What Makes "The Godfather" a classic film?

Just was looking around some Godfather Fan sites and found interesting read.

The Godfather: Analysis of a Movie Classic
What makes a movie a ?ssic?s it a powerful story, brilliant direction, and strong acting performances? Or is it the interweaving of these key elements, plus something more?

Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather epitomizes a classic movie. It was the top-grossing film of 1972 and went on to become the top-selling video of 1980, the first year that Billboard published its top-seller's list (Thompson 7). It was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won three. Its legacy lives on in subsequent mob-genre movies as well as in the recent hit TV show The Sopranos (Nochimson). Imitations of its most memorable character, Mafia family head Don Corleone, played by Marlon Brando, can be found throughout popular American culture and the phrase, 􉧭 gonna make him an offer he can't refuse,?s become a part of classic American film-speak. The Godfather can thus be considered a movie classic; in studying it, one begins to discern the creative forces that contribute to power and long-lasting legacy in any film, or, for that manner, any endeavor.

Upon analyzing the film's production history, sociologic context, and composition, four key elements emerge as central to its success. They are 1) monetary motivation, 2) creative passion, 3) mastery of subject matter, and 4) brilliant craftsmanship. An examination of The Godfather from multiple perspectives reveals how these abstract elements led tn the creation of a legendary work of cinematograph

Source : http://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1709445.html

Godfather Part 2 Trailer

The Trailer for the next film in The Godfather, alot more modernnized than the first one.

Podcast #2

Michael's part in the first Godfather Movie
Boomp3.com

The Godfather Part 1 Trailer

Was looking around you tube and i saw what the user claims is the "official" Godfather trailer thought it seemed interesting, considering its all just simply pictures (no moving parts to it what so ever) and only Italian background music to go with the trailer. I'm also guessing that when this originally came out it was Black and White.

The Two sides of Michael Corleone

At the very beginning of the movie/book of The Godfather Michael Corleone doesn't want anything to do with the family business of The Corleone's he joins the army a move that makes him unloyal to his family as they claim that he doesn't respect his family but he can go and fight strangers (or unworthy people to them)


But as the first film and the other two movies occur Michael is forces himself into the family business by killing 2 men when Michael at the time in the movie was not considered to be part of the Corleone family. As later events occur Michael becomes the Head of the family and runs the family in any way he sees fit.
(Photos show change over time)