I understand this is an auspicious post number (and no I am not looking for high fives here or in general discussion), and I wanted to use it to ask the fundamental question "Why The Godfather?"

By this I mean, why do yu think these films have become such an integral part of the fabric of our society? Aside form the fact that the nutcases on these boards can quote the films verbatim, it is also a fact that many lines from the films have become a part of our language. References to the philosophy of the film are universally known in this country, and someone would have to have been comatose for the past 35 or so years not to have this movie deeply ingrained into their psyches.

Over the years there have been many great films made. Certainly if you take any aspect of the GF movies...especially I and II, you can probably point to a dozen or more that had better cinematography, better dialogue, better continuity (as we detail people are constatly pointing out), more insightful social "messages,"
more emotion, more romance and more action. Yet I can think of no film that comes close to the whole of the GF movies, which obviously is far greater than the sum of its parts.

I would linvite the participation of everyone here to say why it is you think The Godfather is as special as it is.

DT

Because:
It's based on a great book by wonderful writer.
It's filmed by wonderful director.
It has great actors, the casting is brilliant with rare exceptions.
It is made by excellent professionals in many respects, at least as far as cut, light and camera goes, I'm sure.
It has unequalled music.
And so on.
Simply: The "Godfather" is a masterpiece.

A worthy topic for my first ever post !

The one obvious factor is that I & II are prime examples, not only of great films, but all-time classics. However, in order to get so deeply into the public's psyche, the film had to have themes were at the outset both appealing and empathetic.

The appeal comes from the rather glamorous interpretation of the Mafia. Perhaps this wasn't realistic, but that actually helped as what we saw was an almost Medieval-like tale of power, intrigue and betrayal in a modern, but deadly setting. The films, despite drawing on disturbingly familiar and actual events, were in reality set in a fantasy realm.

The empathy comes from the fundamentally strong theme of family that pervades the whole span of the 2 movies. Often such films struggle to appeal because of their tendency to dwell on the mundane. But here we see the familial displays of love, loyalty and betrayal that we all know and have often experienced, but within a glamorous and dangerous setting. And because the viewer is taken so deeply into this realm, it flatters us to see everyday themes that we are so familiar with played out so dramatically.

If you want to go even further, then if you are Catholic yourself, then the empathetic chord strikes even deeper, because of the recurring themes of the Sacraments that are virtual pillars around which the plot is constructed.

Of course, all this can only work if the technical qualities of the movies, i.e. direction, cinematography, plot construction and acting, are themselves excellent, which of course they are. But I think the most enduring quality is that fact that no matter how many times you watch the films (I make a point of doing so at least once a year), you can always discern something new. And that is only possible in a true work of art.

Looks like an auspicious post number for "Horse's Head" as well. Welcome.

I always viewed GF as michael's story. It has 2 angles to it:

1) Michael eventhough was on the correct side of the law, was kind of irresponsible in not supporting his father initially. When the key moment came, he fulfilled his responsibility as a son. That is the father-son aspect of this story that strikes a personal chord somewhere.

2)No one(probably except his father) took michael seriously. They viewed him as a kid who did not have what was necessary to run a family. With attack on his father, he was all the more in a weak position. From that stage, he went on to defeat his enemies and proved himself superior to others.This is the triumph of the under-dog aspect of michael's story.

Ofcourse all the other cinematic aspects like great direction, acting, music etc being perfect, it is not a coincidence that this movie is among the greatest.

Similar thread , sort of.

To me, it's the acting and writing. Coppola and Puzo's script is far superior to Puzo's crudely written novel. As an example of populist storytelling, it's a masterpiece.

Because it's about power and family, innocence and crime, guilt and remorse in a perfectly packaged product. In other words, a real piece of art.

Are there any miscasts? At least not in GF 1 and 2. Am I wrong?

This guy needs someone to reason with him.

No, I think you are right. I have a profound dislike of Diane Keaton, but that's just personal and I admit she was great. On the contrary, in GF3 you are spoilt for choice.

We discussed the casting in all three movies in details on these boards many times.

[/QUOTE]We discussed the casting in all three movies in details on these boards many times. [/QB][/QUOTE]

mi scuso, Don JM

That old good green eyed monster, huh?

IMO biggest miscast in GF1 was Simonetta Stefanelli as Apollonia. Just read how Puzo writes about her! Coppola really could find a better looking woman.

And of course you can think of better Lucy, Fabrizio and some others.

actually I'm more jealous of the look Michael gives to Apollonia when he first met her or when she is wearing his necklace. That's passion. Now, tell me when he granted Kay with a look like that. Of course, in real life, I suppose......

Of course I've been talking about real life, dear.

because you are very cruel inside.....

More than that.
I'm a latent sadist.

Here's another pic of them together, from the set of GF3.

[img]http://www.isifa.com/functions/watermark/watermark.php?ifotonummer=10542608[/img]

This one is from GF set - I just love it.
Maybe some of you didn't see it, so I'll share.

And, speaking of looks, this is another one from GF set...

Wasnt there some huge break up between Pacino and Keaton during GF III that made those love scenes at the end really difficult?

Supposedly they became romantically involved during the filming of GFIII.

I posted something in the past that there was originally supposed to be a scene in GFIII with Michael and Kay making love when they were in the Villa in Sicily, but rumor has it that the scene was ditched because of the personal problems they were having due to their real life
relationship.

I don't really know how true this is, about the original intention of the scene itself or the alleged reason that the scene was squashed. I had heard something about this a long time ago on one of the cable networks.


Don Cardi

I had impression that they became romantically linked during the filming of GF, then constantly quarrelled during GF2, making problems for Coppola, then had several reunites and breakups during the following years, and only at GF3 times parted finally and forever.

I think that during The filming of The Godfather 1, she was just getting involved with Woody Allen. Then later became involved with Warren Beatty, and then Pacino. I recall that it was right before or around the time of GFIII that her and Pacino became involved.

According to her biography Keaton rose to fame as the paramour of Al Pacino's Michael Corleone in the 1972 blockbuster The Godfather. That same year, she and Woody Allen -- had become romantically involved off-screen. However, when the couple separated, Keaton began a romance with Warren Beatty, with whom she co-starred in the 1981 epic Reds.


Don Cardi

I don't know for sure, I just vaguely remember reading somewhere that they had an affair during the first film, but it quickly ended. Than possibly she went to Woody - that I don't know about. Now, to the beginning of GF2 screenings their relationship was terribly bad, and during the filming they made such scandals to each other, that Coppola lost patience and begun to order them both to leave the set at once when they begun screaming at each other again. Then I surmise was a period of time when they didn't want to have much in common.

OK, if you want some GF3...

[img]http://pro.corbis.com/images/0000254225-054.jpg?size=67&uid={6ea51dbb-6498-4738-be84-62c9c7bf5778}[/img]

I don't make too many posts on the Godfather board anymore, so here's the first of hopefully many more posts to come in the near future.

Why The Godfather, you ask?

It's not as easy to answer as I initially thought it would be...

Definitely all the reasons mentioned above.

The Godfather definitely changed my perspective on what I perceived as a good film.

I remember the first time I watched it. I went to the movie rental store with my aunt. She told me to pick out whatever I wanted. I had been wanting to see The Godfather for quite a while (my interest in anything mob related has blossomed over the past few months). I found it, there was one copy still on the shelf, so I grabbed it.

My aunt was a little skeptical at first, telling me "I don't know if you'll like that movie." I convinced her otherwise, and she rented it.

We got back to my aunt's house, and I popped it in the VCR. I was mesmerized the entire three hours. Nevermind the fact that it was my first viewing of the film, and that most of it didn't make much sense the first viewing. So when the credits rolled, I immediately rewound it, and watched it again. I couldn't get enough. I repeated this cycle quite often in the following weeks.

What's amazing about this film (and Part II), is that with each viewing, you pick up something new. And because of that, it gets better with each viewing. I find myself enjoying it more and more each time I watch it. There aren't too many films that have had that kind of effect on me.

Before The Godfather, I was into the mindless summer blockbusters that 99% of teenagers flock to the theatres for. Since The Godfather, however, my taste in film has matured a great deal.

I guess the main reason I love The Godfather so much is that it opened up the doors to so many other great films that I've grown to love. It broadened my horizons, so to speak. The Godfather introduced me to Marlon Brando, who has since become my favorite actor. It introduced me to the "epic", and proved to me that I can sit down and watch a three hour movie and not be bored to tears.

In short, The Godfather has changed the way I view a film, and in the process, has become my favorite film of all time.