When Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather hit theaters in March 1973, the award-winning film presented to the world a new vision of the American gangster, one who laughs, cries, and loves his family, and if you contradict him, he wins.
The film quickly became a box office hit and a cultural phenomenon, offering a new model for gangster TV and movie shows.
In the mob stories that followed in his wake, in shows like The Sopranos, and in movies like Scarface and Goodfellas, we see his influences in shorthand language, unexpected humor, costumes, graphic violence, and the use of music. By the late 1960s, the film seemed like a solid prospect of success. For its part, Mario Puzo's novel of the same title stayed at number one for 67 consecutive weeks on the New York Times best-seller list.
But the truth is that the masterpiece, as well as its characters, hide secrets that are worth remembering as part of its 50th anniversary.
1. Both Puzo and Coppola wanted Brando for the title character of Vito Corleone, but Paramount Pictures was adamantly against it.
With his reputation for being difficult, Brando could delay production, and in the late 1960s, after a series of flops, he seemed more box office poison than the cultural icon he would later become. To Puzo's horror, comedian Danny Thomas had been one of those who expressed interest in the role, but Brando wanted the part too, and struggling with debt and public disillusionment, Marlon agreed to a screen test, work without pay. in advance and compensate the studio if their own actions delayed production.
During her screen test, the star put on an impressive performance. In his mid-40s at the time, Brando would play a man 20 years older. To prepare, he untied her blonde ponytail, darkened her hair, and brushed it back. He put tissue paper over his mouth to show his double chin and spoke in a weak, muttering voice because the character's backstory included a shot to the throat.
In the middle of the test, he even took a phone call, staying in character throughout. In this way, Paramount was convinced, and Brando was offered the role of mobster Don Vito Corleone.
2. Brando was already a star, but he established his immortality with The Godfather, who he surprised with his methods.
From Coppola's perspective, Brando brought impromptu changes and ideas that strengthened his character and the film as a whole.
In a scene, Brando shared with singer Al Martino, whose role was supposedly based on Frank Sinatra, the script called for Don Corleone to reprimand Martino's character for his weakness. But Brando did more than verbally punish Martino, he slapped him, a move that surprised Martino because Coppola and Brando had intentionally kept the singer in the dark about plans to alter the scene, and the change worked well.
Ultimately, Brando was paid $250,000 and a percentage of the profits, which were reportedly around $2 million.
After the film's triumphant release, Brando graced the covers of Time, Life, and Newsweek, and was featured prominently in Playboy, Ladies Home Journal, Rolling Stone, Vogue, and other publications.
3. The movie supported and rebranded Italian-Americans
Before the film's release, there was unease in the Italian-American community.
Forty years later, author Tom Santopietro argues that the film helped Americanize Italian Americans.
“I think it helped people see that in this portrayal of Italian Americans, there was a reflection of their own immigrant experience, whether they were Irish or Eastern European Jewish. They found common ground."
4. For critics, the big star of the film is Brando, despite the great work of Al Pacino
The cast is made up of some of Hollywood's biggest stars: Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, Richard Conte, and Diane Keaton delivered some of their best performances, yet Brando's contribution remains a standout signature.
"Marlon's role isn't big enough for him to dominate the film with his physical presence, but his performance sets the tone for the entire production, which is true and outlandish, and at unexpected moments, immensely moving," Vincent wrote. Canby of The New Times.
After The Godfather and Last Tango in Paris, Brando became known for playing small roles, such as the renegade colonel in Apocalypse Now, and his portrayal of the father of the Man of Steel in 1978's Superman.
To this day, Brando is widely recognized as the greatest movie actor of his day and was a social activist before many actors used their stature to support causes like civil rights.
5. A love story with gangsters
Despite its dark and sometimes creepy aura, The Godfather managed the rare feat of capturing widespread critical acclaim as well as popularity with audiences, says Kate Lemay, a historian at the National Portrait Gallery.
"It started this long love affair with mobsters and gangsters," she says. The film cost $6 million to make and grossed $100 million in its first five months in theaters, as well as becoming the highest-grossing film of all time to that date, surpassing 1965's The Sound of Music, a very different family movie.
