The Godfather Movie Review 1972

Coppola's award-winning adaptation of Mario Puzo's novel about a fictional Mafia family in the late 1940s. Revenge, envy, and parent-child conflict mix with the rituals of Italian mob life in America. Minutely detailed, with excellent performances by Pacino, Brando, and Caan as the violence-prone Sonny. Film debut of Coppola's daughter Sophia, the infant in the baptism scene, who returns in "Godfather III." The horrific horse scene is an instant chiller. Indisputably an instant piece of American culture. Followed by two sequels.

Distribution

Baker & Taylor Inc., 2709 Water Ridge Pkwy., Ste. 500, Charlotte, NC 28217, Phone: (704)357-3500, Toll-free: 800-775-1800, Email: btinfo@btol.com, URL: http://www.btol.com

Available on VHS
Running time 171 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Crime Drama, Wedding Bells, Organized Crime, Revenge, Family Ties, Special FX Wizards: Dick Smith, Top Grossing Films of 1972, Books to Film: Mario Puzo, Eyeballs!, Modern Shakespeare, New York, New York, Edibles, Great Death Scenes, 4 Bones

Screenplay

Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola

Cast

Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan, Diane Keaton, John Cazale, Talia Shire, Richard Conte, Richard S. Castellano, Abe Vigoda, Alex Rocco, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Al Lettieri, Sofia Coppola, Al Martino, Morgana King

Cinematography

Gordon Willis

Director

Francis Ford Coppola

Music

Nino Rota

Producer

Paramount Pictures

Awards

Oscars 1972: Actor (Brando), Adapt. Screenplay, Picture; AFI 1998: Top 100; Directors Guild 1972: Director (Coppola); Golden Globes 1973: Actor--Drama (Brando), Director (Coppola), Film--Drama, Screenplay, Score; Natl. Bd. of Review 1972: Support. Actor (Pacino), Natl. Film Reg. 1990;; N.Y. Film Critics 1972: Support. Actor (Duvall); Natl. Soc. Film Critics 1972: Actor (Pacino); Writers Guild 1972: Adapt. Screenplay.