“Italians have a little joke, that the world is so hard a man must have two fathers to look after him, and that’s why they have godfathers.” ― Mario Puzo, The Godfather
It’s the beginning of Winter which means two things: 1. It’s cold 2. It’s the perfect time to cuddle up and get down with one of the greatest movies of all time: The Godfather. Lucky for us, The Museum of the Moving Image is offering the perfect Saturday afternoon date with some of our favorite Mafia men.
Produced in 1972 by Albert S. Ruddy and directed by Francis Ford Coppola from a screenplay by Mario Puzo, The Godfather is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films within the American crime genre. Starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino as the leaders of the fictional Corleone New York crime family, the story spans 1945-1955 as we watch the transformation of Michael Corleone from reluctant family outsider to ruthless Mafia boss.
Francis Ford Coppola THE GODFATHER: PART III, 1990 / Bridgeman Images
Cinematographer Gordon Willis breathed evil into every aspect of The Godfather as he revolutionized the use of low-light photography to express the deep rooted nefarious personas throughout the film.
THE GODFATHER: PART III Francis Ford Coppola with Sofia Coppola, Andy Garcia, 1990) / Bridgeman Images
It is no wonder that The Godfather ranks second to Citizen Kane by the American Film Institute in 2007 and was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 1990 as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”. The success spawned two sequels: The Godfather Part II in 1974, and The Godfather Part III in 1990.
Marlon Brando (1924-2004) receiving homage at Paramount Pictures, 1972 (b/w photo) / Bridgeman Images
The Godfather led the box office for 1972, won three Academy Awards for that year: Best Picture, Best Actor (Brando) and Best Adapted Screenplay and was, for a time, the highest-grossing picture ever made. Not bad, Coppola. Not bad at all.
So, just remember a few things from our most formidable Mafia bosses as you head into the weekend:
“Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than the government. It is almost the equal of family.”
― Mario Puzo, The Godfather
“Leave the gun, take the cannoli.”
― Mario Puzo, The Godfather
“Revenge is a dish that tastes best when served cold.”
― Mario Puzo, The Godfather
Tickets: $12 ($9 for senior citizens and students / free for members at the Film Lover level and above). Order tickets online
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