Masterpiece. And miracle. The Godfather He was on the verge of not existing in many moments. But all those setbacks and obstacles that he encountered in his production path have only meant that today, 50 years after its premiere in the USA (it arrived in Spain a few months later in 1972), his legend and his genius are even greater.
On the occasion of that half century, of these 50 years in which The Godfather has become a masterpiece, a popular icon, a cultural reference, the film returns to theaters (February 25) in a copy remastered in 4K that has taken more than 4,000 hours of work. It can be seen again on the big screen for a limited time in selected cinemas throughout Spain. A unique opportunity to really enjoy the photography of Gordon Willis and that joint genius of the technical and artistic team that would transform the history of cinema.
Connie's wedding.
“I WILL MAKE YOU AN OFFER YOU CANNOT REFUSE”
One of the most famous phrases of The Godfather, could not be applied to those who made it possible. Before the Paramount studio called Francis Ford Coppola he went to until 12 most recognized and veteran directors that he. And each and every one rejected her, Coppola himself, a 32 year old with five movies previous unsuccessful, he also said no, but he ended up being convinced by his partner in the production company, george lucas because they needed the pasta.
Italian ancestry was what encouraged executives to hire coppola although this little interest he had in the mafia. But his work together with the author of the novel Mario Puzo, changed that. And just in that first scene, at Connie's wedding detailed knowledge of that world is demonstrated. (We'll say that world, because the word mob isn't mentioned once in the movie that best described it.)
“I BELIEVE IN AMERICA”
The film is the story of the Corleones. Vito, the godfather, the Don, the caporegime, his real name was Vito Andolini, but at reach New York, in his passage through Ellis Island , in the usual register of immigrants they registered him as Vito Corleone, taking the name of his native town. A small town in inside of Sicily, to which surely more than one has (we) made a pilgrimage with curiosity and respect.
Sicilian wedding.
Most of the story, therefore, takes place in America, that country of opportunity, where the Corleones have become what they are along with the other four families. New York is his base. Although the producers, to save costs, tried to shoot it in Kansas City, Coppola prevailed and managed to film it in New York. using more than 120 exteriors in the city and surroundings.
In Staten Island They found the house and garden for Connie's wedding. Michael Corleone and Kay they stay at the hotel St Regis. In the number 128 Mott Street, that point that would then be Little Italy and today looks more like Chinatown, Don Vito is shot while he buys oranges (that great symbol of the movie). In an old restaurant in the Bronx, that no longer exists, they filmed the Louis, where Michael avenges his father and is forced to flee to Sicily, to the original town of his family.
Michael was just passing by.
However, they were unable to shoot in Corleone, and the result was a mix of two small towns near Taormina: Forza and Savoca. In the latter, there is the vitelli bar, where Michael meets Apollonia, and the Church of Santa Lucia, where they get married
“LEAVE THE GUN, TAKE THE CANNOLI”
The good Italian food and that of Mr. Coppola is seen throughout the film, from that great wedding banquet, but above all he transmitted it through a character: Peter Clemenza. The one who was Don Vito's childhood friend, a faithful thug of the Corleone family he is a man who not even in the darkest moments, after a murder, forgets the good pleasures: of the actor Richard S. Castellano Another of the famous phrases of the film came out: Leave the gun, take the cannoli. How to let go of that delicious sweet bite?
De Clemenza is also the most culinary scene: the spaghetti with meatballs. His secret from him for tomato sauce? The sugar. Although in Puzo's book, it was a splash of red wine.
