The Godfather (1972)
Average Rating: 9.1/10
Reviews Counted: 77
Fresh: 77 | Rotten: 0
One of Hollywood's greatest critical and commercial successes, The Godfather gets everything right; not only did the movie transcend expectations, it established new benchmarks for American cinema.
Average Rating: 8.3/10
Critic Reviews: 17
Fresh: 17 | Rotten: 0
One of Hollywood's greatest critical and commercial successes, The Godfather gets everything right; not only did the movie transcend expectations, it established new benchmarks for American cinema.
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Average Rating: 4.4/5
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Movie Info
Popularly viewed as one of the best American films ever made, the multi-generational crime saga The Godfather is a touchstone of cinema: one of the most widely imitated, quoted, and lampooned movies of all time. Marlon Brando and Al Pacino star as Vito Corleone and his youngest son, Michael, respectively. It is the late 1940s in New York and Corleone is, in the parlance of organized crime, a "godfather" or "don," the head of a Mafia family. Michael, a free thinker who defied his father by
Mar 24, 1972 Wide
Oct 9, 2001
Paramount Pictures
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Cast
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Marlon Brando
Don Vito Corleone -
Al Pacino
Michael Corleone -
James Caan
Sonny Corleone -
John Cazale
Fredo Corleone -
Robert Duvall
Tom Hagen -
Diane Keaton
Kay Adams -
Sterling Hayden
McCluskey -
Richard Conte
Barzini -
Talia Shire
Connie Corleone -
Al Lettieri
Sollozzo -
Al Martino
Johnny Fontane -
Lenny Montana
Luca Brasi -
Rudy Bond
Cuneo -
Richard Bright
Neri -
Richard S. Castellano
Clemenza -
Franco Citti
Calo -
Corrado Gaipa
Don Tommasino -
Tony Giorgio
Bruno Tattaglia -
Julie Gregg
Sandra Corleone -
Angelo Infanti
Fabrizio -
Morgana King
Mama Corleone -
Jeannie Linero
Lucy Mancini -
John Marley
Jack Woltz -
John Martino
Paulie Gatto -
Victor Rendina
Phillip Tattaglia -
Alex Rocco
Moe Greene -
Gianni Russo
Carlo Rizzi -
Vito Scotti
Nazorine -
Joe Spinell
Willy Cicci (uncredited... -
Simonetta Stefanelli
Apollonia -
Saro Urzì
Vitelli -
Abe Vigoda
Tessio -
Carmine Coppola
Piano Player (uncredite... -
Sofia Coppola
Baby (uncredited) -
Tere Livrano
Theresa Hagen -
Salvatore Corsitto
Bonasera -
Ardell Sheridan
Mrs. Clemenza
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All Critics (77) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (82) | Rotten (0) | DVD (35)
To permit us a glimpse at The Mob, with all of its ethnic insularity, is like giving a chronic gambler a chance to wander above the false mirrors that overlook every casino.
Top CriticBrando's triumph and fascination is less that of an actor of parts than of a star galaxy of myths.
Brando made Don Vito something we rarely see in movies: a tragicomic villain-hero, a vulnerable hood.
In its blending of new depth with an old genre, it becomes that rarity, a mass entertainment that is also great movie art.
As filmmaking and storytelling, 'The Godfather' remains a bravura piece of work, its set pieces, dialogue and performances entrenched cinematic icons.
There are volumes that could be written -- and have been -- about the movie's uniformly powerful performances; its precedent-setting editing by William Reynolds and Peter Zinner; Nino Rota's haunting score; and Dean Tavoularis's evocative set design.
It's hard to find a moment in the film that isn't great. The Godfather lives up to the term masterpiece.
A defining film in the history of cinema, The Godfather introduced a legendary filmmaker and several acting greats in the telling of an Italian American dynasty undone by the tragic circumstances of their criminal exploits.
This compeling movie of mafia and family life is superb in every department, writing, acting, directing, a highlight of Coppola's career as well as of New American Cinema.
Traces the arc of this doomed idealism with a beauty that is still fresh.
Terrific performances and the perfect brooding atmosphere make it a truly outstanding work.
The Godfather films remain so powerful, so ubiquitous, because in the Corleones we see the American Dream -- and in turn, ourselves.
The classic tale of a Mafia family. Not for kids.
With all due respect to this 1972 classic, Vizzini was right: Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line.
A measured, deathly serious epic.
The greatest gangster film ever made.
Like a favored method of Mafia influence, "The Godfather" is an offer no audience can refuse.
With the themes of family and loyalty, this film is a must see for any movie fan.
Coppola offers a rich and layered look at family and does so with an incredible cast and a meticulous amount of detail.
The Godfather tells a uniquely personal story that places it in a league of its own. (Blu-ray Edition)
Audience Reviews for The Godfather
Super Reviewer
BUT (and I put a huge but), I do not believe it is the greatest movie of all time.
WHAT?!?!
Here come the FLAMERS! TAKE COVER!
Yes, I said it. "The Godfather" is not the greatest movie of all time.
I agree that "The Godfather" is crafted beautifully at an epic scale, but the pacing is much to be desired for and this is merely a Hollywood blockbuster, believe it or not -- albeit, one of the greatest Hollywood blockbusters. Everything, down to the script, narrative, cinematography, camerawork, direction, editing, and acting are all exquisitely done in an immaculate fashion, but that's what "The Godfather" merely is: a Hollywood blockbuster. I can't stress this enough. There are plenty of other movies, older and newer, that though genre wise may be different, exceed "The Godfather" emotionally, symbolically, and personally. In no way am I trying to stand out among a crowd of "The Godfather" lovers, nor am I trying to think that I'm smarter than everyone.
Such high talks about such a film comes deserved for sure, but perhaps it may have been a bit over exaggerated in my opinion. Please, don't get me wrong: "The Godfather" is an impeccable masterpiece. Masterpiece, it is. Greatest movie of all time, it isn't. With that out of the way, I recommend all filmgoers, young, old, the film noob, the average joe, or the long-time film enthusiast to sulk themselves into this film -- just ignore what everyone says about this movie and watch it as it is.
Super Reviewer
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- Don Vito Corleone: I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse.
-
- Sollozzo: I am sorry. What happened to your father was business. I have much respect for your father. But your father, his thinking is old-fashioned. You must understand why I had to do that. Now let's work through where we go from here.
-
- Sonny Corleone: What are you gonna do? Nice college boy, didn't want to get mixed up in the family business. Now you want to gun down a police captain. Why? Because he slapped you in the face a little? What do you think this like the Army where you can shoot 'em from a mile away? No you gotta get up like this and badda-bing, you blow their brains all over your nice Ivy League suit. C'mere.
-
- Michael Corleone: Well, when Johnny was first starting out, he was signed to a personal services contract with this big-band leader. And as his career got better and better, he wanted to get out of it. But the band leader wouldn't let him. Now, Johnny is my father's godson. So my father went to see this bandleader and offered him $10,000 to let Johnny go, but the bandleader said no. So the next day, my father went back, only this time with Luca Brasi. Within an hour, he had a signed release for a certified check of $1000.
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- Michael Corleone: I'll make him an offer he can't refuse. You see, Johnny, we feel that entertainment is going to be a big factor in drawing gamblers into the casinos. We're hoping that you'll sign a contract agreeing to appear 5 times a year. Perhaps convince some of your friends in the movies to do the same. We're counting on you, Johnny.
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- Michael Corleone: There are negotiations being made that are going to answer all of your questions and solve all of your problems. That's all I can tell you right now. Carlo, you grew up in Nevada. When we make our move there you're going to be my right hand man. Tom Hagen is no longer Consigliari. He's going to be our lawyer in Vegas. That's no reflection on Tom it's just the way I want it. Besides, if I ever help who's a better Consigliari than my father. That's it.
Discussion Forum
| Topic | Last Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|
| Best film ever? | 13 days ago | 21 |
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Foreign Titles
- Der Pate (DE)
- The Godfather (UK)
Outstanding in every possible manner, the feature that would be first in the cinema dictionary to be classed underneath masterpiece. There are certain films that are adored by almost everyone, films that have the honor of being called flawless, films named misunderstood cult classics, but then there's Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather". Arguably one of the greatest achievements in American filmmaking. A powerfully acted, grippingly written, utterly overwhelming gem crafted with such skill that it is categorically and unconditionally flawless. I cannot cast enough praise for this film. Aside from merely delivering what we expect when we wish for a big screen experience. Including that of good performances, great scriptwriting and artful direction this delivers so much more. At the time of it's release no person expected it to be as good as it was. But The Godfather gave us all of the above and in addition to that defined a genre. It was the birthplace and remains to this day the high water mark for gangster drama/crime noir filmmaking. It's highly open to debate what the message of the saga is. I see at it as a truthful insight into how the gangster genre is endlessly and carelessly glamourised. That there is actually a lot of pain and heartbreak in the criminal underworld. I also think the film is a lecture on what can be personal as opposed to that what is actual business in the line of organised crime. But also a tale of love, hatred, truth and death. In addition to that, as a companion piece to my favourites, a better cast has never been assembled on screen before. Marlon Brando's most engrossing performance is undeniably showstopping. Al Pacino who plays the role of one of his sons constructs the character inside out. Changes him from a vastly respectable man, to an even more reputable godfather. The way I view it is simple. If a film can grip you so much that you actually manage to sympathise for a universally feared mafia crime lord what your having the pleasure of viewing must be really something and then some. The Godfather is just that, it delivers in every single department. It is quite easily one of the best films that ever graced motion pictures.