The Godfather
Summary
TheGodfathertrilogy is a truly iconic film serial , and part of its general acclaim hail fromThe Godfathercast being made of all - star Hollywood actors and amazing entrant . The mobster movie franchise is about the rise and fall of state of war - Hero of Alexandria - turn - evil - gangster Michael Corleone , and it ’s an endlessly captivating crime drama that ’s had an influence on cinema for more than half a C . The firstGodfathermovie was released in 1972 and put author - director Francis Ford Coppola on the map , The Godfather Part IIwas released in 1974 and is as good as , if not skillful than , the original , and the legacy sequelThe Godfather Part IIIwas free in 1990 .
The dealership continues to have a significant legacy , withThe Offer , a drama series about thetrue story behind the making ofThe Godfather , released on television in 2022 . The trilogy has received tons of accolades , and evenThe GodfatherPart III , which did n’t have the greatest receipt , was make for seven Academy Awards . In totality , the enfranchisement won seven Oscars , and only two were for acting , which comes as a surprise given how stackedThe Godfathercast is compared to almost any other film series .
Al Pacino As Michael Corleone
Al Pacino plays Michael Corleone , the heart ofThe Godfathercast . Michael is introduced as a warfare hero in the orifice act of the first picture show , becomes an evil gangster dim by power in the second movie , and dies alone as a regretful old man in the final movie . Michael was the actor ’s breakthrough persona , butPacino’sGodfathercasting was controversial at the timebecause he was an nameless lead an expensive production .
The risk make up off , and he ’s one of only a few actors to ever be nominated for two Oscars for playing the same character , and he went on to get ahead an Oscar for his performance in the 1993 picture show olfactory property of a Woman . Pacino has star in tons of crime moving picture and appear in the late filmsOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood , The Irishman , andHouse of Gucci .
Marlon Brando As Vito Corleone
Portrayed by Marlon Brando inThe Godfathercast , Vito Corleone is introduced in as the mellow but strong head of his family . While he ’s no better than other criminals , he has morality , as he refuses to go into the drug business , which is what causes a feud with the Tattaglia family . The character is n’t murdered , but he die from a heart attack Battle of Midway throughThe Godfather .
Brando was already an Oscar victor for his use inOn the Waterfrontwhen he took on the purpose of Vito , and his performance as Vito succeed him the Oscar for Best Actor in 1973 , though he decline the award . The famous actor died in 2004 , and his final film theatrical role was the 2001 filmThe Scorewhere he famously play alongside Robert De Niro for the first time .
Robert De Niro As As Vito Corleone
A immature version of Vito , played by Robert De Niro , appear inThe Godfather Part II . While the movie follows Michael becoming corrupted by his power , The Godfather Part IIis a part - prequel , too , as it also follows young Vito impress to New York from Sicily and building his empire .
Like Brando , De Niro won an Academy Award for act Vito . He blend in on to become Hollywood ’s go - to mobster actor and a even cooperator of Martin Scorsese ’s , starring inTaxi Driver , Goodfellas , andThe Irishmanalong with comedies likeMeet the Parents , The Intern , andDirty Grandpa .
Diane Keaton As Kay Adams
Diane Keaton is one of the very few doer who star in all threeThe Godfathermovies . Keaton plays Kay Adams , who dates Michael before he flee to Sicily after murdering Captain McCluskey and Virgil Sollozzo . While family wives are in general depicted as hypocritically enjoying what their husbands ' profession can afford them , Kay always feel like she ’s engrossed , and Keaton does a cracking caper of portray that .
Keaton became a household name after come out inThe Godfathercast , but she veered away from mob moving picture and sharpen more on comedic roles includingSomething ’s induce ta Give , have it off the Coopers , and the TV seriesThe Young Pope .
Talia Shire As Connie Corleone
Connie Corleone , played by Talia Shire , is Michael ’s sister , and while her brothers protect her and shield her from the lives that they guide , that ’s also what makes her so paranoid . Shire is Francis Ford Coppola ’s sister , but regardless of whether Coppola cast Shire because she ’s a stemma relative , she play the emotional and unpredictable Connie with so much chroma .
apart from being inThe Godfathercast , Shire is an significant part of another ' 70s dealership , Rocky , playing Adrian in the packing pic serial publication . In late year , she has appeared in her Logos ’s directorial debutDreamland , and she will appear inCoppola ’s upcoming filmMegalopolis .
Robert Duvall As Tom Hagen
wager by Robert Duvall inThe Godfathercast , Tom Hagen is the advisor to the Don — first to Vito and then to Michael . He ’s also the adopted son of Vito , though he ’s Irish - German rather than Italian . alas , Tom ’s discharge is one of the few that is n’t neatly and satisfactorily wrap up up .
Though he go along to do work with Francis Ford Coppola on other flick , Duvall did n’t return forThe Godfather Part IIIin 1990 plainly because of salary dispute . Duvall has remained a engaged actor and appeared in democratic picture likeJack Reacher , The Judge , Widows , andHustleover the years .
John Cazale As Fredo Corleone
Fredo Corleone , present by John Cazale , is Michael ’s older brother , but there ’s a reason he is n’t the question of the family when Vito dies . Fredo is a superimposed but flawed character , as nobody expect anything from him , but he embarrassingly tries to earn the same might and status as his much more august brothers .
A brilliant striking actor , Cazale only starred in five picture show before he passed away in 1978 , includingThe Conversation , Dog Day Afternoon , andThe Godfathermovies . His last filmThe Deer Hunterwas free posthumously , and he afterwards appear inThe Godfather Part IIIthrough archival footage .
James Caan As Sonny Corleone
While Sonny ’s massacre inspired manyGodfathermemes , it ’s such a hard - to - watch out moment inThe Godfather , mostly because of how exciting of a lineament Sonny is . Played by James Caan , Sonny is a awful person , as he cheats on his wife , vandalizes other citizenry ’s property , and get up to all sorts of mob - bear on crimes , yet he still has some loveable qualities .
Andy Garcia As Vincent Corleone
WhileThe Godfather Part IIIdoesn’t have the same world-wide acclamation as the first two movies , it did introduce Vincent Corleone , a fresh , young character in the serial played by Andy Garcia inThe Godfathercast . Vincent is Sonny ’s long - lose son , and he ’s just as hotheaded and irregular as his male parent .
Garcia earned an Oscar nominating address for play Vincent , and after his time inThe Godfathertrilogy cast he slant into playing criminals with swagger in films likeOcean ’s ElevenandLet ’s Be Cops . In late years he appear inMamma Mia ! Here We Go Again , The Mule , andFather of the Bride , and he is coiffe to appear in the 2023 filmExpend4bles .
The Godfather Trilogy Supporting Cast & Characters
Richard S. Castellano and Bruno Kirby as Peter Clemenza : Peter Clemanza is Vito ’s oldest booster and acts as a mentor to Vito ’s sons . Richard S. Castellano played Peter in the original and Bruno Kirby played a younger version of the grapheme inThe Godfather Part II . Both actor have since passed away . Castellano died in 1988 while Kirby die in 2006 .
Al Martino as Johnny Fontane : Johnny Fontane is Vito ’s godson and a famous Italian vocalizer , adTheGodfathercharacter is based on Frank Sinatra . Before his last in 2009 , Al Martino was a pop singer himself , and his only work credits are the first twoThe Godfatherfilms .
Gianni Russo as Carlo Rizzi : Carlo Rizzi is Connie ’s hubby , who constantly abuses her , which leads to his eventual slaying at the final stage ofThe Godfather . Carlo was Gianni Russo ’s first motion-picture show role , and he has appeared in motion-picture show such asAny Given SundayandRush Hour 2,and in 2019 he released a memoir about his calling .
John Marley as Jack Woltz : Jack Woltz is the studio apartment heading working on the movie that Johnny Fontane wants to star in . John Marley was an Oscar nominee before being part ofThe Godfathercast . The role player died in 1984 , and his final movie was the movieOn the Edge .
Abe Vigoda as Salvatore Tessio : Salvatore Tessio betrays Michaeldespite having work with the Corleones for years , as he steer to become the head of the offense family himself . Abe Vigoda bring down many roles followingThe Godfather’ssuccess , most notably a voice - only role inBatman : Mask of the Phantasm . His last plastic film role was in the 2014 film Sweet Destiny , and he later died in 2016 .
Richard Conte as Emilio Barzini : Emilio Barzini is the header of the Barzini crime family and the genius behind an attempt to progress a heroin imperium . Conte was nearing the end of his career in 1972 , but he had star in over 100 film before his death in 1975 .
Lenny Montana as Luca Brasi : Luca Brasi was terrorise in theGodfathernovel , but in the moving-picture show , the assassin is a ham-handed fall guy who ’s speedily murdered . Lenny Montana , a professional matman , joinedThe Godfathercast as Luca Brasi . Before his death in 1992 , Montana transition to acting and appeared in a handful of pic .
Al Lettieri as Virgil Sollozzo : Al Lettieri ’s character Virgil Sollozzo attempts to have Vito fund Barzini ’s drug surgery , but when Vito declines , he attempts to drink down Vito and muscle the Corleone family into working with him . Lettieri died in 1975 , and his net plastic film purpose was in the comedy filmHouse of Pleasure for Women .
Bulgarian capital Coppola as Mary Corleone : Mary Corleone is Michael ’s daughter , who starts a relationship with Vincent and has a bright future forrader of her , but she ’s stamp out at the end ofThe Godfather Part III . The character is play by Francis Ford Coppola ’s own daughter , Sofia , who is better get it on now as a manager of the filmsMarie Antoinette , The Bling Ring , andPriscilla .
G.D. Spradlin as Pat Geary : Pat Geary is a corrupted U.S. senator from Nevada whom Michael endeavor to bribe , and when that does n’t do work , the gangster turns to blackmail . G.D. Spradlin retired from acting after appear in the 1999 movieDick , and he after go bad in 2011 .
Sterling Hayden as Captain McCluskey : Captain McCluskey is a crooked police captain inThe Godfatherwho is on the Tattaglia crime phratry ’s payroll . He sucker - punches Michael , who then kill him along with Virgil in the restaurant . Besides being part ofThe Godfathercast , the late Sterling Hayden appeared inThe Outsider,9 to 5 , andVenom .
MORE : Every Godfather Movie Ranked From Worst To Best
