It’s no surprise that “The Godfather” raked in the awards. It’s still seen as one of the best movies of all time, and when award season rolled around, it won plenty of Oscars.
However, the movie’s two biggest stars, Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, both boycotted the Academy Awards that year for different reasons. Brando boycotted in order to protest Hollywood’s racist depictions of Native Americans. Pacino’s reason was a bit more selfish: he thought that, since he had more screen time than Brando, he should be up for Best Actor, instead of Best Supporting Actor. He didn’t win anyway.
Allegorical by Demand
The Godfather is a long, cinematic allegory about American capitalism, according to the director. But that detail wasn't originally part of the story. Francis Ford Coppola didn't want to direct the first film, saying that he thought it was a glorification of the Mafia, and it would be in poor taste to make a film that cast Sicilians in such a negative light.
How it could be both a glorification and cast Sicilians in a negative light will remain a secret to everyone but Coppola. However, before fully passing on the project, the idea of making the films allegorical came to him, and he went forward with the project.
It's All in the Name
The Corleones, from the Don all the way down, are powerful, intense characters. Sonny is violent and willing to use his fists to get his way, Michael never lets an opportunity pass him up, and even the youngest, Connie, gives her abusive husband as good as she gets. Fredo is something of an outlier, seen as quite an effeminate and weak man.
This is pretty fitting – the surname Corleone means “Lionheart” in Italian. From the threat of physical violence to a commanding and unforgettable presence, most of the Corleones, just like lions, rule their concrete jungles.
What Was to Be
There are tons of ways "The Godfather" could have turned out differently. For one, Mario Puzo (who wrote both the book it was based on and the screenplay), at first wanted famous spaghetti Western director Sergio Leone to direct. However, Leone wasn't interested in glorifying the Mafia.
The script's first draft was also as a low-budget gangster film instead of a high-budget mob epic, but when Coppola joined the project, he rejected the script and guided the movie toward a huge, sprawling, period piece. Actors, directors, and movie aficionados everywhere may never stop thanking him.
Just Making Stuff Up
Coppola wasn't a big fan of the original script for "The Godfather". It turns out that Puzo doesn't actually speak Italian – which most people would realize is a pretty big blockage when writing a book and screenplay that is almost entirely made up of Italians and their culture.
But Puzo forged ahead, doing his best to create phrases that meant what he wanted – and thanks to the popularity of the films, they've entered the American lexicon. “Don” now means boss, but it originally means something more like “Uncle,” somewhat similar to Japanese honorifics for an older male.