The Godfather (1972)

The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.

Director:

Francis Ford Coppola

Writers:

Mario Puzo (screenplay by), Francis Ford Coppola (screenplay by)

Stars:

Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan

Top Rated Movies #2 | Won 3 Oscars. Another 26 wins & 30 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

The Godfather "Don" Vito Corleone is the head of the Corleone mafia family in New York. He is at the event of his daughter's wedding. Michael, Vito's youngest son and a decorated WW II Marine is also present at the wedding. Michael seems to be uninterested in being a part of the family business. Vito is a powerful man, and is kind to all those who give him respect but is ruthless against those who do not. But when a powerful and treacherous rival wants to sell drugs and needs the Don's influence for the same, Vito refuses to do it. What follows is a clash between Vito's fading old values and the new ways which may cause Michael to do the thing he was most reluctant in doing and wage a mob war against all the other mafia families which could tear the Corleone family apart.

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Plot Keywords:

mafia | crime family | patriarch | organized crime | rise to power | 

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Taglines:

An offer you can't refuse.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

18A

Did You Know?

Trivia

James Caan credits the stage persona of "insult comic" Don Rickles for inspiring his characterization of Santino Corleone.

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Goofs

Fredo removes his sunglasses twice during Michael's meeting with Moe Green.

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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...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The 1968 Paramount logo doesn't appear on screen until the end.

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Alternate Versions

5.1 Blu-ray remix replaces a bunch of foley sound effects like gunshots, car sounds, and ambiance. However, if you select the English Mono track on the same Blu-ray disk you'll get the original theatrical mono mix.

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Connections

Featured in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies: America's Greatest Movies (1998)

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Soundtracks

The Bells of St. Mary's
(1971)
Music by A. Emmett Adams (as A.E. Adams)
Lyrics by Douglas Furber

User Reviews

For Me, This Is The Definitive Film

This isn't just a beautifully crafted gangster film. Or an outstanding family portrait, for that matter. An amazing period piece. A character study. A lesson in filmmaking and an inspiration to generations of actors, directors, screenwriters and producers. For me, this is more: this is the definitive film. 10 stars out of 10.

Favorite films: IMDb.com/list/mkjOKvqlSBs/

Lesser-Known Masterpieces: imdb.com/list/ls070242495/

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian Latin

Release Date:

24 March 1972 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Le parrain

Filming Locations:

NY Eye and Ear Infirmary, 2nd Avenue & East 13th Street, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$302,393, 19 March 1972

Gross USA:

$134,966,411

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$246,120,974

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Alfran Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

175 min

Sound Mix:

DTS (re-release) Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1