The Godfather

The Godfather is a 1972 American mob-drama film based on the novel of the same name by Mario Puzo and directed by Francis Ford Coppola from a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola, and Robert Towne (uncredited). It stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard S. Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte and Diane Keaton, and features John Cazale, Talia Shire, Al Martino, and Abe Vigoda. The story spans ten years from 1945 to 1955 and chronicles the fictional Italian American Corleone crime family. Two sequels followed: The Godfather Part II in 1974, and The Godfather Part III in 1990.

The first shot I liked was a reverse shot of Don Corleone, the leader of the family. He is listening to a request from another man whilst sat a desk, and the reverse shot shows Don Corleone in the shade. The reverse shot also hides Don Corleones face, which could be used to hide his emotions and his reaction to the request.

One shot I liked in the movie was of Michael, the Corleone family lawyer. He is talking to a famous movie director, and trying to get an associate of the Corleone family the lead role in a new film. They are stood in a hangar, and one side of Michaels face is lit whilst the other is in the shadow. I liked this shot because the light on one half of his face and the dark on the other shows his two conlficting emotions.

A scene I liked was the famous scene when the movie director wakes up to find his prized horse's head at the foot of his bed as punishment for not granting Michael's request. I liked this scene because of the music and camerawork before he woke up. The music was very sinister and foreboding, and the camera showed different shots of the house, ending with a shot of the mans bedroom from the outside.