CLASSIC MOVIE CORNER: 'The Godfather' (1972)

James Caan and Marlon
Brando in 'The Godfather'“The Godfather” (1972)

MPAA Rating: R
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, James Caan, Robert Duvall, John Cazale

The Gist: The Corleones are a family that pray — and prey — together.

The Story: Vito Corleone (Brando) is a wealthy and respected man. As the head of a well-connected crime family, he carries corrupt senators, cops and judges in his pocket, like so much loose change. When another aspiring crime boss asks Vito to lend his money and influence to a heroin smuggling racket, Vito refuses. Even the notorious Godfather has some sense of decency. So, the would-be drug lord attempts to assassinate Vito, hoping his heir, Sonny (Caan), will be willing to talk business. It’s a fatal miscalculation. The attempt on Vito’s life also inspires Vito’s younger son, Michael (Pacino), to seek revenge. Michael, a decorated war hero, never wanted to be a part of the family business before. Soon, he’ll be neck-deep in it.

The Review: “The Godfather” is not just a story about thugs and hoods. It has plenty of blood and violence. But, it’s ultimately a story about family, and the joy and pain that family members can inflict on one another. It’s about how family members forgive — or don’t forgive — one another for their faults.