THE GODFATHER, PART II (1974) C widescreen 200m dir: Francis Ford Coppola

w/Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Robert De Niro, Talia Shire, John Cazale, Lee Strasberg, G.D. Spradlin, Michael V. Gazzo, Richard Bright

From The Movie Guide: "Sequels were beginning to become all the rage in the early seventies, so it's not surprising that a film as popular as THE GODFATHER gave birth to what could easily have been just a follow up exploitation. What is remarkable, perhaps unique, is that THE GODFATHER, PART II actually expands upon and amplifies its predecessor. This is in fact both a sequel and a 'prequel,' intercutting the reign of Don Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) with the early story of his father, Vito, here brilliantly played by Robert De Niro,

"Coppola was given with a free hand with this sequel, and his deft directorial touches are everywhere, particularly in the earlier historical sequences. Cinematographer [Gordon] Willis superbly captures the turn-of-the-century period, applying a seriographic tint to flashback scenes for a softer, richer look than the sharp image of the ongoing contemporary story."

The film won Oscars for Best Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (De Niro), Adapted Screenplay (Coppola, Mario Puzo), Score (Nino Rota, Carmine Coppola), and Art Direction (Dean Tavoularis, Angelo Graham, George R. Nelson). THE GODFATHER, PART II was also nominated for Best Actor (Pacino), Supporting Actor (Gazzo, Strasberg), Supporting Actress (Shire), and Costume Design (Theadora Van Runkle).

THE GODFATHER, PART II was followed by THE GODFATHER, PART III in 1990.