Godfather I by Francis Ford Coppola - Essay Example

Godfather I An analysis In the genre of gangster films, Godfather I, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and released in March 1972, is a landmark film both in its treatment of topic which has violence in the backdrop and the transition of values and familial ties in an acculture society of post war America. The film very delicately tackles the problems faced by the immigrants in America and exposes the ‘emergence’ of a ‘godfather’ who helps them to get justice. This is a film which shows how an immigrant patriarchal society functions, keeping its inherent culture intact and also embracing its adopted country with their heart and soul. In the opening scene where a person is asking for justice, not from the law but from a compatriot, sets the tenor of the film. ‘Why did you go to the police? Why didn’t you come to me first?’(Vito Corleone) subtly illustrates the disillusions of an immigrant about the law and justice of the country and how he is forced to adopt other ‘means’ to get the same. Godfather is a film which revolves around an Italian-American family which operates a crime syndicate in New York in mid forties. Vito Corleone, the patriarchal head of one of the five ’family’ involved in crime syndicate, is the protagonist of the film. He often works beyond the realm of law because he has powerful contacts in political arena and the judiciary. Despite exerting awesome influence and muscle power, he has very strong sense of justice and commands great respect from people who do not hesitate to ask for his help when the law fails to do so! He becomes their ‘protector’ when the need arises so he is better known as ‘the godfather’. The only return for his good deed is their loyalty which he gets. His portrayal as a deeply religious family man reinforces people’s trust in him. His firm belief that family can alleviate lot of pain and anguish is amply illustrated when he admonishes his godson Johnny Fontane, a singer, in his study as he says ‘..cause a man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man’. Indeed “..The Godfather puts forward a positive picture of a family…” (Glenn Man in genre and ideology) The introduction of the youngest son Michael during the wedding reception heralds amalgamation of American values and Italian culture. The educated younger son, who has just returned from the war, comes with his girlfriend. His statement that ‘my father made him an offer he couldn’t refuse’ went on to become one the most famous one-liner in the history of Hollywood films. When he later asserts that ‘..that’s my family Kay. It’s not me’, he acknowledges the violence that is part of his family and at the same time distances himself from it. Michael epitomises a post-war immigrant who is proud to be an American. Though, he has his roots firmly into his Italian culture, he does not hesitate to adopt into his new environment which is bolder and more outgoing. The sexual exploits of the eldest son combined with his hot temperament depicts a typical young man of that time of America. The daughter, Connie is a submissive wife who defends her husband in spite of the fact that he abuses her physically. The projection of women, throughout the film, tells a lot about their status in the post war era of America. Be it immigrants like the protagonist’s family or Kay, who is Michael’s girlfriend who later becomes his wife, women all through the film, have been shown as someone who need protection and looking after rather than as individuals with decision making powers. Their world is confined to their home and family. The film is outstanding in its narration of the theme of violence with overtones of justifications of survival. The killers and murderers are shown as human-being who are kind and understanding with strong sense of family. Money is not the criteria for killing. The purpose behind it may make it imperative but even then it is taken up as the last resort. The severed head of the prized stallion in the bed of the Hollywood film director Woltz, was a way of convincing the director to heed the advise of Tom Hagen, godson of Godfather, and make Johnny as ‘hero’ of his forthcoming film! The connotations indeed, were violent and it is a fact that the mere hint of the violence makes people compliant. The film has successfully endorsed this theory. The film uses the violence either as a business strategy or as a punishment for family betrayal. The film has changed the persona of crime and criminal. Vito Corleone, the Godfather, is played by Marlon Brando in the film. His soft spoken, husky intonations in the film have carried more weight than loud and often abrasive language used by the gangsters in earlier Hollywood films. The aging and homely looking godfather is more lethal and terrifying. His strong convictions and beliefs in his business are unanimously supported by his people. Despite being told that ‘..narcotics is the thing of the future..’ by his confidantes’, when a narcotic dealer(Sollozo) wants to involve him in drug business so that his drug dealings may get police protection and political patronage through him, the godfather refuses because ‘…drug is a dirty business…’. The film corroborates the dynastic rule that was and still is so prevalent in the capitalist society. The mantle of ‘don’ is subsequently passed on to the sons. Initially to the eldest one who is hot tempered and does not hesitate to start the gang war which ends in his murder by the rival group. Later on, transformation of Michael from a gentleman to a suave and ruthless Godfather is clear when he smoothly organizes killing of all his rivals while his father is being cremated. The cold blooded murder of his brother-in-law Carlos when he confesses his involvement in the killing of Sonny – Michael’s brother while his son is being baptised, highlights the degeneration of familial ties. “the juxtaposition of the ceremonial and the everyday, the sacred and the profane..” (Naomi Greene in Family ceremonies: or, opera in the Godfather films) is time and again demonstrated throughout the movie. The face of new godfather in the form of Michael is more ruthless and violent. He is less tolerant and more aggressive in his pursuit of power. He represents the impatient youth of that time for whom the material wealth and power outweighs social and family values. Amongst all the gangster films made till date, Godfather I remains outstanding and all time favourite because it represented a more humane face of the syndicate. There was no significant clash of ideals of two generations culminating in smooth transfer of powers from one to the other. One will easily agree with Coppola’s and Puzo’s adaptation of Puzo’s novel lies in its reinterpretation of the generic conventions of the crime film in the direction of the family melodrama and the epic. (Nick Browne, Fearful A Symmetries). References Man, Glenn, “Ideology and Genre in the Godfather films”, Chapter 4,’Francis Ford Coppola’s Godfather Trilogy’, edited by Nick Browne, Cambridge University Press, 2000. Greene, Naomi, “Family Ceremonies:or, Opera in the Godfather trilogy”, Chapter 5, ’Francis Ford Coppola’s Godfather Trilogy’, edited by Nick Browne, Cambridge University Press, 2000. Browne, Nick, “Fearful A-Symmetries, Violence as History in the Godfather Films”, ’Francis Ford Coppola’s Godfather Trilogy’, edited by Nick Browne, Cambridge University Press, 2000. Read More