10 Things About The Godfather That Still Hold Up Today

From Marlon Brando's iconic performance as Don Corleone to Gordon Willis' breathtaking work behind the camera, there's a lot about The godfather which still remains today. When The godfather was first released in 1972, was met with universal critical acclaim and became a huge box office success, surpassing Gone with the Wind to become the highest-grossing film ever made. But a lot can change in more than 50 years. Films that were considered classics upon release don't always stand the test of time – just ask Gone with the Wind.

It has been more than half a century since The godfather arrived as an instant classic, and there are some harsh realities about rewatching The godfather today. But that doesn't mean the film hasn't stood the test of time; it just means that it was created in a bygone era. Francis Ford Coppola's crime epic is often ranked alongside Casablanca and Citizen Kane as one of the greatest American films ever made. But it does The godfather Can you still hold on today?

10

Marlon Brando's iconic performance as Vito Corleone remains the definitive portrayal of a mob boss

A great performance by a great actor never gets old. Marlon Brando's turn as Don Vito Corleone in The godfather is as fascinating today as it was in 1972. In more than half a century, no actor has been able to surpass Brando's bravado. Whether he's petting a cat or crying over his son's mutilated corpse, Brando's performance makes it impossible to look away from Vito whenever he's on screen. This performance is still the definitive portrayal of a mob boss in pop culture.

The Godfather Part II would come back and tell the story of how Vito became such a powerful and fearsome figure in the criminal underworld. But the first film didn't need to explain any of this to establish Vito's power; Brando's on-screen presence said it all. It remains one of the most iconic performances in cinema history.

9

Gordon Willis' cinematography is still breathtaking

Gordon Willis' photography in The godfather it's still just as impressive today. Willis filmed some of the most memorable scenes in cinema history for this groundbreaking gangster epic. Every scene is shot as beautifully as it could be shot. Even something as simple as a shot of Tom Hagen wandering around a Hollywood studio is framed and composed in a way that puts most other filmmakers to shame.

Willis reflects Coppola's dark thematic deconstruction of the American Dream with striking images, such as a mob attack juxtaposed with the Statue of Liberty in the distance. Willis' work on The godfather it breaks a lot of rules of cinematography – some scenes aren't even in focus – but it just works. It immerses viewers in this world better than most other crime films.

8

The Corleone Family Dynamics Are Universally Relatable

The Corleones are a mafia family with blood on their hands and a killer on the payroll, but they're also strangely relatable because, at their core, they're a family like any other. Coppola focuses less on the unrelated aspects of the family, like the murders and blood money, and focuses more on the universal aspects of their dynamics. Everyone can identify with a brash older brother whose temper clouds his judgment. Everyone can identify with a stupid middle child who can't be trusted with anything important.

Connie is the only daughter placed on a pedestal. Vito is the stoic patriarch who loves all of his children, but doesn't always show it (and definitely has favorites). Michael is the good son who is corrupted by family dysfunction. All these years later, the Corleone family remains universally relatable.

7

The star-studded supporting cast is impressive

It's clear that Marlon Brando is a compelling protagonist, and actors like Al Pacino and James Caan instantly made their mark with unforgettable performances in The godfather. But the cast of The godfather it's also complemented by an impressive number of iconic stars. Robert Duvall played Tom Hagen after playing Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird and Lucky Ned Pepper in True courage. Sterling Hayden played Captain McCluskey after he was already in The asphalt jungle, Doctor Strangeand Johnny Guitar. John Marley received acclaim for his roles in Faces and Romance before playing Jack Woltz.

The godfather it also introduces some new actors who were about to join the most iconic screen legends in Hollywood history. The godfather it was only Diane Keaton's second feature film. It was John Cazale's first film, and he would follow it up with four of the best films ever made.

6

Nino Rota's score is still equally ravishing

A truly excellent musical score is Timeless, by John Williams' Star Wars score for Maurice Jarre Lawrence of Arabia score. The godfather the score by Nino Rota (with some additional compositions by Carmine Coppola) is an excellent example. Rota's elegant orchestrations capture the essence of the film: his music has a melancholic quality that plays on Vito's nostalgia for the past and disillusionment with the changing world, but it also has a haunting tone that suggests the darkness and violence of the story.

The godfather has not one, but two iconic themes that fans still whistle over 50 years later: “The Godfather Waltz” and “Love Theme from The Godfather”. And these are just two of the incredible pieces in Rota's score. This song is a big part of why The godfather It's such a perfect film.

5

The godfather's depiction of violence is still shocking

On-screen violence becomes increasingly violent as audiences become desensitized to higher levels of violence. The 2000s brought the advent of a horror subgenre dubbed “torture porn.”So what was considered shocking in the 60s and 70s doesn't always work that way in a new viewing today. But there are many exceptions where an old movie is just as horrible as anything made today, like A Clockwork Orange, The Texas Chainsaw Massacreand, in fact, The godfather.

The godfatherthe depiction of violence is still shocking today. The relentless intensity of Sonny being shot at a toll booth. The disorienting edit of McCluskey's murder. The gallons of crimson blood flooding Jack Woltz's bed in the wake of the horse's head. The godfatherThe scenes of violence still shock audiences to this day.

4

Subversively Empowering Characterization of Kay Adams

Of Scar to Good companionsMany classic gangster films don't hold up 100% today because of the problematic representation of their female characters. If female characters are not completely marginalized, then they are relegated to being a long-suffering wife or an objectified lover. That's what it does The godfatherKay is a brilliantly subversive character; she has a surprising amount of agency.

Kay is expected to take care of her household chores and turn a blind eye to her husband's illicit behavior, just like the other mob wives, but Kay is too liberated, free-thinking, and modern to do so. She defends herself and questions Michael's actions. The godfather It wouldn't be anyone's first choice to name a feminist film, but Kay's characterization is much more powerful and independent than most female characters in mob films.

3

The Godfather's three-hour runtime flies by

The problem with revisiting old films is that they tend to be much slower and more patiently paced than newer films. As modern audiences have a shorter and shorter attention span, films are getting faster – the average time between cuts is constantly decreasing – so viewers are acclimated to faster films. The godfather It's much slower than most modern films, but it never loses the audience's attention. It runs an impressive 175 minutes (almost three hours), but the running time flies by.

The godfather It's perfectly paced, thanks to crisp editing by William Reynolds and Peter Zinner. Each scene has a lot of room to breathe, but it doesn't last very long. The film's episodic structure means it's always changing the setting, always advancing the story, and always pushing the characters onto the next stages of their journey.

2

Al Pacino's portrayal of Michael Corleone's downfall is still entirely convincing

Al Pacino only appeared in two other films before taking on the role of Michael Corleone in The godfatherbut even with so little experience on screen, he managed to give one of the greatest performances in the history of cinema. Brando gives an iconic turn as Vito, but he doesn't need to convey the growth and transformation that Pacino does. At the beginning of The godfatherMichael is destined to be the first Corleone to lead a legitimate life; In the end, he is destined to become just like his father.

Michael starts out as a bright-eyed war veteran and ends up as a ruthless killer. Not only does Pacino make this transformation completely believable; it makes you totally attractive. Watching this moral fall happen now is just as effective as watching it then.

1

The Godfather's Final Scene Is Just as Scary Today

All these years later, the end of The godfather is equally impactful. Kay questions Michael about his involvement in Carlo's disappearance, but Michael denies having anything to do with it. Kay is initially relieved that the man she loves is not a cold-blooded killer after all. But then, she sees him enter his office, where a bunch of loyal capos come in to pay their respects, and realizes that he just lied to her face.

Kay watches in despair as one of the capos approaches and excludes her, leaving behind the void of a black screen. This final scene completes Michael's journey from good son to The godfather. The rebellious boy introduced at the beginning of the film has become a heartless monster following in his father's footsteps. That ending is so scary today.