Originally posted by The Italian Stallionette:
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 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.
