The Godfather Movie

The Godfather, a 1972 epic crime film, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and co-written with Mario Puzo, adapts Puzo’s 1969 best-selling novel. Starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, and others, it inaugurates The Godfather trilogy, chronicling the Corleone family led by Vito Corleone (Brando) from 1945 to 1955. The narrative centers on the evolution of Vito’s youngest son, Michael Corleone (Pacino), from an unwilling outsider to a formidable mafia leader.

Paramount Pictures secured the novel’s rights for $80,000 before its widespread popularity. Despite initial struggles to find a director, Coppola took the helm, leading to disagreements on casting, particularly for Vito (Brando) and Michael (Pacino). Filming occurred in New York City and Sicily, finishing ahead of schedule. Nino Rota composed the majority of the musical score.

Premiering at Loew’s State Theatre on March 14, 1972, and widely released on March 24, the film became the highest-grossing of 1972 and, for a time, the highest-grossing film overall, earning $250-$291 million. Critically acclaimed, The Godfather received praise for performances, direction, screenplay, cinematography, and its portrayal of the mafia. The film catapulted the careers of Coppola, Pacino, and other newcomers. At the 45th Academy Awards, it won Best Picture, Best Actor (Brando), and Best Adapted Screenplay (Puzo and Coppola).

Regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films, The Godfather was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry in 1990 and is ranked second in American cinema by the American Film Institute. Subsequent sequels include The Godfather Part II (1974) and The Godfather Part III (1990). Pauline Kael noted it as a prime example of how the best popular movies emerge from a fusion of commerce and art.

The Godfather Movie Trailer

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The Godfather Storyline

During his daughter Connie’s marriage to Carlo in 1945, Vito Corleone, the Don of the Corleone family in New York City, pays attention to wishes. At the reception, Vito’s youngest son Michael, a Marine who has avoided getting involved in the family company up to this point, introduces his girlfriend, Kay Adams, to his family. Popular musician and Vito’s godson Johnny Fontane asks Vito for assistance in getting a part in a film. Tom Hagen, Vito’s consigliere, convinces Jack Woltz, the president of the company, to give Johnny the role. At first, Woltz declines Hagen’s request, but eventually agrees when he discovers his beloved stud horse’s severed head in his bed.

Drug lord Sollogozzo wants Vito to invest in his drug company and provide police protection as Christmas draws near. Vito says no, claiming that doing drugs would make his political contacts unfriendly. Vito sends his enforcer, Luca Brasi, on an intelligence mission to the Tattaglia family because he suspects Sollozzo of working with the Tattaglia crime family. Brasi is killed by garrote during the first encounter. Later, enforcers shoot Vito dead and compel Hagen to appear in person. Now that Vito’s firstborn Sonny is in charge, Sollozzo puts pressure on Hagen to convince Sonny to agree to the drug trade. After Sollozzo’s hired NYPD police remove Vito’s bodyguards, Michael visits Vito in the hospital after he survives the shooting and discovers him unarmed. Michael stops his father’s attempted murder, butMark McCluskey, the dishonest police captain, beats him. Following the attempted hit in the hospital, Sonny hits Bruno Tattaglia in retaliation. Sollozzo and McCluskey ask to speak with Michael in order to resolve their differences. Michael seems to be interested and accepts the meeting, but he really makes plans to kill Sonny and Corleone capo Clemenza and hide. At a restaurant in the Bronx, Michael runs into Sollozzo and McCluskey. He finds a revolver that Clemenza had hidden in the restroom and kills both of them.

The Five Families engage in open combat in spite of an enforced crackdown by the government following the death of a police captain. Moe Greene provides shelter to Vito’s second kid, Fredo, in Las Vegas, while Michael seeks safety in Sicily. Sonny accuses Carlo of physically abusing Connie in public and issues threats. After he mistreats her once more, Sonny rushes to their house, only to be ambushed and killed by criminals at a toll booth on the highway. Michael marries Apollonia, a local, when they first meet in Sicily; however, she dies soon after from a vehicle bomb meant for him.

Torn apart by Sonny’s passing and fed up with fighting, Vito calls a conference with the Five Families. He promises them he won’t stand in the way of their drug trade and won’t take revenge for Sonny’s death. With assurances of his safety, Michael goes back home to start the family business and be married to Kay. In the early 1950s, Kay gives birth to two children. Michael takes over as the Corleone family’s head since his father is reaching the end of his life and Fredo is not qualified to be the leader. Michael is informed by Vito that Don Barzini was the one who gave the order to kill Sonny, and Barzini threatened to kill him during a meeting that was set up by a betrayed Corleone capo. Michael assigns Hagen to manage the company with Vito’s backing.activities in Las Vegas because he isn’t a “consigliere during a war.” Michael is shocked to discover that Fredo is more devoted to Greene than to his own family when he flies to Las Vegas to purchase Greene’s share of the family’s casinos.

Vito passes away from a heart attack in 1955 while playing with Anthony, Michael’s kid. Tessio betrays his treason when he asks Michael to meet with Barzini during Vito’s burial. The meeting is scheduled for the same day as Connie’s baby gets baptized. Tessio is put to death for his betrayal, and Corleone hitmen kill Greene and the dons of the Five Families while Michael stands at the altar acting as the child’s godfather. Michael gets Carlo to admit to having a hand in Sonny’s death. Before Clemenza strangles Carlo, he tells him that he is being banished and not killed.With Kay present, Connie confronts Michael about his role in Carlo’s demise. Kay is relieved when Michael says he did not carry out the death and wonders whether she is speaking the truth. Capopos enter the office and honor Michael as “Don Corleone” as she departs.

Details

Box Office

• Budget
  • $6,000,000 (estimated)
• Gross US & Canada
  • $136,381,073
• Opening weekend US & Canada
  • $302,393
  • Mar 19, 1972
• Gross worldwide
  • $250,341,816

Technical specifications

• Runtime2 hours 55 minutes
• Color
  • Color
• Sound mix
  • Mono
  • Dolby Digital
• Aspect ratio
  • 1.85 : 1

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