The Godfather Part 1 (1972)



Listed as the seconded greatest film of all time, to ‘Citizen Kane’ and ranking first in the genre of crime drama by the American Film Institute, ‘The Godfather’ is father to many memorable scenes that have yet to be duplicated.
Based on the 1969 novel of the same name, by Mario Puzo, ‘The Godfather’ was released in 1972 and directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
The film stars Marlon Brando, as Vito Corleone in the role Padrino (godfather) or head of an Italian-American mafia family and spans their trials and tribulations over the span of a decade between 1945 -1955.
The movie opens during the wedding reception for Vito’s daughter, Connie. It is a time of much merriment among the visitors and many of them are taking the time to meet with the godfather and ask favours of him, since it is a well known Italian tradition that, “no Sicilian can deny a favour on the day of his daughter’s wedding”.
Among them is Johnny Fontaine, a singer and wannabe actor, who has just returned from Hollywood after a failed attempt at gaining a movie role. He wants Vito to intervene with the movie producer and help him win the part. Vito’s response of, “ I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse”, is now film dialogue history and has often been reprised in many a role since.
Who will ever forget the outcome, when, after the producer refuses to listen to reason according to Vito, he awakens to find himself lying in bed with the mangled and bloody head of his prize racehorse,
The Godfather truly is one of the best films ever made.

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