Country: USA
Year: 1972
Duration: 175'
The first part of the trilogy that Coppola (who adapted Mario Puzo’s novel with the author) dedicated to the Corleone Italian-American mafia family. The story begins in 1945, when Michael returns home after the war and his father, the godfather Vito, who mercilessly runs the family’s interests with a firm hand, is assassinated. Although he is loath to follow in his family’s footsteps, Michael prevails over his brothers, Santino and Fredo, and takes over. A masterpiece in film history, one of the first examples of big-name blockbusters in the updated context of New Hollywood. Three Oscars: best picture, best screenplay based on material from another medium to Coppola and Puzo, and best actor in a leading role to Marlon Brando (who sent a Native American woman to accept the statue for him). Amazingly, Godon Willis’ amazing cinematography did not receive an award.
Biography
film director
Francis Ford Coppola
(Detroit, MI, USA, 1939) after specializing in direction at the UCLA, he debuted in 1963 with Dementia 13, before directing movies like The Godfather, The Conversation, The Godfather - Part II, winner of six Oscars (for best movie and best director) and Apocalypse Now, winner of the Golden Palm in Cannes 1979. During the 1980s he made various films, including Rumble Fish and Cotton Club. In 1992 he received the Golden Lion for lifetime achievement in Venice and during the same year he directed Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Among the last movies directed by him: Youth Without Youth and Tetro, presented at the 2009 Torino Film Festival, ad well as Twixt. In 2024, he directed again another movie, the self-producted kolossal Megalopolis.
FILMOGRAFIA
Dementia 13 (Terrore alla tredicesima ora, 1963), You’re a Big Boy Now (Buttati Bernardo!, 1966), Finian's Rainbow (Sulle ali dell'arcobaleno, 1968), The Rain People (Non torno a casa stasera, 1969), The Godfather (Il Padrino, 1972), The Conversation (La conversazione, 1974), The Godfather - Part II (Il Padrino - Parte II, 1974), Apocalypse Now (id., 1979), One from the Heart (Un sogno lungo un giorno, 1982), The Outsiders (I ragazzi della 56ª strada, 1983), Rumble Fish (Rusty il selvaggio, 1983), The Cotton Club (Cotton Club, 1984), Peggy Sue Got Married (Peggy Sue si è sposata, 1986), Gardens of Stone (Giardini di pietra, 1987), Tucker: The Man and His Dream (Tucker - Un uomo e il suo sogno, 1988), New York Stories (ep. Life without Zoë, La vita senza Zoe, ep., 1989), The Godfather - Part III (Il padrino - Parte III, 1990), Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Dracula di Bram Stoker, 1992), Jack (id., 1996), The Rainmaker (L’uomo della pioggia, 1997), Youth Without Youth (Un’altra giovinezza, 2007), Tetro (Segreti di famiglia, 2009), Twixt (2011), Megalopolis (id., 2024).
Cast
& Credits
DIRECTOR: Francis Ford Coppola. STORY: from the novel by Mario Puzo. SCREENPLAY: Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola. CINEMATOGRAPHY: Gordon Willis. EDITING: William Reynolds, Peter Zinner. PRODUCTION DESIGN: Dean Tavoularis, Warren Clymer, Philip Smith. COSTUMES: Anna Hill Johnstone. MUSIC: Nino Rota. CAST: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard S. Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, Al Lettieri, Diane Keaton, Abe Vigoda, Talia Shire, Gianni Russo, John Cazale, Alex Rocco, Corrado Gaipa, Simonetta Stefanelli, Saro Urzì, Angelo Infanti, Franco Citti, Rudy Bond, Al Martino, Morgana King, Lenny Montana, John Martino, Salvatore Corsitto, Richard Bright. PRODUCTION: Albert S. Ruddy per Paramount Pictures, Alfran Productions.
Park Circus www.parkcircus.com
