The Godfather [Blu-ray]

Director: Francis Ford Coppola, Albert S. Ruddy

Overview

Francis Ford Copolla's classic film version of the insular world of the Mafia is a film less about mob rub-outs and cops-and-robbers chases than it is about family loyalty and the transfer of power from one generation to another. The film begins in the study of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), who is dispensing favors to various supplicants, while outside of his dark, shadowy office, the wedding of his daughter Connie (Talia Shire) is taking place. At the wedding, Connie's brothers are on hand for the joyous celebration -- Michael (Al Pacino), Vito's youngest son and returning war hero; Sonny (James Caan), the hair-trigger tempered oldest son; Fredo (John Cazale), the meek and weak-willed middle son; and Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall), the skillful, quiet, and efficient adopted son, who is also Vito's chief counsel. The wedding is Vito Corleone at the height of his power and influence. As World War II has ended and changes in the world have occurred, changes are also occurring within the Mob hierarchy. The other Mafia families want to get into the drug trade, but Vito is adamantly against it. When a powerful drug supplier, Sollozzo (Al Lettieri), promises big profits for the families, the other family heads are interested, but Vito stands firm. This seals his fate. In the ensuing brutal mob war that takes place, Sonny (Vito's successor in the business) is gunned down and an assassination attempt is made on Vito. Michael, the one son of Vito's who has refused to become involved in the family business, now finds himself forced to take the reins of power. With Vito slowly slipping away into old age and illness, Michael now effectively takes command of the Corleone family. After the death of his father, Michael must now ruthlessly plot his revenge against the families for conspiring against the Corleone Family.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/09/2017
UPC:	0032429272195
Original Release:	1972
Rating:	R
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:57:00
Sales rank:	24,165

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Marlon Brando	Don Vito Corleone
Al Pacino	Michael Corleone
James Caan	Sonny Corleone
Richard Castellano	Clemenza,Actor
Robert Duvall	Tom Hagen
Sterling Hayden	McCluskey
John Marley	Jack Woltz
Richard Conte	Barzini
Diane Keaton	Kay Adams
Al Lettieri	Sollozzo
Abe Vigoda	Tessio
Talia Shire	Connie Rizzi
Gianni Russo	Carlo Rizzi
John Cazale	Fredo Corleone
Rudy Bond	Cuneo
Al Martino	Johnny Fontane,Paulie Gatto
Morgana King	Mama Corleone
Lenny Montana	Luca Brasi
Salvatore Corsitto	Bonasera
Richard Bright	Neri
Alex Rocco	Moe Greene
Tony Giorgio	Bruno Tattaglia
Vito Scotti	Nazorine
Tere Livrano	Theresa Hagen
Victor Rendina	Phillip Tattaglia
Jeannie Linero	Lucy Mancini
Julie Gregg	Sandra Corleone
Ardell Sheridan	Mrs. Clemenza
Simonetta Stefanelli	Apollonia
Angelo Infanti	Fabrizio
Corrado Gaipa	Don Tommasino
Franco Citti	Calo
Saro Urz?	Vitelli
Sofia Coppola	Baby (uncredited),Actor,Actor,Actor,Actor
Joe Spinell	Willy Cicci (uncredited)
Chuck Riley	Voices
Louis DiGiaimo	Actor
Fred Roos	Actor
Andrea Eastman	Actor
Nino Rota	Composer
Max Brandt	Actor
Tybee Brascia	Actor

Technical Credits

Francis Ford Coppola

Mario Puzo

Francis Ford Coppola	Screenwriter
Mario Puzo	Screenwriter
Albert S. Ruddy	Producer,Producer
Paul Baxley	Stunts
Sass Bedig	Special Effects
A.D. Flowers	Special Effects
Joe Lombardi	Special Effects
Dick Smith	Special Effects
Louis DiGiaimo	Casting
Andrea Eastman	Casting
Fred Roos	Casting,Producer
Robert Evans	Executive Producer,Producer
Bud Grenzbach	Sound/Sound Designer,Sound Effects,Sound/Sound Designer
Christopher Newman	Sound/Sound Designer,Sound Effects
Richard Portman	Sound/Sound Designer,Sound Effects
Gray Frederickson	Producer
Kevin Chaja	Special Effects
Howard Beals	Sound Effects
Steve Cookman	Sound Effects
Paul Baxley Jr.	Stunts

Editorial Reviews

"I believe in America" -- and America embraced The Godfather, turning it into a landmark artistic triumph and blockbuster hit. The movie was initially planned as a low-budget adaptation of Mario Puzo's Mafia family best-seller, and young director Francis Ford Coppola was hired because Paramount thought he would be easy to control. Instead, he fought the studio to cast little-known Al Pacino as Michael Corleone and foundering Marlon Brando as Don Vito, and he turned The Godfather into an operatic period epic about family, honor, and American economic success (the word "Mafia" is never used); in return, he was almost fired during production. The finished film's narrative drive and imagery were astonishing. Beginning with the opening sequence intercutting Vito's sepulchral study with the bright wedding outside, Coppola renders the Corleones threatening in their business and appealing in their closeness as they negotiate the legacy of Vito's prosperity. Gordon Willis' shadowy cinematography infused the film with shades of black, brown, and gold, contrasting bleak Family dealings with warm family loyalty. The famously extreme violence, particularly the horse head and Sonny's tollbooth demise (echoing 1967's Bonnie and Clyde), revealed the cost of protecting the family honor; the baptism montage elevated Michael's corruption to diabolical proportions as he consolidates his business power. Highly anticipated and critically revered, The Godfather became one of the biggest box-office hits of all time, adding several catchphrases to the cultural lexicon, revitalizing the gangster genre, turning Pacino into a star, and reviving Brando's career. Nominated for 10 Oscars, The Godfather won Best Picture, but Brando snubbed his Best Actor prize and Coppola lost Best Director to Cabaret's Bob Fosse. Willis' cinematography wasn't even nominated, and although Nino Rota's memorable music did initially receive a nomination, the Academy rescinded it when they discovered that Rota included material in the score from one of his earlier compositions. In 1998, the American Film Institute named The Godfather one of the three greatest American films ever made, testifying to its enduring artistic legacy.