Brief Synopsis

Vito Corleone is the aging don (head) of the Corleone Mafia Family. His youngest son Michael has returned from WWII just in time to see the wedding of his sister, Connie Corleone to Carlo Rizzi. All of Michael's family is involved with the Mafia, but Michael just wants to live a normal life. Drug dealer Virgil Sollozzo is looking for Mafia Families to offer him protection in exchange for a profit of the drug money. He approaches Don Corleone about it, but, much against the advice of the Don's lawyer Tom Hagen, the Don is morally against the use of drugs, and turns down the offer. This does not please Sollozzo, who later has the Don shot down by some of his hit men. The Don barely survives, which leads his son Michael to begin a violent mob war against Sollozzo and tears the Corleone family apart.

Camera Shots
Extreme Long Shot
Shows location Often used as an initial establishing shot in a sequence Shows location/relationships Often used as an initial establishing shot in a sequence

Long Shot

Camera Shots
Medium Long Shot
Shows location/ relationships Often used as an initial establishing shot in a sequence

Medium Shot
Waist up Focus on character(s)

Camera Shots
Medium Close Up
Chest up Focus on character

Close Up

Head of person Conveys characters state of mind Involves spectator

Camera Shots
Close Up
Can be of objects

Extreme Close Up
Part of face Often used at climax of dramatic scene