The Godfather           

By Tom Keogh

Generally acknowledged as a bona fide classic, this Francis Ford Coppola film is one of those rare experiences that feels perfectly right from beginning to end--almost as if everyone involved had been born to participate in it. Based on Mario Puzo's bestselling novel about a Mafia dynasty, Coppola's Godfather extracted and enhanced the most universal themes of immigrant experience in America: the plotting-out of hopes and dreams for one's successors, the raising of children to carry on the good work, etc. In the midst of generational strife during the Vietnam years, the film somehow struck a chord with a nation fascinated by the metamorphosis of a rebellious son (Al Pacino) into the keeper of his father's dream. Marlon Brando played against Puzo's own conception of patriarch Vito Corleone, and time has certainly proven the actor correct. The rest of the cast, particularly James Caan, John Cazale, and Robert Duvall as the rest of Vito's male brood--all coping with how to take the mantle of responsibility from their father--is seamless and wonderful.

Academy Awards

The Godfather received Academy Awards for Best Picture (Albert S. Ruddy - Producer), Actor (Marlon Brando), and Writing (Best Screenplay based on material from another medium; Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola). The Godfather also received Academy Awards nominations for Supporting Actor (Al Pacino), Supporting Actor (Robert Duvall), Supporting Actor (James Caan), Directing (Francis Ford Coppola), Costume Design (Anna Hill Johnstone), Film Editing (William H. Reynolds and Peter Zinner), and Sound (Bud Grenzbach, Richard Portman, Christopher Newman).

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		Your Memories Shared!

"As a 17 year old American-Italian girl, The Godfather is a huge part of my large family. My parents and relatives grew up as Italians straight out of Brooklyn, NY in the 60's and Super70s. My own grandfather; actor (famous for the movie Serpico) baseball player for the Cardinals, and doctor was well known around show bussiness. With close friends like Frank Sinatra and Diana Ross, it was no surprise his fame and talent were needed when the filming of The Godfather began, and he was right along side the set teaching his good friend Jimmy Caan how to really act Italian. His second cousin, Lenny Montana, also starred in the movie. I could never forget the first time my sister and I were sat down to watch The Godfather. . we were told we were watching 'home movies'. This movie is a great part of my family and heritage, and with the information this site provides, along with my family's memories, it will be great on my Super70s school report." --Caitlin