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The Godfather (film)

The Godfather
The Godfather written on a black background in stylized white lettering, above it a hand holds puppet strings
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Produced by Albert S. Ruddy
Screenplay by
Based on The Godfather
by Mario Puzo
Starring
Music by Nino Rota
Cinematography Gordon Willis
Edited by
Production
company
Alfran Productions
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date
  • March 15, 1972 (1972-03-15) (Loew's State Theatre)
  • March 24, 1972 (1972-03-24) (United States)
Running time
177 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $6–7 million
Box office $245.1 million

The Godfather is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by Albert S. Ruddy, based on Mario Puzo's best-selling novel of the same name. It stars Marlon Brando and Al Pacino as the leaders of a fictional New York crime family. The story, spanning 1945 to 1955, chronicles the family under the patriarch Vito Corleone, focusing on the transformation of Michael Corleone (Pacino) from reluctant family outsider to ruthless mafia boss.

Paramount Pictures obtained the rights to the novel for the price of $80,000, before it gained popularity. Studio executives had trouble finding a director; their first few candidates turned down the position. They and Coppola disagreed over who would play several characters, in particular, Vito and Michael. Filming was done on location and completed earlier than scheduled. The musical score was composed primarily by Nino Rota with additional pieces by Carmine Coppola.

The film was the highest-grossing film of 1972 and was for a time the highest-grossing film ever made. It won the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor (Brando) and Best Adapted Screenplay (for Puzo and Coppola). Its seven other Oscar nominations included Pacino, James Caan, and Robert Duvall for Best Supporting Actor and Coppola for Best Director. It was followed by sequels The Godfather Part II (1974) and The Godfather Part III (1990).


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