Posted on 03/15/2017 2:35:50 PM PDT by Kid Shelleen
On this day in 1972, The Godfather–a three-hour epic chronicling the lives of the Corleones, an Italian-American crime family led by the powerful Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)–is released in theaters.
The Godfather was adapted from the best-selling book of the same name by Mario Puzo, a novelist who grew up in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen and got his start writing pulp stories for men’s magazines. Controversy surrounded the film from the beginning: Soon after Paramount Pictures announced its production, the Italian-American Civil Rights League held a rally in Madison Square Garden, claiming the film would amount to a slur against Italian Americans. The uproar only increased publicity for the movie, which Paramount was counting to become a big-money hit after the success of Puzo’s novel.
(Excerpt) Read more at history.com ...
Here is an interesting read and would probably make a good movie too. The author claims Columbo had the script changed so that Mafia was never mentioned.
http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2012/03/04/the-time-the-mafia-protested-the-godfather
Never saw it...people keep telling me should.
There is a real tragedy in this movie and it continues into the sequel and even into The Godfather Part III (for all the problems that movie has).
No REAL Mafioso would agree with the film. Nor would they disagree. The way it is. Quite a screenplay. Brilliant!
I’ll make you an offer you cant refuse.
A cinematic masterpiece. The novel is great too.
Novels were far superior. Genco may be the greatest consiglieri of all time, if people knew what he did for the Don. But in the film, he’s also mentioned once, and got cut. In Paramount, I always pass by studio B where they house the Godfather stuff.
Of course, you were right about Joey Colombo (scumbag) - but Godfather was one of the best films I had ever viewed on the Big Screen, maybe second best only to Godfather II...
Best movie of all time. I’ve probably seen it 50 times and will be sure to watch it again.
Me neither. I saw Peter Griffin ‘s review and that was all I needed to know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wMQz3iJDzE
When Paramount insisted that Brando do a screen test, the legendary actor complied because he wanted the role so badly.
Brando did not comply. He was tricked into it by Coppola.
The story from Coppola was: They went to visit Brando, to 'talk', they brought their camera with them. While talking about the role the camera was rolling. Brando envisioned how he would play the role. He transformed himself stuffing the Kleenex in his mouth, changing his voice, etc. This was caught on film. Coppola then edited it and showed it to the Paramount people as a 'screen test'. It worked (obviously)
# 6
SpaceBar wrote:
A cinematic masterpiece. The novel is great too.
Yes the novel was a classic! Mario Puzo ping...
I would reverse it. I like Part II more than Part I. It is the old scenes with DeNiro that make Part II superior IMHO.
Both are absolutely an all time classics. GF1 and GF2
Probably the most quoted movie in history.
Agreed, I watch it once a year at least.
GF 2, Casablanca, the Big Sleep and many of the Duke’s always interest me.
I will watch it every chance I get. Lately HBO has been showing the chronological version that blended GF1 and GF2 together and beginning with the opening scene from Godfather 1 and then transitions to all of the flashbacks with DeNiro as young Vito from GF2.
Agreed.
See my post 17. It is a true epic masterpiece when combined in proper order.
“many of the Duke’s always interest me.”
Rio Bravo. One of my two favorite westerns of all time; the other is Tombstone.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.