A review of a Gangster flick that relies on Tension Rather than outright contant violence
Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather (1972), based on Mario Puzo’s novel, opens at the wedding of Connie Corleone, daughter of Mafia boss Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando). It’s one of the most famous openings in film history.
The Famous Request Scene
The most famous part of the opening is the “request scene”, where Italian Americans come to the Don asking for favours, all of them Mafia-style requests. Don Vito scolds several of them for turning away from the old country, Italy in favour of the American dream. Brando plays the scene wonderfully, quiet, pragmatic, controlled, and full of menace.
Plot Summary (Spoiler Warning)
⚠️ Spoilers ahead
The film also introduces Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), the Don’s youngest son. He’s a Second World War hero who has no intention of joining the family business. He has a non-Italian fiancée, Kay, and at this point in the film he’s thoroughly American rather than Italian.
Then a rival Mafia family declares war on the Corleones, and Don Vito is shot. This is where the film really begins.
Spoilers end here
What Makes The Godfather a Masterpiece?
The Godfather is a superb film. What makes it so compelling is watching Michael slowly change from the outsider who wanted nothing to do with the family into the Don’s successor. As he grows more and more corrupt, he leaves the American dream behind and becomes a true mafioso. Al Pacino’s performance earned him an Oscar nomination.
Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone
The star of the show is Marlon Brando as Don Vito, a performance that won him the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Tension Over Violence: How The Godfather Differs from Modern Gangster Films
Unlike many more modern gangster films, The Godfather doesn’t rely on violence to be great, though it has its violent moments. There’s room for Scorsese and Tarantino, but Coppola deserves credit for using dialogue and atmosphere to build tension instead of in-your-face shock and gore.
Final Verdict
The Godfather is essential viewing. Brando’s commanding performance, Pacino’s gripping transformation and Coppola’s patient direction make it the benchmark every gangster film is still measured against.
The Godfather movies are available on Paramount Plus, Amazon and YouTube .
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