The Godfather DVD Collection: Inside the Cosa Nostra

The only additional footage or uniqueness of the DVD Trilogy is the inclusion of Bonus Materials disc, and the widescreen format, and remastered film. These additions make the DVD version worth the buy, even for those who already own the Videocassette Trilogy. The bonus materials includes many interesting and essential information for any true Godfather fan.
The Bonus Disc includes Behind The Scenes footage including: On location film, Francis Ford Coppola's notebook, and storyboards from both The Godfather Part II, and The Godfather Part III. Also included on the bonus disc is a Corleone Family Tree, with a list of characters, and their respective biographies. Included with this is a Cast List of Biographies. But perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Bonus Disc is the Photo Gallery which allows the viewer to peruse through many significant moments in the film, along with explanatory captions. It sure beats buying ALL the posters for a still frame of your favorite scenes!

AS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL MOVIES THEMSELVES:

*The Godfather

The Godfather centers around the life of Mafia chieftain Vito Corleone. Corleone is an intelligent, and resourceful man who we are immediately aquainted with as having strong political and street powers.Throughout the film, we are immersed in his value system, as a man of his word, he always does what he says, keeps his opinions to himself, and puts his true family first and foremost. He has four children: the hot-headed Santino "Sonny" Corleone; the dimwitted Frederico "Fredo" Corleone; the intelligent and independent Michael Corleone;and the disobedient Constanzia "Connie" Corleone. Tom Hagen is also a member of the immediate family, however not by blood. Tom was adopted by Vito when Sonny found him wandering the streets without a home as a young boy.
The film opens with Connie's marriage, and of the powerful Don Corleone granting favors. Throughout the film we are drawn into a world in which the ties of blood run so strong as to warrant murder, revenge, and jealousy. The subtle irony throughout the film is the knowledge that the very families they are trying to protect, are the ones whose lives are being destroyed by their association with the Mafia. The Godfather is more of an examination of what it is to be a family, more so than it is an examination of Mafia life. The tragic flaw of Michael Corleone is his quote in which he tells his sweetheart Kay,that "Thta's my family, Kay, not me." Michael's inability to see that he is his family is what causes for so much stress and despair in his life.
The Godfather's look at the organization and values of the Cosa Nostra is a realistic and historic view of life in the Italian Mafia.

*The Godfather Part II

The sequal to the original Godfather is perhaps the best sequel ever made, perhaps even surpassing the original in cinematic directing.Michael Corleone has become the Godfather and he's expanding on the casino business as well as investing his money in Cuba. Michael's values and decisions are juxtaposed within the storyline with the life of his father Vito, and this is what makes the film so unique and impressive. AT every turning point in the film, we are whisked back to young Vito's life, and of his arrival to America.As the stories intertwine throughout the movie. we go back and forth from young Vito to Michael as the film goes on, and we learn how it is that Vito began to commit petty thefts and eventually murder along with young Peter Clemenza (Bruno Kirby Jr.) and young Sal Tessio (John Aprea).

*The Godfather Part 3

Released in 1990, this film was somewhat of a necessary dissapointment, in that the Godfather films needed closure, however, not at the cost of less than adequate acting, and even without some key actors (namey Tom)!The film begins in 1979-twenty years after part 2. It starts off with Michael receiving the order of St. Sebastian in church (the same church used for the baptism in part 1). It is a Papal Honor for his charitable work. Michael is now trying his very best to remain legitimate and has moved back to New York City.

Since part 2, Kay and Michael have split up and Anthony and Mary are now young adults. Anthony wants to become a professional singer, contrary to his father's wishes for him to become a lawyer. Mary has been made honorary chairman of the Vito Corleone Foundation. The Foundation donated 100 million dollars to the poor of Sicily at Michael's reception party after his Papal award. Michael also goes to the Archbishop and donates 600 million dollars to help pay off the Vatican bank's deficit. In exchange, Michael gets control of a large European real-estate company called Immobiliare hoping to create an International conglomerate real estate company. After Michael donates the money, the Capos and Dons of the commission want to launder their money and get in on his deal, but he turns them down at a meeting with the commission where he, Vincent and Al Neri are almost killed when a helicopter flies over the room and begins shooting at them through the glass windows, killing most of the dons.
The Godfather Part II is a fitting ending for the trilogy in spite of the nuances that make it such a contoversial addition to the trilogy.

CAST CREDITS:


Cast of The Godfather:

Marlon Brando .... Don Vito Corleone
Al Pacino .... Michael Corleone
Diane Keaton .... Kay Adams Corleone
Robert Duvall .... Tom Hagen
Richard S. Castellano .... Peter Clemenza
James Caan .... Santino "Sonny" Corleone
Sterling Hayden .... Police Captain McCluskey
Talia Shire .... Constanzia "Connie" Corleone Rizzi
John Marley .... Jack Woltz
Richard Conte .... Don Emilio Barzini
Al Lettieri .... Virgil Sollozzo "The Turk"
Abe Vigoda .... Sal Tessio
Gianni Russo .... Carlo Rizzi
John Cazale .... Frederico "Fredo" Corleone
Rudy Bond .... Ottilio Cuneo
Al Martino .... Johnny Fontane
Morgana King .... Mama Corleone
Lenny Montana .... Luca Brasi
John Martino .... Paulie Gatto
Salvatore Corsitto .... Bonasera the Undertaker
Richard Bright .... Al Neri
Alex Rocco .... Moe Greene
Tony Giorgio .... Bruno Tattaglia
Vito Scotti .... Nazorine the Baker
Tere Livrano .... Theresa Hagen
Victor Rendina .... Phillip Tattaglia
Jeannie Linero .... Lucy Mancini
Julie Gregg .... Sandra Corleone
Ardell Sheridan .... Mrs. Clemenza
Simonetta Stefanelli .... Apollonia
Angelo Infanti .... Fabrizio
Corrado Gaipa .... Don Tommasino
Franco Citti .... Calo
Saro Urzì .... Vitelli, Apollonia's Father

Cast of The Godfather Part II:

Al Pacino .... Michael Corleone
Robert Duvall .... Tom Hagen
Diane Keaton .... Kay Corleone
Robert De Niro .... Vito Corleone
John Cazale .... Frederico "Fredo" Corleone
Talia Shire .... Constanzia "Connie" Corleone
Lee Strasberg .... Hyman Roth
Michael V. Gazzo .... Frankie Pentangeli
G.D. Spradlin .... Senator Pat Geary
Richard Bright .... Al Neri
Gastone Moschin .... Fanucci
Tom Rosqui .... Rocco Lampone
Bruno Kirby .... Young Clemenza (as B. Kirby Jr.)
Frank Sivero .... Genco
Francesca De Sapio .... Young Mama (Carmella) Corleone
Morgana King .... Mama Corleone
Marianna Hill .... Deanna Corleone (as Mariana Hill)
Leopoldo Trieste .... Signor Roberto
Dominic Chianese .... Johnny Ola
Amerigo Tot .... Michael's Bodyguard
Troy Donahue .... Merle Johnson
John Aprea .... Young Tessio
Joe Spinell .... Willi Cicci
Abe Vigoda .... Sal Tessio
Tere Livrano .... Theresa Hagen
Gianni Russo .... Carlo Rizzi
Maria Carta .... Mama Andolini
Oreste Baldini (II) .... Vito Andolini
Giuseppe Sillato .... Don Ciccio
Mario Cotone .... Don Tommasino
James Gounaris .... Anthony Corleone
Fay Spain .... Marcia Roth
Harry Dean Stanton .... FBI Man
David Baker (I) .... FBI Man
Carmine Caridi .... Carmine Rosato
Danny Aiello .... Tony Rosato
Carmine Foresta (I) .... Policeman
Nick Discenza .... Bartender
Father Joseph Medeglia .... Father Carmelo
William Bowers .... Senate Committee Chairman


Cast Of The Godfather Part III:

Al Pacino .... Michael Corleone
Diane Keaton .... Kay Adams
Talia Shire .... Connie Corleone Rizzi
Andy Garcia .... Vincent Mancini
Eli Wallach .... Don Altobello
Joe Mantegna .... Joey Zasa
George Hamilton .... B.J. Harrison
Bridget Fonda .... Grace Hamilton
Sofia Coppola .... Mary Corleone
Raf Vallone .... Cardinal Lamberto
Franc D'Ambrosio .... Anthony Corleone
Donal Donnelly .... Archbishop Gilday
Richard Bright .... Al Neri
Helmut Berger .... Frederick Keinszig
Don Novello .... Dominic Abbandando
John Savage .... Andrew Hagen
Franco Citti .... Calo
Mario Donatone .... Mosca
Vittorio Duse .... Don Tommasino
Enzo Robutti .... Don Lucchesi
Michele Russo .... Spara
Al Martino .... Johnny Fontane
Robert Cicchini .... Lou Penning
Rogerio Miranda .... Twin Bodyguard Armand
Carlos Miranda .... Twin Bodyguard Francesco
Vito Antuofermo .... Anthony 'The Ant' Squigliaro
Robert Vento .... Father John
Willie Brown .... Party Politician
Jeannie Linero .... Lucy Mancini
Remo Remotti .... Camerlengo Cardinal/Cardinal - Sistine
Jeanne Savarino Pesch .... Francesca Corleone
Janet Savarino Smith .... Kathryn Corleone
Tere Livrano .... Teresa Hagen (as Tere L. Baker)
Carmine Caridi .... Albert Volpe
Don Costello .... Frank Romano
Al Ruscio .... Leo Cuneo
Mickey Knox .... Marty Parisi
Brett Halsey .... Douglas Michaelson
Gabriele Torrei .... Enzo the Baker
John Abineri .... Hamilton Banker
Anthony Guidera .... Anthony, the Bodyguard
Frank Tarsia .... Frankie, the Bodyguard