"The Godfather," a cinematic masterpiece directed by Francis Ford Coppola, showcases the brilliant transformation of Marlon Brando into the formidable head of one of New York's five mafia families, Don Vito Corleone.
Derived from Mario Puzo's eponymous novel, the film meticulously adheres to Puzo's portrayal of Vito Corleone, drawing inspiration from mid-20th-century mobsters such as Carlos Gambino, Frank Costello, Joe Bonanno, and Joe Profaci. Vito Corleone embodies the collective experiences of these real-life mafia figures.
When Mario Puzo envisioned the character of Vito Corleone while writing "The Godfather," he saw Marlon Brando as the ideal actor to bring the character to life. However, Paramount Pictures initially hesitated to agree with this choice, given Brando's reputation for being temperamental and his recent box office disappointment with "The Last Forbidden Games" (1971).
Despite the reservations, Puzo persisted in advocating for Brando, recognizing the actor's potential to embody the mob leader. Brando, a living legend of cinema but facing a downturn in his career, was eventually cast as Don Corleone at the age of 50, despite the character being significantly older. This necessitated a physical transformation, and the task fell to renowned makeup artist Dick Smith, a pioneer in using prosthetics for transformative changes in film actors.
Marlon Brando's impatience was well-known, prompting Smith to create a makeup process that required only 1.5 hours of Brando's time each day of filming. To achieve the aging effect, Smith utilized a liquid latex compound, adding spots on the skin and a thin layer of oil for naturalness. Marlo's hair dye and a yellow enamel for teeth completed the look. The iconic jaw was Brando's inspiration, and Smith crafted a device that filled out the cheeks, affecting Brando's speech to add authenticity to the character.
The end result is ingrained in the memories of film enthusiasts worldwide. "The Godfather" stands as one of the greatest films in cinematic history and served as a revival for Marlon Brando's career. His portrayal of Vito Corleone earned him a 45th Oscar, though Brando, in a form of protest for American Indian rights, declined to accept the award. Actress Sacha Littlefeather stepped in to convey Brando's activism on the Oscar stage.
