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The Godfather is no longer just an interesting gangster picture. It has now been classified as a classic film, which means it has been analyzed and evaluated by just ...

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Published by , 2016-07-25 21:21:02

TEN FILMS STUDENTS The Godfather - michaelvetrie.com

The Godfather is no longer just an interesting gangster picture. It has now been classified as a classic film, which means it has been analyzed and evaluated by just ...

The Godfather

TEN FILMS
THAT ENGAGE

STUDENTS

The Godfather

US (1972): Drama/Crime The Godfather is no longer just an interesting gangster
175 min, Rated R, Color, picture. It has now been classified as a classic film, which
Available on DVD means it has been analyzed and evaluated by just about every
Directed by Francis Ford film critic or film historian in the last 35 years, and, for the
Coppola most part, favorably been awarded a designation as one of the
finest films ever made.
Staring:
Marlon Brando Does being recognized as classic impact on whether
Al Pacino the film engages your students? It doesn’t. Calling a film a
James Caan classic to your students will probably give the film the kiss of
Robert Duvall death as far as they are concerned. If they are like my
John Marley students, they remember viewing many films I designated as
Diane Keaton being classic that bored them out of their minds. One in
Sterling Hayden particular I remember as being the most disappointing to me,
Abe Vigoda the science fiction classic, Blade Runner. I thought the film
Al Martino
Talia Shire
Richard Conte

Classification: Winter:
Adventures of the hero (anti-
hero) leading to the fall.

Notes

The Godfather

US (1972): Drama/Crime
175 min, Rated R, Color,
Available on DVD
Directed by Francis Ford
Coppola

Staring:

Marlon Brando

Al Pacino

James Caan

Robert Duvall

John Marley

Diane Keaton

Sterling Hayden

Abe Vigoda

Al Martino

Talia Shire

Richard Conte

Classification: Winter: The would engage my students as it engages me, but I was wrong.
hero’s (anti-hero’s) adventures For the overall year, my students rated it as one of the worst
leading to the fall. films they saw.

Notes Our students don’t care how many awards a film has
received. They only care whether it taps into the concerns
that they have when viewing or reading any kind of literature:
Does it reach into their background and experience and fit
within what they know and understand about the world?

The Godfather does this, although of the three
Godfather films, my students usually rated the Godfather III,
as the most engaging. I attribute this to the current scenic

techniques the last film was able to apply because of the modern time and setting. Taking place in
the present allows a sense of immediacy, making the film quite different from the two previous
Godfather films, films the director took great pains to stylize into the earlier periods demanded by
the settings.

The director stylized the film against the advice of the studio, by the way. It was Paramount’s
original idea to make the first film a low-budget gangster piece set in the present time rather than a
period piece set in the 1940s and 1950s. The Godfather, and Godfather II, because of the director’s
decision, are masterful period pieces. And, because they are so faithful to the period, they seem to
have more authenticity than The Godfather III.

The Godfather engages, however, although not as readily, nor easily, as a film like Scarface
or Goodfellows, but it is worthwhile for the teacher to go to a little more effort in having students
engaged by the film because of all the literary and cinemagraphic techniques that can be evaluated
by breaking down different scenes. Although some of the techniques of the film are old hat now, it is
important to remember and indicate to your students how this film was one of the first to utilize the
techniques that so many others have copied. See preceding analysis of the Baptism scene as an
example. Some of the techniques the director used were astonishing for the time in which this film
was made. The Baptism scene is an incredible tour de force of filmmaking.

Previewing Prompt: What is the role of a godfather in a family? Do you have a The Godfather
godfather in your family? What is your relationship with your godfather if you
have one? If you don’t have any experience with a godfather in your family, what
would you assume the role of a godfather would be in a typical family? Why do
you think such a position exists? In general, is it a favorable or unfavorable
relationship? How seriously should someone take the role of godfather?
Discuss.

1. Write your reaction to this film without speaking to anyone. Justify your reason
for liking or disliking it.

The Godfather

2. What does the godfather mean by the expression, “ I made him an offer he couldn’t refuse”?
Explain why you think this expression has entered into the American vernacular.

3. Unlike past gangster films, this one tells its story in a series of visual vignettes. But something
needs to serve as a mortar that holds the movie together. What served as the “mortar” in this movie

and was its use effective? Explain.

4. Marlon Brando, one of the stars of this film, said in an interview, “In a way the
Mafia is the best example of capitalists we have. Don Corleone is just an ordinary
business magnate who is trying to do the best he can for the group he represents
and for his family.” Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

The Godfather

5. In translating the novel to the screen, the director used the technique of “understated typecasting.”
What does this mean and did it work in the movie?

6. In this film there is an example of montage used very effectively. Cite the
scene and tell why its use was so effective and so appropriate.

The Godfather

7. Explain why the baptism scene is a classic example of irony.

The Godfather

8. Chart how Michael changed during the course of the film.

How Michael was at first How Michael changed (Note the What made it happen and what
(Illustrate with selected scenes below)
scenes) does it mean?

9. Evaluate the opening scenes of The Godfather. What did you like? What did you dislike? How
effective was the choice to introduce the family members of the film by showing them at a wedding?
Justify your answers.

10. The film opens with the Italian wedding alfresco, at Don Vito Corleone’s The Godfather
(Brando’s) fortress like estate, of Corleone’s daughter Connie (Talia Shire) to a
bookie in the Godfather’s fiefdom, Carlo (Gianni Russo). An undertaker,
Bonasera (Salvatore Corsitto) is seen begging Vito in his private office for
“justice.” Discuss the concept of justice as defined by this scene. What kind of
justice does the undertaker seek and what is the kind that the godfather is willing
to give?

11. At one point in the film, the Don is approached by another gangster for permission to sell
narcotics. The Godfather states that he is disgusted by the thought of narcotics and is content with his
gambling, prostitution, protection, and similar rackets. What is the point of the scene in the film and
does it accomplish its purpose?

12. At film’s end, Kay sees one Mafioso after another enter her husband’s office
to kiss his hand and swear allegiance. What is the effect of this scene on the
ending of the movie, keeping in mind what Michael has earlier promised Kay?

The Godfather

13. Below is a list of literary terms that can apply to an art form whether it is a play, a painting, a
novel, or a film. Think of examples of the terms, as they appeared in the movie The Godfather. Then
write them on the lines provided in each item below.
1. Choose something in the film that serves as a metaphor. Explain.

2. What is the inciting incident of this film? Defend
your answer.

3. Was there a flashback used in this film? Why? Why not? Define flashback and explain.

4. What was the climax of the film? Defend your answer.

5. Was there an example of symbolism in this film? Explain.

The Godfather

14. The double entry journal

In the left column, you will describe the events or scenes of the movie. In the right column,
you will write your responses to the events or scenes of the movie. Your responses might
indicate what the scenes mean, what it reminds you of, what you don’t understand, how
you feel about it, or any other comments that seem appropriate.

The Godfather

15. The double entry journal

In the left column, you will describe the events or scenes of the movie. In the right column,
you will write your responses to the events or scenes of the movie. Your responses might
indicate what the scenes mean, what it reminds you of, what you don’t understand, how
you feel about it, or any other comments that seem appropriate.

The Godfather


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