VHS COVER/SIDE
Length of film: 177 Minutes
Rated: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Richard S. Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley
IMDB Rank: 9.2/10
Part 1 Time: 126 Minutes
Part 2 Time: 51 Minutes
*** The VHS break comes at the 116 minute mark when Sonny (James Caan) gets off the phone with Connie (Talia Shire). This break in the film is awkward as the second tape continues the scene with Sonny getting into his car. A more appropriate intermission is stated below.
Where does the first part end? In Sicily, Michael’s (Al Pacino) wife Apollonia (Simonetta Stefanelli) is killed by a car bomb.
Final line of dialogue on the first part: Michael shouts to Apollonia “No dont!”
First line of dialogue on the second part: “Don Barzini, I want to thank you for helping me organize this meeting and the other heads of the five families from New York and New Jersey.” In New York, Don Corleone (Marlon Brando) speaks with the Commission.
How jarring is it when the first part ends? Jarring- the Corleone family has experienced a variety of threats that have impacted their family both personality and professionally. Will peace be reached with the other five families? Will the Corleone family be able to reestablish dominance in organized crime?
Which part is better? This film is considered by many as one of the best films in Hollywood history. Both parts of the film are perfection. The first part forces on the rule of Vito Corleone and his street boss Sunny. The first part introduces the audience to the structure, threats and realities of daily mafia life. Part two sees the rise of Michael Corleone as Boss of the Corleone family with guidance from Vito. Part two gets the slight edge due to its ability to demonstrate Michaels leadership abilities and modernizing of the Corleone crime families assets.
Academy Awards: 1973; Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Marlon Brando), Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from a Another Medium, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Nominated- James, Caan, Robert Duvall, Al Pacino), Best Director (Nominated), Best Costume Design (Nominated), Best Sound (Nominated), Best Film Editing (Nominated), Best Music- Original Dramatic Score (Nominated).
National Film Registry: 1990
THEATRICAL POSTER
DVD COVER/SIDE
Hollywood Half-Time 
Honestly, The restaurant scene that Coppola initially suggested to have the intermission in is the best split. Well the scene after the restaurant scene with the newspaper of Vito going home. The scenes where Vito’s bed is carried back home is basically a transitional that perfectly splits the film into two parts and can easily be left running for a short break without missing much.
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