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Each Film Digitally Remastered Under THX Supervision, Enhanced With Exclusive
Coppola, Pacino, Puzo & Shire Interviews And Debuting In Widescreen
Wednesday April 9 2:38 PM EDT
HOLLYWOOD, April 9 /PRNewswire/ — 1997 marks the 25th Anniversary year of one of Hollywood's greatest films -- Paramount Pictures' THE GODFATHER. The original film (starring Marlon Brando, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and based on Mario Puzo's novel) and its two successors, THE GODFATHER II and THE GODFATHER III, compose one of the most critically-acclaimed and successful boxoffice epics of all time. On May 6, in honor of this anniversary, Paramount Home Video is releasing digitally remastered and, for the first time, widescreen versions of all three films. As an added bonus for film lovers, each cassette includes retrospective interviews unique to each film and shot exclusively for this release. The interviews feature Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino, Mario Puzo and Talia Shire discussing their unique perspective on the making of these classic films.
To take advantage of the extraordinary interest in THE GODFATHER films, Paramount also is releasing THE GODFATHER 25TH ANNIVERSARY WIDESCREEN EDITION. This edition contains all three remastered films in widescreen, the interviews, and a special 25th Anniversary book, The Godfather Legacy, written by film buff Harlan Lebo and published by Simon & Schuster. A limited edition set of 5,000 also is being made available. In addition to the materials listed above, each limited edition set also includes a special certificate, autographed by Francis Ford Coppola and a numbered, gold plaque on the black and gold display case.
In addition, THE GODFATHER TRILOGY is being re-released in a 25TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE EDITION package. This special TRILOGY edition includes the complete Corleone saga with additional scenes, edited chronologically by Coppola into a single epic film. Also included is a bonus video and companion booklet featuring behind-the-scenes photography and commentary by Coppola. The bonus video, called "The Godfather Family: A Look Inside," is only available in this gift set and is an exclusive behind-the-scenes account of THE GODFATHER movies, including talent interviews, screen tests and on-the-set moments.
Paramount Home Video is backing THE GODFATHER collection with a marketing campaign that includes national print advertising, eye-catching point-of- purchase, and extensive cross-trailering. The consumer advertising runs from mid-May through June, 1997 and will be seen in national print magazines such as People, Vanity Fair, Premiere, Time, The New Yorker and more. Two specially-designed prepacks, featuring a dramatic Marlon Brando header card, will be available in 16 and 32 unit configurations. Theatrical size posters commemorating the 25th Anniversary also are available. Laserdisc versions will be available from Pioneer day-and-date with the video release. Co-op advertising dollars will be available through authorized distributors for THE GODFATHER films.
A true cultural phenomenon, THE GODFATHER impacted an entire generation of filmmakers and filmgoers. It was a box-office phenomenon, becoming the highest-grossing film up to that time and the first motion picture to take in a million dollars a day in box-office receipts. The three films won a combined total of nine Academy Awards out of an incredible 28 nominations, unsurpassed by any other film franchise. THE GODFATHER and THE GODFATHER PART II both received the Academy Award for Best Picture (1972 and 1974, respectively) -- the first and only time that an original film and its sequel have been honored as such by the Academy. As well, the three films propelled the careers of some of today's most talented and prolific stars, including Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Andy Garcia and Talia Shire.
The epic chronicles three generations of the Corleones, an underworld crime family, as they try to balance their personal relationships and honor with the violence and power struggle of their organized crime world. Covering eighty years, the GODFATHER films recount the rise of Don Vito Corleone (portrayed by Robert De Niro - young Vito - and Brando) as he becomes one of the most influential mafia leaders. It continues with Don Vito's youngest son Michael (Pacino) unwillingly being drawn into "the family business," yet becoming a mob boss more ruthless than his father.
Paramount Home Video is part of the operations of Paramount Pictures. Paramount Pictures is a unit of Viacom Inc.
FORMAT FACT SHEET
THE GODFATHER
Available in Full-Frame and Widescreen, VHS and Laserdisc/Closed-Captioned for the hearing-impaired/Color/Stereo Sound/Rated "R" by the Motion Picture Association of America/Running Time: Two hours, 51 minutes/New S.R.P. $24.95
THE GODFATHER PART II
Available in Full-Frame and Widescreen, VHS and Laserdisc/Closed-Captioned for the hearing-impaired/Color/Stereo Sound/Rated "R" by the Motion Picture Association of America/Running Time: Three hours, 20 minutes/New S.R.P. $24.95
THE GODFATHER PART III
Available in Full-Frame and Widescreen, VHS and Laserdisc/Closed-Captioned for the hearing-impaired/Color/Stereo Sound/Rated "R" by the Motion Picture Association of America/Running Time: Two hours, 50 minutes/New S.R.P. $24.95
THE GODFATHER COLLECTION:
25TH ANNIVERSARY BOX-SETAvailable in Full-Frame and Widescreen, VHS only/Closed-Captioned for the hearing-impaired/Color/Stereo Sound/Rated "R" by the Motion Picture Association of America/New S.R.P. $64.95
THE GODFATHER COLLECTION:
25TH ANNIVERSARY WIDESCREEN EDITIONAvailable in Widescreen, VHS only/Closed-Captioned for the hearing impaired/Color/Stereo Sound/Rated "R" by the Motion Picture Association of America/S.R.P. $79.95.
THE GODFATHER COLLECTION:
25TH ANNIVERSARY WIDESCREEN LIMITED EDITION (5,000 copies only)
This set includes the three standard releases in widescreen, Harlan Lebo's The Godfather Legacy, and a signed certificate by Coppola.
Available in Widescreen, VHS only/Closed-Captioned for the hearing impaired/Color/Stereo Sound/Rated "R" by the Motion Picture Association of America/S.R.P. $149.95.THE GODFATHER TRILOGY:
25TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE EDITION (6,500 copies only)Available in Full-Frame and VHS only/Closed-Captioned for the hearing impaired/Color/Stereo Sound/Rated "R" by the Motion Picture Association of America/Running Time: Nine hours and 43 minutes/New S.R.P. $149.95.
THE GODFATHER FILMS
ACADEMY AWARD(R) FACT SHEETNine Academy Awards
The Godfather (1972)
Best Picture
Best Actor - Marlon Brando
Best Screenplay Adapted from other Material - Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola
The Godfather, Part II (1974)
Best Picture
Best Supporting Actor - Robert De Niro
Best Director - Francis Ford Coppola
Best Screenplay Adapted from other Material - Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo
Best Art Direction/Set Decoration - Art Direction: Dean Tavoularis, Angelo Graham - Set Decoration: George R. Nelson
Best Original Dramatic Score - Nino Rota, Carmine Coppola
28 Academy Award Nominations
The Godfather (1972)
Best Supporting Actor - Al Pacino
Best Supporting Actor - James Caan
Best Supporting Actor - Robert Duvall
Best Director - Francis Ford Coppola
Best Costume Design - Anna Hill Johnstone
Best Sound - Bud Grenzbach, Richard Portman, Christopher Newman
Best Film Editing - William Reynolds, Peter Zinner
The Godfather, Part II (1974)
Best Actor - Al Pacino
Best Supporting Actor - Michael V. Gazzo
Best Supporting Actor - Lee Strasberg
Best Supporting Actress - Talia Shire
Best Costume Design - Theadora Van Runkle
The Godfather, Part III (1990)
Best Picture
Best Supporting Actor - Andy Garcia
Best Director - Francis Ford Coppola
Best Cinematography - Gordon Willis
Best Art Direction/Set Decoration - Art Direction: Dean Tavoularis - Set Decoration: Gary Fettis Best Film Editing - Barry Malkin, Lisa Fruchtman, Walter Murch Best Original Song - "Promise Me You'll Remember,' Music by Carmine Coppola, Lyrics by John Bettis
SOURCE: Paramount Home Video
