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The Godfather
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The Godfather (1972) More at IMDbPro »

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The Godfather -- The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.
The Godfather -- Clip: The garden scene with Don and Michael Corleone
Lawrence of Arabia -- AFI's 10 Top 10 - The 10 Greatest Films in 10 Classic Genres
The Godfather -- Clip: Michael, Fredo and Moe Green
The Godfather -- Clip: The wedding of Connie and Carlo

Overview

User Rating:
Top 250: #2  (login to vote)
9.2/10   690,530 votes »
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MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writers:
Mario Puzo (screenplay) and
Francis Ford Coppola (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Godfather on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 March 1972 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Crime | Drama See more »
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. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Won 3 Oscars. Another 30 wins & 19 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(1143 articles)
Francis Ford Coppola wants to do a movie about a non-mob affiliated Italian-American family
 (From The AV Club. 23 May 2013, 12:10 PM, PDT)
Francis Ford Coppola Directing New Italian-American Saga
 (From GeekTyrant. 22 May 2013, 5:55 PM, PDT)
Francis Ford Coppola Returns to Italian-American Family Dramas With New Film
 (From FilmSchoolRejects. 22 May 2013, 3:00 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Initially, I wasn't a fan... but then I realised See more (1595 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Marlon Brando ... Don Vito Corleone

Al Pacino ... Michael Corleone

James Caan ... Sonny Corleone

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)
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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-recordist (as Bud Grenzbach)
Christopher Newman .... production recordist
Richard Portman .... re-recordist
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
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
Nancy Hopton .... script continuity (as Nancy Tonery)
Robert S. Mendelsohn .... executive assistant
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: Technicolor liaison (2007 restoration) (as Bob Raring)
Ben Rosenblatt .... thanks: for Paramount Pictures (2007 restoration)
Gordon Willis .... special thanks (2007 restoration)
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Also Known As:
"Mario Puzo's The Godfather" - UK (complete title), USA (complete title)
"Godfather" - Japan (English title)
See more »
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
175 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | Italian | Latin
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
DTS (re-release) | Mono
Certification:
Argentina:18 (original rating) | Austria:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (2007) | 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 | 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 (re-rating) (re-release) (1996) | UK:18 (tv rating)
Filming Locations:
110 Longfellow Road, Staten Island, New York City, New York, USASee more »
Company:
Paramount PicturesSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
The movie's line "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse." was voted as the #10 of "The 100 Greatest Movie Lines" by Premiere in 2007.See more »
Goofs:
Boom mic visible: During the scene of the meeting between Moe Green and Michael, The boom mic can be seen clearly, as Moe sits down for the first time. A shadow also reflects a hurried movement behind the camera.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 »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Taking Flight: The Development of 'Superman' (2001) (V)See more »
Soundtrack:
I Have But One HeartSee more »

FAQ

Why does Sonny cheat on his wife with Lucy Mancini? Is he as bad a husband as he is a Don?
Is 'The Godfather' based on a book?
What is the piano composition played during the "mattresses" montage?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
196 out of 289 people found the following review useful.
Initially, I wasn't a fan... but then I realised, 14 October 2006
Author: mattrochman from Australia

This is a masterpiece. A timeless masterpiece. Initially, I didn't like this film all that much - I found it rather over-hyped and boring. This was until the advent of DVD, which gave me the feature I needed for this sort of film: subtitles. Once I switched them on and heard (read) every last word of Brando's ramblings and other characters ramblings, I grew a true appreciation for this epic.

To make a true epic, you need all of three following ingredients working in near perfect harmony. For screenwriters who come across this, take the following pointers on board: 1) Contrasting Characters: Good films have some character distinction, but most fall rather flat because the core of each character is the same.

Of course, there are exceptions to rule (ie... where you want mono-tonal characters... aka matrix; or where you want outlandish contrasts... aka The Fifth Element), but ultimately, this is what makes films deep, meaningful and grand. Consider the contrasts between the Don's children. Michael is rather cool, rational and collected, whereas Sonny is more hot-headed, spontaneous and simple minded. But simply having these contrasts is not nearly enough. What you really need to do is to develop these characters - place them in situations - and then dwell on how their character impacts on the situation they're put in. The Godfather is a terrific example of how to pull this off. While many try to do this in screenplays, most lose the plot and create character obscurities that stretch credibility.

2) Transformation: The central character(s) must undergo a transformation, resulting in them being almost unrecognizable by the end of the film. By putting them into situations, the character's character must not only influence the outcome of the situation; it must also have a lasting impact on the character. Consider Michael at the wedding and compare that to the Michael we see at the end of the film. Again, many films try, but most fail because they come up with unreal (literally, not praisingly) or simply moronic transformations (eg, Wall Street).

3) Patience: Men in Black 2 was an astounding film for one simple reason - it was an entire film squashed into about 70 minutes. It was not much longer than an episode of ER or Buffy. I certainly hope the new goal of Hollywood isn't to make films as short as possible.

All the great ones spend time - time developing characters, family life, growth, patience with the story telling in general. This is the key (provided that the story isn't mind-numbingly boring). Dances with Wolves, Heat.. and so on are very patient but top-class films. While studios may be lukewarm on the idea of longer films, they are worth it if you have a ripper story to base it on.

I feel that this film has not dated all that much and has tremendous re-watch-ability.

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