[cloudmountain]

I didn't have much respect for the American Corleone family. I understood the immigrant and the need to make a life here. But the American Corleone family was too bent and/or stupid to know that in THIS country one can make more money than God legally. Even a middle class family here is better off than MOST people ON THE PLANET.

Crime is the chump's way. The Corleone family were chumps.

[the invisib1e hand]

One reason for the longevity of "The Godfather" over the past 40 years is that, behind its gangster plot, is a classic story of an American family, tracing its journey from immigration and poverty toward assimilation and success.

Guess I missed this in the book version. Which sorta reinforces the writer's point, I suppose.

So it's all good, isn't it?

[djf]

I have Coppola’s first movie, “Dementia 13” on VHS.

He was one twisted dude!!

[Michael.SF.]

Playing Michael's sister Connie was Francis' sister, Talia Shire

The story I have read on that was Coppola thought he was going to be fired, in part because of his insistence on some of the roles, Brando in particular. Coppola signed his sister so that, as he is quoted "someone in the family would get something out of it".

The fact that he was way over budget did not help either.

The book was a best seller and Paramount was looking for a cheap "gangster movie" to make some bucks. Coppola had the vision to make it into two great movies and one disappointing one.

[forgotten man]

I remember reading the Godfather book in the summer of 1971.
Everybody was talking about it. It was a big shock when we learned that Brando got the part of Don Corleone. He had not made a movie in several years and was considered to be washed up. I thougnt Ernest Borgnine would be perfect for the part.

[21stCenturion]

...

[djf]

In honor of the 40th anniversary, I just popped Godfather I, tape one into the VHS!

Some excellent introductory material at the start, interviews with Puzo, Coppola, Pacino...