CIFF Classic Film “The Godfather” (1972)

Coronado Island Film Festival will bring one of the greatest and most influential movies ever made to the big screen at Coronado’s Village Theatre on Wednesday, May 28. Doors open at 4:45 (early, due to the length of the film) for a complimentary glass of wine, with the feature to start promptly at 5:30. Tickets are $15 and are available now at coronadofilmfest.com.

“The Godfather,” released in 1972, was based on the 1969 bestselling novel written by Mario Puzo, who co-wrote the screenplay with the film’s director, Francis Ford Coppola. Their efforts won the 1973 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

It was nominated for eleven Oscars total, winning three. In addition to Best Screenplay, it was named Best Picture and Best Actor for Marlon Brando.

The film’s amazing ensemble cast includes Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, and Diane Keaton. Pacino, Caan and Duvall received Supporting Actor nominations, and Coppola was nominated as Best Director. From the start, this movie was resoundingly successful with critics, with audiences, and at the box office.

Francis Ford Coppola was 32 years old and relatively unproven as a director at the time. Paramount Pictures questioned and complained about many of his decisions, worried about budget, the schedule, and Coppola’s unusual directorial style. They even hired another director to observe him on the set. As it turned out, he finished on time, under budget, and the rest is history.

With the very skilled Coppola at the helm, members of the ruthless Mafia Corleone family became the “good guys” to us. We knew them and rooted for them (as opposed to their equally ruthless Five Mafia Family rivals). With this film, the new “gangster genre” of film and television was born and apparently here to stay. There surely would have been no Tony Soprano if Vito Corleone and Family had not come first.

“The Godfather” is a masterpiece. It gets everything right: a gangster flick overflowing with life, rich with emotion, stunning cinematography, spot-on writing, perfect music, and brilliant acting. And, of course, there’s Francis Ford Coppola.

CIFF is pleased to bring a classic film to the big screen in your neighborhood theatre every month, always on the last Wednesday. Mark your calendars now for a hilarious change of pace as we present the beloved comedy, “Moonstruck” on June 25. Tickets for it and the entire lineup are available in advance on our website at coronadofilm.com.