When people discuss the most-quoted film of all time, The Godfather always is brought up. The reasoning here is simple. The film — an adaptation of Mario Puzo‘s groundbreaking novel about mafia life — is rich with drama, violence, and legend-making performances. Speaking of the latter, has Marlon Brando ever been better than in his role as Vito Coreleone? That’s a rhetorical question as far as I’m concerned, because you’ll never convince me that he has shined brighter than when demonstrating the gentlemanly violence of the film’s complicated Don.
I’ll leave you to debate you favorite moment from the flick below, but mine is the iconic scene featured above. All these years later and it still gives me chills. That, my friends, is masterful acting from one of history’s greatest thespians.
(This article previously ran on MovieFanFare but is being reprinted in honor of The Godfather‘s 50th anniversary!)