By the time it finished its run, "The Godfather" had the biggest box office gross of all time. It would remain the highest-grossing film until "Jaws" three years later. Of all the films that have held that title, "The Godfather" may be the best. Unlike later title-holders like "Star Wars", "E.T." or "Titanic" that relied at least partly upon special effects, the success of "The Godfather" came from its script, story, and characters. Perhaps better than any other film, "The Godfather" combines outstanding production, conventional storytelling, and commercial success.
The film was based on the best-selling novel by
Mario Puzo, who also co-wrote the screenplay with
the director, Francis Ford Coppola. Vito Corleone
(Marlon Brando) is The Godfather, the Don (head)
of a successful, tightly-knit family whose
business is organized crime. Heir apparent is
impulsive, hot-tempered Sonny (James Caan), whose
brothers are brooding Michael (Al Pacino), who
tries to seperate himself from his criminal
family, and Fredo (John Cazale), who can't seem
to do anything right. Vito has also adopted
level-headed Tom Hagan (Robert Duvall), now the
family lawyer. Michael's second wife is Kay
(Diane Keaton). The film is set in the 1950s.
Vito's refusal to enter the lucrative drug
rackets puts him at odds with other Mafia
families. A war between the families follows.
Events place Michael as the Don, who plots
vengeance against those who opposed or betrayed
the Corleone family. Along the way, Michael
changes from an idealistic and independent young
man to a calculating, ruthless Mafia Don. "The
Godfather" has little comic relief, but the film
is rich with ironies. 'Family' is considered to
be very important by the Mafia leaders, and yet
their very actions lead to the destruction of
their own family. 'Loyalty' to the family is also
vital, enforced by 'hits' that punish betrayal,
and yet family members regularly betray one
another. While Vito's word is his bond, the same
doesn't apply to his son Michael, a smooth
operator for whom words are merely another tool
for information or influence. Non-Sicilians are
outsiders, kept from knowledge of the 'family
business', and even adopted son Hagan is
sometimes excluded. Women are relegated to being
household servants and child raisers, although
this role gives them a longer lifespan than their
vendetta-targeted husbands.
"The Godfather" won only three Academy Awards.
But they were important ones: Best Picture, Best
Actor (Brando) and Best Screenplay. There were
also nominations for Best Director (Coppola),
Best Supporting Actor (Pacino, Caan, Duvall),
Best Editing and Best Sound. Oddly, Nino Rota
wasn't nominated for the compelling, mournful
score, although he did win the British Academy
Award for Original Film Music.
Pacino must have been surprised to have been
nominated as a supporting actor, since he saw
more screen time than Brando. But the Academy
probably did not want to split the votes between
Brando and Pacino. "The Godfather" recovered the
languishing career of Brando, who did not attend
the Academy Awards ceremony. He instead sent a
minor actress who posed as an Indian named
Sacheen Littlefeather, who refused the Oscar on
the grounds that Hollywood discriminated against
Indians. Brando was nominated for Best Actor the
next year for "Last Tango in Paris",
demonstrating that the Academy didn't hold a
grudge. (95/100)
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