The Godfather

This article is about the 1972 film. For other uses, see Godfather.
The Godfather is an Academy Award-winning 1972 crime film based on the novel of the same name by Mario Puzo and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, with screenplay by Puzo and Coppola. The film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton and James Caan. The story spans ten years from 1945 to 1955 and chronicles the Corleone crime family.

The Godfather has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. In addition, it is ranked as the second greatest film in American cinematic history, behind Citizen Kane, on AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies list by the American Film Institute.It is also the top movie on Internet Movie Database's Top 250 list,as well as #1 on Metacritic's top 100 list and in the top 10 on Rotten Tomatoes' all-time best list.

Two sequels followed The Godfather, The Godfather Part II in 1974 and The Godfather Part III in 1990.

Cast

Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone — the head (the "Don") of the Corleone family, Formerly known as Vito Andolini. He is the father of Sonny, Fredo, Michael and Connie and surrogate father to Tom Hagen. Husband of Carmella Corleone. A native Sicilian.
Al Pacino as Michael Corleone — the Don's and Carmella's youngest son, recently returned from military service following the end of World War II. He initially wants nothing to do with the Corleone family business. He is the main character of the movie.
James Caan as Santino "Sonny" Corleone — Vito and Carmella's hot-headed eldest son; he is being groomed to succeed his father as head of the Corleone family. He is the family's underboss.
Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen — an informally adopted son of Vito and Carmella Corleone, he is also the family lawyer and the new consigliere (counselor).
Diane Keaton as Kay Adams — Michael's White Anglo-Saxon Protestant-ish girlfriend and, ultimately, his wife and mother to his children.
John Cazale as Fredo Corleone — the middle son of Vito and Carmella Corleone. Fredo is not very bright and appears to be the weakest of the Corleone brothers.
Talia Shire as Connie Corleone — Vito and Carmella's only daughter. She marries Carlo Rizzi.
Richard S. Castellano as Pete Clemenza — a caporegime for the Corleone family.
Abe Vigoda as Sal Tessio — a caporegime for the Corleone Family.
Al Lettieri as Virgil "The Turk" Sollozzo — a heroin dealer associated with the Tattaglia family.
Gianni Russo as Carlo Rizzi — Connie's husband. Becomes an associate of the Corleone family.
Sterling Hayden as Captain McCluskey — a corrupt police captain on Sollozzo's payroll.
Lenny Montana as Luca Brasi — an enforcer utilized by Vito Corleone.
Richard Conte as Emilio Barzini— Don of the Barzini family.
Al Martino as Johnny Fontane — a world-famous popular singer and godson of Vito.
John Marley as Jack Woltz — a powerful Hollywood producer.
Alex Rocco as Moe Greene — longtime associate of the Corleone family who owns a Las Vegas hotel.
Morgana King as Carmella Corleone — Vito's wife and mother of Sonny, Fredo, Michael and Connie, and surrogate mother to Tom Hagen.
John Martino as Paulie Gatto — A "button man" (soldier/hit man) under Capo Pete Clemenza and Vito's driver.
Victor Rendina as Philip Tattaglia— Don of the Tattaglia family.
Simonetta Stefanelli as Apollonia Vitelli-Corleone — A stunningly beautiful young girl Michael meets while in Sicily.
Sofia Coppola as Michael Francis Rizzi — Connie and Carlo's infant son (seen in big baptism scene at the end of the movie).
Louis Guss as Don Zaluchi — Don of the Zaluchi family of Detroit.
Tom Rosqui as Rocco Lampone — a caporegime in the Corleone family.
Joe Spinell as Willi Cicci — a soldier in the Corleone family.
Richard Bright as Al Neri — Michael Corleone's bodyguard. He eventually becomes a caporegime.