United States of America

DramaCrime

Based on novel or bookLoss of loved oneLove at first sightItalySymbolismPatriarchEuropeOrganized crimeMafiaReligionLawyerRevenge motiveCrime familySicilian mafiaReligious hypocrisyGun violenceRise to powerDead horseGang violence1940s1950sMafia war

Francis Ford Coppola

Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Richard S. Castellano, Diane Keaton

Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo

Paramount, Alfran Productions

Taglines: An offer you can't refuse.

Spanning the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael steps in to take care of the would-be killers, launching a campaign of bloody revenge.

Reviews:

Author: Geronimo1967
When you get a story written quite this magnificently it would take an extreme amateur to screw it up - and Francis Ford Coppola is no amateur. Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan and Robert Duvall represent the epitome of guile, sophistication, loyalty, honour and brutality in this self-adapted Mario Puzo story of the unambiguously ambitious "Corleone" family - they start with nothing and so the only way is up; however and whatever they need to do to get there. The characterisations are layered and colourful; Diane Keaton has no idea what she's getting herself into! John Cazale is great as the spineless brother "Fredo" too. Once again, Nino Rota pulls out all the stops to give this a score that helps cement this film's place as amongst the best ever made. My only criticism, and it is slight at that, is that the audio mix could have done with a bit of a boost. Much of the dialogue - especially from Brando - verges on the inaudible at times.