“A proposal you possibly can’t refuse.”

• R
• 1972
• 2 hr 55 min

• 9.2  (2,132,118)

• 100

In late summer season 1945, friends are gathered for the marriage reception of Don Vito Corleone’s daughter Connie and Carlo Rizzi. Vito (Marlon Brando), the pinnacle of the Corleone Mafia household who is thought to associates and associates as “Godfather” and Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall), the Corleone household lawyer and consigliere (counselor), are listening to requests for favors as a result of “no Sicilian can refuse a request on his daughter’s wedding ceremony day”. In the meantime, the Don’s youngest son Michael (Al Pacino), a embellished Marine battle hero getting back from World Battle II service, tells his girlfriend Kay Adams (Diane Keaton) anecdotes about his household, trying to tell her about his father’s felony life; he reassures her that he’s totally different from his household. Amongst depicting the wedding of Connie and Carlo, the marriage scene additionally serves as a vital exposition scene for the rest of the movie, as Michael figuratively introduces the primary characters to Kay.
Among the many friends on the celebration is the well-known singer Johnny Fontane (Al Martino), Corleone’s godson, who has come from Hollywood to petition Vito’s assist in touchdown a film function that can revitalize his flagging profession. Jack Woltz (John Marley), the pinnacle of the studio, denies Fontane the half, however Don Corleone explains to Johnny: “I am gonna make him a suggestion he cannot refuse.” Hagen is dispatched to California to repair the issue, however Woltz angrily tells him that he won’t ever forged Fontane within the function, for which he’s good and can make him a fair greater star, as a result of Fontane seduced and “ruined” a starlet that Woltz favored. Woltz is then persuaded in what is maybe some of the infamous scenes in film historical past. He wakes up early, and feels one thing moist in his mattress. He pulls again the sheets, and finds himself in a pool of blood with the severed head of his prized 0,000 stud horse, Khartoum, within the mattress with him, and screams in horror.

Upon Hagen’s return, the household meets with Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo (Al Lettieri), who’s being backed by the rival Tattaglia household. He asks Don Corleone for financing, and political and authorized safety for importing and distributing heroin. Regardless of the massive revenue to be made, Corleone refuses, explaining that his political affect could be jeopardized by a transfer into the narcotics commerce. The Don’s eldest son, hotheaded Sonny (James Caan), who had earlier urged the household to enter into the narcotics commerce, breaks ranks through the assembly and questions Sollozzo’s assurances as to the Corleone Household’s funding being assured by the Tattaglia Household. His father, indignant at Sonny’s dissension in a non-family member’s presence, privately rebukes him later. Don Corleone then dispatches Luca Brasi (Lenny Montana) to infiltrate Sollozzo’s group and report again with data.

Quickly after his assembly with Sollozzo, Don Corleone is gunned down in an assassination try, and it’s not instantly identified whether or not he has survived. In the meantime, Sollozzo and the Tattaglias kill Luca Brasi. Sollozzo abducts Tom Hagen and persuades him to supply Sonny the deal beforehand provided to his father. Enraged, Sonny refuses to think about it and points an ultimatum to the Tattaglias flip over Sollozzo or face battle. They refuse, and as an alternative ship Sonny “a Sicilian message,” within the type of a contemporary fish wrapped in Luca Brasi’s bullet-proof vest, to inform the Corleones that Luca Brasi is useless.

Michael, whom the opposite Mafia households take into account a “civilian” uninvolved in mob enterprise, visits his father on the small non-public hospital. He’s shocked to search out that nobody is guarding him. Realizing that his father is once more being set as much as be killed, he calls Sonny for assist, strikes his father to a different room, and goes exterior to observe the doorway. Michael enlists assist from Enzo the baker, who has come to the hospital to pay his respects. Collectively, they bluff away Sollozzo’s males as they drive by. Police vehicles quickly seem with the corrupt Captain McCluskey, who breaks Michael’s jaw when he insinuates that Sollozzo paid McCluskey to arrange his father. Simply then, Hagen arrives with “non-public detectives” licensed to hold weapons to guard Don Corleone, and he takes Michael residence. Sonny responds by having Bruno Tattaglia, son and underboss of Don Phillip Tattaglia (Victor Rendina), killed.

Following the try on the Don’s life on the hospital, Sollozzo requests a gathering with the Corleones, which Captain McCluskey will attend as Sollozzo’s bodyguard. When Michael volunteers to kill each males through the assembly, Sonny and the opposite senior Members of the family are amused; nonetheless, Michael convinces them that he’s critical and that killing Sollozzo and McCluskey is within the household’s curiosity: “It is not private. It is strictly enterprise.” Though cops are normally off limits for hits, Michael argues that since McCluskey is corrupt and has unlawful dealings with Sollozzo, he’s truthful sport.

Earlier than the assembly in an Italian restaurant, McCluskey frisks Michael for weapons and finds him clear. Michael excuses himself to go to the lavatory the place he retrieves a planted revolver, and returning to the desk, he fatally shoots Sollozzo, then McCluskey. Michael is distributed to cover in Sicily, whereas the Corleone household prepares for all-out warfare with the 5 Households who’re united towards the Corleones, in addition to a common clampdown on the mob by the police and authorities authorities.

Again in New York Metropolis, Don Corleone returns residence from the hospital and is distraught to study that it was Michael who killed Sollozzo and McCluskey. Some months later, in 1948, Sonny severely beats Carlo Rizzi for brutalizing the pregnant Connie, and threatens to kill him if he ever abuses his sister once more. An indignant Carlo responds by plotting with Tattaglia and Don Emilio Barzini (Richard Conte), the Corleones’ chief rivals, to have Sonny killed. Carlo once more beats Connie with a view to lure Sonny out. Livid, Sonny drives off alone to satisfy his risk. On the best way, he’s ambushed at a toll sales space and shot to loss of life in his automobile. The radio broadcast of Bobby Thomson’s residence run to win the Nationwide League pennant was taking part in within the tollbooth because the taking pictures started (although the scene takes place in 1948, not 1951).

Slightly than search revenge for Sonny’s killing, Don Corleone meets with the heads of the 5 Households to barter a cease-fire. Not solely is it draining all their belongings and threatening their survival, however ending the battle is the one method that Michael can return residence safely. Reversing his earlier choice, Vito agrees that the Corleone household will present political safety for Tattaglia’s site visitors in heroin, so long as it’s managed and never bought to kids. On the assembly, Don Corleone deduces that Don Barzini, not Tattaglia, was in the end behind the mob battle and Sonny’s loss of life.
In Sicily, Michael patiently waits out his exile, protected by Don Tommasino, an previous household buddy. Michael aimlessly wanders the countryside, accompanied by his ever-present bodyguards, Calo and Fabrizio. In a small village, Michael meets and falls in love with Apollonia Vitelli (Simonetta Stefanelli), the gorgeous younger daughter of a bar proprietor. They’re quickly married, however the wedding ceremony reveals Michael’s presence to Corleone enemies. Because the couple is about to be moved to a safer location, Apollonia is killed when their automobile is bombed; Michael, who barely escapes alive, spots Fabrizio hurriedly leaving the grounds mere seconds earlier than the explosion, implicating him within the assassination plot.
Along with his security assured, Michael returns residence. Greater than a yr later, he reunites along with his former girlfriend Kay after a complete of 4 years, three in Italy, and one in America. He tells her he needs them to be married. Though Kay is damage that he waited so lengthy to contact her, she accepts his proposal. With the Don semi-retired, Sonny useless, and center brother Fredo (John Cazale) thought of incapable of operating the household enterprise, Michael is now in cost; he guarantees Kay he’ll make the household enterprise utterly reputable inside 5 years.

Peter Clemenza (Richard S. Castellano) and Salvatore Tessio (Abe Vigoda), two Corleone Household caporegimes (captains) complain that they’re being pushed round by the Barzini Household and ask permission to strike again, however Michael denies the request. He plans to maneuver the household operations to Nevada and after that, Clemenza and Tessio might break free to kind their very own households. Michael additional guarantees Connie’s husband, Carlo, that he shall be his proper hand man in Nevada. Tom Hagen has been eliminated as consigliere and is now merely the household’s lawyer, with Vito serving as consigliere. Privately, Hagen complains about his change in standing, and likewise questions Michael a few new regime of “troopers” secretly being constructed below Rocco Lampone (Tom Rosqui). Don Vito explains to Hagen that Michael is performing on his recommendation.

In Las Vegas Michael meets with on line casino boss Moe Greene (Alex Rocco). Michael gives to purchase out Greene however is rudely rebuffed. Greene believes the Corleones are weak and that he can safe a greater deal from Barzini. As Moe and Michael heatedly negotiate, Fredo sides with Moe. Afterward, Michael warns Fredo to by no means once more “take sides with anybody towards the household.”

Michael returns residence. In a non-public second, Vito explains his expectation that the Household’s enemies will try to homicide Michael by utilizing a trusted affiliate to rearrange a gathering as a pretext for assassination. Vito additionally reveals that he had by no means meant a lifetime of crime for Michael, hoping that his youngest son would maintain reputable energy as a senator or governor. Shortly after, Vito suffers a deadly coronary heart assault whereas taking part in along with his younger grandson Anthony in his tomato backyard. On the burial, Tessio conveys a proposal for a gathering with Barzini, which identifies Tessio because the traitor that Vito was anticipating.

Michael arranges for a sequence of murders to happen concurrently whereas he’s standing godfather to Connie’s and Carlo’s new child son on the church.

Don Stracci is gunned down alongside along with his males in an elevator by Clemenza.

Moe Greene is shot by way of the attention by an unknown murderer whereas having a therapeutic massage.

Don Cuneo is trapped in a revolving door and shot useless by Willi Cicci.

Don Tattaglia is assassinated in his mattress, together with a prostitute, by Rocco Lampone and an unknown affiliate.

Don Barzini, alongside along with his bodyguard and driver, are shot by Al Neri, disguised in his previous police uniform.

After the baptism, Tessio believes he and Hagen are on their option to the assembly between Michael and Barzini that he has organized. As an alternative, he’s surrounded by Willi Cicci and different button males as Hagen steps away. Realizing that Michael has uncovered his betrayal, Tessio tells Hagen that he at all times revered Michael, and that his disloyalty “was solely enterprise.” He asks if Tom can get him off for “previous occasions’ sake,” however Tom says he can’t. In the meantime, Michael confronts Carlo about Sonny’s homicide and forces him to confess his function in organising the ambush. Michael assures Carlo he is not going to be killed, that his punishment is exclusion from all household enterprise. He fingers Carlo a aircraft ticket to exile in Las Vegas. Nonetheless, when Carlo will get right into a automobile headed for the airport, he’s garroted to loss of life by Clemenza, on Michael’s orders.

Later, a hysterical Connie confronts Michael, accusing him of murdering Carlo. Kay questions Michael about Connie’s accusation, however he refuses to reply, reminding her to by no means ask him about his enterprise. She insists, and Michael lies, reassuring his spouse that he performed no function in Carlo’s loss of life. Kay believes him and is relieved. The movie ends with Clemenza and new caporegimes Rocco Lampone and Al Neri paying their respects to Michael. Clemenza kisses Michael’s hand and greets him as “Don Corleone.” As Kay watches, the door is closed. Michael is the brand new Godfather.

The Godfather is a 1972 drama with a runtime of two hours and 55 minutes.
It has acquired excellent critiques from critics and viewers, who’ve given it an IMDb rating of 9.2 and a MetaScore of 100.