The Godfather Sparknotes
The film I will be analyzing is The Godfather, Part I. It was directed by Francis Ford Coppola in 1972 and based on the book written by Mario Puzo.
Vito Corleone is the patriarch and “Don” or “Godfather” of the Corleone family empire; one of the five mob families in control of the five boroughs of New York City in the 1940’s. Michael Corleone is Vito’s youngest son and a World War II veteran. Before he dies, Vito tells Michael that he never wanted him to be the one to have to take over the family business; instead of being a puppet for people in positions of power and influence, he wanted Michael to “be the one to hold the strings” as a Senator or Governor. However, after his eldest son, Sonny is brutally gunned down in an ambush and with his second eldest son, Fredo incapable of running such a complex …show more content…
Every now and then, we are briefly taken back to the church to see Michael and the priest preparing to anoint the child. During the baptism the organ reaches a high note and Michael is asked “do you believe in God, the Father almighty; creator of heaven and earth?” right before his answer, the organ falls silent and he answers “I do.” As the priest continues to ask the key questions of Michael, the organ returns … getting increasingly louder. At this point, Coppola begins combining the increasing volume of the organ and the frantic sound of a baby crying to create a sense of urgency in the viewer. The organ abruptly stops as the priest asks Michael if he renounces Satan. As soon as this line is spoken by the priest, the organ returns dramatically and we are treated to a series of scenes that alternate between Michael saying “I do renounce him” and the Corleone hit men murdering every one Michael considers to be an enemy at the exact same moment. As the priest finishes the service, we see the aftermath of the killings throughout the
Vito Corleone is the patriarch and “Don” or “Godfather” of the Corleone family empire; one of the five mob families in control of the five boroughs of New York City in the 1940’s. Michael Corleone is Vito’s youngest son and a World War II veteran. Before he dies, Vito tells Michael that he never wanted him to be the one to have to take over the family business; instead of being a puppet for people in positions of power and influence, he wanted Michael to “be the one to hold the strings” as a Senator or Governor. However, after his eldest son, Sonny is brutally gunned down in an ambush and with his second eldest son, Fredo incapable of running such a complex …show more content…
Every now and then, we are briefly taken back to the church to see Michael and the priest preparing to anoint the child. During the baptism the organ reaches a high note and Michael is asked “do you believe in God, the Father almighty; creator of heaven and earth?” right before his answer, the organ falls silent and he answers “I do.” As the priest continues to ask the key questions of Michael, the organ returns … getting increasingly louder. At this point, Coppola begins combining the increasing volume of the organ and the frantic sound of a baby crying to create a sense of urgency in the viewer. The organ abruptly stops as the priest asks Michael if he renounces Satan. As soon as this line is spoken by the priest, the organ returns dramatically and we are treated to a series of scenes that alternate between Michael saying “I do renounce him” and the Corleone hit men murdering every one Michael considers to be an enemy at the exact same moment. As the priest finishes the service, we see the aftermath of the killings throughout the