Re-Thinking The Godfather 50 Years After

Fifty years after the release of "The Godfather," we're still talking about the landmark film about the Corleone clan that reinvented the gangster genre and influenced mob movies that followed. Not only that; The Godfather (I and II) became a cultural phenomenon. It had particular significance for Italian Americans, but its themes of family, loyalty, and the dark side of the American Dream and capitalism resonated widely. This collection of essays looks at all aspects of Coppola's classic film. The contributors examine thematic and structural aspects: How did the film resonate with us in 1972, and how does it resonate with us now? What narrative devices did Coppola use? From a more theoretical perspective, what can the spectator take away from the film? My essay, "From the Godfather to The Greedfather," analyzes the film's political implications and uses.