The Godfather (1972)

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 | Wedding | Lawyer | Violence | Organized Crime

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 19 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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)
"Godfather" - Japan (English title)

Runtime:

175 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian | Latin

Color:

Color (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 (DVD) (2007) | Australia:MA (2008 re-rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | India:A | Italy:T (DVD re-rating) | Japan:G (2010) | Argentina:18 | Austria:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (2007) | 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:

The line "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse" was selected by the American Film Institute on it's list as one of the top 100 movie quotes, it was at #2 right behind "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn" from Gone with the Wind (1939).

Goofs:

Continuity: When the car that Appolonia is driving explodes, Michael is knocked backwards into the bushes and immediately disappears.

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:

Spoofed in Meet the Robinsons (2007)

Soundtrack:

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

This Movie Has Haunted My Life...

I love this movie and all of the GF movies. I see something new every time I have seen it (countless, truly). The story of tragedy and (little) comedy that exists in this film is easily understood by people all over the world. This film has been called an American story however I have met others who have seen this movie in other languages and they seem to have the same love and appreciation for it that I do. I love the characters and all of the different personalities that they represent not just in families but in society itself. It seems like the entire cast is part of every other movie that I love as well. The sounds, music, color and light in the film are just as much a part of the film as the people. This could be attributed to the method in which it was filmed. At many parts of the film I can still find myself feeling the emotions conveyed in the film. I never tire of appreciating this film. I thank God that FFC is an American treasure. We are fortunate to have him.