Coppola, Pacino, Caan, historians, cops, and mobsters weigh in on the
iconic film trilogy that changed America
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| The Godfather, Part II |
Narrated by Actor Michael Imperoli
The Corleone crime family has touched millions of lives for more than four decades. From their origins in a pulp fiction novel by author Mario Puzo, the Corleones inspired one of the most important and enduring films in history. Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather not only broke box office records and earned wild popular acclaim – it actually infiltrated the American conscience.
The Godfather Legacy, a new two-hour special premiering Tuesday, July 24 at 9pm ET on HISTORY, looks at how this groundbreaking 1972 film and its two sequels transcended Hollywood, transformed the American psyche, and even influenced real-life organized crime. Michael Imperoli, known for his role as Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos, narrates the special.
The Godfather burst onto the scene during a pivotal time in American history. The war in Vietnam raged and the Watergate scandal eroded our image of the government. Meanwhile, baby boomers were redefining the institution of marriage, women’s rights and the American Dream. Vito and Michael Corleone, countercultural outsiders who thrived in a world of dirty cops and corrupt politicians, were metaphors for the era.
In THE GODFATHER LEGACY, historians, scholars, law enforcement agents, and real-world Mafiosi explain how these powerful mobsters, with their moral ambiguity and human flaws, resonated with audiences and impacted popular culture. The film features interviews with screenwriter/director Coppola, Al Pacino, James Caan, Joe Mantegna, Talia Shire, and others, along with an abundance of memorable scenes from the Oscar-winning trilogy.
