Generally considered as one of the “essential male movies” of all time, Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather is a classic Italian mafia movie released in 1972 that follows the life of the Corleone family, and explores the topics of crime, mafia life, love, sex, betrayal, death, power, and loyalty. Based on Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel of the same title, The Godfather boasts of an all-star cast including Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, James Caan, Robert Duvall, and tons more.
The Godfather received numerous Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor. There was a lot of pre-release hype surrounding the Godfather that a lot of people claim that Coppola was already planning on a sequel even before the movie was shown. True enough, the 1972 movie was followed by two more sequels: The Godfather Part II (1974) and The Godfather Part III (1990). The Godfather trilogy chronicles the mafia life of the Corleone family from 1945 to 1955.
Due to its popularity, the Godfather has been referenced and parodied in various forms of popular media. Lines like “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” and “Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.” have been used in latter movies and books to refer to the hard-knock life and dealings within the mafia. In the movie You’ve Got Mail, Meg Ryan’s character asks Joe Fox (played by Tom Hanks), “what is it with men and the Godfather?” — to which Tom Hanks answers: “The Godfather is the I Ching. The Godfather is the sum of all wisdom. The Godfather is the answer to any question.”
A lot of men say that the Godfather is a classic male movie because it serves as a guide on how to survive in a dog-eat-dog world, while holding on to your honor and dignity. It could also be because of the bloody, violent scenes, and explosions that most men look for in movies. Whatever the reason, this Godfather movie poster of Don Vito Corleone would be a staple among Brando and Coppola fans, classic film enthusiasts, and…well, men in general.
