The Godfather (1972): Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and Francis Ford Coppola

     Based on Mario Puzo's 1969 novel of the same name, The Godfather (1972) is widely considered to be one of the greatest films ever made. It is certainly, at the very least, one of the most influential. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the pitch-perfect screen play was co-written by Coppola and Mario Puzo. From the now classic opening scene to the equally classic finale, all anchored by an unforgettable musical score, The Godfather is full of timeless moments... including the now legendary line, "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse." Coppola's unconventional choices in casting, though protested at the time, proved to be a stroke of genius. Marlon Brando's performance is often cited to be the benchmark, and pinnacle of acting ability. The film also placed newcomer Al Pacino on the map. The supporting cast of Robert Duvall, James Caan, Sterling Hayden, Talia Shire, John Cazale and Diane Keaton deliver admirable, spot-on performances as well. The Godfather won three Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay... and Best Actor, which Marlon Brando famously refused to accept. Two sequels followed.

     1945: Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) is the patriarch of the powerful Corleone crime family in New York... 

The Godfather. 1972: Marlon Brando

     His daughter is getting married, and the whole family is present... 

The Godfather. 1972: Marlon Brando and Al Pacino

     including Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) a war hero out on military leave, accompanied by his girlfriend Kay Adams (Diane Keaton). Michael tends to distance himself from the criminal aspects of his family...

The Godfather. 1972: Diane Keaton and Al Pacino

      Don Corleone is gunned down, after his refusal to join the other Mafia crime families in the drug trade, but survives... 

The Godfather. 1972: Marlon Brando

     Michael vows revenge on those responsible... 

The Godfather. 1972: Al Pacino

     After the killings, Michael must flee America for Sicily, where he meets the lovely Appolonia...

The Godfather. 1972

     Meanwhile, Sonny Corleone (James Caan) has taken over the family operation, with the assistance of his trusted adopted brother Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall)... 

The Godfather. 1972

     Sonny doesn't fare well, though, and is murdered...

The Godfather. 1972

      leaving Michael to return to America to take over... 

The Godfather. 1972: Al Pacino

     with the ailing Don staying on as his advisor... 

The Godfather. 1972: Marlon Brando and Al Pacino

     Michael must tie up all the loose ends, to ensure that his family will continue to thrive in their endeavors...

The Godfather. 1972: Marlon Brando and Al Pacino

Manhattan (1979): Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Mariel Hemingway and Meryl Streep

     Co-written, directed by and starring Woody Allen, Manhattan (1979) further spanned the bridge between comedy and drama. Woody Allen, himself, described Manhattan as a cross between his previous two films, the comedy Annie Hall (1977) and the drama Interiors (1978). Shot in beautiful black & white cinematography, New York City shines throughout with a delectable George Gershwin soundtrack playing along. The story focuses on a 42-year-old man with two failed marriages behind him, who is dating a 17-year-old girl, but drifts away and finds new love with his best friend's mistress. The cast is great, including Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Mariel Hemingway, Meryl Streep, Wallace Shawn, Michael Murphy and Anne Byrne.

Manhattan. 1979. Woody Allen and Mariel Hemingway

Manhattan. 1979. Woody Allen: Mariel Hemingway

Manhattan. 1979. Woody Allen and Meryl Streep

Manhattan. 1979. Woody Allen and Meryl Streep

Manhattan. 1979. Woody Allen

Manhattan. 1979. Diane Keaton and Woody Allen

Manhattan. 1979. Woody Allen and Diane Keaton

Manhattan. 1979. Woody Allen

Manhattan. 1979. Woody Allen

"Manhattan" -movie trailer

Sleeper (1973): Woody Allen and Diane Keaton

     Written and directed by Woody Allen, Sleeper (1973) showcases Allen's early near-slapstick style in it's finest form. Part Marx Brothers, part Charlie Chaplin, but all Woody Allen... the film depicts the strange circumstances faced by a health food store owner who was cryogenically frozen in 1973 and defrosted 200 years later into a weird future Dystopia. Woody Allen and Diane Keaton co-star, displaying the great on-screen chemistry for which their work together is famous.

Sleeper. 1973. Woody Allen

Sleeper. 1973. Woody Allen

Sleeper. 1973. Woody Allen

Sleeper. 1973. Woody Allen

Sleeper. 1973. Woody Allen

Sleeper. 1973. Woody Allen

Sleeper. 1973. Woody Allen

Sleeper. 1973. Woody Allen

Sleeper. 1973. Woody Allen

Annie Hall (1977): Woody Allen and Diane Keaton

     In a rare success, Woody Allen's film, Annie Hall, nearly swept the Academy Awards in 1977. A cinematic masterpiece by most any standard, the film is pitch perfect from beginning to end... it is tragic, funny, scary, uproarious, intelligent, sarcastic and true. The script was expertly written and the cinematography techniques were innovative (including an animated scene). Woody Allen and his co-star, Diane Keaton (whose real name was Diane Hall) had been in a real life romantic relationship that didn't work out. Allen ingeniously took those emotions and filtered them outwardly, creating both a brilliant and beautiful film, and forming a long-lasting professional relationship with Keaton in the process.

     Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) is a failure at love. After a few marriages and countless dates, he still finds himself looking for the one. When he meets Annie Hall (Diane Keaton), he's certain this will be different. It should've worked out, but didn't. Now, Allen walks us through the relationship to try to figure out what went wrong (Allen is directly addressing the viewer at times), and we all learn a lot along the way... 

Annie Hall. 1977. Woody Allen and Diane Keaton

     Together they formed an unlikely pair... 

Annie Hall. 1977. Woody Allen and Diane Keaton

Annie Hall. 1977. Woody Allen and Diane Keaton

     Love, hilarity and countless classic moments ensue... 

Annie Hall. 1977. Woody Allen and Diane Keaton

Annie Hall. 1977. Woody Allen

     Genius!

Annie Hall. 1977. Woody Allen and Diane Keaton

Annie Hall. 1977. Woody Allen and Diane Keaton

Love and Death (1975): Woody Allen and Diane Keaton

     Written and directed by Woody Allen, Love and Death (1975) is often considered to be the bridge between Allen's early slapstick comedy and his later intellectual/philosophical humor. Made between Sleeper (1973) and Annie Hall (1977), Love and Death (1975) combines his two burgeoning comedic stylings and Woody Allen himself cited the film as his own favorite work. Set in the early 19th Century, the film focuses on a cowardly man forced to serve in the Russian army and fight against Napoleon's forces. Both Woody Allen and Diane Keaton are in fine form in the lead roles.

Love and Death. 1975. Woody Allen

Love and Death. 1975. Woody Allen

Love and Death. 1975. Woody Allen

Love and Death. 1975. Woody Allen

Love and Death. 1975. Woody Allen

Love and Death. 1975. Woody Allen

Love and Death. 1975. Woody Allen

Love and Death. 1975. Woody Allen

Love and Death. 1975. Woody Allen

"Love and Death"- movie trailer