Francis Ford Coppola‘s timeless traditional, The Godfather, has been considered one of many best motion pictures of all time and is credited for revitalizing the gangster style. Primarily based on Mario Puzo‘s best-selling novel, The Godfather is a singular gangster movie that basically goes past the Cosa Nostra, uncovering a real tone of household and honor that brings a way of honesty and integrity, altering moviegoers’ notion of the normal mobster.
Whereas Puzo and Coppola created a narrative that continues to be universally beloved right this moment, The Godfather wouldn’t have been as profitable because it was if it weren’t for the array of exceptional performances by a stellar forged. Out of all of the distinctive performances, together with Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone, and Diane Keaton as Kay Adams, these are simply the ten greatest performances from Coppola’s cinematic masterpiece.
Watch on Paramount+
10 Abe Vigoda
Salvatore “Sal” Tessio
Abe Vigoda takes on the position as one in all Vito Corleone’s oldest and most trusted buddies, Salvatore Tessio, who, together with Peter Clemenza, rose to energy with Vito and ultimately turned caporegimes of their very own households. Tessio is understood for his strategic intelligence and being extra ruthless in comparison with the opposite Corleone capos.
Vigoda’s efficiency is taken into account to be one of many movie’s greatest and most memorable, not solely as a result of he finally ends up betraying Michael Corleone ultimately, however as a result of his mild, mushy persona successfully conceals his chilly and calculating nature. Vigoda delivers a sentimental, unassuming character by his real attraction and refined, however stern demeanor, which solidifies his rating for giving one of many movie’s greatest performances.
9 Diane Keaton
Kay Adams
Diane Keaton‘s character, Kay Adams, is an outsider trying in on the Corleone household and regardless that she would not have a serious half within the first movie, she serves as a logo of what Michael’s life may have been like if circumstances had been completely different. Adams comes from a well-to-do Protestant household who Vito believes will assist Michael obtain an all-American public picture, bettering his possibilities of gaining a professional place of energy.
Keaton conveys her character’s type and nostalgic persona with extraordinary grace and is visually a beacon of sunshine in reasonably darkish occasions. Her most well-known scene is on the finish, as she watches the door shut on her husband after a number of males enter his workplace. With out uttering a phrase, Keaton’s facial features speaks volumes of Kay’s full devastation and realization of who her husband has develop into, leaving audiences with an ominous emotion that lingers lengthy after the top credit.
8 Al Lettieri
Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo
Al Letteri provides a shocking efficiency because the formidable Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo, who basically symbolizes the brand new technology of gangsters and is a serious catalyst within the movie. Described as a narcotics man, Sollozzo tries to steer Vito to increase his political connections to him in trade for a bit of his enterprise. Regardless of the beneficiant supply, Vito respectfully declines, explaining that Sollozzo is in a harmful enterprise which he and his distinguished connections don’t want to be related to.
Letteri provides a contact of charming charisma to the hard-hitting Sollozzo, who clearly would not take no for a solution as he ultimately retaliates towards Vito and the Corleone household. Between his sharp, finely tailor-made fits and unsettling poker face, Letteri brilliantly conveys Sollozzo as a professional man of enterprise who’s secretly extra conniving than he initially lets on, hoping to earn his opponents’ belief by his intelligent facade.
7 Richard S. Castellano
Peter Clemenza
Many bear in mind Richard S. Castellano‘s character, Peter Clemenza, for his iconic Godfather quote, “Take the gun, depart the cannoli,” which was partially ad-libbed by Castellano. Clemenza initially met Vito once they had been younger and small-time hoodlums, turning into a detailed buddy of the Corleone household and likewise Sonny’s godfather. Whereas Vito genuinely loves and cares for his youngsters, Clemenza has a cheeky humorousness and softer reproach, which deems him to be nearly a second father to Vito’s sons. Some might underestimate Clemenza, however in the case of enterprise issues, he’s simple and cutthroat.
Castellano provides a vividly genuine efficiency because the lovable Fats Clemenza, conveying the character as each a tricky, no-nonsense mafioso and a supply of slight comedian aid all through the movie, (“I like you with all my coronary heart, if I by no means see you once more, I am gonna die.”) The actor expertly makes use of Clemenza’s carefree outlook on the world in addition to the character’s informal, nonchalant demeanor, making Castellano’s efficiency one of many movie’s most memorable.
6 Talia Shire
Connie Corleone
The Godfather opens with the marriage celebration of Vito’s solely daughter, Connie, performed by Talia Shire, who provides an emotionally intense and highly effective efficiency. Connie is a heat and thoughtful one that merely needs to like and be cherished in return, however is dealt an abusive husband who helps to orchestrate her brother’s homicide and dangers the protection of their unborn baby by severely beating her. She may be very very similar to her mom, submissive and obedient, however not like her mom, she is married to a person who tears her down frequently, each bodily and mentally.
Shire’s efficiency is extremely shifting and heartfelt, completely conveying her character as Vito’s little princess who will not be ready for her life outdoors the comforts of her loving house. Regardless of having a minor position, Shire takes benefit of each minute of her display screen time, using her ability and craft. Even when she has no traces, Shire speaks by her beaming glow of a smile and uncontrollable, hysterical tears, which resonate extra with audiences than any phrases may ever obtain.
5 John Cazale
Fredo Corleone
John Cazale stars in The Godfather because the black sheep of the Corleone household, Fredo, who lacks a stage of maturity and is deemed to be unqualified to take over the household enterprise by his father. Regardless of his infantile antics and vulnerability, Fredo does have a knack for entertaining and operating the social features of the enterprise, however his pleasure and misplaced ego generally places him on skinny ice.
Cazale was a profound actor who sadly handed away in 1978 on the age of 42 from lung most cancers. The actor supplies his character with an uninhibited emotional depth that’s uncommon for a gangster movie, portraying Fredo’s with a real honesty surrounding his lack of self-confidence and wounded pleasure, leaving a hauntingly empathetic impression on audiences. Regardless of his quick profession, Cazale starred in a number of movies which are ranked as a number of the greatest motion pictures of all time, however his efficiency as Fredo Corleone is remembered by many as his absolute best work.
4 James Caan
Santino “Sonny” Corleone
James Caan because the hot-headed Santino “Sonny” Corleone is an absolute triumph of a efficiency, and for sure, makes Sonny among the finest foremost characters in your complete movie franchise. Sonny is the oldest baby and subsequent in line to take over as head of the household, however his impulsivity and respected mood are his most harmful flaws and inevitably result in his demise. In Puzo’s guide, Sonny is portrayed as extra of a pacesetter who had confirmed himself to his father in the course of the first mafia warfare. Whereas the movie conveys him as an out-of-control wiseguy, Sonny does have the power to be tactful and undertake a rational mindset.
Caan’s Oscar-nominated efficiency as Sonny is explosive and easily a sight to behold. The actor tactfully softens his character’s exhausting and violent exterior with sarcasm and wit, making a likable character with out diminishing his robust, masculine stance. Regardless that Sonny is designed to look as an intimidating gangster, Caan nonetheless slips within the occasional sentiment and telling look that humanizes the character, making his efficiency among the finest and most versatile.
3 Robert Duvall
Tom Hagen
Robert Duvall provides an Oscar-nominated efficiency as Tom Hagen, who is likely one of the most attention-grabbing characters within the movie and serves because the lawyer for the Corleone household in addition to consigliere for a short interval. When Hagen was a boy, his dad and mom died, leaving him on their own, however someday, Sonny discovered him wandering the streets and took him house. Vito and his spouse, Carmela, adopted Hagen, elevating him as one in all their very own and supporting him like the remainder of their youngsters. Hagen is aware of and values his place and does precisely what he’s informed with out query. He’s extremely loyal to his surrogate household, particularly Vito, who he admires with nice adoration.
Duvall provides a singular efficiency because the enigmatic Hagen, who’s a person of few however insightful phrases and turns into an important asset for the Corleone household. The actor conveys his character with modesty and poise that makes audiences surprise what his subsequent transfer or thought goes to be, by no means revealing a single trace or inform. Duvall brings a way of ease and normality to the movie’s total tone, basically humanizing the extra nefarious features of different characters along with his real, sincere nature.
2 Al Pacino
Michael Corleone
Al Pacino stars because the youngest Corleone son and warfare hero, Michael, who Vito initially needed to observe a professional path in life, however attributable to unexpected circumstances, Michael steps up and ultimately turns into his father’s successor as the top of the Corleone household. Out of all the opposite Corleone youngsters, Michael is essentially the most like his father, having inherited his savvy negotiation expertise and aware tact, which permits Michael to all the time be two steps forward of his opponents.
Pacino’s efficiency earned the actor an Academy Award nomination for Greatest Supporting Actor and is likely one of the most compelling character transformations of all time. In the course of the casting of the film, Puzo insisted on casting Pacino as Michael, however attributable to his quick stature, the top of Paramount, Robert Evans, wasn’t onboard and insisted that his main males needed to be a sure peak, however as soon as he noticed his display screen take a look at, Pacino’s lack of peak was compensated by his larger-than-life presence. Pacino portrays Michael Corleone with a spellbinding complexity and an final command of the viewers’s undivided consideration, making his efficiency each fascinating and fascinating.
1 Marlon Brando
Don Vito Corleone
Marlon Brando’s efficiency as Don Vito Corleone was an revolutionary efficiency that dazzled audiences and likewise marked the legendary actor’s comeback to the silver display screen. Early on, Vito Corleone endured immense hardship, however by exhausting work and humility, he managed to determine himself as one of the crucial highly effective and extremely revered individuals within the nation. Many individuals come to Vito for assist and if he agrees to do them a favor, he requires them to return the gesture, however not like different gangsters, he would not ask them to do something that will put them in harms means.
Brando was a famend methodology actor who went above and past to organize for his roles. Brando was one other actor who Puzo initially had in thoughts for the position of Vito and even despatched the actor a replica of his guide. After studying the novel, Brando not solely agreed to the position, but additionally envisioned Vito’s now-iconic look and voice, making his efficiency a bona fide work of cinematic artwork. Regardless of starring in a number of the greatest movies of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Brando’s monumental position because the patriarch of the Corleone household by far reigns as one in all his most celebrated performances, in addition to one of many best on-screen performances in film historical past.
