Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, and Robert Duvall

The three actors that I would like to classify are Al Pacino, Marlon Brando and Robert Duvall from The Godfather. I will begin with Al Pacino and his classification. By the time The Godfather was produced Al Pacino was working on establishing himself. He had a role in Me, Natalie comedy/drama genre movie. About two years later Al Pacino took on a more of a lead role in The Panic in Needle Park a crime, Drama and Romance genre film. Then about a year later he took on Michael Corleone in The Godfather a crime/drama film. These roles classify Al Pacino as a Personality Actor. Shortly after The Godfather Al Pacino when on to take roles in the Scarecrow, Serpico, The Godfather II, and Dog Day Afternoon. All which are of a drama and Crime genre. What makes Al Pacino a personality actor is that in everyone of thee role Al Pacino’s personality help define every one of these roles.

After The Godfather Al Pacino when on to make over 30 movies raging from Frankie and Johnny, Scent of a Woman, Carlito’s Way, and Stand Up Guys. Al Pacino will always be categorizing as a personality actor. His personality will always define his characters. This is a good thing for the classification because it allows for the actor to make the character his own which becomes more natural.

I will classify Marlon Brandon as a star and wild card. Marlon Brandon was widely considered the greatest actor of all time. His fan wanted to know everything about him which is the very definition of star. What made Marlone Brandon a wild card was the various roles he took on both Broadway and the movie screen. Wild card is defined by Goodykoontz and Jacobs state, “a term applied to an actor, usually a star, who is difficult to classify as one certain type, an actor who can play a wide variety of characters equally well without becoming typecast.” (2014, “Ch. 5 Summary and Resources,” para. 9). By the time he acted in The Godfather he acted in about 25 movies covering most of the genre. He took on roles in movies like The Men a drama genre, Julius Caesar a Drama and history genre, and Guys and Dolls a comedy, musical, and romance film.

Robert Duvall I will classify as a character actor. Robert Duvall throughout his career performed well in a variety of support roles. Robet Duvall is most commonly known for his role in The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, and Deep Impact. He has acted many roles and has been the main characters in some of his movies. Robert Duvall is more commonly known for the work he has done as a co-star or in a supporting role.

References:

Goodykoontz, B. & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: From Watching to Seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgpoint Education Inc. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUENG225.11.2

Al Pacino (left) as Michael Corleone, Vito Corleone portrayed by Marlon Brando (2014). Retrieved from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b7/TheGodfatherAlPacinoMarlonBrando.jpg

The Godfather publicity still of Al Pacino, Robert Duvall & James Caan (2009). Retrieved from http://www.moviestillsdb.com/movies/the-godfather-i68646/4836ecf7

Movieclips.(2007, Nov 9). AL PACINO’S Film Debut with PATTY DUKE in Me Natalie 1969. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=hRrPK8m8cdw

Movieclips. (2009, Dec 23)/ The Panic in Needle Park (1971) Trailer. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNeN9ZU2CSM&feature=player_detailpage

Movieclips.(2012, May 23). Frankie and Johnny (5/8) Movie CLIP – Does It Have To Be Tonight? (1991) HD. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=KwnTYy2p0AE

Movieclips. (2012, July 17). The Godfather movie clip-Baptism murders (1972) HD [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfbYp9oaIT8.

Movieclips. (2011, Jan 22). Marlon Brandon – Scene from “The Men”. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=szH2OMcWkuQ

Movieclips. (2008, Jan 7). Mark Antony’s Speech. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X9C55TkUP8&feature=player_detailpage

Movieclips. (2009, Jun 16). Greatest Movie Scene: Apocalypse Now. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ32rTzmVXM&feature=player_detailpage

Movieclips. [Video file]. (2011, Oct 11). Deep Impact (5/10) Movie CLIP – Be the Best (1998) HD. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM4-jiKNuIs&feature=player_detailpage

 

 

Johnny makes his very celebrated entrance and begins to sing the audience. He draws Kay’s interest as she is aware of Johnny’s celebrity status and his voice. Kay asks Michael about his relationship to Johnny. Michael begins telling Kay about his family ways of handling business. He tells the story of Don Corleone’s making someone an offer they can’t refuse. Michael then reassures Kay that he is not like his family and I quote “That’s my family, Kay, that’s not me.” Johnny’s signing as Michael told his story has an impact to the dialogue. The love song serenades the brutal story of the making of Johnny’s carrier.

References:

MovieClips (2012). A Song from ‘The Godfather’ performed at Connie’s wedding..mpg. Retrieved from https://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_24Zsx-Z3o&feature=player_detailpage

Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo  goes to meet with theCorleone family to obtain money and protection in order to create a drug empire in New York. Against his Lawyer Tom and his Son’s Sony interest, Vito Corleone refused to provide the services asked of his family. Vito felt that the drug business is bad for his business. He felt like he would lose the political official support if he got involved with drugs. Sollozzo however, did not lose hope because he became aware that both Tom and Sony showed interest in the drug business. Sollozzo realizes that only one person stands in his way in receiving the protection and money he needs. This realization lead to Sollozo decision to kill Vito.

You will hear music when Sony ask Vito his thoughts on the matter of joining the drug market. This was very important because it played into Vito’s states of mind at that point the .

References:

MovieClips (2013). The Godfather – Sollozzo Known As The Turk 4/10 (HD). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yut9qPyT9jE&feature=player_detailpage#t=3

 

Five families meet to resolve the crisis

Reference:

Movie clips, (Feb., 2014). Opening Scene Godfather. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jpwqWPKAUc&feature=player_detailpage#t=2

“The Godfather opening Scene”

The link to the opening scene.  A true description of what the movie is about.

I chose the opening scene from “The Godfather” which utilizes low-key lighting. Although it is using two sources of lights (sun and lamps), the scene is very dark to put emphasis on the darkness of the discussion. A favor is being asked of the mastermind of the biggest criminal element in that area which may result in the loss of life of other unaware human beings. At the beginning of the scene you cannot see anything other than the individual pouring his soul out in asking for a favor from the Don. As the scene goes on the lighting becomes more recognizable. Ultimately, the room becomes clear but still darken in a way that portraits the evil that the man in the room are capable of.

By the light coming through the window you can assume that is daylight outside and is about mid afternoon. The sunlight coming through the window was very important because in the conversation the Don made mention that he was in celebration of his daughter’s wedding. This allows the viewer to come to a better understanding of the theater in which this action is taking place.

Being that this is a criminal organization and is an organization that the audience would soon realize that is responsible for the discomfort of many individual. It’s also an organization that operates in the shadows or away from the eye of the world. The darkness of the room set the stage for what’s to come. A bright room or a festive background would have taken away from the dramatic of the conversation. In my opinion it would had also taken away from the character of the family’s dark side.

Reference:

Movie clips. (Feb., 2014). Opening Scene Godfather. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIBpHO1gZgQ&feature=player_detailpage

 

“The Godfather”

“The Godfather “ was released in 1972. It was produced by Albert S. Ruddy and written by Mario Puzo. Marlon Brando and Al Pacino star as Vito Corleone and Michael Corleone. It was a story based during WWII, about an organized crime family out of New York. After several attempts on Vito’s life and in a surprise to everyone who knew him, Michael Corleone avenges his family honor by killing a police chief and his drug trafficking partner by killing them.
During the time when space shuttles were being developed, Bob Dougle became the first African American to get elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. This is the about the same time when organized crime was also at a rise. Like most films, this film was a direct reflection of what the American people were experiencing and/or interested in. In which oppressed individuals became organized to overcome a threat posed by their own kind and/or outside forces.
If this story line was written in any other way it would not have been an accurate depiction of their current life style. This movie captured what many immigrant communities were experiencing during those times and in today’s world.