The Godfather film and the Mafia connection.

There are rumours that domestic films of the 90s starred real criminal bosses - allegedly they sponsored the "film masterpieces" of that time to shine on the screen and show all the romance of their gangster life. Whether this is true is not entirely clear, and we, ordinary viewers, can only rely on our own intuition. However, there is still some logic in these rumours - as well as in the fact that the cult movie "The Godfather." has become a half-mafia brainchild.

For many decades now, incredible theories have surrounded this picture, supposedly among the actors were the real ones. gangstersand the creation process itself was closely monitored by the "fathers" of the criminal world - and it was they who decided how their story would be told. Rumour or truth? Let's find out...

Italian entourage

"The Godfather" is a crime saga centred on a New York City Sicilian mafia family Corleone. Vito Corleone has a son Michael, who has just returned from the war and does not want to get involved in the dark family business. However, the circumstances are such that Michael has no time to think about it - he has to take everything into his own hands and start "steering", as they say.

This film is unique in its utterly Italian atmosphere. Directed by Francis Ford Coppolawho has done a good job of ensuring that each episode transports the viewer to a special setting. This is evident in everything from the brilliantly chosen cast to the musicswhich Coppola entrusted to Italian composer Nino Rota. Francis, who at the time did not yet have a big name in the film industry, would later say:

"I was prepared for everything. But I knew one thing: whatever the film turned out to be, it would be beautiful only because of the contribution of Nino alone..."

Although Coppola was a bit hasty with his conclusions here: the director involved his own father in the creation of the musical theme! In particular, the music that plays during wedding scenecredit Coppola's Carmina. In fact, there's a lot to tell about this scene.....

Improvisation made this film

At the time filming began, the Godfather script was a A 20-page novel, bought from Mario Piuso. Coppola worked out some of the moments, but it wasn't enough - many scenes were still raw. What to do in such a case? The answer is one: improvise. And the more daring, the better. So they did: for example, the mentioned wedding was filmed "without any restrictions" - Coppola gave the actors full freedom of action, and while everyone was having fun, he filmed the most interesting moments in his opinion.

In fact, most of the iconic episodes from The Godfather are pure improvisation! Like, for example, the legendary phrase: "Leave the gun, take the cannoli.". Actor Richard CastellanoPeter Clemenza was inspired to make such an interesting improvisation after the director added a line to the script about cannoli, a traditional Sicilian dessert that the character's wife asks him to buy.

But perhaps the kindest and sweetest example of improvisation has to do with with a cat Corleone. The thing is that originally the script did not envisage a "moustached actor". Coppola discovered the mafioso's favourite cat quite by accident: the director spotted it during his daily walks to the set, and one day brought the furry stray with him and told him to to Marlon Brando to improvise with him. The cat loved the actor so much that he sat on his lap all day during filming.

Still: the director's vision or the mob's?

And yet: "The Godfather" is Coppola's own vision, or is it still mobs? In general, the Internet has long been walking rumours, allegedly the entire working process is entirely controlled by representatives of the criminal world, who literally stood behind the scenes and directed the shooting. And it was they who decided what and how to present, which of the actors to put on what role and so on ... So, allegedly, Marlon Brando got the lead role thanks to his connections with mobsters. To some extent, this statement seems not unfounded, because initially Paramount Pictures tried to dissociate from the actor. Brando was famous for his violent temper and scandalous antics, as well as a heavy character. Simply put - to work with him was a real challenge for the whole team. However, in the end, he was chosen for the role of Don Corleone. I wonder why?

Another noteworthy thing is. Luca BrasiCorleone's sidekick, played Lenny Montanawho was rumoured to be a Mafioso. Well: his impressive parameters (height - 198 cm, weight - 107 kg.) allow to believe in this theory. But here is what is curious: according to some members of the film crew, Montana was very shy and at the same time afraid of Brando! He was so nervous in front of him that he couldn't even say his lines properly... It's hard to believe that such a big guy could be so vulnerable, don't you agree? This kind of behaviour by Montana only hints that Marlon's connections and capabilities were really great....

Of course, Coppola later denied all these rumours in every possible way, saying that the Mafia unrelated with his film. But: firstly - who in their right mind would shout about it in public, and secondly - since a long time the mafia owns cinemas in New York, and has a direct influence on Hollywood (well, at least it used to). We think that Coppola was obviously not telling us something....