My 150 Favorite Movies - #53

The Godfather (1972)/The Godfather, Part II (1974)

Since I consider The Godfather and The Godfather Part II of a piece, (it was even reedited in chronological order, with deleted scenes redacted and re-released as a boxed set under the title The Godfather Epic), I am lumping them together under one number. Two of the greatest movies ever made, The Godfather, and II, respectively, made massive stars out of Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, James Caan, and Robert Duvall, among others, as well as providing a mid-career resuscitation to waning superstar Marlon Brando. Based on the novel of the same name by Mario Puzo, and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, these films tell the story of an Italian-American crime family headed by Vito Corleone, played by Brando. Universally regarded as masterpieces, both films won Oscars for Best Picture, and also Oscars for Best Actor (Brando), Best Supporting Actor (De Niro, Part II), and Best Director (Coppola, for Part II).