Coppola's belief and determination saved the day

Rating: Null/10 (13 November 2002)

If Francis Ford Coppolla never got his way, it's difficult to imagine just how The Godfather would have turned out. Should the studio have persisted on rejecting Al Pacino, Marlon Brando and fired Coppolla himself, the greatest film ever would surely never have prevailed.
The film boasts a heavyweight cast to which nothing will ever compare. Of course, at the time of production, there were few stars on the set. But since the film's release, each of the principal players have established themselves among the world's acting elite.
Mario Puzo's original novel, The Godfather, provided the basis for the movie, though it was skillfully reworked to make a smooth transition to the screen. Both the book and film have more to say than simply tell a story about crime. The complex layers of plot are woven into a exemplary insight into family, honour, revenge and love, when tainted by the deviance of the underworld.
Visually, it's a spectacularly-shot film with many a thought-provoking image and beautiful music. But the real quality of the film-making process is the ability to bring out a feeling of pathos from the audience towards the Corleone family. There may be a lack of morality from virtually all of the central characters but, as is often the case when the film concentrates on the lives of certain individuals, whether they conduct themselves correctly are not, we are right behind them all the way.
The Godfather legacy led, two years later, to the most successful sequel ever made. Lightning never strikes for a third time, but despite the criticisms, The Godfather Part III holds its own as a solid gangster film.
The true mark of a genuine classic is the ability to survive the test of time - something The Godfather has done with remarkable ease.