The Godfather (1972)

This is an imperfect-but-creditable movie. In 1945, Vito Corleone's (Marlon Brando) daughter Connie gets married. His godson asks for help to get an acting job and Vito sends an associate to Hollywood for the request. A rival family asks the Corleones to become partners in their heroin business, but when Vito refuses to support drug trafficking, he is shot six times and nearly dies. After Vito collapses in his vegetable garden and dies, his youngest son Michael (Al Pacino) takes charge of the family's business.

It is based on the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo. The film won Academy Awards for best actor, best picture, and best adapted screenplay. Francis Coppola was reluctant to direct the film, because he did not want to glorify the Mafia. Talia Shire (who plays Connie) is his sister and Nicholas Cage is his nephew. This was the first major film role for Al Pacino. A real horse head was used in the scene where Jack Woltz is in bed. When I was watching that scene, I thought they had cut the guy's legs off, but actually they killed his prized racehorse.