The Godfather
The Godfather is a 1972 film directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan and others.
Synopsis
The Godfather is a 1972 crime drama directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It looks at an Italian American mafia family in New York in the years just after the Second World War.
Vito Corleone, played by Marlon Brando, is the aging head of the family. He is respected, feared and known for settling matters through favors and quiet influence. His eldest son Sonny (James Caan) works close to him, and Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall) serves as the family's lawyer and adviser. The youngest son, Michael, played by Al Pacino, has come home from the war and keeps his distance from the family business, hoping to live a separate, ordinary life with the woman he loves.
The film opens at a large family gathering, where the rules of loyalty and obligation are laid out and the scale of the Corleone network becomes clear. Soon afterward, a rival proposal in the city's criminal world threatens the balance that Vito has maintained for years, and the family must decide how to respond. The pressure reaches every member of the household, including Michael, whose outsider position is tested. Other cast members include Richard S. Castellano as Clemenza, John Cazale as Fredo and Sterling Hayden as Captain McCluskey.
Crew & production
- Director
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Screenwriters
- Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo
- Producer
- Albert S. Ruddy
- Director of photography
- Gordon Willis
- Composer
- Nino Rota
- Editors
- Peter Zinner, William H. Reynolds
- Production companies
- Alfran Productions, Paramount Pictures
- Original languages
- English, Italian
- Filming locations
- Long Island, New Jersey, New York City, Sicily
- Budget
- $7 million
- Box office
- $270 million (worldwide)
Trailer
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Top cast
40 people
Marlon Brando
Al Pacino
James Caan
Richard S. Castellano
Robert Duvall
Sterling Hayden
John Cazale
Diane Keaton
Talia Shire
Abe Vigoda
Al Lettieri
Gianni Russo
More cast
- Corrado Gaipa Don Tommasino
- Al Martino Johnny Fontane
- John Marley Jack Woltz
- Johnny Martino Paulie Gatto
- Lenny Montana Luca Brasi
- Richard Conte Emilio Barzini, Barzini
- Alex Rocco Moe Greene
- Julie Gregg Sandra Corleone
- Simonetta Stefanelli Apollonia Vitelli-Corleone
- Saro Urzì Vitelli
- Angelo Infanti Fabrizio
- Franco Citti Calò
- Joe Spinell Willi Cicci
- Morgana King Carmela Corleone, Mama Corleone
- Richard Bright Al Neri, Neri
- Rudy Bond Cuneo
- Vito Scotti Nazorine
- Carmine Coppola Piano Player
- Roman Coppola Boy on Street
- Sofia Coppola Michael Francis Rizzi
- Ron Gilbert Usher
- Tony King Tony
- Raymond Martino Corleone Family Member
- Nick Vallelonga Wedding Party Guest
- Tony Giorgio Bruno Tattaglia
- Victor Rendina Philip Tattaglia
- Salvatore Corsitto Amerigo Bonasera, Bonasera
- Tere Livrano Theresa Hagen
Sources
- Wikidata (Q47703), accessed October 2026
- Cast photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each profile
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