The Godfather Sparknotes

The film I will be analyzing is The Godfather, Part I. It was directed by Francis Ford Coppola in 1972 and based on the book written by Mario Puzo.
Vito Corleone is the patriarch and “Don” or “Godfather” of the Corleone family empire; one of the five mob families in control of the five boroughs of New York City in the 1940’s. Michael Corleone is Vito’s youngest son and a World War II veteran. Before he dies, Vito tells Michael that he never wanted him to be the one to have to take over the family business; instead of being a puppet for people in positions of power and influence, he wanted Michael to “be the one to hold the strings” as a Senator or Governor. However, after his eldest son, Sonny is brutally gunned down in an ambush and with his second eldest son, Fredo incapable of running such a complex
operation, Vito teaches Michael all he can about the family business in the time he has left. Vito reveals that there is a traitor within the family and that after his death, whoever it is will be the first to approach Michael to set up a meeting with Barzini, the head of another New York family. Although he never wanted anything to do with his family’s business, Michael assumes the role as head of the family after his father’s death. However, he is determined to make his family’s business interests legitimate within five years.
Michael begins his reign as “Don” of the Corleone family by “settling all family business.” While there are several sequences in the film that could be considered pivotal, I believe this one is most important because it not only gives us insight as to how the trilogy will progress, but it also shows the might and power behind Michael Corleone’s new position as head of the family. Unlike his father, Michael is more open to alternative business dealings, but only if they help remove his enemies from power or assist him in obtaining his ultimate goal … making the Corleone empire a legitimate enterprise. During a visit with his brother Fredo in Las Vegas, we discover Michael’s plans for the family includes giving up all interests in the Olive Oil business in New York, relocating the family to Nevada and the buyout of a hotel and casino run by Moe Greene; one that had been bankrolled by the Corleone family. We see Michael becoming a man who is fully in control of his family, their employees and business dealings. From the very beginning of his reign, we begin to see the ruthless leader he will become. He has the willingness and ability to demonstrate that his authority is not to be challenged. He will show no mercy to traitors or anyone else who might oppose him. This leads us to the most pivotal sequence of the film.
The scene opens with a wide angle shot inside the Catholic Church where Michael’s sister Connie is having her baby baptized. We hear somber church organ music playing and a baby’s cry can be heard echoing off of the high walls. The lighting is darker in some parts of the church giving the impression that the only light in those areas is the light coming through the stained glass windows. At the alter; the light becomes much brighter; that of a muted spotlight shining down on the actors. This opening shot makes it feel as if we are sitting in one of the last pews and far off to the right from where the ceremony is taking place. The scene then cuts to a closer viewpoint, putting us directly behind members of the family who are there to witness the baptism. We see the baby’s godparents, Michael and his wife Kay (who is holding the baby) step up to the alter. The ceremony begins from this same view point. The baby continues to cry, the organ music continues to play and the priest begins to speak in Latin, the traditional language of the Roman Catholic Church. The camera then repositions so that we see a shot of Michael, Kay and the priest and then switches again to a close-up shot of Michael listening to the priest and the baby’s bonnet being removed. In a series of synchronous, alternating scenes, we see the Corleone family hit men dawning disguises and arming their weapons as well as the heads of the five New York families going about their everyday lives.
During these scenes, we continue to hear the priest performing the service with the organ continuously playing in the background.
Every now and then, we are briefly taken back to the church to see Michael and the priest preparing to anoint the child. During the baptism the organ reaches a high note and Michael is asked “do you believe in God, the Father almighty; creator of heaven and earth?” right before his answer, the organ falls silent and he answers “I do.” As the priest continues to ask the key questions of Michael, the organ returns … getting increasingly louder. At this point, Coppola begins combining the increasing volume of the organ and the frantic sound of a baby crying to create a sense of urgency in the viewer. The organ abruptly stops as the priest asks Michael if he renounces Satan. As soon as this line is spoken by the priest, the organ returns dramatically and we are treated to a series of scenes that alternate between Michael saying “I do renounce him” and the Corleone hit men murdering every one Michael considers to be an enemy at the exact same moment. As the priest finishes the service, we see the aftermath of the killings throughout the
city.
This scene is the key to the entire film because as I stated before, it shows just how ruthless a man Michael Corleone has become and how dangerous he will continue to be throughout the trilogy. I also find this a very interesting sequence and believe that the way it was shot was successful because of the oxymoronic dynamics. On one hand you have a child being baptized in the church. At the same exact time however, violent murders are taking place all over the city … and the one thing they both have in common is Michael Corleone.