And yet the book and movie do deal with influencing show business. Johnny Fontaine's career is helped dramatically with the old horses head in the bed routine. So maybe times haven't changed so much. At first glance The Godfather trilogy seems incredibly violent set of films but it might surprise you to know that even including the horse only 18 bodies are lifeless by the end of the first movie. That stills seems a lot I hear you cry... well to put it in context the romantic drama Atonement knocked up 34, Titanic 307 and Lord of the Rings:Return of the King has a body count of 836. Doesn't seem so violent now does it?!
People arguing that violent films cause violent people might struggle using this film as an example with that data but it's not really about the death count: more about the way a film leaves you feeling.
When I saw Step Up 2: The Streets (yes I do have a varied interest in films...judge me all you want!) I walked out of that cinema with a spring in my step convinced I could bust a move. I can't! When I watched Trainspotting I was appalled by what drugs could do to you yet watching Go made me want to try them (I didn't. I'm a good girl!) So did I feel violent after watching The Godfather Trilogy? No, but I must confess that after the first two I did feel a sense of Power ... and I'd have been more inclined in that moment to wield my power for evil not good.
I first read the book of The Godfather earlier this year at a book club and truly thought it was one of the finest novels I'd ever read. So I was looking forward to challenge number 5 watching the movies. Considering how many films I've watched it's odd that I've never seen them really. I suppose I do tend to lean towards the Rom Coms over the Gangster movies generally but I do like to view the classics to judge for myself. The first movie is very good. I can see why people rate it so highly. But Mr Ford-Coppolo really does have Maria Puzo to thank for the source material as he sticks carefully to much of the novel (although I was relieved to see that the scenes with Lucy in the hospital having her operation didn't make it on to the big screen!).
Apparently Francis' first cut of the film was a full 50 mins shorter coming in at around 2 hours. The studio demanded he included more scenes about the family so it increased by nearly 50%. Frankly the second film which looks back at the Don's early life (also in the novel) could have done with a bit more hacking coming in at a brain numbing 192 minutes. No matter how great a film is there's no need for anything to be that long! The final film is all new material yet still comes close to the three hour limit (and has a body count of more than the first two movies added together).
Am I fan of the novel: Absolutely. Do I think the movies have a place in film history: Absolutely. Will I be watching them again: Not when I've still got 3 more Step Up films to watch!!
