A Reel 40: THE GODFATHER Oscar Anniversary

In March of last year, THE GODFATHER marked the 40^th anniversary of its release; an important event in film history which Reel Speak commemorated here. Because of the later Oscar season back in those days, it would not be until a full year later, forty years ago tonight, when the film would go to the Oscars and make history.

 

THE GODFATHER was the box office leader for the year which was 1972 (the income would have the film as the highest grossing ever for a time), and was also a juggernaut at the 45^th Academy Awards. THE GODFATHER won three Oscars (Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay), and was nominated in seven other categories. Those other nominations included a Best Director nod for Francis Coppola, and three nominations in the Best Supporting Actor category (Al Pacino, James Caan, and Robert Duvall). THE GODFATHER would be the first film to land three nominations in that category since ON THE WATERFRONT in 1954; a film which ironically also starred Marlon Brando.

And it was Brando who made the biggest splash on that night…by not showing up. Brando, who had been involved in the American Indian Movement since the early seventies, boycotted the ceremony and in his place sent Sacheen Littlefeather to collect his Oscar. It was his way of protesting Hollywood and television’s portrayal of American Indians. The move would provoke the Academy to rule out any future proxy acceptances at the Oscars.

Besides Brando’s shenanigans, the ceremony was notable for the beginning of THE GODFATHER’s everlasting legacy. Although the film “only” won three Oscars, it would go on to place amongst the top of every Greatest Ever list, and securing its place in film history. The year that was 1972 may have been the very beginning, but it was this night in 1973 which provided the exclamation point.