The Godfather (1972) Audio Commentary

Marlon Brando getting his Don makeup on while Francis Ford Coppola waits patiently for his nemesis, Popeye, to show up

RC-2013-107: The Godfather (1972)



When e-mailer Tomy suggested a few films that might be ripe for a commentary, The Godfather was the one that lept out at me most. It seems there's actually quite a lot to say about the movie nearly everyone regards as great, so why not give it a Rob Job. (I'm so sorry. I will never say that again.) I discuss how Coppola's uncanny decade (approximately 1970-80) was enabled by the exciting changes happening in American filmmaking from about 1964 to 1980 (a span of years I select arbitrarily), deciding that Coppola and his dream that was American Zoetrope represent  the best characteristics of the so-called Film School Generation. While pointing out the big stuff, like the lovely computerized opening shot and the film's many quotable moments, I also gab about such matters as Michael's bifurcated personality, how Gordy Willis' stark lighting helps highlight the film's handling of gender, and the beautiful way Coppola doesn't "lean into" the many instances of visual symbolism. I also theorize as to why this film has become a synonym for "great movie" and, as is my habit, think out loud about how movies attain the status of classic. At some point, I also prove that I can name all the (fictional) five families of New York, and then I pathetically commend myself for being so perspicacious about trivia. I screened the Blu-Ray of The Godfather while recording the track; to sync up, hit "pause" on your player just after the Paramount logo has faded to black.

Show Notes

• Howard Stern's interview with Gianni Russo (the guy who played Carlo and who, among other things, claims to have slept with Marilyn Monroe when he was a teenager)
• Pauline Kael's original review of The Godfather—her lede: "If ever there was an example of how the best popular movies come out of a merger of commerce and art, 'The Godfather' is it." 
• An educational documentary about the Film School Generation (hosted by John Lithgow!)
• The saga has its own wiki
• One of the many books about the saga can be browsed here
• Vanity Fair's excellent 2009 feature piece about the making of the film
• John Belushi playing the Don in that classic SNL sketch
• Production notes by TCM 

Listen to the mp3. Or keep your friends close and your iTunes closer.