The Godfather Part 2

I re-watch the Godfather series every so often, (even the third on occasion) because it's one of my favorite set of movies, in one of my favorite genres. I always have the problem when I try to watch parts 1 and 2 in succession, that I get sort of depressed and disinterested in part 2 almost halfway through it.

Francis Ford Coppola directing The Godfather: Part II Francis Ford Coppola won the Oscar for best director for The Godfather: Part II (1974). Paramount; The Kobal CollectionThe Godfather: Part II two stories: that of Michael (played, as in The Godfather, by ) in the years after he becomes head of the Corleone family business and that of his father, Vito Corleone, as a young man (portrayed by ). In the former storyline, set in the 1950s, Michael has moved the family and his base of operations to, seeking to expand his influence into and also into. The other storyline shows Vito first as a child arriving in in the early 1900s after his family in was killed by the local. As a young man, he is introduced into criminal activity by his friend Clemenza (Bruno Kirby), beginning with thievery. When a neighbourhood crime boss (Gastone Moschin) demands a cut of Vito’s profits, however, Vito murders him.

Vito gains more power and respect while retaining his devotion to family. In the other narrative, Michael turns down a request from Frankie Pentangeli (Michael V. Gazzo) to approve a hit in New York City, because it would interfere with business with Jewish crime kingpin Hyman Roth. Michael’s story then becomes one of betrayal, deceit, and paranoia. He is targeted by assassination attempts and government investigations. His wife ( ) leaves him, his brother Fredo (John Cazale) turns against him, and he ceases to trust the consigliere Tom Hagen. In the end, Michael is left alone, having lost his family and his essential humanity.The part of the film dealing with Vito Corleone’s rise to become the don of his own crime family was adapted from the novel The Godfather, but Puzo and cowriter and director created the story of Michael’s journey into soullessness for the movie.

Most actors from The Godfather returned in their original roles, including Talia Shire as Connie Corleone, but Strasberg, a renowned acting teacher, made his film debut in the movie. The Godfather: Part II was the first sequel to win an for best picture. De Niro, whose in the film was almost entirely in the Sicilian, was the second actor to win an Oscar for playing Don Vito Corleone—and the second who was not present at the ceremony.

De Niro was working on another project at the time, and Coppola accepted the award on his behalf. Production notes and credits.

“If anything in this life is certain, if history has taught us anything, it’s that you can kill anyone,” Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino, tells his consigliere Tom Hayden (Robert Duvall), in The Godfather Part II. The film went on to do the job on movie history. It was, and remains, the only sequel to a Best Picture-winning film to nab the top Oscar itself. The Godfather Part II came out 45 years ago. To celebrate the occasion, TCM Big Screen Classics series will bring it back to theaters for four screenings over three days in November. TCM Primetime Host Ben Mankiewicz will do what he does on the classic movie channel: tell interesting anecdotes about the movie before it starts and after closing credits.

Mankiewics is the son of the guy who wrote Citizen Kane, consistently in the running with The Godfather for greatest film of all time. It has been argued The Godfather Part II is even better than its predecessor.

“A quintessentially American tale of power, ambition and family, The Godfather Part II electrified audiences and critics when it opened in 1974,” reads the press statement. The film was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mario Puzo, the author of the novel The Godfather. “This brilliant sequel continues the story of The Godfather, while also becoming a classic of modern filmmaking in its own right.”

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The 3 hour, 22 minute saga is a milestone of American cinema. The Godfather Part II “tells two interconnected stories,” according to the official Fathom Events synopsis. “The rise of a young Vito Corleone, played by Robert De Niro, who is sent to America to fend for himself, and the haunting, troubled ascension of Michael Corleone as the new Don.”

Besides De Niro, Pacino and Duvall, The Godfather Part II stars Talia Shire, Diane Keaton, John Cazale and Lee Strasberg. The version which will hit theaters was meticulously restored. The film will be digitally projected with its original mid-film intermission.

The Godfather Part II will screen in over 600 movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network. You can find a complete list of theater locations at Fathom Events. The film will run Sunday, Nov. 10, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 7:00 p.m., and Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 7:00 p.m., all times are local.

You can buy tickets for The Godfather Part II at participating box offices or at Fathom Events.

Culture Editor Tony Sokol cut his teeth on the wire services and also wrote and produced New York City’s Vampyr Theatre and the rock opera AssassiNation: We Killed JFK. Read more of his work here or find him on Twitter @tsokol.

Culture Editor Tony Sokol is a writer, playwright and musician. He contributed to Altvariety, Chiseler, Smashpipe, and other magazines. He is the TV Editor at Entertainment…