Actors: Character, Personality, Wild Card

The Godfather (1972)

The Three (3) actors I’d like to focus on in this week’s blog are: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and Robert Duvall.  While Robert Duvall wasn’t a primary player in the film I like his acting style and think he deserves kudos for his role as the Corleone lawyer.

Marlon Brando– (“Don” Vito Corleone)I would characterize him as Personality from the text. Method Actor, I believe the reason he fits this type of acting would be from the first scene in the movie he needed to portray his character as a strong personality of a Mafia boss. So he took it upon himself to stuff cotton balls in his jaws to give his look of a bulldog and to help with a slight change in his voice. Even our reading material identified him as a method actor.  He’s a consummate professional in all films he’s ever starred in.  As an actor, he portrays all his characters with creativity.  Throughout his professional career he took on many rolls from Drama, musicals and comedy (The Freshman, 1990).  He played a good guy in conflict with the Union as a Long Shoreman.  He played a classic historic figure in Julius Caesar as Marc Antony.  This film was directed by John Huston.  I’m sure lots of folks don’t remember his role as Jor El in the 70’s Superman movie. It was a brief appearance but at the time his name and appearance was a boost for that movie.

Young actor Marlon Brando, Google images.

Marlon Brando as Jor El, Superman Movie 1978

I could go on and on about Brando because he is one of my favorite actors.  He had many film successes and many flops right along with the successes.  But one thing about Brando and his movies is that even if the film was a failure his acting was always excellent.

Al Pacino– (Michael Corleone) Method Actor/Personality, I think he fits this type of acting, because the way he present about himself or his character with the camera that he seems to draw on past experiences to bring the character to life. Especially the scene at the restaurant and his character in the scene when he goes Las Vegas, it’s the scene in the motel room where he tells his brother never go against the family.  Michael exudes stoicism, strength and a position of authority in his interactions with fellow mafia members as well as his family.  Most scenes of Michael after taking over the family business is him as a serious man.  I think Michael doesn’t crack a smile in the rest of the movie.

Al Pacino roles have been varied through his career like Brando. Pacino has played a mobster (The Godfather, The Godfather, Part II), A cop who blows the whistle on a corrupt police force in Serpico, a blind veteran (Scent of a Woman) and the Devil in Devils Advocate.

Col. Slade, Scent of a Woman 1992, Google Images

Devil’s Advocate, 1997 Google Images

Pacino’s career has been long and he’s played several roles but he’s probably done his best work when playing in dramas or crime movies.  He has moved away from the mobster role in later years but in Hollywood as you age you need to try to stay on top with roles offered.

Robert Duvall—(Tom Hagen) Character Actor. Duvall would be classified as a Character actor in Hollywood. In almost all his movies he’s been cast in the supporting role or as a minor character.  In the Godfather movie he plays Tom who was taken in by the Corleone family and educated.  He’s their lawyer.  In the movie his scenes aren’t frequent or major but he ties up to the business.  This role would be considered a supporting character role. Duvall has played a character most of his career probably due to the fact that he didn’t have the “look” for a leading man.  He has gained acclaim for roles he played later in life like Gus MacCrae in the mini Series Lonesome Dove (1989), General Lee in Gods and Generals (2003) and most currently in The Judge(2014) as Joseph Palmer.

Sources:

Internet Movie Database (IMDB)

Picture Stills courtesy of Google Images

Classroom Textbook:  Film:  From watching to Seeing, 2nd Edition, 2014 Bill Goodykoontz, Christopher P Jacobs, Bridgepoint Education Inc.

The Godfather sound

The Godfather story was penned by Mario Puzo in 1969.  It became a huge bestseller.  In 1969 over 350,000 copies were sold in the hardcover edition and by 1975 over 12,000,000 copies in hardcover and paper work were sold to date.  The movie I’m sure helped to solidify this story as an American Crime favorite.  The movie The Godfather was made in the early 1970’s and at this time film making was still pretty basic in the use of color, sound and set design. Special effects were still pretty low key and low budget.  One thing the film did at this time was address the American Mafia of the early century which made it a somewhat unique perspective.  We come to root for the Corleone’s and look at them as the heros of this film even though they are ruthless mobsters.

The film I’m analyzing for sound (dialogue, sound effects and music) is The Godfather. I think the dialogue is no different than most crime and gangster movies having limited lines for the characters because it’s all about the action from the gangsters. Movie goers want to see the shootings, fights and the bad guys getting killed. Sound effects are a major component in these types of movie and The Godfather is no different.  The film makes great use of sounds of city life with the sound effects of gunfire. The scene where Don Vito Corleone is shot down in the street we hear a few screams and see and hear the car rushing away from the scene. Then of course we can’t forget the scene at the restaurant when Michael shoots both guys and crashing of the dishes. The music on the other hand was a work of art with the scores and the few songs were well done.

In the opening scene of the movie we are in the Godfather’s office where he is listening to a guest request his help in getting revenge on the men who beat his daughter.  The office lighting is subdued and it’s very quiet.  You can’t even hear the wedding party outside.  As soon as the Don concludes his business and send the mortician on his way you can hear the party.  Then the scene changes to join the wedding party outside where it’s loud and happy.

Throughout the movie we really don’t see the Don is many ordinary situations such as sitting down to dinner with the family or enjoying time with his wife.  Most scenes are of his conducting business with other crime bosses or with his men.  The only scene in which we see him in a normal mode is at the wedding and again buying fruit from the vendor before he is shot down in the street.

Tom goes to California on business and the scene sets the mood for his trip.  It’s a bright sunny California day when his plane lands.  We hear 1940’s big band music playing and setting the mood for his meeting with the Hollywood movie director.  The meeting doesn’t go well, Tom flies home.  The next scene is early morning on the property of the director.  The music is so soft you almost don’t hear it over the sound of the crickets.  We then pan in to the huge mansion up to the master bedroom and of the director waking up in bed and, to his horror, to the severed head of his prize stud race horse.

Severed Horse head

This scene also set a tone for the violence of the era and of the Mobsters who were in power and had their hand in areas the average person wouldn’t think of.  It’s a very creative way of looking at power and people of the period.  I think most people like to root for the underdog and in this film it seems like the Corleone Family is the one picked on.

The theme music for the Godfather movie is quite stoic and somber and it’s a tune that most people recognize today.  It’s a classic and will be for years to come. I don’t believe that Francis Ford Coppola thought the music from this movie was as integral as setting the scene as the lighting was.  He makes great use of the setting the scene in doors to out of doors.  Most scenes that take place outside are more normal.  Most scenes that take place in a building or home are more subdued in color, tone and sound.  It’s as if the serious business is meant to be behind closed doors like the scene in the office at the opening of film.  The dinner where the family is discussing business and the dinner where Michael kills the rival mob boss and cop.

References

Movie Clips courtesy of YouTube

Cover of the Godfather Book by Mario Puzo, website:  Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22034.The_Godfather

Photo Image 1 courtesy of Google Image library

Godfather lighting

The Godfather movie, I believe, uses all three types of lighting (traditional three point, high-key and low-key) throughout the movie. The moments of happiness are scenes outdoors with sunshine.  The scenes inside in the office are darker and more subdued.  When violence is about to happen some scenes seem to be devoid of color. I’ve attached some still photos as well as a movie clip that show three different scenes at key moments in the film. The scene in Don Corleone office where the light and darkness is being used, especially where the light is shining down Marlon Brando’s face and he has shadow’s over his eyes to make him more ambiguous shows his stature and position of authority. For the second photo showing Al Pacino’s character, Michael Corleone, in the restaurant with the Police Captain along with Sollozzo (Al Lettieri). This lighting was high-key without the shadowing trying to show the appearance of lower class Mom & Pop type restaurant without the frills.  It’s a public place and seemingly innocuous to those present. In the scene at the funeral of Don Corleone Tom (Robert Duvall) is talking to Michael outside and this is an example of traditional three point lighting. I think the lighting in this crime drama movie really help make this movie a top notch film. Because the way they used the contrast of darkness for shadowing to even yellow lighting makes the scene very dramatic. To me if you changed the lighting to high-key for the scene in Corleone office where the guys are asking for favors of the Godfather this would take away the shadows that makes Marlon Brando character, “Don” Corleone, more intimidating, This also highlights Vito’s position of authority. The film needs certain lighting to ensure you get best results.

This film clip shows the interaction between Vito and the people who he has granted favors to and of those who owe the Don a favor.  The lighting is low key and subdued.  There isn’t much drama here just setting the tone for the what will come.

Favors granted on Day of Daughters wedding

The scene at the restaurant where Michael takes his revenge

The funeral for Don Corleone

Images are courtesy of IMDB photo library Film clip posted on YouTube by Hamza Nazzal April 25, 2013

Blog 1

Movie: The Godfather

Writers:  Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Major Actors: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard S. Castellano, Robert Duvall

Year Released: 1972

Vito Corleone is the aging Don (head) of the Corleone Mafia family. His youngest son Michael has returned from WWII just in time to see the wedding of Connie Corleone (Michael’s sister) to Carlo Rizzi. All of Michael’s family is involved with the Mafia,but Michael just wants to live a normal life. But a drug dealer, Virgil Sollozzo, want the Mafia to give him protection in exchange for profits from the drug money. He approaches Don Corleone about it but, much against the advice of the don’s lawyer Tom Hagen,the Don is morally against the use of drugs, and turns down the offer. This does not please Sollozzo, who has the Don shot down by some of his hit men. The Don barely survives, which leads his son Michael to begin a violent mob war against Sollozzo and tears the Corleone family apart.

I believe this film is non-linearly because of the aesthetic choices used in contributing to the film. Just like the scene that we were to review for editing the baptism murder was very good at keeping the audience drawn to scenes. Because they would go from murder scene back to Michael at the baptism and then to the next murder scene, keeping you riveted to what will happen next. The camera angles during shooting the scenes were intense along with the scene where the horse’s head is in the bed. Plus some of the close-up shots like the scene where the guy got shot in his glasses/eye. Lighting played a major part with the shooting scenes, especially the scene where Michael shoots the police Captain and another mafia lord. To me they had brighter lighting in the restaurant to help with the affect on the scene.

Video scene of Don Corleone gunned down in street courtesy of YouTube video

Image of Vito gunned down in street Picture courtesy of Google images

Image of Michael Corleone at the restaurant before killing both men.  Picture courtesy of Google Images

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