"The Godfather: A Novel for Television" (1977) TV mini-series

User Rating:

9.5/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

12 November 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

The first two Godfather films were re-edited together in chronological order with additional footage added.

Plot Keywords:

TV Mini-Series

Cast

Marlon Brando	...	Don Vito Corleone (4 episodes, 1977)
Al Pacino	...	Don Michael Corleone (4 episodes, 1977)
Robert Duvall	...	Tom Hagen (4 episodes, 1977)
James Caan	...	Santino 'Sonny' Corleone (4 episodes, 1977)
Richard S. Castellano	...	Peter Clemenza (4 episodes, 1977)
Diane Keaton	...	Kay Adams Corleone (4 episodes, 1977)
Robert De Niro	...	Young Vito Corleone (4 episodes, 1977)
Talia Shire	...	Connie Corleone Rizzi (4 episodes, 1977)
Sterling Hayden	...	Capt. McCluskey (4 episodes, 1977)
John Marley	...	Jack Woltz (4 episodes, 1977)
Richard Conte	...	Don Emilio Barzini (4 episodes, 1977)
Lee Strasberg	...	Hyman Roth (4 episodes, 1977)
John Cazale	...	Fredo Corleone (4 episodes, 1977)
Morgana King	...	Mama Corleone (4 episodes, 1977)
Tere Livrano	...	Theresa Hagen (4 episodes, 1977)
Tom Rosqui	...	Rocco Lampone (3 episodes, 1977)
Al Martino	...	Johnny Fontane (3 episodes, 1977)
Julie Gregg	...	Sandra Corleone (3 episodes, 1977)
Joe Spinell	...	Willie Cicci (3 episodes, 1977)
Richard Bright	...	Al Neri (2 episodes, 1977)
Michael V. Gazzo	...	Frankie Pentangeli (2 episodes, 1977)
Marianna Hill	...	Deanna Corleone (2 episodes, 1977)
Troy Donahue	...	Merle Johnson (2 episodes, 1977)
Angelo Infanti	...	Fabrizio (2 episodes, 1977)

Also Known As:

"Mario Puzo's The Godfather: A Novel for Television" (USA) (complete title)
"The Godfather 1902-1959: The Complete Epic" (USA) (video title)
"The Godfather Novella" (USA) (alternative title)
"The Godfather Saga" (USA)
"The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television" (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

434 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

This re-edited version includes scenes deleted from the original movies, including one showing Jack Woltz acting questionably with a child star, and Vito and Michael discussing Michael's future career.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Ray Charles (#3.5)" (1977)

A Travesty

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This thing is just ridiculous; saw it on home video as my first Godfather experience and couldn't figure out why it was so plodding. Turns out it edits everything into chronological order, so you start with all the De Niro scenes from G-2, then see G-1 (minus some R-stuff but plus some deleted scenes), and then get the rest of G-2. The De Niro scenes, out of context, are just repetitive and make little sense. The one bonus was getting to see the deleteds back when such opportunities were rare. It's not quite BAD, because the underlying material is still beautiful, but it could easily lead one to go through life thinking The Godfater was No Big Deal because you'd endured or walked out on this.

There are films I'd be interested to to see a chronological cut of (Pulp Fiction, Memento). Godfather 2 is not one of them.