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The Godfather (50th Anniversary)
(Paramount Pictures)
By Lucas Allen
For its 50th anniversary, Paramount Pictures has given Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” a sparkling new restoration and has brought it back to theaters. Based on the book by Mario Puzo, who also co-wrote the script with Coppola, the epic saga of two generations of a crime family remains a cinema cultural touchstone and one of the finest to win the Best Picture Academy Award. For those still new to motion picture history, here’s a brief breakdown on the complex story and the crucial roles of the characters.
Taking place in post-war America, Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) is the head of one of New York City’s most powerful crime families. During h’s daughter Connie’s wedding (Talia Shire), his youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino), returns from the war and introduces his girlfriend Kay (Diane Keaton). When the Don refuses to work with his rival Sollozzo (Al Lettieri) on the drug trade, he’s gunned down but manages to survive the hit. Michael then reluctantly makes the decision to take out Sollozzo along with corrupt police captain McCluskey (Sterling Hayden).
Michael leaves the country as his rebellious brother Sonny (James Caan) and the family attorney Tom (Robert Duvall) handle the family business. While hiding in Sicily, Michael falls in love and marries a woman named Appolonia (Simonetta Stefanelli), but it ends abruptly and tragically. Once he returns to America, Michael steps into his father’s place to bring his crime family back to prominence.
In 1972, the movie redefined the gangster genre for decades to come with its influence felt in both movies and television. The story offered a more interesting look into the lives of the crime business from a personal viewpoint with drama and violence. That way, you can see the human side of a gangster more openly than previous films of the sub-genre from Hollywood’s golden age. The plot can be very complex for a first-time viewer trying to connect the dots between the different characters and subplots, but repeated viewings can be more rewarding.
The movie is chock full of memorable scenes, characters, and dialogue that’s oft-repeated in other visual mediums. Each moment gives this nearly three-hour film an extra punch from beginning to end. Oddly enough, the one scene often ranked as one of the greatest in movie history, including by TV Guide, is the part where movie mogul Jack Woltz (John Marley) finds a horse’s head in his bed after refusing singer Johnny Fontane (Al Martino) a role in a movie. It may not be shocking today, but Nino Rota’s score and Woltz’s screams echoing into the morning made it work.
It’s also well known for seeing then-up-and-coming actors showing promise back then and how they’ve come a long way since. Pacino is excellent as the young Michael going through an arc from war hero to becoming like his father. He and Keaton have good chemistry, the same as in the later two films. Caan plays the wild brother wonderfully, while Duvall portrays his character as the most level-headed member of the family. Worth noting, John Cazale plays Michael’s older-but-unwise brother Fredo in the first of five features in his short-lived career before serving a larger role in Part II.
Lastly, Brando’s performance as Don Vito that won him the Best Actor Oscar is every bit as amazing as it ever was. His old age makeup, raspy voice, and larger-than-life persona work very well for his character. In fact, he would later reprise his most famous role of-sorts for the 1990 comedy The Freshman.
Beyond spawning two sequels and various home video releases, “The Godfather” never loses its power 50 years after its initial release. Every gorgeous visual shot like darkly lit rooms are nicely preserved for its 4k restoration. No matter if you’ve seen it the first time or the hundredth time, it’s a classic in every sense of the word that cannot be missed.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: R (for violence, language, and brief nudity)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 4 Stars (Out of Four)
