Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) is the head of a powerful mafioso family in 1940’s New York who becomes a target when he refuses to be part of a new narcotics opportunity within organised crime. 

The Godfather is as much about family as it is organised crime. Opening on the wedding day of Vito’s daughter Connie (Talia Shire) we get to see Vito taking requests from wedding guests as the extended family take part in the festivities and the FBI note down all the number plates of the cars in attendance. We see the eldest son, Sonny Corleone’s (James Caan) fiery temper and womanising ways, second eldest Fredo’s (John Cazale) timid nature and youngest son and war hero Michael (Al Pacino) insist to his girlfriend Kay (Diane Keaton) that his family’s business is not who he is. The plot will weave through power struggles, betrayals and bloodshed as the stewardship of the family changes hands. 

The Godfather is for me a perfect film. It was exciting to see it on the big screen again for the 50th anniversary of its release. I never cease to be amazed by the intricacy of its story, the brilliance of the characters on display and how well drawn they all are and the ridiculousness of how many outstanding performances there are in one film. 

It was nominated for 11 Oscars in 9 categories at the 1973 Academy Awards taking home 3 Oscars. The wins came in Best Picture, Best Actor for Marlon Brando and Best Adapted Screenplay. Al Pacino, Robert Duvall and James Caan were all nominated for Best Supporting Actor and the film could easily have taken up the entire category with its cast. One thing I will say though is that Pacino for me is the leading actor of the film, has more screen time than Brando and delivers the better performance. The most stunning aspect of the film is the transformation of the young war hero who does not want to be part of his family’s criminal enterprise to the final moment where the door is closed on Kay as Michael takes on the mantle of Don. 

That is not to say that Brando is not brilliant as well. It is easily one of his greatest screen performances where he shows fragility as well as power. Alongside Pacino and Brando there are also amazing person from Robert Duvall as consigliere, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, John Cazale and James Caan.  

The film has so many classic scenes and quotable lines it would take too long to discuss them all. I will simply say that my favourites are Michael Corleone’s fateful meeting with Captain McClusky and Solozzo and the story about Vito Corleone making an offer that can not be refused. 

A legendary film that somehow director/co-writer Francis Ford Coppola would somehow go on to better 2 years later in 1974’s The Godfather Part 2.