Academy Film Archive (2007 restoration)
Robert Raring	....	thanks (2007 restoration) (as Bob Raring Technicolor Liaison)
Ben Rosenblatt	....	thanks: for Paramount Pictures (2007 restoration)
Gordon Willis	....	special thanks (2007 restoration)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures (presents)
• Alfran Productions (produced by) (as Alfran Productions, Inc.)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1972) (USA) (theatrical) (as Paramount) (A Gulf + Western Company)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1972) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1972) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1972) (France) (theatrical)
• Paramount Film Service (1972) (UK) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1973) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1987) (Finland) (TV)
• CIC Victor Video (1988) (Japan) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (1992) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• Paramount Home Video (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• CIC Victor Video (1993) (Japan) (VHS)
• Pioneer (1993) (West Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• CIC Victor Video (1997) (Japan) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1997) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Pioneer (1997) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Nelonen (1998) (Finland) (TV) (2003) (2004) (2008) (2009)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS) (retail)
• CIC Victor Video (2000) (Japan) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment Finland (2001) (Finland) (DVD) (2004) (2006) (2008)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Paramount Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Victor Entertainment / CIC Victor Video (2001) (Japan) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Japan) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (The Coppola Restoration)
• Park Circus (2009) (UK) (theatrical) (re-issue)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD) (improved special edition)
• Eye Film Instituut (2011) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (digitally restored version)
• CDI Films (2011) (Argentina) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Argentina Video Home (????) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Esselte Video (1980s) (Finland) (VHS)
• Paramount Filmes do Brasil (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Prem'er Video Fil'm (????) (Russia) (VHS)

Other Companies

• ARRI  recorded on: Arri Film Recorders (2007 restoration)
• Cinemobile System  location services: Oaktree Productions (as Cinemobile Systems, Inc.)
• Dsire Design  official website design (uncredited)
• Motion Picture Imaging  digital restoration services by (2007 restoration)
• Pro-Tek Media Preservation Services  thanks: negative preparation (as Pro-Tek Preservation Services, a Kodak company) (2007 restoration)

Also Known As:

"Mario Puzo's The Godfather" - UK (complete title), USA (complete title)
"Godfather" - Japan (English 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:14A (Manitoba) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Spain:13 (re-rating) | Canada:14A (Alberta) (2010) | Philippines:R-18 | UK:15 (video rating: restored version 2007) (2008) | Australia:MA (2008 re-rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | India:A | Italy:T (original rating) | Japan:G (2010) | Argentina:16 (2011 re-rating) | UK:15 (re-rating) (re-release) (2009) | UK:18 (tv rating) | UK:18 (re-rating) (re-release) (1996) | Argentina:18 (original rating) | Austria:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (2007) | Chile:18 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1972) | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1988) | France:-12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:16 | Ireland:18 | Israel:PG | Italy:T (re-release) | 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) (1997) (2001) | UK:X (original rating) (passed with cuts) | USA:R (PCA #23101) | West Germany:16 | Poland:15 | Brazil:14

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Apart from as required by his Marine Corps uniform, Michael Corleone does not wear a hat until he becomes involved in the family business.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: 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.

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:

Referenced in "The X-Files: Surekill (#8.8)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

This Loneliness

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.