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The Godfather

  • 19721972
  • RR
  • 2h 55m
IMDb RATING
9.2/10
1.8M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
33
8
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Marlon Brando in The Godfather (1972)
The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.
Play trailer1:16
13 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama

The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty in postwar New York City transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant youngest son.The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty in postwar New York City transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant youngest son.The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty in postwar New York City transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant youngest son.

IMDb RATING
9.2/10
1.8M
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
33
8
  • Director
    • Francis Ford Coppola
  • Writers
    • Mario Puzo(screenplay by)
    • Francis Ford Coppola(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Marlon Brando
    • Al Pacino
    • James Caan
Top credits
  • Director
    • Francis Ford Coppola
  • Writers
    • Mario Puzo(screenplay by)
    • Francis Ford Coppola(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Marlon Brando
    • Al Pacino
    • James Caan
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 4.9KUser reviews
    • 279Critic reviews
    • 100Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #2
    • Won 3 Oscars
      • 31 wins & 30 nominations total

    Videos13

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:16
    Official Trailer
    The Godfather
    Trailer 2:03
    The Godfather
    'The Godfather' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:16
    'The Godfather' | Anniversary Mashup
    'The Godfather' | Filming Locations
    Clip 0:43
    'The Godfather' | Filming Locations
    Moran Atias Picks Her "Seinfeld" Spirt Animal
    Clip 3:28
    Moran Atias Picks Her "Seinfeld" Spirt Animal
    The Godfather
    Clip 1:42
    The Godfather
    The Godfather
    Clip 0:48
    The Godfather
    The Godfather
    Clip 1:49
    The Godfather
    Who Are the Best TV and Movie Dads?
    Full Episode 2:32
    Who Are the Best TV and Movie Dads?
    Movies vs. Films, and the Best of Both With O'Shea Jackson Jr.
    Video 1:20
    Movies vs. Films, and the Best of Both With O'Shea Jackson Jr.
    Ben Schwartz Is Don Corleone, James Bond, and Pennywise
    Video 3:21
    Ben Schwartz Is Don Corleone, James Bond, and Pennywise
    '2001: A Space Odyssey' Changed Michael Mando's View of Life
    Video 1:20
    '2001: A Space Odyssey' Changed Michael Mando's View of Life

    Photos497

    Marlon Brando and Salvatore Corsitto in The Godfather (1972)
    Al Pacino and Simonetta Stefanelli in The Godfather (1972)
    Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, James Caan, John Cazale, Talia Shire, Julie Gregg, Morgana King, Tere Livrano, and Gianni Russo in The Godfather (1972)
    Marlon Brando and Al Martino in The Godfather (1972)
    Al Pacino in The Godfather (1972)
    Marlon Brando and Salvatore Corsitto in The Godfather (1972)
    Marlon Brando in The Godfather (1972)
    Al Pacino and Diane Keaton in The Godfather (1972)
    Al Pacino in The Godfather (1972)
    Marlon Brando in The Godfather (1972)
    Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, and John Cazale in The Godfather (1972)
    Abe Vigoda in The Godfather (1972)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Marlon Brando
    Marlon Brando
    • Don Vito Corleoneas Don Vito Corleone
    Al Pacino
    Al Pacino
    • Michaelas Michael
    James Caan
    James Caan
    • Sonnyas Sonny
    Diane Keaton
    Diane Keaton
    • Kay Adamsas Kay Adams
    Richard S. Castellano
    Richard S. Castellano
    • Clemenzaas Clemenza
    • (as Richard Castellano)
    Robert Duvall
    Robert Duvall
    • Tom Hagenas Tom Hagen
    Sterling Hayden
    Sterling Hayden
    • Capt. McCluskeyas Capt. McCluskey
    John Marley
    John Marley
    • Jack Woltzas Jack Woltz
    Richard Conte
    Richard Conte
    • Barzinias Barzini
    Al Lettieri
    Al Lettieri
    • Sollozzoas Sollozzo
    Abe Vigoda
    Abe Vigoda
    • Tessioas Tessio
    Talia Shire
    Talia Shire
    • Connieas Connie
    Gianni Russo
    Gianni Russo
    • Carloas Carlo
    John Cazale
    John Cazale
    • Fredoas Fredo
    Rudy Bond
    Rudy Bond
    • Cuneoas Cuneo
    Al Martino
    Al Martino
    • Johnny Fontaneas Johnny Fontane
    Morgana King
    Morgana King
    • Mama Corleoneas Mama Corleone
    Lenny Montana
    Lenny Montana
    • Luca Brasias Luca Brasi
    • Director
      • Francis Ford Coppola
    • Writers
      • Mario Puzo(screenplay by) (based on the novel by)
      • Francis Ford Coppola(screenplay by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —srijanarora-152-448595
    • mafia
    • patriarch
    • crime family
    • organized crime
    • gambling syndicate
    • 370 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • An offer you can't refuse.
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Cinematographer Gordon Willis earned himself the nickname "The Prince of Darkness," since his sets were so underlit. "Paramount Pictures" executives initially thought that the footage was too dark, until persuaded otherwise by Willis and Francis Ford Coppola that it was to emphasize the shadiness of the Corleone family's dealings.
    • Goofs
      During Sonny and Carlo's fight, one of Sonny's "movie" punches is shot from the wrong angle and clearly misses, but still produces the sound of an impact.
    • Quotes

      [to Rocco who has killed Paulie in the car]

      Peter Clemenza: Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.

    • Crazy credits
      In the end credits, Marlon Brando's name is the only one that is not accompanied by the character name that he plays (e.g. "as Vito Corleone").
    • Alternate versions
      In 1972, Paramount was owned by Gulf & Western, so that company's name appears on the opening Paramount logo. When the film was re-released in 1997, Paramount was owned by Viacom, which placed its named on the re-release Paramount logo, and all subsequent video releases.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Godfather Saga (1977)
    • Soundtracks
      Mall Wedding Sequence
      (1972)

      Music by Carmine Coppola

    User reviews4.9K

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    An offer so good, I couldn't refuse
    It is now past 1 PM and I just finished watching Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather". I should probably go to bed. It's late and tomorrow I have to wake up a bit early. But not early enough to postpone writing these lines. Now that I have seen it three times, the opportunity of sharing my thoughts and refreshed insights are too much of a good offer to sit on. So, bear with me.

    This film works so well because it takes place in an underworld in which we are so embedded that we do not even observe it. Coppola puts us straight in the smack-dab center of what is, admittedly, a society made by criminals for criminals. It is also the reason why it's so welcoming. We are surrounded by its inhabitants--cold-blooded murderers, men who see crime like a 9 to 5 job masquerading as honorable men. And I do mean men. From the outside, we would only witness the horrifying, disturbing manifestations of their well-thought out actions.

    But it goes even deeper than that. It all revolves around the Corleone family led by Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando). He is the most honest of these men, sitting right on the edge. But for people like him, who do not fully embrace this world, it's not easy. He avoids conflict until it is absolutely necessary. He is a man defined by moral principles. There is a scene at the beginning, in which, during his daughter's wedding day, one of his associates, Luca Brasi (Lenny Montana) practices his speech that he is going to give to the Don when he meets him. The scene with these two is funny and almost adorable. I could not help but sympathize both of them only to realize that I am feeling warmth for two mobsters. Not to even mention that Lenny Montana was an actual mob hit-man and that he was actually nervous as he said that line.

    The more I watched the more I realized just how incredibly complex and ruthless this society is and how it has the power to corrupt anyone to come in contact with it. The best example is Corleone's youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino). He returns home for his sister's wedding as a war hero dressed the part with his long-time girlfriend, Kay Adams (Diane Keaton). At first, he avoids this underworld, but necessity, first-hand exposure and just its sheer devilish appealing nature draws him in. As we get further in the film, the change is shocking and every outsider who ever got close to him is tainted in one way or another. If they survive it, they are drawn in as well as we are as viewers.

    Inside, Coppola exposes the family to us fully, with a bold personal approach and we witness every discussion, every methodically calculated choice. Crime is done simply because it is the nature of their business, and we are put on a chair alongside them, so we easily relate. For us, they are the good guys, the rival families are the bad guys. This is the greatest feat this film managed to pull off--set apart good guys and bad guys in a world filled with bad guys.

    This is a film of unmatched subtlety. No other movie sustains itself as good. No other film is done with such precision, attention and completeness. There are many layers which I probably missed and maybe will never notice. But I felt them. What director Francis Ford Coppola and his partner in crime (poor choice of words, sorry) Mario Puzo did is nothing short of a timeless piece of reference cinema whose influence is not based on reinventing the wheel, but rather perfecting it to the absolute maximum.

    Most masterpieces are remembered for their historical contributions. "Citizen Kane" brought the biggest step-up to the art form, the same things did "Gone With the Wind" or "2001: A Space Odyssey". "The Godfather" is one of the few films that will be remembered simply because they are that good and I cannot possibly imagine a greater achievement.
    helpful•182
    19
    • andrewburgereviews
    • Apr 1, 2019

    FAQ44

    • Was Tom Hagen the one who put the horse's severed head in Jack Woltz's bed?
    • What is the conclusion of this movie?
    • Who shot Moe Greene?? And how was the special effect with the glasses & blood done?? It was 1972, so we can rule out CGI.

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 24, 1972 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Instagram
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • Mario Puzo's The Godfather
    • Filming locations
      • Forza d'Agrò, Messina, Sicily, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Albert S. Ruddy Productions
      • Alfran Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $136,381,073
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $302,393
      • Mar 19, 1972
    • Gross worldwide
      • $250,341,816
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 55 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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