The multigenerational saga of the rise and fall of the Corleone crime family.The multigenerational saga of the rise and fall of the Corleone crime family.The multigenerational saga of the rise and fall of the Corleone crime family.
Marlon Brando
- Don Vito Corleone
- (archive footage)
Al Pacino
- Michael Corleone
- (archive footage)
Robert Duvall
- Tom Hagen
- (archive footage)
Robert De Niro
- Vito Corleone
- (archive footage)
Diane Keaton
- Kay Adams
- (archive footage)
Talia Shire
- Connie Corleone
- (archive footage)
James Caan
- Sonny Corleone
- (archive footage)
John Cazale
- Fredo Corleone
- (archive footage)
Andy Garcia
- Vincent Mancini
- (archive footage)
Richard S. Castellano
- Clemenza
- (archive footage)
Lee Strasberg
- Hyman Roth
- (archive footage)
Michael V. Gazzo
- Frankie Pentangeli
- (archive footage)
Sofia Coppola
- Mary Corleone
- (archive footage)
Richard Bright
- Al Neri
- (archive footage)
Eli Wallach
- Don Altobello
- (archive footage)
Abe Vigoda
- Tessio
- (archive footage)
Gianni Russo
- Carlo
- (archive footage)
Al Lettieri
- Sollozzo
- (archive footage)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen Vito Corleone, Clemenza and Tessio are going to the gunsmith the owner's name is Augustino Coppola, later he introduces his son, Carmine Coppola, who demonstrates his flute playing abilities. This scene is a tribute to Francis Ford Coppola's father and grandfather. His father was the first flautist with the NBC symphony under Arturo Toscanini. His grandfather was an actual gunsmith. His father worked in the "shop" from time to time as a child. They both insist the event actually happened.
- GoofsAs the Corleone's pack up to move to Las Vegas, there is a real estate sign outside the compound offering the property for commercial development. Later, Michael meets Frankie Pentangeli in his father's old (redecorated) house.
- Alternate versionsA 1981 video release was titled The Godfather 1902-1959: The Complete Epic (in Japan it was titled The Godfather 1901-1959: The Epic). This version reportedly contains less additional scenes but has all the R rated stuff that was taken out of the broadcast version reinstated. In 1992, The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 (1992) was released. It features "The Godfather 1902-1959: The Complete Epic" and The Godfather Part III (1990) edited in chronological order with more additional scenes then the epic but still not all the deleted scenes from the broadcast version. (The complete Godfather Saga with all deleted scenes from the broadcast version included was never released on home video).
- ConnectionsEdited from The Godfather (1972)
Featured review
In 1972 and 1974 Francis Ford Coppola in association with novel-writer Mario Puzo created two of the most critically acclaimed films in motion picture history, and either of them being strong contenders for the best picture ever made. Sixteen years later, Coppola and Puzo teamed up again to create an intriguing third installment, continuing the incredible saga set around 20 years after the events portrayed in the first two films. Now we can see all three superb films combined, carefully and effectively edited and containing scenes previously cut from original theatre versions. "The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980" is one of the finest pieces of cinema art.
The truly epic and grandness of the saga can now be appreciated in its full when the whole 9hrs and 32mins can be seen at once, what's more, it is in perfect chronological order.
The trilogy begins with The Young Vito Corleone (Robert DeNiro) and his rise to power in New York, this originally being a prologue to "The Godfather, Part II" is now placed right at the start of the saga, making the later flashbacks of DeNiro much more effective and it sets the scene beautifully for the following wedding scene at the beginning of the original "Godfather" film. Instead of being plunged into exposition far too quickly, as in the original cut of the first film, the exposition here is much more effective. The scene takes place at the wedding of the ageing Vito's (Marlon Brando) daughter Connie (Talia Shire) and it introduces his three sons, Sonny (James Caan), Fredo (John Cazale) and Michael (Al Pacino) along with Vito's adopted son and lawyer Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall), soon we are presented with the familiar though very interesting plot, including severed horse's heads, a lot of gunfire and various questions of morality. The final scene of the first film is immediately followed by the continuation of the same plot in "The Godfather, Part II," this being another masterful act of editing. The consequences at the end of the second film (particularly the death of Fredo) are therefore a lot more harrowing and effective.
Soon, we are elegantly taken to the events surrounding the ageing Michael Corleone, including the surviving members of the original films and also introducing a whole new generation of people including Sonny's illegitimate son Vincent (Andy Garcia) and Michael's own daughter (Sofia Coppola), and there is another opposition character in the form of Joey Zasa (Joe Mantegna) and so the story continues, this with an even more grim and equally powerful finale.
On a whole, this is simply a masterpiece, the story exceedingly effective (being based from Mario Puzo's successful novels) and the acting (particularly in the first two films) impeccable. To see it is more of an experience than anything else.
The truly epic and grandness of the saga can now be appreciated in its full when the whole 9hrs and 32mins can be seen at once, what's more, it is in perfect chronological order.
The trilogy begins with The Young Vito Corleone (Robert DeNiro) and his rise to power in New York, this originally being a prologue to "The Godfather, Part II" is now placed right at the start of the saga, making the later flashbacks of DeNiro much more effective and it sets the scene beautifully for the following wedding scene at the beginning of the original "Godfather" film. Instead of being plunged into exposition far too quickly, as in the original cut of the first film, the exposition here is much more effective. The scene takes place at the wedding of the ageing Vito's (Marlon Brando) daughter Connie (Talia Shire) and it introduces his three sons, Sonny (James Caan), Fredo (John Cazale) and Michael (Al Pacino) along with Vito's adopted son and lawyer Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall), soon we are presented with the familiar though very interesting plot, including severed horse's heads, a lot of gunfire and various questions of morality. The final scene of the first film is immediately followed by the continuation of the same plot in "The Godfather, Part II," this being another masterful act of editing. The consequences at the end of the second film (particularly the death of Fredo) are therefore a lot more harrowing and effective.
Soon, we are elegantly taken to the events surrounding the ageing Michael Corleone, including the surviving members of the original films and also introducing a whole new generation of people including Sonny's illegitimate son Vincent (Andy Garcia) and Michael's own daughter (Sofia Coppola), and there is another opposition character in the form of Joey Zasa (Joe Mantegna) and so the story continues, this with an even more grim and equally powerful finale.
On a whole, this is simply a masterpiece, the story exceedingly effective (being based from Mario Puzo's successful novels) and the acting (particularly in the first two films) impeccable. To see it is more of an experience than anything else.
- "boz"
- Aug 13, 1999
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- La trilogía de El Padrino: 1901-80
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime9 hours 43 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
- 1.85 : 1
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