Product Details

• Actors: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard S. Castellano, Robert Duvall
• Directors: Francis Ford Coppola
• Writers: Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo
• Producers: Albert S. Ruddy, Gray Frederickson
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Original recording remastered, THX, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 2
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: February 13, 1998
• Run Time: 175 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (308 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000003KHS
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,133 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  #31 in	Video > Mystery & Suspense > Crime > Gangsters
  #98 in	Video > Mystery & Suspense > Blackmail, Murder & Mayhem > Murder

• This is item 1 in The Godfather Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video

Generally acknowledged as a bona fide classic, this Francis Ford Coppola film is one of those rare experiences that feels perfectly right from beginning to end--almost as if everyone involved had been born to participate in it. Based on Mario Puzo's bestselling novel about a Mafia dynasty, Coppola's Godfather extracted and enhanced the most universal themes of immigrant experience in America: the plotting-out of hopes and dreams for one's successors, the raising of children to carry on the good work, etc. In the midst of generational strife during the Vietnam years, the film somehow struck a chord with a nation fascinated by the metamorphosis of a rebellious son (Al Pacino) into the keeper of his father's dream. Marlon Brando played against Puzo's own conception of patriarch Vito Corleone, and time has certainly proven the actor correct. The rest of the cast, particularly James Caan, John Cazale, and Robert Duvall as the rest of Vito's male brood--all coping with how to take the mantle of responsibility from their father--is seamless and wonderful. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is one of my two favorite movies of all time., August 24, 2001

By	David Zampino "21st Century Hobbit" (Delavan, Wisconsin) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Rarely does a film manage to express the power of a novel from which it was based -- but "The Godfather" does manage to do quite well. Realizing that the entire second section of the novel could not be fit into the movie (but was cleverly woven into "The Godfather, part 2") Puzo and Coppola produced a film which was remarkably consistent with the remainder of the book (although there are a few 'jumps' in the plot which make more sense to someone also familiar with the book). The cast for this picture could not possibly be better -- both in the first-rate Hollywood actors AND in the on-location Sicilian actors selected for those portions of the movie filmed on that island. Brando is perfect as the aging Don, Pacino portrays the inherently moral but tormented Michael extremely well, Caan is ideal as the hotheaded Sonny, and Robert Duvall, in the best role of his career, is splendid as Tom Hagen. (And I loved Simonetta Stefanelli as Apollonia)! In addition to the writing and the casting, the filming and cinematography was also excellent. Who could ever forget Sonny's murder at the toll booth? And the baptism scene? Classic filmmaking at its best. I can't recommend this picture highly enough -- although I would strongly encourage the reading and re-reading of the novel as well.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Better Get the Collection, July 5, 2004

By	James N. Smith (Memphis, TN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Godfather (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)

So many reviews rate the film itself which we already know is a classic, but few give any comments on the quality of the DVD. The Paramount Widescreen Collection of this film is indeed a very bad transfer which becomes quite evident in the first scene which is almost incomprehensible because it is so dark as to render the subtle performance of Brando unviewable. On my DVD I couldn't even access the bonus track with the commentary. Fortunately I only spent $15 for it, but it really fueled my desire to see the collection which everyone raves about, eventhough I could care less for GF III.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars restoration--what restoration?!, February 21, 2009

By	H. Dias "nedmom" (california) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Godfather - The Coppola Restoration (DVD)

I am a Godfather fanatic. I have 2 VHS sets and the DVD set. I bought the Part I restoration the other day. I can't believe how disappointed I was! All they did was lighten the picture, which I could have done with my TV remote control. I am extremely disappointed with the so-called restoration.