The Best Picture of 1974 is…..”The Godfather Part II.” This film has certainly surpassed the original not only in quality, but also in complexity. It is not only a sequel to “The Godfather” (1972), but also has elements of a prequel, with scenes of Vito Corleone’s younger days scattered throughout the picture. Robert De Niro won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for the part of young Corleone, under the expert guidance of Francis Ford Coppola, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mario Puzo, adapted from his 1969 novel of the same name.
Most of the original cast from “The Godfather” reprised their roles, those who survived, that is. Al Pacino carried the film as Michael Corleone, the man in charge of the Corleone crime family in the new era. Also back are Robert Duvall as consigliatore Tom Hagen, Diane Keaton as the newly assertive Kay Adams Corleone, John Cazale as the always wimpy Fredo, Talia Shire as Connie, Al Martino as Johnny Fontaine, and Morgana King as Mother Carmela Corleone, this time actually given dialogue. Making flashback cameos are James Caan as Sonny Corleone and Abe Vegoda as Salvatore Tessio.
Newcomers spicing things up include legendary acting instructor Lee Strasberg in a rare motion picture appearance as Hyman Roth, G. D. Spradlin as a U. S. Senator, Troy Donahue as Connie’s new love interest, Danny Aiello as Tony Rosato, Harry Dean Stanton as an FBI agent, and Bruno Kirby as Peter Clemenze in the prequel sequences. Others include Richard Bright, Gastone Moschin, Frank Silvero, Marianna Hill, Leopoldo Trieste, Dominic Chianese, Amerigo Tot, Joe Spinell, Carmine Caridi, and Gianni Russo.
“The Godfather Part II’ won a total of six Academy Awards, out of eleven nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Coppola), Best Supporting Actor (De Niro), Best Adapted Screenplay (Coppola and Puzo), Best Art Direction, and Best Original Dramatic Score. It was a big hit in theatrical release for producer Francis Ford Coppola, The Coppola Company, and Paramount Pictures.
“The Godfather Part II” is only one of two sequels to win the Best Picture Oscar, the other being “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King” (2003), sequel to “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001) and “Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” (2002).
The Godfather Part II (1974)
cinema
My Review
The Best Picture of 1974 is…..”The Godfather Part II.” This film has certainly surpassed the original not only in quality, but also in complexity. It is not only a sequel to “The Godfather” (1972), but also has elements of a prequel, with scenes of Vito Corleone’s younger days scattered throughout the picture. Robert De Niro won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for the part of young Corleone, under the expert guidance of Francis Ford Coppola, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mario Puzo, adapted from his 1969 novel of the same name.
Most of the original cast from “The Godfather” reprised their roles, those who survived, that is. Al Pacino carried the film as Michael Corleone, the man in charge of the Corleone crime family in the new era. Also back are Robert Duvall as consigliatore Tom Hagen, Diane Keaton as the newly assertive Kay Adams Corleone, John Cazale as the always wimpy Fredo, Talia Shire as Connie, Al Martino as Johnny Fontaine, and Morgana King as Mother Carmela Corleone, this time actually given dialogue. Making flashback cameos are James Caan as Sonny Corleone and Abe Vegoda as Salvatore Tessio.
Newcomers spicing things up include legendary acting instructor Lee Strasberg in a rare motion picture appearance as Hyman Roth, G. D. Spradlin as a U. S. Senator, Troy Donahue as Connie’s new love interest, Danny Aiello as Tony Rosato, Harry Dean Stanton as an FBI agent, and Bruno Kirby as Peter Clemenze in the prequel sequences. Others include Richard Bright, Gastone Moschin, Frank Silvero, Marianna Hill, Leopoldo Trieste, Dominic Chianese, Amerigo Tot, Joe Spinell, Carmine Caridi, and Gianni Russo.
“The Godfather Part II’ won a total of six Academy Awards, out of eleven nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Coppola), Best Supporting Actor (De Niro), Best Adapted Screenplay (Coppola and Puzo), Best Art Direction, and Best Original Dramatic Score. It was a big hit in theatrical release for producer Francis Ford Coppola, The Coppola Company, and Paramount Pictures.
“The Godfather Part II” is only one of two sequels to win the Best Picture Oscar, the other being “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King” (2003), sequel to “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001) and “Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” (2002).