The Best Picture of 1972 is…..”The Godfather.” This epic gangster movie tells the story of a Sicilian Mafia crime family in the post-World War II era of 1945-1955, as the old order represented by Vito Corleone is fading out with a new generation of leadership phasing in, featuring his son Michael. Marlon Brando delivers a stunning and memorable performance as Vito, reviving Brando’s career that premiered in the 1950’s but faded in forgettable movies in the 1960’s. He won the Best Actor Oscar, but famously turned down the award.
Director Francis Ford Coppola did an excellent job at the helm of this motion picture. He was conscientious about the film’s production values in every area: Art direction, costumes, musical score, motivating the actors to good performances, and co-writing an outstanding screenplay with Mario Puzo, adapting it from Puzo’s 1969 novel of the same name. Coppola instilled “The Godfather” with indefinable atmospherics that often separate great films from ordinary ones.
The talented cast behind Brando includes Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, James Caan as the volatile Sonny Corleone, Julie Gregg as his wife, Robert Duvall as the family attorney, Talia Shire as daughter Connie, Diane Keaton as Kay Adams, as well as John Marley, Sterling Hayden, Richard Castellano, Richard Conte, Abe Vegoda, Vito Scotti, Al Martino, Morgana King, Alex Rocco, Al Lettieri, Rudy Bond, Lenny Montana, Johnny Martino, Tony Giorgio, Victor Rendina, Jeannie Linero, and John Cazale as Fredo Corleone, the weak middle brother.
“The Godfather” was the highest grossing film of 1972, bringing mob pictures into the mainstream. Great job by producer Albert S. Ruddy, Alfran Productions, and Paramount Pictures. It was followed by two highly regarded sequels: “The Godfather Part II” (1974) and “The Godfather Part III” (1990). “The Godfather” won three Academy Awards: Best Picture (Ruddy), Best Actor (Brando), and Best Adapted Screenplay (Puzo and Coppola).
The Godfather (1972)
cinema
My Review
The Best Picture of 1972 is…..”The Godfather.” This epic gangster movie tells the story of a Sicilian Mafia crime family in the post-World War II era of 1945-1955, as the old order represented by Vito Corleone is fading out with a new generation of leadership phasing in, featuring his son Michael. Marlon Brando delivers a stunning and memorable performance as Vito, reviving Brando’s career that premiered in the 1950’s but faded in forgettable movies in the 1960’s. He won the Best Actor Oscar, but famously turned down the award.
Director Francis Ford Coppola did an excellent job at the helm of this motion picture. He was conscientious about the film’s production values in every area: Art direction, costumes, musical score, motivating the actors to good performances, and co-writing an outstanding screenplay with Mario Puzo, adapting it from Puzo’s 1969 novel of the same name. Coppola instilled “The Godfather” with indefinable atmospherics that often separate great films from ordinary ones.
The talented cast behind Brando includes Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, James Caan as the volatile Sonny Corleone, Julie Gregg as his wife, Robert Duvall as the family attorney, Talia Shire as daughter Connie, Diane Keaton as Kay Adams, as well as John Marley, Sterling Hayden, Richard Castellano, Richard Conte, Abe Vegoda, Vito Scotti, Al Martino, Morgana King, Alex Rocco, Al Lettieri, Rudy Bond, Lenny Montana, Johnny Martino, Tony Giorgio, Victor Rendina, Jeannie Linero, and John Cazale as Fredo Corleone, the weak middle brother.
“The Godfather” was the highest grossing film of 1972, bringing mob pictures into the mainstream. Great job by producer Albert S. Ruddy, Alfran Productions, and Paramount Pictures. It was followed by two highly regarded sequels: “The Godfather Part II” (1974) and “The Godfather Part III” (1990). “The Godfather” won three Academy Awards: Best Picture (Ruddy), Best Actor (Brando), and Best Adapted Screenplay (Puzo and Coppola).