The Godfather (1972), Director: Francis Ford Coppola, rated R for violence, language

An offer you can't refuse.

Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, Diane Keaton

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse. Okay? I want you to leave it all to me." - Don Corleone

Why watch this? This is ground-zero for the films about the Italian mobsters.

Plot Summary: The story follows the powerful Corleone crime family in the post-WWII era, led by the aging patriarch, Don Vito Corleone. His youngest son, Michael, initially seeks to avoid the family business and live a legitimate life after serving in the war. However, a series of challenging events and shifting alliances force Michael to confront his family's legacy and his own destiny within the criminal underworld.

Dad's Preview: The first two Godfather films are at the top of all most movie lists. I resisted for quite a while. I mean, the mob is being glamorized - the Corleone family are portrayed as the "good guys". But, it is a fact that this kind of mob conduct was a real thing, and I am all about historical films. It's a great, award-winning effort. Brando and Pacino are excellent; the supporting cast is outstanding (Duvall, Caan, Keaton). It deserves its place at the top. I do love it, too - bloody violence and horse heads included.

Alfran Productions; Paramount Pictures