What was the impact? It is one thing to enjoy the movie now, but can you imagine watching it in the theater when it was first released? Hearing the collective gasps at the various scenes? Reading the reviews? The hype at work around the water cooler? The excitement about Brando's triumpant return to the big screen 20 years after On the Waterfront and A Streetcar Named Desire?

I was only 13 then so I can remember my parents talking about it, that's all.

The novel was a huge success before the film came out, and made a giant impact. So people were all leaped up about the film. Most of the initial buzz was over Brando's performance. His lines (such as "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse") got into the popular lexicon overnight. In fact, Brando's performance tended to overshadow Pacino's and Duvall's. Only after a period of months did people begin to appreciate what an overall triumph the film was. But before that, and after, Brando's Vito Corleone was more popular than the president of the US.

Back in the day ('72) theaters here in NY were still the old, original sized ones (before they were divided up into 6 or 8 little rooms). Consider that most of them showing the original release were packed for months, and the more spectacular scenes (ie. Sonny's death, Jack Woltz and the horse's head, etc.) were followed by upwards of 500+ people going wild.

You waited for a Friday or Saturday night showing? Fugghedaboudit! The theaters had LOOOOONG lines right through the summer (and the movie was released in March).

Because of the success of Part I, the anticipation for Part II (two years later) was tremendous, and once word got out that Part II was equally as good, the lines for that movie were equally as long.

I really wish I was alive to see the godfather in the movie theatres. Just to here about it would have been exciting, even when GF3 was released, I was too young to like it. This is one of the reasons why I want to see GF4 in the movie theatres, but no matter what I will never be able to ctach the magic of seeing the Godfather on the big screen.

As a pre-teen, I was aware of most of these lines, even used some of them without knowing where they came from or what they meant.

Remember Godfathers Pizza commericials? Straight rip off there.

I was born in 84, so I was 6 when GF3 came out, but I dont remember anything about it. I do however remember Godfathers Pizza. My memory of the guy who used to say "Do it" was a guy in a cowboy hat but now I know that copuldnt have been a cowboy hat! It did have some pretty good pizza.

Ha ha!! This is one of the topics that being one of the older members here has it's benefit.

Yes, it was something all right. Like TB says, the book came out first and became very poupular. I read the book and just could not wait to see the movie wondering if it would be as good as the book.

Brando was made fun of for mumbling his lines; rumor was that Sinatra was pissed off because Johnny Fontaine was suppose to be him; for the time, the violence of Sonny's death and pregnant Connie's beating by Carlo were quite the talk in my family.

And SC you are right. Theaters were theaters back then, big screens - balconies and everything.

TIS

This has been a popular question on the board and a chance for us old frogs to reminesce (sp?).

I read the book shortly after it came out and couldn't wait to see the movie. Lots of hype about casting; Brando was miscast, he's washed up, James Caan? he doesn't look Italian, who is this Pacino guy? Then there was all the conjecture about the horsehead scene. I don't remember exactly when I saw it, but it was during its first run. It ran in one movie house in Rockland County (suburb of NYC), and its was packed for weeks. Having seen the movie countless times it is hard to remember the original impact, but here I am 30+ years later still watching it, reading it, quoting it and talking about it.

I thank you "old guys" for sharing those memories. Your memories of the affect on pop culture are valuable.

One thing I do remember, on a lot of variety shows like Sonny and Cher and Carol Burnett there would be skits and comedians would stuff cotton in their mouth and imitate Brando as Vito. I was not sure who they were imitating at the time.

As I mentioned before, I was an usher at the Park Lane Theater in Palisades Park, NJ when the Godfather came out. The theater was packed every night I worked and the movie was the talk of day. My parents, given free passes from me saw the movie three times and to this day, my mother treasures the Godfather VHS tapes I gave her on her 65th birthday. She watches them faithfully and loves the wedding scene. She would have never bought a VCR if I didn't give her those tapes.

If I was a rich publisher I'd offer you a book deal.

I bought my first VCR in September 1983, specifically because NBC was showing "The Godfather Saga" (GF and II in chronological order, with all deleted scenes spliced in) for the first time. Never looked back.

/QUOTE]I bought my first VCR in September 1983, [/QB][/QUOTE]
VHS or Beta?

I remember when Part # came out!!!

TB, if you (or anyone here for that matter) ever hears of the chronological version with all the deleted scenes, come on tv again, please post it.

I know I saw it at that time too, but didn't record it. It wasn't until people posted here on some of those scenes, that I realized how rare they really are But that was the one and only time I've seen it. I'd jump at the chance to have that version, if not on DVD, I'll be happy with recorded from the tv.


TIS

It was an event! it was the hotter than the '72 Olympics and the Presidental election!
On network news, we hear of ticket scalpers selling $2.50 tickets for $20!

Wow, that is saying a lot considering the '72 Olympics had the Munich Massacre. You are lucky to have such memories. Did The Exorcist come out the same year as The Godfather? Did The Godfather have a theme song on the radio? I know a lot of movies during that time did (The Sting, Exorcist, etc)

Hi Sonof70's! The Exorcist came out in 73 I believe. The theme song "Tubular Bells" (I think), was played on most radio stations. Yea,that movie created a lot of hysteria as well.


TIS

I remember the song well, though I never knew the name, thanks, and major props to all you GF "vets" who have great memories of when it was originally released!

I once dated a girl who thought " The Exorcist" was Jack LaLanne.

What I do recall is that Speak Softly Love was popular, but it was sung by crooners (exp. Al Martino,aka: Johnny) on talk shows (Dinah, Mike, Merv and Carson). I really don't recall hearing it on the radio that played top ten music.

Exorcist was released Dec. 1993 and it almost rocked Godfather out of its #1 spot.

Yes the Massacre was big news, but in the early 70's, the era of 1/2 hour news coverage, did not have minute to minute coverage of the same story like we do today. Therefore, we were somewhat detached from the story.

Speak softly love, was that sung in the movie? I remember Mike (Douglas) and Merv (Griffin) shows, they were awesome.

You meant '73 for the Exorcist I guess.

This was a great topic idea, and I agree...it's been really cool to hear what it was like when it first came out...I can only imagine! :0) I'm sure I'll still be talking about the GF years from now...I'll be telling my grandkids my fav. parts, and quoting all the characters...just like I do now!

Unfortunately, I haven't seen any of those skits..but it'd be something I would really enjoy! I, myself, stuffed cotton in my mouth once or twice and made my best attempt at a Brando impression...lol Oh, and anytime I get a.."frog in my throat," I suppose...I always make the "give him an offer" quote before it clears up...hehe

I just remembered, Steve Lawrence is the guy I remember doing a Godfather imitation a lot on the Carol Burnett show.