The Godfather

Release Date: 1972

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Writers: 

Mario Puzo (novel and screenplay) [bio]

Francis Ford Coppola (screenplay)

Stars:

Marlon Brando

Al Pacino

James Caan

Click HERE for Full Cast and Crew

Francis Ford Coppola directs Al Pacino, Sterling Hayden and Al Letteri in this masterful scene in The Godfather.   (1972)

Trailer

Locations of L.I. Shoots:

An abandoned runway in Mitchell Field, Garden City. This location is now part of Nassau Community College. (Scene depicts Sonny Corleone being gunned down at toll booth)

Long Beach and Mill Neck

Filming included Falaise, part of the Guggenheim Estate, located at the Sands Point Preserve    ~ Scene depicts the horse’s head being found in Jack Woltz’s bed.

The 216-acre Sands Point Preserve, a Nassau County Park which is managed by the Friends of Sands Point Preserve, is located on the Long Island Sound.  It is dominated by the massive Hempstead House, the nearby Castle Gould stable, and also includes a second mansion, “Falaise,” that was built by Capt. Harry Guggenheim around 1923.  (aerial view)

Of Interest: 

‘The Godfather,’ 50 years later: A deep dive into LIers Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo’s iconic film: (credit to Newsday) Feb. 2022
When “The Godfather” first appeared 50 years ago, co-creators Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola were two ambitious men with deep ties to Long Island, determined to transform a B-level Hollywood gangster movie about New York wise guys into an epic tale about capitalism, corruption and the Italian-American immigrant experience. Newsday’s Thomas Maier has the story. Credit: Randee Daddona; Newsday/ Thomas Ferrara; Paramount; Hofstra University; Photos credit: Paramount, Steve Schapiro; Hofstra University, Library of Congress, Neville Harvey, Newsday archive

‘The Godfather’ and its LI connections 3-22-18

The article “Post Focus: Paramount Restores The Godfather” is from the May 2008 Issue of American Cinematographer.  “This article is republished courtesy of American Cinematographer magazine and will appear in Stephen Pizzello’s forthcoming book GORDON WILLIS ON CINEMATOGRAPHY, which will be published by the American Society of Cinematographers.”

This article and any other articles and images from this magazine are not to be copied or downloaded without permission from American Cinematographer magazine.

Staten Island house featured in ‘The Godfather’ up for sale 11-13-14

The Anniversary You Can’t Refuse: 40 Things You Didn’t Know About The Godfather – 2012

Watch: Feature-Length Documentary Takes a Look Inside ‘The Godfather’ Trilogy

Click HERE for Nominations and Awards

For Coppola, working on the film was very much a family affair. Cast included his sister Talia Shire (Connie Corleone), and mother Italia Coppola as well as his children Gian-Carlo, Roman and Sofia Coppola, all of whom appeared as extras. The ever familiar soundtrack was composed and performed by a partnership between Nino Rota, and the director’s father Carmine Coppola, a well respected songwriter, musician and musical director. ~ Ramon Youseph / Classic Films

An offer they had to refuse… See Robert De Niro’s FAILED audition as Sonny Corleone for The Godfather (but he did win an Oscar for his role in Part II)

Click HERE to view Channel 12 News coverage on the death of Mario Puzo

Click HERE to listen to Acting Legend James Caan Talks ‘The Godfather’ 50th Anniversary with Rich Eisen | Full Interview – May 24, 2022

 Click HERE for more info

AUGUST 15, 2012 – GODFATHER ON LONG ISLAND

Godfather movie star actor and Legend Gianni Russo (played Carlo, Connie’s husband) received a plaque commending him on the 40th anniversary of the famous movie. The event was hosted by the Long Island Television and Film Foundation. The movie has many scenes that were filmed on Long Island. The movie is regarded as one of the most popular movies of all time.

Debra Markowitz – N.C. Film Commissioner


Michael J. Arbouet and Fred Carpenter with Gianni

THE GODFATHER PREMIERE

Gianni Russo, Jill Clayburgh, and Al Pacino attend the premiere in 1972 – added July 2016

Godfather Movie Scene:

Sonny gets a call from his sister Connie after she has been beaten up by her husband Carlo. Sonny decides to head straight over there. Sonny gets trapped at a tollbooth and is brutally shot multiple times by multiple people using the Tommy Machine Guns….

Godfather Movie Scene:

The day Don Michael Corleone settles all family business. After having put a hit out on the whole commission wiping out all the heads of all the New York families, Michael has one more score to settle with Carlo. Carlo has to answer for the death of Michael’s brother, Sonny