The First Godfather Movie

The Godfather: Overview

The 1972 crime drama The Godfather centers on an elderly patriarch who is involved in organized crime but eventually succeeds in passing on his covert empire to his unconcerned son. Francis Ford Coppola is the film’s director, and the production process was inspired by a book with a similar premise. The narration in Mario Puzo’s book was what made a film adaptation of the book’s concepts necessary. Marlon Brando and Al Pacino play the principal characters and guide the development of a fictitious New York crime dynasty. The screenplay for the movie is was done by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola and Gordon Willis taking the role engaging in the play’s cinematography. The language used is English and the setting is the United States. The movie was released on March 15, 1972, with the launching done in Loew’s State Theatre in the United States with the full film running for 177 minutes. Overall, it is affirmed that there are any players who contributed at various levels to ensure that the production process was a success.

Plot

The naming of the movie is taken over by the role of Vito Corleone, who is the Godfather in this case, and is also the head of the Corleone mafia family that is based in New York. When the movie starts, the Godfather is attending her daughter’s wedding ceremony. In presence is his youngest son Michael who is a celebrated military warrior who fought in the Second World War. The young man does not show much interest in taking over the family business despite the fact that his father is a powerful man. Despite the fact that Vito is kind to those who accord him the same respect, it is apparent that he does not condone those who do not show him respect. Therefore, when a drug lord who is an archrival wants the Don’s influence before he can approve the sale process, Vito declines the request. A clash later ensues and Vito’s old principles come into play and despite his lack of interest initially, Michael seems to be headed towards doing what he never wanted. He is thus involved in waging a battle that targeted the other families that were attempting or showing the potential of tearing down their family. In the end, the favorable success to inherit the business is chosen. Overall, there is a deference when trying to describe the plot of a movie such as the Godfather as compared to the story. In the latter as, the goal is to demonstrate the emotional and thematic elements that are featured in the acting of the movie. Meanwhile, the story of the Godfather would mean that the narration would take the form of breaking down the series of events in the movie so that the reader gets a glimpse of the events that have been recorded in a chronological order (Coppola, 1972).

Aesthetic Effect

One of the significant features that are apparent in the setting of the movie is that there was a skillful integration of various aesthetic elements in the composition process. One of the techniques that are worth describing is the style of a classic-age Hollywood elegance. The director’s primary goal was to ensure that the performances and composition process was realistic and created sense especially considering that the shooting of the film was done at a time when it seemed superfluous. The mise en scène is also relevant in the context of the lighting processes and the camera where it is apparent that the producing process factored the need for restraining. The essence of the tightly controlled cameras that directly influenced the lighting process is that they served to understate the exertion of power. It is an especially critical aspect of a movie production process as it ensures that that the camera works would befit the exacting screenwriting process. It thus means that the lighting of the film, The Godfather, was chosen to ensure that there was the element of depicting emotional content. The selection of the lighting process is thus appropriate considering the need to ensure that there was relevance in the camerawork to the thematic element of the movie (Canby, 1972).

The other relevant feature that is worth describing is the movie’s shooting, technical advances and advances made on television. The film has been subject to repeated technological manipulations considering the various parodies that have been released since to explore the theme. Furthermore, animated series such as the Simpsons have also been a consequence of the release of the film to the public domain. It thus serves to explain that there have been varied efforts into ensuring that the theme is described in more relatable techniques to the varied audiences. Furthermore, it is worth underlining that the movie is just one among the several series that have been described, implying that the topic is now being displayed in various serial episodes. Such are the factors that determine the manner in which movies advance through the technological perspective (Brody, 2015).

The Social and Personal Impact

The release of the movie has gone in tandem with critical acclaim where it is apparent that the movie is arguably one of the most influential that exist in its genre of crime. It is worth underlining that a significant feature that is featured in the movie is that coverage of the brutal scenes that characterize the American lifestyle (The Hollywood Staff, 2011). It thus serves to enable the society experience what the crime world means and most importantly, the manner in which it is easy from someone to be killed in the process. It can be described as a movie that transcends the milieu and genre of what constitutes the American lifestyle. It also serves to demonstrate the manner in which the two genders vary when it comes to matters related to criminal activities (Brody, 2015). Interestingly, some critical have used this as a basis for arguing over the relevance of the crime processes because while the family is presented to be rich and powerful, there are no acts of prostitution of other controversial scenes. It is on this basis that the movie has been said to be a foundation for gender stereotyping considering that the movie does not feature much female involvement in crime and related activities (The Hollywood Staff, 2011).

Interestingly, the society also played a huge role in the decision by the producer to compose the film. The setting is a huge consideration when trying to understand the factors that ensured that the novel where the movie was derived was written. The background of the movie is the New York City, an urban setting that is characterized by many criminal activities. As noted, the exact locations around New York where the movie is set include Las Vegas Hollywood, and Sicily, all of which are typical crime hot spots (Brody, 2015). The gangster melodrama is an especially critical feature because it ensures that the issue has come of age and it was high time it was presented in the media and entertainment platforms for more awareness. It is presented in a way that makes it seem to be a sorrowful but nevertheless a truly exciting manner that demonstrated the nature of humanity for almost five decades ago (Brody, 2015). I personally relate to the experience because crime tends to be happenings that I witness regularly and its coverage by the producer and film director only served to bring into context the theme into reality.

Conclusion

In summary, it is worth underscoring the fact that the movie The Godfather in its first edition features the problematic issue that is affecting society, involving engagement in crime activities. It is the relevant from the consideration that it presents the American setting and was based on a book, which also denotes that the movie is inspired by real activities that are pertinent in the community. The general plot entails an all-powerful man who is confronted to defile his principles and despite his son’s reluctance, it is inevitable that someone has to take over the power at the helm. The light and camera works enable the appreciation of this theme as the lighting is appropriate for describing crime and emotional events. The overall impact is that through the film, one can relate the issues that affect not only New York but many of the powerful personalities in the whole world as pertains involvement in criminal activities.

References

Brody, R. (2015). The Godfather and style. The New Yorker. Retrieved from https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/the-godfather-and-style

Canby, V. (1972). The Godfather. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=EE05E7DF1739E464BC4E52DFB5668389669EDE

Coppola, F. F. (1972). The Godfather. United States: Paramount Pictures.

The Hollywood Staff. (2011). “The Godfather”: THR’s 1972 Review. Hollywood. Retrieved from http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/godfather-1972-review-original-movie-986404