On 24th March 1972, Paramount Pictures proudly presented the cinematic version of The Godfather Part I, which was the most popular work of Mario Puzo, the famous Italian American Novelist. The movie was created by the eminent Italian American director Francis Ford Coppola, who shared the credit of the fascinating screenplay with Puzo. The whole story is extremely thrilling talking about the fiasco that is common with the mafia circle of 1950s' New York. Coppola was able to translate the theme of the novel, keeping it almost unaltered, into the movie version. In some cases The Godfather Part I, as a movie, surpassed the boundaries set by Puzo's novel and took the audiences into a spectacular and totally thrilling journey to the adventurous and flamboyant lifestyle of the mafia society of Italian America.
The whole story depicted in Godfather-the movie version, centers around two principal characters- the old and experienced Don Vito Corleone heading the mafia family and his youngest,seemingly idealistic son Michael, who had just come back from the front, just after World War II. While the Don and his other embittered sons are into the give and take business, where guns set the deals, the youngest son is just a normal guy full of nationalism and ideals with noble intentions. Coppola's mastery plays with all the characters in such a way that it slowly builds the situation when, Michael realizes the importance 'old values' that are very much into play for running the mafia family.
With the Don suffering from bullet wound after a bloody fiasco with his rival and the eldest son Sonny Corleone being killed by his brother-in law, Carlo Rizzi to pay for a family conspiracy, Michael has to take up the duties of the Don. After being the head of the family he realizes the bit of good that is there, even in the unholy dealings of the mafia and tries to avenge for his father's assault and his brother's death by picking up a mob war with the other rival clans. All over the movie, The Godfather Part I, there is a touch of pristine romance, when Michael as the Don, aspires to go back to the ordinary life with his wife and kids, but fails to do so. It fills our hearts with pain when we see the tragic comeback of the old Don with all his principals and beliefs toward life through his son, Michael Corleone.
|
|
The overall casting in The Godfather Part I was simply brilliant with Marlon Brando as the old Don getting the best leading actor award, along with Al Pacino as Michael Corleone getting the actor's award for the supporting role. The Movie won 3 Oscars with Marlon Brando getting the best actor award and Coppola and Puzo sharing the best writing and best screenplay awards.
|
