Mario Puzo’s The Godfather: 50th Anniversary Reissued Movie Classic (1972 -Original Release - 2022 - Reissue ) *****

Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard S. Castelliano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, Diane Keaton, Al Lettieri, Abe Vigoda, Talia Shire, John Cazale, Gianni Russo, Al Martino, Johnny Martino, Lenny Montana, Salvatore Corsitto, Morgana King, Alex Rocco & Richard Bright.

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Distribution : Paramount Pictures (A CBS/Viacom Communications Company) Alfran Productions Oaktree Productions

Running Time : (approx) 2 Hrs 56 Minutes (176 Minutes)

Certification Rating Certificate: (2022) ‘15’

Original Certification Rating Certificate: (1972) ‘X’ -18

On Friday March 24th 1972, 'The Godfather', which chronicles the epic crime story of the Italian-American Corleone family and led by the ageing patriarch Vito Corleone (Brando), opened in movie theaters, but prior to this the film had its world American premiere at Loew's State Theatre, situated in the heart of New York City on Tuesday March 14,1972, -'ten days earlier' before its 'general release' in the US & it had also made at least $15m (￡11,189,437.50 - UK) in advanced rentals from almost 400 US movie theaters showing this movie.

The movie opened in the UK on Thursday August 24th 1972, - 'five months later' & it premiered in London, a day earlier - on Wednesday August 23rd 1972, in Ireland the film opened on Friday August 25th, 'one day later' & it opened in Italy - six months later - after its release in the US on Thursday September 21st, 1972,

Just before Brando 'got the part of Vito Corleone' many actors such as Sir Laurence Olivier, Anthony Quinn, George Campbell Scott, Ernest Borgnine, Richard Conte (who portrayed Emilio 'The Wolf' Barzini in this) & also Orson Welles also auditioned as well, it also revitalised Brando's film career after this 'to full strength' as during the 1960's Brando's film career was in decline at the time.

After his Oscar-Winning performance, in 'The Godfather' he followed it up with 'three movies' -all of which were released in the 1970's - 'Last Tango In Paris' -1972, directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, 'Superman'- 1978, directed by Richard Donner as Jor-El & was reunited with Coppola 'seven years later' with 'Apocalypse Now' - 1979, as Colonel Walter E. Kurtz & featuring an all-star cast featuring Martin Sheen, Dennis Hopper, Sam Bottoms, Frederic Forrest, Albert Hall, Laurence Fishburne, Harrison Ford & also Duvall as Colonel William 'Bill' E. Kilgore.

For the record, Duvall has appeared in five Coppola movies - four of which as director : 'The Rain People' - 1969, 'The Godfather' - 1972, 'The Godfather' : Part II - 1974 & 'The Conversation' - also 1974 featuring Academy-Award Winner Gene Hackman plus Allen Garfield, Frederic Forrest, Cindy Williams, Teri Garr, John Cazale & Harrison Ford in support plus THX-1138 (1971) as producer with George Lucas on directing duties (this was also his directorial debut - six years before he hit 'the big time' with 'Star Wars' -1977, & 'two years 'before 'American Graffiti' - 1973) & also starring Donald Pleasence & Sid Haig in supporting roles.

The epic-crime novel was written by Mario Puzo, an American author who was also a screenwriter and a journalist from Italian descent.

Puzo, himself was born on October 15,1920, in Manhattan, the West Side of New York City, known to many as 'Hell's Kitchen' also known as Clinton, 'a neighbourhood' that’s situated in NYC.

However, in 1960,- nine years earlier,Bruce Jay Friedman,- an American screenwriter, actor, playwright & novelist hired Puzo to work as ‘an assistant editor for a group of ‘pulp magazines’ that’s especially read by men & it was during his time that he wrote a segment of WWII adventure features for 'True Action' classed as a magazine under the pseudonym 'a fictitious' pen name of Mario Cieri.

Friedman's versatile of writing was noted for its style in both 'literature & pop culture', but he was also a 'trailblazer' in the style of modern American 'black humour & that the themes of his work that mainly wrote about were in fact the events 'that were shaped during his personal life' but also that they reflected major changes in society during the 1960's-1970's.

By 1980, Friedman wrote 'Stir Crazy', directed by Sir Sidney Poitier & featuring Gene Wilder & Richard Pryor - they were 'reunited' four years after the comedy 'thriller' 'Silver Streak' - 1976, 'which was their first'.

The plot for 'Stir Crazy ' tells the story of 'two unemployed friends' who are both given prison sentences of 'one hundred & twenty-five years' after a bank robbery took place, & the film was 'a financial success at box-offices worldwide.

The novel was originally published in 1969, three years earlier, before the movie came out in 1972, & at the time the novel was on the New York Times “bestseller list” for an amazing ‘sixty-seven weeks’- 1 year & 15 weeks - to be precise, as well selling ‘nine million copies’ for at least two years after its launch as a 'best-selling novel' in 1969.

Puzo's favourite 'genre' was in fact writing 'crime fiction' & in particular - his 'complete works' in the subject alone are worth in fact 'an estimated 'twenty million dollars', which also happens to 'a very vast fortune' alone and which also made him a very wealthy gentleman indeed.

As an 'established author', Puzo has written 'an assortment' of the following including 'eleven novels', 'three non-fiction',' ten short-stories' & 'twelve screenplays/film adaptations'.

By the time the film version of 'The Godfather' came out in 1972, - which was also the 'first instalment of the gangster trilogy' - the film grossed at the 'box office' takings were showing at 'an estimated amount' between $246-$287m (￡182.2614 - ￡212.6383 - UK).

However the original budget of the first movie costed around between $6-7.2m (ranging between ￡4.4454 to ￡5.33448 - UK) meaning that there were 'two sequels' of this gangster classic waiting in 'the pipeline' which were or about to be written in the history of cinema, - notably - 'The Godfather': Part II -1974, two years later after the original - 'this epic-piece' of the gangster epic was both 'a sequel/prequel' to the first part & 'The Godfather': Part III - 1990, - 'the third part of the Corleone trilogy' - eighteen years after the original & sixteen years after the second part.

The story of ‘the first instalment’ which spans from 1945-1955 - 'the first ten years' chronicles the Corleone family under the patriarch Vito Corleone (Brando), & focuses mainly on Michael Corleone, 'the youngest son on the family' (Pacino), who is 'transformed' from a 'reluctant outsider' to a ruthless 'crime boss', - but while he is juggling between loyalty to keeping the 'family business afloat' & also at the same time is in a serious relationship with his girlfriend & soon-to-be wife Kay (Keaton), whilst at the same time he is balancing between the two.

Corleone is actually Andolini & as it turns out that back in 1917, when the youngster aged 9-years old is forced out of his homeland birth of Corleone, the town of Italy, following the brutal murder of his parents & his older brother after which his father insults 'Don Ciccio, a local 'mafia chieftain' he is emigrated to New York & arrives at Ellis Island, an Immigrant station that’s situated in the heart of New York City, alongside The Statue Of Liberty, a famous landmark.

However, as the youngster arrives to be 'registered' as an American at Ellis Island one of the inspectors mistakes him in on the official register as Corleone, which is the name after the Italian town of his country of birth & also doesn't registers him as Andolini - his 'official' surname - so therefore he is known as Vito Corleone & not Andolini.

That original opening scene is used in the second instalment 'mafia trilogy' of ‘The Godfather’ : Part II, released in 1974, featuring Robert De Niro as the young Vito Corleone who won the coveted award for 'Best Supporting Actor' at the 47th Academy Awards -one year later -1975.

Interestingly, Coppola didn't originally want to direct 'the second part of the epic mafia' so he asked Martin Scorsese - Coppola's life-long friend to direct it.

However, producer Robert Evans (who also produced 'Chinatown' featuring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway & John Huston, released in 1974, at the same time that 'The Godfather: Part II was also released) was dead against it & in a scene 'that replicates' the original first part of the trilogy -this is the scene where Tom Hagen (Duvall), is despatched to Hollywood, California, to persuade Jack Woltz,( Marley), a Hollywood 'head-honcho' of a motion-picture studio company to give Johnny Fontaine (Martino), a popular singer and also Vito Corleone's grandson, but Woltz refuses to honour 'the request' and the following morning when he wakes up - he is quite ''shocked'' to find 'Khartoum'- his 'prized-stallion' - whose ''remains of his severed head'' is found languishing on his bed - said that Scorsese will never direct this picture.

But Scorsese had directed 'Goodfellas' - not the pizza product that's manufactured in the UK- back in 1990 featuring Ray Lotta, who passed away on May 26,2022 as Henry Hill and also featuring the likes of Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, who, ironically was also in 'The Sopranos' as a psychiatrist in the TV show & Paul Sorvino as Paulie Cicero - and who by the way also passed away on July 25, 2022, - which by the way that 'The Godfather: Part III - 'the original version' was in fact released in movie theatres, but Paramount Pictures, the film company offered Coppola more money 'basically just to sweeten the deal' & that at the end of the day Coppola did direct 'the second part' - & also 'the third part' of the epic mafia trilogy as well.

Now if you really want to know 'the life-story of Robert Evans' - the Hollywood movie mogul - then I can recommend 'The Kid Stays In The Picture' - for this is a documentary for fans of cinematic excellence.

For 'The Godfather' - this became known as 'the highest-grossing film' of 1972, & was 'for a limited-time' - 'the highest grossing- film ever made'.

It was also 'nominated for ten Academy Awards' & won only three - 'Best Picture' -Albert Stotland Ruddy, 'Best Actor' -Marlon Brando & also 'Best Adapted Screenplay' - Mario Puzo & Francis Ford Coppola.

However, on Tuesday March 27,1973, when the 'forty-fifth Academy Awards took place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion, situated in Hollywood, California,' honouring the 'BEST FILMS' of 1972, took place, - now this was at the time when Brando who was due to collect his 'BEST ACTOR' award from Sir Roger Moore and Liv Ullmann, but had 'boycotted' the event and instead sent along 'Sacheen Littlefeather' - his representative, who came on to the stage on behalf of Brando and 'declared' as LIVE on the world's stage, by refusing to collect the 'BEST ACTOR' award for Brando himself, and also that Littlefeather herself was also a 'Native American Actress and also a Civil Rights Activist.

Sacheen Cruz Littlefeather - aka Marie Louise Cruz - born November 14, 1946, was also a model and had a Native American Capache and Yaqui father and also had a white mother who both raised their daughter.

However in 1969, - three years earlier between November 20, 1969, to June 11, 1971, lasting 1 year and seven months (19 months) she was involved in the Occupation Of Alcatraz Island,- which ironically was 'six days' after she celebrated her 23rd birthday, - and that the island itself is situated off the coast of San Francisco Bay - that's 1.25m (about 2.01 km) offshore from San Francisco, California, US, and also that during this time that she became involved by 'simply helping out' in the Native American community - as - 'an activist'.

Now originally the island was in fact developed in the 'mid-19th century' - with many facilities that included the following: - a lighthouse, a military fortification and also a military prison.

By 1934, the island was 'converted' into a federal prison - known to many as - Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary - however 'around the island' the 'strong currents' and also the 'water temperatures' made the escape from the island as 'nearly impossible', also the prison became notorious in US history, and by 1963, the prison closed and is now 'a major tourist attraction'.

The ceremony itself were co-hosted by the likes of Carol Burnett, Sir Michael Caine, Charlton Heston and even Rock Hudson, and over the years stars such as Bob Hope, Billy Crystal, Johnny Carson, Whoopi Goldberg, Jack Lemmon, Jerry Lewis, Steve Martin, Conrad Nagel, Sir David Niven, Chevy Chase, Sammy Davis Jnr, Ellen DeGeneres, William C deMille, Jane Fonda, Goldie Hawn, Walter Matthau, Richard Pryor, Chris Rock,Frank Sinatra, James Stewart and Jon Stewart - no relation to James - only by 'shared surname' - have hosted the ceremony more than once.

Now the 'official version' of this unfortunate incident was that Brando had attempted 'to protest against the treatment of Native Americans in Hollywood' and also bring the attention towards 'the Wounded Knee Occupation'.

Also at the event was Hollywood icon John Wayne - aka Marion Michael Morrison - who - 'three years earlier' - in 1970 won an Oscar as US Marshal Rooster Cogburn, a cantankerous, hard-nosed, one-eyed, drunken, character in 'True Grit' - the original 1969 version also featuring Kim Darby and Glen Campbell - and it was claimed - 'at the time' - that Wayne - 'tried to assault' - 'the Native Indian' however actor Clint Eastwood who by sheer coincidence was also seen at the event - and was seen 'mocking' the Native Indian as well.

Three years later - 1976, Wayne starred as John Bernard Books, a 'gunslinger' who is terminally ill in 'The Shootist' based on the novel by Glendon Swarthout originally published 'one year earlier - 1975 - this film is based on a 'real-life character' called John Wesley Hardin, a 'real-life' gunman who earned a law-degree in a Texas prison and was subsequently 'gunned down' at the Acme Saloon, situated in El Paso.

The film apart from Wayne featured an ''all star cast'' including James Stewart, Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard, John Carradine, Scatman Crothers, Hugh O'Brian, Richard Lenz, Sheree North, Bill McKinney, Richard Boone and Harry Morgan, now the film was directed by Don Siegel - this was in fact Wayne's final movie - three years later - 1979, Wayne 'passed away' from 'stomach cancer'.

By a sheer coincidence - that same year - also in 1976 - Eastwood directed and starred in 'The Outlaw Josey Wales' - a 'dark, blood-thirsty and violent' western again featuring Sondra Locke, Sam Bottoms, Woodrow Parfrey, John Vernon, Chief Dan George, Paula Trueman, Geraldine Keams and also Bill McKinney - again - this was classed as 'an American Revisionist Western' and set during the American Civil War.

Now, for Eastwood, this was in fact - 'his second Western' - as 'director and star' - the first of these was 'High Plains Drifter - 1973 - in which he directed and starred - and in 1992, Eastwood was 'back in the saddle' - for the 'third time' directing and starring in 'Unforgiven' - winning 'four Academy Awards' and also dedicated the picture to Sergio Leone and also Siegel, - the two original mentors in Eastwood’s Film career as actor/director.

Back in 1973, this 'shocking event' that not only shocked the awards season, but also the world, which in the history of the Academy Awards, was in fact - 'classed as a darkest chapter' and 'fifty years later' - after it happened - The Academy Of Motion Picture Sciences or 'AMPAS' - the 'organisers' - finally apologised to Sacheen Littlefeather, - the Native Indian in August 2022, -nearly 'fifty-years after 'the unfortunate incident' - which ''shocked the world of the film industry, and then on October 2, 2022, she sadly 'passed away' at her home in Novato, California, US, at the age of 'seventy five years' from cancer

Three years later, - 1976 -, Brando and Jack Nicholson appeared in 'The Missouri Breaks', directed by Arthur Penn, the film described as a western-drama featured Nicholson as Tom Logan, a rustler, and Brando as Robert E. Lee Clayton, a notorious Irish-American regulator.

Meanwhile, 'seven years earlier' - 1965 - Ruddy co-created 'Hogan's Heroes' an American 'sit-com' TV show produced by CBS - a US TV station and was set in a Nazi German POW - 'Prisoner Of War camp during WWII - the show itself ran for at least 'six seasons' and 'one hundred and sixty-eight episodes' between 1965-1971,- and featured Bob Crane, an American actor who was also the 'main star' of the hit show.

Crane was also a drummer, radio personality and a DJ - 'Disc Jockey' as well, but beneath that 'shining star' he led a 'darker-persona' to his credit as well - as a 'pornographer' - photographing and video-taping - 'on the side'.

This took place after the show finished in 1971.

One of his original co-stars of 'Hogan's Heroes' actor Richard Dawson, introduced him to John Henry Carpenter, who worked as a 'regional sales manager' for Sony Electronics, who often famous clients with their video equipment.

The two men struck up a 'friendship' and often went along going to bars together, Crane soon attracted many women 'due to his celebrity status' and often introduced Carpenter to them as his manager, while both men 'videotaped' their joint sexual encounters involving many women who were 'unaware' of their 'going's on'.

Crane was murdered on June 29,1978, he had been bludgeoned with a weapon that was never identified though investigators claimed that it was 'a camera tripod and also that 'an electrical cord had been tied around his neck and his funeral took place on July 5, 1978.

Then in 2002, Crane's life and murder was the subject of a film called 'Auto Focus' featuring Greg Kinnear as Crane and Willem Dafoe as Carpenter, the film was directed by Paul Schrader and was also based on a book on Crane's murder by Robert Graysmith author of 'Zodiac' and 'Zodiac Unmasked'.

'Auto Focus' was an instant success at box-offices worldwide and should be seen on home entertainment - this is in fact 'highly recommended' by yours truly.

Graysmith is in fact an American true-crime author and also a former 'political' cartoonist, working for the San Francisco Chronicle and who is known for his work on the Zodiac killer case when in 1969, and when the 'Zodiac' killer came into prominence it was then that he attempted to 'decode' the letters that were originally written by the killer himself and from between 1969 -1982 - for the next 'thirteen years' that Graysmith became 'obsessed' with the case itself which resulted in two marriages - Margaret Ann Womack, a nurse married between 1963-1973 - 'ten years' and also Melanie Krakower, married between 1975-1980 - 'five years' - but sadly that ended in divorce, and also he directly attributes his failed marriage to his intense interest in the 'Zodiac' case itself.

When ''Zodiac'' was released in movie theaters in 2007, directed by David Fincher and featured Jake Gyllenhaal as Graysmith also featuring Robert Downey Jnr as Paul Avery and Mark Ruffalo as Inspector Dave Toschi.

Toschi, in real life also happened to become the 'original role model' of Detective Inspector Harry Callahan and in 1971 the film Dirty Harry, starring Clint Eastwood, and directed by Don Siegel came out in movie theatres and thus became a franchise resulting in “four sequels” - notably - 'Dirty Harry' - 1971, 'Magnum Force' -1973, 'The Enforcer' -1976, 'Sudden Impact' - 1983, and 'The Dead Pool' - 1988.

Meanwhile, in 1974, Ruddy produced 'The Longest Yard' - (in the UK it was released as 'The Mean Machine' based on his original story what he wrote and set in an American Penitentiary - aka Prison) - this was described as an American sports comedy featuring an all-star cast consisting of Burt Reynolds, Eddie Albert, Ed Lauter, James Hampton and Michael Conrad - star of the TV Series 'Hill Street Blues' as Sgt Phil Esterhaus - a veteran cop - who by the way ended the introductory ''roll-call'' to each week's show with the following - ''Let's Be Careful Out There'', and the original was in fact - ''REMADE'' - ''TWICE''.

The first of these ''remakes'' came in 2001, as 'Mean Machine' was released in theatres featuring Vinnie Jones - a former footballer hard-man - and David Hemmings, then in 2006, - ''five years later'' - it was known as 'The Longest Yard' - this time featuring Adam Sandler, James Cromwell, Chris Rock, William Fitchner, Courteney Cox and Reynolds himself.

Ruddy also produced movies as well such as 'The Cannonball Run''- 1981 - also featuring Reynolds, along with Dom DeLuise, Jackie Chan, Farrah Fawcett, Sir Roger Moore, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jnr, Jack Elam,Jamie Farr,Adrienne Barbeau and Peter Fonda, ''Death Hunt'' - 1981 - featuring Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, (they originally starred together in 'The Dirty Dozen'' -1967 - directed by Robert Aldrich), also featuring Angie Dickinson and also Lauter who was in the original version of 'The Longest Yard' back in 1974, and ''Million Dollar Baby'' -2004- 'an American sports movie drama set in the world of boxing featuring Oscar-Winning actor/director Clint Eastwood, who also directed, starred, co-produced, and also scored - the music - as well.

The film itself was nominated for ''SEVEN'' Oscars - and won at least 'FOUR' - including 'BEST PICTURE' -Eastwood, Ruddy - his 'second award' as well as Tom Rosenberg and Paul Haggis - who also wrote the screenplay, 'BEST DIRECTOR' - Eastwood, 'BEST ACTRESS' - Hilary Swank and also 'BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR' - Morgan Freeman.

The film studio Paramount Pictures obtained 'the original rights' to the novel as far back as 1967, 'five years earlier' before the movie & 'two years before the novel was published thanks to a literacy scout who happened to be working for the company at the present time for the 'asking price' of $80,000 (￡59,470.00 -UK), just before it gained its popularity.

In 1968, prior to 'The Godfather' four years earlier the studio itself released a movie called 'The Brotherhood' directed by Martin Ritt featuring Kirk Douglas, Irene Papas, Alex Cord, Luther Adler, Susan Strasberg, Murray Hamilton, Val Avery & Alan Hewitt.

However, the film 'bombed' at the box-office & that the studio would never release 'a Mafia pic' - that is - until 'four years later' - 1972 - before 'The Godfather' came into fruition.

Then the Studio Executives at the film company which included the likes of Robert Evans, a producer for the company & Peter Bart, who was also Vice-President of Production for the company & it was this scout who contacted Bart about this 'unfinished manuscript'- entitled 'Mafia',originally written by Puzo & which was about 'sixty pages long that this scout had this 'unfinished manuscript' in his possession & subsequently showed this to Bart.

Bart offered Puzo $12.500 (￡9,284.44 - UK) for the original option plus an 'additional' $80,000 (￡594,420.00) for the completion of the finished product,- the movie & despite Puzo's agent telling Puzo to 'turn down the offer' but Puzo was 'desperate for money' & finally 'accepted the deal',but Evans later revealed that Puzo needed $ 10,000 (￡7,426.45 - UK) just to 'pay off a gambling debt.

But the studio executives were also looking for an unknown film director whose experiences can turn 'a box office failure' into 'a box office success' & their 'first original choice' was Sergio Leone, - the director of 'The Dollars Trilogy' - (1964-1966),featuring Clint Eastwood as 'the iconic stranger' known to many as 'The Man With No Name' in various disguises but sadly he 'turned them down' - this was at the time that he was planning to direct 'the epic gangster flick - 'eleven minutes short' of 'four hours' of 'Once Upon A Time In America'- originally released way back in 1984 & featured Robert De Niro, James Woods, Tuesday Weld, Elizabeth McGovern, Joe Pesci, Burt Young & Treat Williams.

So, then they 'approached' Peter Bogdanovich to direct, but like Leone, he too declined, because Bogdanovich wasn't interested 'in 'directing a Mafia pic' so then they approached other directors such as Peter Yates, Richard Brooks, Costa-Gavras, Arthur Penn & Otto Preminger who were also 'offered the position' to direct this & guess what - they also 'declined' as well.

Eventually they came across an Italian-American film director called Francis Ford Coppola, whose previous movies as director included 'The Rain People' -1969, featuring Shirley Knight, James Caan - who sadly “passed away” on July 6th 2022 -, and Robert Duvall, - now both Caan & Duvall would both feature in 'The Godfather' with Caan as Sonny Corleone & Duvall as Tom Hagen - the lawyer representing the Corleone family.

Now, it was during the 'production making of 'The Godfather' back in 1971, that Caan himself was known 'to hang out' with Carmine Persico, - 'aka' - 'The Snake', - a notorious Mafioso and also 'the head' of the Colombo crime family and is in fact 'the youngest of The Five Families' that also dominated 'the organized crime activities in New York City within 'the criminal organisation' known as 'The American Mafia.

Government agents mistakenly mistook Caan who was relatively 'unknown at the time' and for many years he was closely identified with the role - but his dynamic performance as Sonny Corleone was 'rewarded' with a 'Best Supporting Actor Academy Award' nomination along with Duvall and Pacino - his co-stars in the movie, however in 1974, 'two years later' after the original and 'The Godfather: Part II' was released, Caan had 'reprised the role' in the 'sequel-prequel' to the original - 'this time his performance was seen in a flashback scene'.

The Rain People' performed badly at the box office & also 'a commercial failure'.

However, one year earlier -1968 - Coppola directed 'a musical fantasy film' called 'Finian's Rainbow' featuring Fred Astaire, Petula Clark & even Sir Tommy Steele, (aka Sir Thomas Hicks, OBE, - Order Of The British Empire) as Og - an Irish 'leprechaun'.

This 'epic' which was classed as 'a musical' & based on the 1947 original musical follows the adventures of Finian McLonergan, (Astaire),a lovable Irish rogue, who along his daughter Sharon (Clark), 'absconds' from Ireland, - his birthplace steals a leprechaun's magic pot of gold (inside the pot was some 'cheap night cream belonging to Granny Ridgeway who sprinkles it on her face - unaware that its actually mayonnaise that she's accidentally put on - 'crap product'- but a great superior taste plus a copy report of BJ's going's on various ‘raunchy’ parties - known to many. as 'Partygate' and is situated at 10 Downing Street that's in the pot) belonging to Og, (Steele), & emigrate to the US, where upon arriving, they become involved in a 'heated dispute between rural landowners & also a greedy, racist US Senator in the process.

Now, Coppola initially 'turned down the dream job' as director simply because that he not only found Puzo's original novel as 'sleazy & also a sensationalist' but also 'describing the contents' of the original novel as 'pretty cheap stuff'.

However it was at the time when Coppola's film studio, 'American Zoetrope owed over $400.000 (￡298,360.00 - UK) to Warner Bros, a film studio, for 'budget overruns' with 'THX-1138' -1971, also featuring Duvall - which was produced by Coppola & directed by George Lucas & when coupled with Coppola's 'poor financial standing' & also with the advice from friends & family & it was also agreed that Coppola 'reversed his initial decision & also accepted 'the dream job' as director of the forthcoming movie providing that if the film was successful at the box-office he agreed to receive 'a substantial $125,000 (￡93,237.50 - UK) as well as 'six per-cent' of the gross rentals as well.

When Coppola began directing the film was originally $2.5m (￡1,864.750.00 - UK),but also as the original novel grew in popularity (''word of mouth"), the novel would eventually be 'a success', so Coppola argued with 'the film studio - basically about 'his demands as well as his conditions' as well & also ultimately received 'a larger budget' - just because he simply got his way - as you do - this would also include travelling to New York City & also to Sicily to continue to 'shoot on location' in order to complete 'the finished product of the film'.

Two years later, -1974, - 'The Godfather'- 'the theatrical original version' debuted on NBC - an American TV channel on Saturday,November 16,1974, 'with only minor edits'.

Now the original TV rights for this 'one showing' - 'split into 'two parts' - the 'second part' was shown on Monday,November 18, 1974, was sold for only $10 million (￡7,459,000 - UK), this 'attracted a large audience' for NBC & at the same time also helped generate the anticipation for Part II - 'the upcoming sequel/prequel', for this as well.

By 1975, one year later 'The Godfather: Part II:, Coppola had created 'The Godfather Saga' which was expressively made for US TV - this 'special event' combined both 'Godfather' movies with 'unused footage' in a chronological telling that basically 'toned down' - the 'violent-explicit & also many sexual scenes', of a profane material that premiered on NBC on Saturday, November 18, 1977, exactly 'three years later' after the original first movie was shown.

Then in 1981, Paramount Pictures released 'The Godfather Epic I & II Boxed Set, which also told the story of 'the first two movies' again in chronological order, again with additional scenes, but not redacted for broadcast sensiblities.

By 1992, 'two years later' after 'The Godfather': Part III was released in movie theaters, 'The Godfather Trilogy' simply known as 'The Coppola Restoration' - packaged beautifully in a 'bright red box' was released on home entertainment - this trilogy box set comprised all three movies that are fundamentally shown in chronological order.

The Coppola Restoration version also released 'an additional two discs' adding to the 'three discs' making it a total of 'five discs' in all, these included the original documentaries including an extras section featuring all brand new commentary audio tracks by Coppola himself in all 'three movies' that featured in the box set originally released in 1981, which by the way are in this version plus a new set of documentaries that were released in the latest one,& if you're a real fan of this then you'll love this assortment of documentaries in this complete package.

For it is after all - a 'reel deal'- that's one hell of an offer that you simply can't refuse.

So as 2022 is the year that 'the 50th Anniversary Classic' of this iconic 'Mafia classic' which first opened way back in 1972, & it's been decided that this is being 'reissued' back in movie theaters on a restoration print in 4K, for a new generation who up until now that they have never seen this on a 'gigantic big screen' that's shown in a multiplex movie theater & that the only way that this 'new generation' would have seen this many times on TV, because seeing this on the big screen is without doubt 'the ultimate experience' & also one of those that you simply 'have to see before you die'.

Two years earlier - June 2019 - 'yours truly' attended a special-event 'once-in-a lifetime' special double-bill feature consisting of both Godfather's I & II at the Plaza Cinema, situated in the heart of Stockport Town Centre, on a warm Sunday sunny afternoon.

Now being a 'die hard cinema fan' to which that I am also a 'film club member' & also paid about ￡10.00 for both movies and this was also the fact that I was 'really looking forward to it very much 'for this was a once in a lifetime special event and also for one magnificent day' -lasting over 'six & a half hours' - including a ''one hour'' intermission in between 'Part I' plus a 'ten-minute intermission' in between 'Part II'.

However, the experience of seeing these in an 'art-deco' movie theater at the time was in fact 'pure magic' - every frame of this is beautifully restored to its original beauty - “easy tigress” - because after all -this without doubt - 'a bonafide classic' of its kind.

Seeing this in a movie theater that's shown in a new 4K digital print is simply this :a movie theater that shows 4K on a digital screen means so much more detail as images projected at true 4K resolution containing about 4096 x 2160 pixels (or tiny dots) so that's about over 8 megapixels (million pixels) or four times that the number of pixels on your full High-Definition HD TV at your establishment (about 1920 x 1080 pixels).

However Digital Cinema uses bit rates of up to at least about 250 Mb/s & that a typical movie file is around 150 gigs, there are movie theaters that are fitted with 4K, but not all of them are fitted in this format as most of the film resources are in fact 1080P, but also in addition there are some cinema halls which will support 2K, which is in fact the current max cinema halls in this process.

But, in the years before the likes of Dolby Noise-Reduction that was invented by Ray Dolby who founded the company on May 18th, 1965, 'The Godfathers' I & II wasn't installed in this format at the present time as it was fitted with an optical mono recorded soundtrack system such as Westrex Recorded System, but when all 'three Godfather movies' were reissued years later, they were each fitted in this new format as well as these 'original negatives' were all 'worn away' & also due to daily regular showings - this is because the original film was actually shot in celluloid 'real film material' all of which were stored in film cans of its time.

Interestingly, the 'Restoration' on both 'Godfather' I & II films were both done by Robert A. Harris & James C. Katz, two 'renowned' gentlemen' who are both film historians, archivists & also film preservationists, between them they have restored at least 'ten movies' & apart from 'Godfather's I & II, they have also restored two 'Alfred Hitchcock classics' - 'Rear Window' 1954, & 'Vertigo' 1958, as well as 'Spartacus' 1960, directed by Stanley Kubrick 'Lawrence Of Arabia' 1962, directed by Sir David Lean & 'My Fair Lady' 1964, directed by George Cukor featuring Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle, a poor Cockney 'flower-seller, who overhears Henry Higgins,(Rex Harrison),an 'arrogant phonetics professor' as he casually 'wagers' that he could 'teach her to speak proper English & therefore in the process making her as presentable in the high society in Edwardian London,& is also based on 'Pygmalion' by George Bernard Shaw, an Irish playwright who wrote this way back in 1913 originally as 'a stage-play' for the theatre.

Just for the record, Hepburn's singing in the film version was classed as 'inadequete' & she was 'dubbed' by Marni Nixon.

Nixon is now recognised as 'the singing voice' of leading actresses on the soundtracks of many musicals involving Deborah Kerr 'The King And I' 1956, & also Natalie Wood 'West Side Story' - the 1961 original version & not the 2021 remake directed by Steven Spielberg.

In 1950, Nixon married Ernest Gold, (aka Ernst Sigmund Goldner), sadly in 1969, they divorced after 19 yrs of marriage.

Gold was a film composer who composed many film scores 'thirty-three in all' - these included 'The Defiant Ones' 1958, featuring 'the late, great, legendary -Sir Sidney Poitier & Tony Curtis, 'Exodus' 1960, with Paul Newman & Eva Marie Saint, 'Judgment At Nuremberg' 1961, with Spencer Tracy,Burt Lancaster,Richard Widmark, Maximilian Schell, Marlene Dietrich & Judy Garland, 'Cross Of Iron' 1977, with James Coburn & James Mason & 'Tom Horn' - 1980, featuring Steve McQueen.

During this time the couple had 'three children' including Andrew Maurice Gold, who became a musician in his 'own right' as he had hits such as 'Lonely Boy', 'Never Let Her Slip Away'& also 'Thank You For Being A Friend' which in 1985, became a 'cover-hit version performed by Cynthia Fee & used in the US TV 'sitcom' of 'The Golden Girls', - the series ran from September 1985 - May 1992, consisting of 'one hundred & eighty half-hour episodes & also spanned 'seven seasons'.

Gold began his career playing scores of records by other artists most notably by Linda Ronstadt, & by the 1980's had further international chart success as 'one half of 'Wax' - also featuring Graham Gouldman in a collaboration first.

Just for the record, Gold was originally 'diagnosed with kidney cancer' and was also responding to treatment, however, on June 3, 2011, Gold sadly 'passed away' in his sleep at the age of 'fifty-nine years' in Los Angeles, -the result of this was 'heart failure'.

In 1972, Gouldman was previously in 10cc, an English rock band formed in Stockport, the group consisted of four musicians - Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley & Lol Creme, & that the group were featured as - 'two songwriting teams'.

Now Gouldman & Stewart were in fact 'pop songwriters' creating most of the band's accessible songs where as Godley & Creme were the 'experimental half' featuring songs involving 'art & 'cinematic inspired writing'.

The group had 'five UK albums' all of which were in the 'Top Ten' as well as 'twelve singles reaching the 'Top Twenty'.

Most of the recordings took place at 'Strawberry Studios' (North), situated in Stockport Town Centre & also 'Strawberry Studios' (South), situated in Dorking,Surrey.

The history of 'Strawberry Studios' situated in Stockport Town Centre began in 1967 when it was simply known as Inter-City Studios, the venue itself was located in a tiny 'twenty-foot-square' studio which was above the Nield & Hardy record store.

Now at the time, Peter Tattersall, a local was helping out there for a few months & during this time he was also in the music business, working as a road manager with such groups as 'Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas, had decided to buy the studio complete with all the equipment - this consisted of 'two tape machines'& a few 'microphones'.

Tattersall paid about ￡500.00 & for the next few months worked from 'seven' in the morning until 'two' in the afternoon at a local bakery, - this was in order to 'raise' money for the studio.

However in 1967, there were no other professional recording facilities outside of London, & Inter-City provided the 'golden opportunity' for offering the studio mainly for recordings of advertisements & also demonstration tapes for local artists such as 'The Mindbenders' & also 'Herman's Hermits', & it was at that point that Eric Stewart, a member of 'The Mindbenders' soon became associated with the Studio, & that Stewart had always wanted to be 'involved in that side of the business', but then Stewart himself 'accepted an offer' from Tattersall to become a 'partner', but in spite of being told that it was a waste of time, money & effort, Stewart had invested at least ￡800.00 in Inter-City, & also set about improving the standards of the equipment. '

The Mindbenders' were in fact 'an English pop group' that was founded by Wayne Fontana in the summer of the month of June of 1963, & the name of the group was inspired by a feature film called ironically called 'The Mindbenders' released in the same year starring British actor Dirk Bogarde 'then known as 'a matinee idol' - & also who during 'the decade of the sixties' starred in many films during that period.

They were also 'one of several acts' that were successful & also 'revolutionised' as the British Invasion of the US 'pop charts' achieving hits such as 'The Game Of Love', - a * 1 hit with Fontana in 1965, & also had another chart hit with 'A Groovy Kind Of Love' one year later -1966.

Twenty-Two years later, - 1988, pop-star Phil Collins starred as Ronald Christopher 'Buster' Edwards in the 'crime film' called 'Buster' about 'The Great Train Robbery' of 1963, which 'Buster' Edwards - 'a small-timer' was involved in with a group of ambitious thieves that were involved, Collins himself had a *1 hit in the charts with 'A Groovy Kind Of Love' & there was also chart success with 'The Four Tops' with 'Loco In Acapulco' as well.

The timing of Stewart's arrival at the studio also brought about the change of name for the studio, as Stewart's 'favourite' song at the time was 'Strawberry Fields Forever' performed by 'The Beatles' & so it was that both Tattersall & Stewart decided that the name of 'Strawberry Recording Studios' complete with its catchy advertising slogan of 'Strawberry Studios Forever' in mind & also that Strawberry Recording Studios Limited (UK), - Limited was incorporated on October 20,1967.

The studio also had additional support from local backers including Graham Gouldman - then a local songwriter, & that Gouldman himself had invested at least ￡2,000, by then 'Strawberry' had 'upgraded its equipment' for future recordings performed by various artists.

The presence of Stewart & also Gouldman were soon joined by Kevin Godley & Lol Creme & by now as well as 'recording artists' - '10cc', they were also music producers & also 'backing musicians' as well as many songs that were performed by football stars from 'football clubs' featuring Manchester City, Leeds United, Everton & Bury, - they were after all 'die hard fans' of Manchester City just because they supported 'the blue half - through & through - & that the studio even had Neil Sedaka then at the time he was 'a fading American star, performing at Strawberry - in person - who at this time was making a comeback by recording at least 'two albums'.

Their 'biggest hit' was 'I'm Not In Love' released in 1975, which featured the words 'Big Boys Don't Cry' - this part was performed by Kathy Redfern, a receptionist who worked at Strawberry Studios, - she recorded her part on the track during her lunch-break - now that's what i call dedication - pure genius.

By the late 1970's,Martin Hannett, a music producer, then began an association at Strawberry Studios, & which would last until his death in 1991, & many artists who recorded at the studio during its run included the likes of Barclay James Harvest & also the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, but by then a new generation of up & coming artists such as Joy Division, Durutti Column & even The Stone Roses were using their facilities to mix & record their 'finished masterpieces of outstanding work’ & other artists that have worked in this 'iconic studio' include the likes of The Buzzcocks, New Order, James, The Smiths, Simply Red & even St Winifred's School Choir, which is situated in Heaton Mersey, a suburb of Stockport.

However, in the early 1990's, it was announced that the owner's of Strawberry had decided that they would concentrate on video production rather than sound recording thus ending nearly a 'quarter of a century' of such activity in Stockport, & by 1993, at almost 30 yrs, Strawberry had sadly ended its long association with the town.

One other thing 'this special 50th Anniversary Classic Screening' will be shown on a short limited run in movie theaters after which it will then be released on home entertainment in March 2022, but i should also point out that 'The Godfather': Part III - has been 'repackaged' as 'The Godfather' -'Coda' - The Death Of Michael Corleone, which, by the way, is in fact an all new 're-cut' version of the original classic including 'a new beginning' & also 'a new ending' to this trilogy classic.

Just for the record when “The Godfather : Part III was originally released in 1990, Coppola wanted to call it as “The Godfather- Coda: The Death Of Michael Corleone, but Paramount Pictures dropped the new title & reverted it back to its original title.

Coppola also wanted to use Puzo's name in the original title because it is very important that the creator/author's name is extremely true of 'an original formula' of an important product.

The word “Coda” means that it is actually - an ‘epilogue’ to the original epic mafia trilogy, but also 'an international overture' or even an 'entracte' which basically is 'a piece of orchestral music' that is used either before 'the beginning', during 'the halfway point' and also after the 'end' of the production, wether it is either theatre or even cinema.

Many examples of this include the likes of the 1959 epic 'Ben Hur' starring Oscar-Winning actor Charlton Heston as Prince Judah Ben-Hur, plus Kirk Douglas in the 1960 'epic' of 'Spartacus' and also the 1962 desert epic life story of T.E.Lawrence, portrayed by Peter O'Toole and also directed by Sir David Lean - 'Lawrence Of Arabia'.

The 'difference' between 'The Godfather Coda' and also 'The Godfather: Part III is that when 'The Godfather : Part III has a 'duration running time' consisting of 2 Hrs 44 Mins (164 mins) where as 'The Godfather' - Coda has a 'duration running time' of at least 2 Hrs 37 Mins (157 mins), now the 'new version' of the trilogy has been 'trimmed by about seven minutes' - and even now that seeing 'this new version' which by the way has just been released 'for the first time ever - this is because 'The Godfather' is celebrating its '50th Anniversary'.

Yes boys & girls Coppola has ‘breathed - a new life’ into restoring this as classic to the ‘Godfather Trilogy’ & all ‘three of these’ are in fact simply resounding classics that are shown in movie theatres seen by all generations, - present and future.

One other thing that I should point and also tell you about is this, back in 2001, - a non-fiction book - 'Leave The Gun, Take The Cannoli' written by Mark Seal and 'detailing about the making of The Godfather', was out in hardback and available at bookstores everywhere and if you're a 'die hard fan' -then this is for you.

'Cannoli' are in fact - 'an Italian Pastries' - consisting of tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough that's filled with a sweet, creamy filling usually containing Ricotta - 'a staple of Sicilian Cuisine', these pastries range in size from 9 -20 cms, - (about three and a half to eight inches) and they are also commonly known as 'Cannoli Siciliani' - (Sicilian Cannoli), - who needs the likes of all the cookery programmes when you can read all about it from yours truly.

So if you have never seen this original classic on the big screen or even if you have by simply seeing it again - then i urge you to do so as Coppola will make you an offer that you simply can't refuse - because you simply will enjoy it & you will love this because after all without 'The Godfather' there would be no Sopranos featuring the likes of the legendary late great James Gandolfini - as Tony Soprano because after all - it was the TV show that 'broke the mould' & also ‘smashed up the expensive pot’ - which by the way ‘was simply priceless’& it was all thanks to 'The Godfather' who started it all off.

Don't Miss This Epic Masterpiece Of A Classic !

It is without doubt, “The Ultimate Experience”.

Take Care & Above All - Stay Safe !

David M G Mitchell.