ISP Blog #7: The Godfather

The final screenplay that I examined was The Godfather, by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola. This film is an absolute classic, and is considered by the American Screenwriters Guild to be the second-best screenplay ever written, after Casablanca. The story is a crime drama that centers around the themes of revenge and family honour. One of the strongest aspects of The Godfather is its use of suspense throughout the screenplay. The Godfather is an extremely long script, and without the suspense generated by the compelling narrative and the tension between characters many readers would lose interest. Perhaps the biggest lesson I've learnt from reading this screenplay is how to change the setting without losing the momentum and suspense from the previous scenes. The Godfather has several distinct sections, and the plot in each is driven by the events and unresolved conflicts of the previous section. In this way, the reader does not lose interest when the narrative shifts drastically. The use of characters with opposing personalities and agendas does an excellent job of creating conflict. It is this creation of conflict and suspense that I hope to emulate in my screenplay.
The Godfather is a classic in every sense of the word. The only possible weakness in the screenplay is its length. The length of the screenplay sometimes makes it difficult to recall past events, yet the excellent writing and characters keep the plot moving forward so that the reader is not continually trying to remind themselves of what happened in the past. The reader is constantly rewarded for reading more of the script, as the intentions of many characters are hinted at before a climax is reached. I would highly recommend both the screenplay and the movie of The Godfather to any reader who enjoys, not just crime drama, but drama of any kind.