“The Godfather” by Mario Puzo. The Existing Movie and The Future Movie

Hello everyone! Today I want to continue to introduce you to the work of Mario Puzo The Godfather. Today I want to talk a little about the existing movie version of this book and my vision of this movie in the modern world. Let’s start!

The Godfather is a 1972 American crime movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by Albert S. Ruddy, based on Mario Puzo’s best-selling novel of the same name. The film adaptation was created in 1969.

Slogan: “An offer that you can’t refuse.” The main roles are played by Al Pacino, Marlon Brando and James Caan.

It is considered the greatest gangster movie and one of the best movies in the history of cinema.

The movie won three Oscar awards: for best film of the year, for best adapted screenplay, and for acting by Brando. The lead actor truly did an excellent job.

Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando is an American actor. He is one of the greatest actors in history. Stefan Kanfer once said: “There was cinema before Brando and after Brando, as well as painting before Picasso and after Picasso, literature before Hemingway and after Hemingway and pop music before Sinatra and after Sinatra …” Brando is a legendary actor, an undying sex symbol of Hollywood. Marlon perfectly managed to embody on the screen his character Don Corleone — a gangster boss. He was able to show all the way of Vito Corleone from a handsome gray-haired gentleman with a quiet voice and a cat on his lap to a hunched, unkempt, unshaven old man. This is his star role, which was given to him superbly. It’s hard to imagine someone else in his place.

But let’s think about it. If the movie hadn’t been made in those days, but they would have made the godfather today. Who among modern actors could play Vito Corleone so perfectly? Undoubtedly, this role could be played by Richard Gere, George Clooney, Steven Seagal and Kurt Russell. But if I were a director, I would have called for this role Sylvester Stallone.

Sylvester Stallone

He’s a great American actor. During his acting career, he appeared in more than 50 films. His most famous works are Rocky, The Expendables, Rambo, Escape Plan. Sylvester Stallone is an actor who made an invaluable contribution to the Hollywood cinema of the 70s and 80s. Despite his age, the actor continues to act and produce films.

Sultry appearance, acting talent, charisma, world fame — this is a brief description of Sylvester Stallone.

I think this famous actor could convey the image of the head of the Corleone family — a true Sicilian, intelligent and majestic gentleman.

And the soundtrack for this role I would choose a song of James Brown It’s A Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World. It seems to me that it conveys the whole atmosphere of that time, and will also emphasize the majesty of Don and his family, the thinking of Vito Corleone, his superiority and at the same time care for others.

P.S. What do you think about Johnny Depp for the role of Michael Corleone and his soundtrack My Father’s Son (Joe Cocker)?)))

This is the kind of film adaptation that would have happened if I had directed it. But don’t forget that the movie “The Godfather” , which already exists? is a very good one. Of course, it’s not a book, but it’s worth to wath. But know that the book and the movie have a few differences:

• During the film adaptation, many episodes from the lives of other characters were cut. For example, the movie did not show Johnny Fontane’s failures with women and only mentioned problems with his voice; the story of Santino and Lucy Mancini’s love affair, as well as his street bullies; there is no the line of Dr. Julius Segal.
• The movie begins with a scene where the undertaker Amerigo Bonasera seeks justice from Don. For help next comes the Baker Nazorine, then Luca Brasi and Johnny Fontane. In the book, the order is: Baker, Luka, undertaker, Fontaine.
• In the novel, Kay finds out about Michael’s return from Sicily by accident, calling his mother. In the movie, Michael finds Kay himself.

• In the movie, the characteristic lines of some of the characters were significantly reduced.
• The end of the book is different from the end of the movie (read the book and find out).
• During the” baptism scene “ in the film, all the heads of the four families were killed. In the novel, only Barzini and Tattaglia were killed.

Reading a book or watching a movie is everyone’s choice. But I recommend both.

And in conclusion of course a few new words:

• to encumber — обременять
• in a daze — в оцепенении, в изумлении
• erratic — переменчивый, неустойчивый