The Godfather Part II

"The Godfather II" redirects here. For the video game, see The Godfather II (video game).

The Godfather Part II
Theatrical release poster
Directed byFrancis Ford Coppola
Screenplay by
Based onThe Godfather
by Mario Puzo
Produced byFrancis Ford Coppola
Starring
CinematographyGordon Willis
Edited by
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release dates
  • December 12, 1974 (1974-12-12) (New York City)
  • December 20, 1974 (1974-12-20) (United States)
Running time
202 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
Languages
  • English
  • Sicilian
Budget$13 million[2][3]
Box office$93 million[N 1]

The Godfather Part II is a 1974 American epic crime film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, loosely based on the 1969 novel The Godfather by Mario Puzo, who co-wrote the screenplay with Coppola. It is both a sequel and a prequel to the 1972 film The Godfather, presenting parallel dramas: one picks up the 1958 story of Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), the new Don of the Corleone family, protecting the family business in the aftermath of an attempt on his life; the other covers the journey of his father, Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro), from his Sicilian childhood to the founding of his family enterprise in New York City. The ensemble cast also features Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Morgana King, John Cazale, Marianna Hill and Lee Strasberg.

Following the first film's success, Paramount Pictures began developing a follow-up, with many of the cast and crew returning. Coppola, who was given more creative control, had wanted to make both a sequel and a prequel to The Godfather that would tell the story of Vito's rise and Michael's fall. Principal photography began in October 1973 and wrapped up in June 1974. The Godfather Part II premiered in New York City on December 12, 1974, and was released in the United States on December 20, 1974, receiving divisive reviews from critics; its reputation, however, improved rapidly, and it soon became the subject of critical re-appraisal. It grossed $48 million in the United States and Canada and up to $93 million worldwide on a $13 million budget. The film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, and became the first sequel to win Best Picture. Its six Oscar wins also included Best Director for Coppola, Best Supporting Actor for De Niro and Best Adapted Screenplay for Coppola and Puzo. Pacino won Best Actor at the BAFTAs and was nominated at the Oscars.

Like its predecessor, Part II remains a highly influential film, especially in the gangster genre. It is considered to be one of the greatest films of all time, as well as a rare example of a sequel that rivals its predecessor.[4] In 1997, the American Film Institute ranked it as the 32nd-greatest film in American film history and it retained this position 10 years later.[5] It was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 1993, being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[6] The Godfather Part III, the final installment in the trilogy, was released 16 years later in 1990.

  1. ^ "The Godfather II to intermission. 3hrs 42 minutes total". British Board of Film Classification. Archived from the original on July 17, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  2. ^ "The Godfather Part II (1974)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on May 29, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  3. ^ "The Godfather: Part II (1974) – Financial Information". The Numbers. Archived from the original on April 6, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  4. ^ "Citizen Kane Stands the Test of Time" Archived August 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. American Film Institute.
  5. ^ "The National Film Registry List – Library of Congress". loc.gov. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2012.


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