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THE GODFATHER

(Francis Ford Coppola, 1972)

Considered by many to be the greatest crime film ever made, Coppola's masterpiece still continues to seduce and dazzle, taking us in to the world of organised crime through the Corleone family.  Adapted from Mario Puzo's pulp novel, Coppola remained faithful to the source material, managing to chop off sub-plots that took us away from the Corleones.  It was a major risk for Paramount.  Coppola was not their ideal choice - he hadn't made anything that brought substantial box-office up to that point - and his choice for playing Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) was deemed as too much as a risk as the actor was notorious for being troublesome.  Of course we can't imagine the film without the two being involved.  It took the Oscars by storm, winning in the major categories, and it was inevitable that a sequel would be in the works.  In 1974, we got Part II, which is often considered to be the greatest sequel ever made.  You guys voted for this and it is a solid choice.