The Godfather
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Godfather is a 1972 crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan. It drew a wide audience and shaped its genre.
Plot
The Godfather is a 1972 American epic gangster film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mario Puzo based on Puzo's best-selling 1969 novel. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte and Diane Keaton. It is the first installment in The Godfather trilogy, which chronicles the Corleone family under patriarch Vito Corleone (Brando) and the transformation of his youngest son, Michael Corleone (Pacino), from reluctant family outsider to ruthless Mafia boss.
Paramount Pictures obtained the rights to the novel for $80,000, before it gained popularity.
Production
Written by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, the film was produced by Paramount Pictures. Nino Rota composed the score. Gordon Willis handled the cinematography. The film runs 175 minutes. The crew and editing refined every shot.
Reception
On a budget of $6,000,000, The Godfather grossed $245,066,411 worldwide at the box office. A critic consensus praised its screenplay and score.
Legacy
The Godfather is part of the The Godfather Collection franchise; its influence and legacy endure in later cinema.
See also
References
- "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time". topfilms100. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- Ebert, Roger. The Great Movies. Broadway Books.
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