“The most memorable, most influential, most quoted, most beloved, most discussed, most imitated, most revered and most entertaining American movie ever made.” - Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times
“This magnificent multigenerational mafia drama represents a benchmark not just in crime movies but in American cinema as a whole.” - Wendy Ide, Times
Saturday, July 20, 4:45 p.m. | On its face, Francis Ford Coppola’s magnum opus (audiences will have to decide how they feel about MEGALOPOLIS!) is about the mob, but of course we all know that THE GODFATHER is far more interested in the loyalties and betrayals of family than in the intricacies of organized crime. As the three-hour mark approaches, the story of the Corleone dynasty is just beginning, with Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) taking on the family business and stepping into his power. In the final moments of this adaptation of Mario Puzo’s epic novel, all that came before (the guns, the cannoli) contribute to the evolution of a man and become the lore of how the next Don Coleone was made. As Kay (Diane Keaton) looks on, Michael is no longer the naive boy she fell in love with, but a powerful man who will be feared by everyone, including his family. The door closes, and we see what she knows: nothing will ever be the same between them.
Awards & Nominations
Winner - Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Marlon Brando), Best Adapted Screenplay, Academy Awards (1973)
Nominee - Best Actor in a Supporting Role (James Caan), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Robert Duvall), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Al Pacino), Best Director, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Academy Awards (1973)
Last Shot: Stick the landing. Bring it home. Finish strong. In cinema, the last shot is arguably the most important. “This is it, this is the final moment, it is perfect!” only to have it go on, stumbling and fumbling its way to the credits? For all those missed opportunities, there are also the pitch-perfect conclusions, the memorable last looks, the frames that catch your breath in your throat and with pure artistry not only conclude a film but underscore, emphasize, or affirm the entire running time that came before it. Our 11-film Last Shot series explores impeccable resolutions in film. View full Last Shot series. *Spoiler alert: the endings of all films in this series are mentioned (as subtly as possible) in their description, and the accompanying still images do not reflect their final frames.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu