The Godfather

The Godfather

1972

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Writer: Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo

172 Minutes

“I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

We’ve all heard the lines, made the offers, and wished we could be as powerful as Don Corleone. But, no one is as powerful as Don Corleone except for the Don himself.

From cutting the heads off horses to helping avenge the common man’s problems, Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) was one of the greatest characters in the history of cinema. Never has there been two actors to win Academy Awards playing the same character, the latter being the great Robert DeNiro.

The Godfather is a story of family. It’s a story of trust. It’s a story of power.

This film is as much about Michael Corleone’s (Al Pacino) rise to power as it is about Vito’s power. In the scene leading up to the scene above, Michael has come home from military service. He’s a war hero and wants nothing to do with the family business. He found an attractive, un-Italian girlfriend, Kay (Diane Keaton) and wants to live his life outside the world of violence and corruption.

Then there is an attempt on Vito’s life.

When Michael is in the city having dinner with Kay, he goes to the hospital to check on his father. After realizing his father’s guards have been paid off, he decides to hide Vito in another room, enlist Enzo the Baker (Gabriele Torrei) as security, and protect his father.

In doing so, he delivers the line, “I’m with you now.”

Michael has crossed over and for the rest of his time within the Corleone family, he will seek ultimate power over everyone. He will murder the five families. He will kill his only remaining brother. And he will lie to the government.

Michael becomes Don Corleone.

There are many great moments in this film, but this was a turning point in the story. No longer was Vito our main character, but the story becomes about Michael. This film is about Michael’s rise to power, over-stepping his bother Fredo and raising up after Sunny’s demise. Michael will carry the next two films well after Vito’s death.

The Godfather is as American as the Forth of July, apple pie, and baseball games, even though it’s about an Italian family. They are honorable men doing dishonorable acts. At the heart of it, there is a power and respect that the Corleone’s have for each other. As Americans, we can admire that.

“It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business.”

And that’s the way the Corleone family will have i. Business.