Italian American Identity and Organized Crime Representation in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather, 1972

Coppola's The Godfather

Archive

Coppola, Francis Ford. The Godfather (1972) redefined American cinema through its portrayal of Italian American family structures, organized crime networks, and the consolidation of power across generations. Adapted from Mario Puzo’s novel, the film follows the Corleone family and situates criminal enterprise within domestic, cultural, and economic frameworks, contributing to scholarly study of ethnicity, masculinity, and violence in twentieth-century United States film. Its commercial success as the highest-grossing film of its time and its Academy Award recognition, including Best Picture, marked a shift in Hollywood production toward large-scale narrative filmmaking and elevated a new generation of actors and directors within the New Hollywood movement.
Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather. Hollywood: Paramount Pictures, 1972. Archive of 5 original vintage lobby cards. Three color prints measure approximately 9 x 12 inches and two measure approximately 8 x 10 inches. The images depict staged scenes from the film, including the opening wedding sequence of Connie Corleone featuring ensemble groupings of principal characters, a hospital scene showing Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone following the assassination attempt, and multiple depictions of Al Pacino as Michael Corleone in both Sicilian and American settings, including his marriage to Apollonia and later scenes with his American wife. The smaller lobby cards retain lower margins with film title, production credits, and copyright information, while the larger examples feature the title with the Paramount logo positioned in the corner, consistent with theatrical display formats.
Issued during a period of transformation within the American film industry, The Godfather contributed to the emergence of blockbuster-driven production and reshaped narrative approaches to crime and family in cinema. Its continued placement in major institutional rankings, including those of the American Film Institute, underscores its lasting interpretive importance. Pinhole marks present on three cards with minor edge wear from exhibition use; overall very good condition. A representative group of theatrical display materials from a film central to studies of American cinema and cultural history.

Item #19716

Price: $450.00