The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 (1992) (V)

User Rating:

8.9/10   

Director:

Francis Ford Coppola

Writers:

Francis Ford Coppola (writer)
Mario Puzo (novel)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

The multigenerational saga of the rise and fall of the Corleone crime family.

Plot Keywords:

Senate Crime Committee | Radio City Music Hall | Cuban Revolution | Crime Epic | Marital Separation

Cast

Al Pacino	...	Don Michael Corleone (archive footage)
Robert Duvall	...	Tom Hagen (archive footage)
Diane Keaton	...	Kay Adams Corleone Michelson (archive footage)
Talia Shire	...	Connie Corleone Rizzi (archive footage)
Marlon Brando	...	Don Vito Corleone (archive footage)
James Caan	...	Santino 'Sonny' Corleone (archive footage)
John Cazale	...	Fredo Corleone (archive footage)
Robert De Niro	...	Young Vito Corleone (archive footage)
Andy Garcia	...	Vincent Mancini (archive footage)
Richard S. Castellano	...	Peter Clemenza (archive footage)
Lee Strasberg	...	Hyman Roth (archive footage)
Michael V. Gazzo	...	Frankie Pentangeli (archive footage)
Sofia Coppola	...	Mary Corleone (archive footage)
Richard Bright	...	Al Neri (archive footage)
Eli Wallach	...	Don Altobello (archive footage)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

583 min | Poland:523 min (DVD) | Poland:710 min (longer version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | USA:R | UK:18

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

When Vito Corleone, Clemenza and Tessio are going to the gunsmith the owner's name is Augustino Coppola, later in the scene he introduces his son, Carmine Coppola, who demonstrates his flute playing abilities. This scene is a tribute to Francis Ford Coppola's father and grandfather. His father was the first flautist with the NBC symphony under Arturo Toscanini. His Grandfather was an actual gunsmith. His father worked in the "shop" from time to time as a child. They both insist the event actually happened.

Goofs:

Continuity: As the Corleone's pack up to move to Las Vegas, there is a real estate sign outside the compound offering the property for commercial development. Later, Michael meets Frankie Pentangeli in his father's old (redecorated) house.

Quotes:

Don Vito Corleone: Never let anyone outside the family know what you're thinking.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Weatherman (#4.4)" (2004)

A great trilogy

I once thought this was the greatest trilogy ever made. To be honest I am not sure if I still think that. If you could choose two parts from every trilogy or series ever made I think it would be true. 'The Godfather' and 'The Godfather: Part II' belong to the greatest classics, but 'The Godfather: Part III' is just a nice movie and compared to the other it is not that good.

I think the original 'Star Wars' trilogy does a better job, because 'Star Wars' and 'The Empire Strikes Back' are also great movies, and personally I think 'Return of the Jedi' comes very close to greatness. It is at least as entertaining as the other two. The same I can say for the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy. Although I am not a fan like some others I have to admit that all three movies are very good. 'The Fellowship of the Ring' and 'The Return of the King' are the great movies here, and although I didn't like 'The Two Towers' very much I have to say it is very entertaining and comes a lot closer to the other two than 'The Godfather: Part III' does to the first 'Godfather' parts.

Still, this is at least one of the greatest trilogies ever made and as a complete work it is extraordinary. Of the trilogies I mentioned above this one has the best film making, with director Francis Ford Coppola and cinematographer Gordon Willis, and the best acting ensemble. Great actors like Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, James Caan, Robert Duvall and Diane Keaton give terrific performances. Maybe the third part has some flaws, including Sofia Coppola and her performance, it stays interesting the entire time. If you love the movies you can not miss this influential trilogy.