On this day in movie history - The Godfather (1972):

The Godfather

directed by Francis Ford Coppola,

written by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola,

based on the novel by Mario Puzo,

was released in the United States on March 14, 1972.
Music by Nino Rota.

Cast:

Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard S. Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, Al Lettieri, Diane Keaton, Abe Vigoda, Talia Shire, Gianni Russo, John Cazale, Rudy Bond, Al Martino, Morgana King, Lenny Montana, John Martino, Salvatore Corsitto, Richard Bright, Alex Rocco, Tony Giorgio, Vito Scotti, Tere Livrano, Victor Rendina, Jeannie Linero, Julie Gregg, Ardell Sheridan, Simonetta Stefanelli, Angelo Infanti, Corrado Gaipa, Franco Citti, Saro Urzì, Frank Albanese, Chris Anastasio, Norm Bacchiocchi, Max Brandt, Tybee Brascia, Garrett Cassell, Carmine Coppola, Gian-Carlo Coppola, Italia Coppola, Roman Coppola, Sofia Coppola, Don Costello, Robert Dahdah, Richard Fass, Gray Frederickson, Ron Gilbert, Anthony Gounaris, Joe Lo Grippo, Sonny Grosso, Louis Guss, Bobra Harris, Merril E. Joels, Randy Jurgensen, Tony King, Paul Lambert, Peter Lemongello, Tony Lip, Lou Martini Jr., Raymond Martino, Joseph Medaglia, Carol Morley, Dave Moskin, Rick Petrucelli, Joe Petrullo, Burt Richards, Sal Richards, Chuck Riley, Tom Rosqui, Giacomo Rossi Stuart, Nino Ruggeri, Frank Sivero, Filomena Spagnuolo, Joe Spinell, Gabriele Torrei, Nick Vallelonga, Ed Vantura, Ron Veto, Matthew Vlahakis, Ilene Woods, Conrad Yama.

Recommended reading - The Godfather, by Mario Puzo (1969):

The Godfather

By Mario Puzo.

Filmed as The Godfather (1972), directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

Published by Berkley.

First published 1969.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0451205766

ISBN-13: 978-0451205766

Description:

“A staggering triumph...The definitive novel about a sinister fraternity of crime.” – The Saturday Review.

“You can’t stop reading it, and you’ll find it hard to stop dreaming about it.” – New York Magazine.

50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION – WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA.

Mario Puzo’s classic saga of an American crime family that became a global phenomenon – nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read.

With its brilliant and brutal portrayal of the Corleone family, The Godfather burned its way into our national consciousness. This unforgettable saga of crime and corruption, passion and loyalty continues to stand the test of time, as the definitive novel of the Mafia underworld.

A #1 New York Times bestseller in 1969, Mario Puzo’s epic was turned into the incomparable film of the same name, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. It is the original classic that has been often imitated, but never matched. A tale of family and society, law and order, obedience and rebellion, it reveals the dark passions of human nature played out against a backdrop of the American dream.

With a Note from Anthony Puzo and an Afterword by Robert J. Thompson.