The Godfather

Here we have it. The greatest movie of all time, besides Citizen Kane, I guess. The Godfather released to near-universal acclaim from moviegoers, critics, and Mafia men for its authenticity. It follows the journey of Michael Corleone as he reluctantly and ruthlessly climbs his way to the top of the Mob. The Godfather, and its sequel, changed cinema forever with its influence on themes of honest violence, complex social hierarchies, and pursuit of the American dream. The Godfather was a triumph that audiences, to this day, still cannot refuse.

Production

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Produced by Albert S. Ruddy

Screenplay by Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola

Based on The Godfather by Mario Puzo

Starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, Diane Keaton

Music by Nino Rota

Cinematography by Gordon Willis

Edited by William Reynolds, Peter Zinner

Production companies: Paramount Pictures, Alfran Productions

Distribution & Stats

Distributed by Paramount Pictures

Release date: March 14, 1972 (Loew's State Theatre,) March 24, 1972 (United States)

Running time: 177 minutes

Country: United States

Language: English

Budget: $6–7.2 million

Box office: $246–287 million