Hardly a movie fan has missed seeing at least the 1972 film The Godfather, if not also The Godfather  II (1974) and III (1990). Mario Puzo's gripping novel about crime mobsters in America was a synch to be adapted to film from the moment the first word appeared on a blank page. Francis Ford Coppola and Puzo's screenplay was brilliant and Coppola's direction. The original film was nominated for 11 Oscars - hello! - one of which was for Best Picture. It's so exciting to have Paramount finally release this film AND it's predecessors on Blu-Ray and DVD in The Godfather The Coppola Restoration.

The story alone could have withstood the test of time. The rise of the Don Vito Corleone's family in the New York Burroughs and had they struggled with other mafia families offered intense drama and action. The story also lent itself to unforgettable characters each trying to fogre their own way in life but ultimately unable to pass the Godfather's road block and do his bidding.

No one could have portrayed The Godfather the way Puzo wrote him than Marlon Brando. His acting had already been cemented in five previous Academy Awards nominations, one of which he won for On The Waterfront (1954). It's too bad he refused to accept the Oscar for The Godfather, instead stirring up political notions instead. Brando's ability to mold a character with more details than on the written page was the anchor that every other character in this film adhered to and only hoped to measure up to. And yet many of them did.

The young Al Pacino was ripe for the salmon swimming upstream in this film. Michael Corleone was the real piece of silver in the drawer. An honored veteran who spent little time among crime elements, his father always wanted him to remain crime free, but the strong bond that often exists between father and son would unfold in one of the most dramatic subplots of The Godfather. Although he wouldn't win his first Oscar until 1992 for Scent of A Woman, Pacino did receive his first of eight Acadamy Award nominations, the first one for Best Supporting Actor in The Godfather.

   

James Cann

Other actors gave unbelievable performances in the film as well. James Cann as the volatile Santino 'Sonny' Corleone, earned his only Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. It was also Robert Duvall's fist of six Oscar nominations, also for Best Supporting Actor as the family's attorney who was also like a son to the Godfather. Diane Keaton and Talia Shire were also excellent.

Diane Keaton & Al Pacino

Talia Shire

Script, direction and acting can't make an entire pie and the other pieces were just as extraordinary. Academy Award nominations went to Nino Rota for Best Music, Original Dramatic Score; and Charles Grenzbach, Richard Portman, Christopher Newman for Best Sound. Their incredible score lifted every scene to believability and when played today is instantly recognized as the music from The Godfather. William Reynolds and Peter Zinner were nominated for the incredible editing job on the film and Anna Hill Johnstone's wowed Academy voters to give her a nomination as well.

The Godfather is a rich treasure as both a film and insight into crime families that are part of international and American history. Puzo, Coppola and all involved in the film will forever be remembered for a phenomenal film series.

The Godfather Part II was highly anticipated and also drew raves from the first film's fans. It netted another 11 Oscar nominations with six wins, many going to those previously nominated. It took 16 years for the final film in the trilogy to hit the big screen. Although there were no Academy wins, there were seven nominations and an audience of new fans for the genre.

The movie starts with subtitles that explains Don Vito's rise to his position starting in Italy. Oreste Baldini plays the boy Don Vito very well; he creates an ominous presence that he will be someone someday who will experience great change but with great sacrifice. His mother is played by Maria Carta, who is very sympathetic in her pleading to Don Francesco Ciccio because he killed her husband and oldest son. She pleads for her young son's life to be spared, insisting the boy is mute and weak. The scene that follows is heart-rending but actually sets up the premise of the entire Godfather series. The film presents a wonderful depiction of what life was like in New York City in the early 1900s.

The Godfather Part III opens with scenes of the lavish Lake Tahoe estate, symbolizing the ruin of the Corleone family and goes into dealings with the family and the Vatican. The movie focuses on the theme of  "it isn't personal; it's only business" Don Corleone's famous saying every time someone else was snuffed out. But this segment turns that line on its head, instead revealing a story that more reflects "it isn't business; it's only personal." Michael sets out in this film to amend his bad deeds that have cost him what he treasures the most - his family members. This Michael has changed since the young fresh-faced veteran who could mesmerize women with one look.

Andy Garcia

George Hamilton

One sad aspect of this film was the loss of Robert Duvall, who demanded more concessions to star in the film, but was turn downed. Thus George Hamilton was brought in as the family's lawyer B. J. Harrison, but is clearly not connected to the family in the way that Tom Hagen was. A lot of the film mirrors the others - killings, family powwows, and Michael playing the role of his father in trying to deal with it all.

I couldn't wait to watch the films again -- especially on Blu-Ray -- and it was just as compelling and suspenseful as the first time I watched it 36 years ago. Sheesh; it couldn't have been that long ago! It took some time for all the parties to align the ducks to make the Blu-Ray happen, but fans of the film can rest assured it's a must-own. And for those youngsters who have never see these three movies - it's worth buying a Blu-Ray machine and making it a first-to-watch. As Alex Baldwin says on one of the bonus features about watching The Godfather trilogy, "Its like a drug; it takes away your free will. You're going to watch it whether you want to or not."

I was a little surprised that the colors were not quite as bright and colorful as some of the high-def, films, but it goes back to how the movie was originally shot. This is explained in detail in one of the many bonus features - all of which will enthrall fans.

Blu-Ray Special Features

DISC ONE

Feature Film The Godfather

€’ Original Director's Commentary by director Francis Ford Coppola - he talks about writing the script, how the story unfolds, about the famous "horse head" scene, production design, making tomato sauce and how most scenes were designed, and collaboration with Mario Puzo.

DISC TWO

Feature Film The Godfather II

€’ Original Director's Commentary by director Francis Ford Coppola - who talks about not wanting to do a sequel, his bad experiences on the first film; the music score, some of which was written by his father, composer and musician Carmine Coppola; locations in Vegas and other places; and how G.D. Spradlin wrote some of his own dialogue as Senator Pat Geary.

DISC THREE

Feature Film The Godfather III

€’ Original Director's Commentary by director Francis Ford Coppola - who discusses the title of the film, which was supposed to be The Death of Michael Corleone; how he wanted this film to be more than about blood shots; his dealings with the power of actors wanting more this time - which affected the loss of Duvall; Mary's (Sofia Coppola) complex struggles between the love for her father and her cousin, and he points out scenes in the film of his mother and father and explains how his father died.

DISC FOUR

  €’The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn't (HD) - George Lucas, Coppola and other movie making affiliates discuss how the changing movie business in the 1960s affected the making of the movie, and how Francis was told his movie wouldn't work in the U.S.

€’ Godfather World (HD) - contributors such as Homer Simpson and Guillermo del Toro sound off on the movie and how specific scenes have affected movie audiences.

€’ Emulsion Rescue-Revealing The Godfather (HD) - Gordon Willis, Director of Photography; Allen Daviau, Consulting Cinematographer on Restoration; and Coppola talk about the colorization of the film and why some scenes are so dark and others have a natural historical coloring, and how the original negative was destroyed.

€’ When the Shooting Stopped (HD) - George Lucas, Steven Spielberg< Richard Marks (co-editor of The Godfather Part 11) and Coppola talk about the threats over editing and that the studio would take it over if it was one minute over contract and how the original music was not well received.

€’ The Godfather on the Red Carpet (HD) - Celebrities on the red carpet of Cloverfield talk about The Godfather.

€’ Four Short Films on The Godfather -

* The Godfather vs. The Godfather, Part II (HD)

* Cannoli (HD)

* Riffing on the Riffing (HD)

* Clemenza (HD)

2001 Archive:

€’ Behind the Scenes

* The Godfather Family: A Look Inside

* On Location

* Francis Coppola's Notebook

* The Music of the Godfather

* Coppola & Puzo on Screenwriting

* Gordon Willis on Cinematography

* Soryboards from The Godfather, Part II

* Storyboards from The Godfather, Part III

* The Godfather Behind the Scenes 1971

€’ The Filmmakers

* Francis Ford Coppola

* Mario Puzo

* Gordon Willis

* Dean Tavoularis

* Nino Rota

* Carmine Coppola

€’ Additional Scenes

€’ Acclaim & Response

€’ Trailers (HD)

€’ Photo Gallery

€’ Rogues' Gallery

Also included is a 12-page color booklet with credits for each film and Oscar information.

Photo credits: Paramount Pictures (photos are from DVD not Blu-Ray version)