As soon as this film was released, in a short time it was recognized as one of the best films about gangsters. Moreover, he is on the list of the best films in the history of cinema. Performers of the leading roles in the famous film “The Godfather” were no less famous. Actors are the focus of this article.
Success Guaranteed
Before recalling the names of the main screen faces, it is worth recalling the luck that befell the film. Three Oscar statuettes, as well as more than 35 different awards and nominations. Heads of film companies were waiting for the box office - with a budget of six million fees exceeded $ 100 million.
Of course, there was spectator love and international recognition. This is the basket of success for The Godfather. The actors of the gangster saga did not stand aside: for some, it became a launching pad in their future careers, and for others, it once again was a confirmation of acting talent and professionalism.
Mafia world within the walls of one family
And although the film is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Mario Puzo, “The Godfather” did not depart from the key narrative. Viewers are presented with the history of the Corleone family, spanning a decade after the end of World War II. Don Vito marries his beloved daughter when his son Michael returns from the front. Tired hero, craving for rest, he is not going to participate in the family business. Don Corleon is waiting for change, and Michael will have to stand at the helm of the reign of an entire clan.
Screen images: faces, formation, character
Transformation from a simple person into a mafia boss is the main intrigue. She is also considered a metamorphosis of the film “The Godfather”. Actors, primarily Al Pacino, became so accustomed to the images that the audience unanimously called the film a true reflection of reality, and not the imagination of the scriptwriters. For a native of America, this role has become decisive. After decades, Al Pacino will certainly be compared with the image of Michael Corleone. He himself believes that the role gave a ticket to life. For participating in the film, the actor received his first fee - 35 thousand dollars, and the third part of 1990 put 5 million in the pocket of the actor.
But not monetary reward is an important component of his career. Thanks to The Godfather, Pacino has become the number one Hollywood star. He was given roles in the most successful films, and he happily agreed. And not far from the beloved image. So, in 1983 Pacino was invited to another criminal drama - “The Man with the Scar”, where he appeared in the image of Tony Montana, an ambitious criminal who became an influential drug dealer in Miami. Ten years later, the actor appeared in the role of Carlito, the hero of the film “Carlito's Way”, a former drug dealer who dreams of ending up with a criminal past.
Today, Al Pacino remains a respected Hollywood veteran. On his account about 150 roles, including such films as “The Smell of a Woman”, “Devil's Advocate”, “Donnie Brasco”.
The Godfather: actors and roles
As the saga talks about the whole family, there are many other characters in the film. On the brightest and most important for the plot, read on.
After the founder of the clan, Don Vito, refuses to invest in the drug business, the local gangster Solozzo sends killers to him. The head of the family until the last retains the principles of conducting his business, but is forced to transfer control first to one, then to another son. In the film finale, he dies.
The greatest film actor Marlon Brando agreed to performer the role of Don Vito. He even argued with the studio, which decided to give the director’s chair to another director. The company itself asked not to involve him in the filming due to fear of disruption of production schedules. Brando, who had already won spectator success, was famous for his love to make noise on the set. And although many other applicants were considered, it was Brando who played this role best of all at the casting.
What is this man famous for? First of all, their behavior. Back in his teens, he was kicked out of school for riding a motorcycle on its walls. The filmography of the actor includes such famous films as “At the Port”, “Apocalypse Today”, “Don Juan de Marco”, “Tram“ Desire ”. In 1980, he announced the end of his acting career, but continued to star in minor roles. He spent most of his time in Tahiti. The actor fell in love with this island so much that he brought sand from there for his aquarium. Here he married with a local resident.
Brando received an Oscar for participating in The Godfather. But he refused the award, declaring discrimination against the country's indigenous people among the actors.
The oldest son, Santino, nicknamed Sonny, considered the successor to his father, was played by James Caan. His parents are Jewish immigrants. The actor was born in 1940. For five years he starred in many TV shows until he got the main role in the thriller “Woman in a Cage”. Before starring in The Godfather, he appeared in a number of successful projects - Glorious Guys, Eldorado, and Countdown. In 1969, Francis Ford Coppola directed the drama People of the Rain, in which Kaana affirms the main role. Three years later, he invites him to the film “The Godfather”.
James Caan also appears in the second part of the saga, as well as in the documentary “Look Inside”, dedicated to the shooting of the famous saga. The actor has five children who followed in his footsteps. Among them - Scott Caan, known for the series “Hawaii 5.0”.
The lawyer who takes care of all matters relating to the law is the adopted son of Don Vito. He was played by Robert Duvall. The name of this actor is known to this day. He was born in the family of an admiral of the Navy and an actress. The beginning of his career is the film “To Kill a Mockingbird” in 1962, in which he got a small role. Prior to The Godfather, he remained predominantly a serial actor. With the release of the first part of his career soared uphill - now he abandoned secondary images and took on the first roles of art paintings. He alternates between different genres, starring in “Betsy”, “Escape”, “Team”. Francis Ford Coppola calls him to The Apocalypse Today. Duval does not remain an actor of the “past” era. In the new millennium, he actively shines in the films: “Gone in 60 Seconds”, “They Smoke Here”, “Sixth Day”, “Four Christmases”, “Jack Reacher”. In 2014, the actor composes an on-screen duet to Robert Downey Jr. in the family drama “Judge”.
Frederico Corleone became a nondescript and uncharacteristic figure in the mafia clan. The middle son of Don Vito was played by John Casale. “The Godfather” was his film debut. The role brought success, followed by the crime drama “Dog Midday”. She brought the actor a nomination for the Golden Globe Award. It is noteworthy that Al Pacino also starred in the film. Another notable film was the thriller of the same Coppola's “Conversation”. All five films on Casale’s track record have been nominated for an Oscar. The actor died in 1978 from an illness. Until the end of his days, he continued to act in film. His last work was the military drama Deer Hunter, where he played with his lover, actress Meryl Streep.
This is not an exhaustive list of characters in The Godfather. Actors of the gangster saga include stars such as Talia Shire (played the only daughter that Don Vito marries), Diane Keaton (girlfriend and future wife of Michael Corleone), Richard Castellano and Abe Wigoda (as capo Peter and Salvatore - the closest subordinates of the head of the mafia ), Sterling Hayden (police captain, who turned out to be a corrupt official), etc.
The effect of the film on culture
“The Godfather” has incorporated all the qualities of a film that has earned the title of “best” and “meaningful”: directing, script, playing first-class actors. Critics complained about the scenes of violence, but this is only a means of reflecting the appropriate atmosphere of the narrative. The actors and roles of the film “The Godfather”, remembered for their racy and diverse nature, became prototypes for many other films.
“The Godfather” talks about the tragedy of a person whose personal interests are supplanted by the interests of the family. He has no choice but to turn into a brutal boss of the mafia clan under the pressure of circumstances.