The Godfather Part II (1974)
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Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film follows two parallel storylines. In the 1950s, Michael Corleone faces internal and external threats, including a betrayal by his brother Fredo, a tense standoff with Hyman Roth, and a high-stakes negotiation for a Las Vegas casino. He eventually discovers Fredo's betrayal and orders his execution. Simultaneously, the film depicts the early 20th-century life of Vito Corleone. It follows his escape from Sicily, his arrival in New York, and his rise to power, including the elimination of rivals like Don Fanucci and Don Ciccio. The narrative culminates in a series of tragic outcomes for the Corleone family, including the death of Fredo and the isolation of Michael as he sits alone at the family compound.
- First release year
- 1974
- Runtime (minutes)
- 200
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English; Sicilian
- Directors
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Writers
- Francis Ford Coppola · screenplay; Mario Puzo · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Al Pacino · Michael Corleone; Robert De Niro · Vito Corleone; Robert Duvall; Diane Keaton; Talia Shire; Morgana King; John Cazale; Marianna Hill; Lee Strasberg; Gastone Moschin; Giuseppe Sillato
- Genres
- epic gangster film; sequel; prequel
- Themes
- power; legacy; family; moral defeat
- Tone and mood
- serious; harrowing; atmospheric
- Premise and plot tags
- gangster; crime; prequel; sequel
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Godfather by Mario Puzo
- Franchise connections
- The Godfather
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time and a rare example of a sequel that rivals its predecessor. It is noted for its influence in the gangster genre and its critical acclaim for its cinematography and acting.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 96% · scale: percentage · review count: 129; Metacritic · score: 90 · scale: 100 · review count: 18
- Awards and nominations
- Best Picture · Academy Award · 1974 · Win; Best Original Score · Academy Award · 1974 · Win; Best Director · Academy Award · 1974 · Win; Best Supporting Actor · Academy Award · 1974 · Win; Best Adapted Screenplay · Academy Award · 1974 · Win; Best Actor · BAFTA · 1974 · Win
- Production trivia
- It was the first major American motion picture to use 'Part II' in its title.; The film was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry in 1993.; The original screenplay was titled 'The Death of Michael Corleone'.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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