''The Godfather'' is a 1972 American
crime film
Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre inspired by and analogous to the crime fiction literary genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and its detection. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combi ...
directed by
Francis Ford Coppola, who co-wrote the screenplay with
Mario Puzo, based on Puzo's best-selling 1969
novel of the same title. The film stars
Marlon Brando,
Al Pacino
Alfredo James Pacino (; ; born April 25, 1940) is an American actor. Considered one of the most influential actors of the 20th century, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Al Pacino, numerous accolades: including an Aca ...
,
James Caan,
Richard Castellano,
Robert Duvall,
Sterling Hayden,
John Marley,
Richard Conte, and
Diane Keaton. It is the first installment in
''The Godfather'' trilogy, chronicling the
Corleone family under patriarch
Vito Corleone (Brando) from 1945 to 1955. It focuses on the transformation of his youngest son,
Michael Corleone (Pacino), from reluctant family outsider to ruthless
mafia boss.
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...
obtained the rights to the novel for $80,000, before it gained popularity.
Studio executives had trouble finding a director; the first few candidates turned down the position before Coppola signed on to direct the film but disagreement followed over casting several characters, in particular, Vito (Marlon Brando) and Michael (Al Pacino). Filming took place primarily on location around