The Godfather: Book versus film

OPINION

I have always been an avid reader. As a child, I read Urdu story books. When my father noticed this, he was annoyed, to say the least. Eventually, he did everything in his power to teach me English, and now I was reading Urdu books! He decided to introduce me to English books by giving me Enid Blyton’s Famous Five, Hardy Boys crime novels, and Nancy Drew’s adventures. I fell in love with English books – there was a wide choice and the variety was much greater than with Urdu story books.

Then in seventh grade, I read Erle Stanley Gardner, and I would like to inform John Grisham fans that he, like many other authors, owes a lot to Gardner and his portrayal of his male protagonist, Perry Mason. And yes, I have read Grisham. I started reading him after reading an interview with President Asif Zardari in which he said he liked Grisham. Interestingly, both Erle Stanley Gardner and John Grisham are lawyers who became novelists.

I was 15 when I read The Godfather by Mario Puzo and I don’t think this book has any equal – it’s like no other I’ve ever read and I can tell you, I’ve read hundreds of books to date. Anyway, after reading The Godfather I decided to watch the movie but the first 20 minutes were enough to convince me I wouldn’t like it. I didn’t finish watching it.

I was about 20 when I decided to give The Godfather another chance and I was hooked! The film is also different from any other I’ve seen; Marlon Brando was great and Al Pacino and Andy Garcia have always been my favorites. They both look great. The Godfather the book, however, remains my absolute favorite, so when a friend said the film was better than the book, I felt insulted on behalf of Mario Puzo. After a heated debate, we decided to agree that we disagree.

The debate about whether Puzo’s The Godfather is better than the film is an old one. The film adaptation often comes down to the depth and breadth of storytelling possible in the two different mediums. It’s not easy to condense a book with all of its storylines, subplots and characters into a three-hour film. While The Godfather is a cinematic masterpiece, the book offers a richer and more emotionally satisfying experience. I think the book delves deeper into the backstories, motivations and idiosyncrasies of its characters in ways that cannot be portrayed in film. A recent example is the Game of Thrones books.

While the film focuses primarily on the Corleone family and how they deal with their immediate struggles and betrayals, the novel provides detailed stories and personal development for many minor characters. For example, Johnny Fontane’s journey through the ups and downs of his career, as well as his relationship with the Corleones, is covered in much greater detail in the book. This adds layers of context to the character, making his actions and the Corleone family’s influence on him more understandable and impactful.

Mario Puzo was brilliant at weaving together plot lines and subplots. The complicated workings of the mafia world, the cultural nuances and the personal feuds that drive the story are given more room to breathe in the book. The result, of course, is a more fascinating and complex web of relationships and power dynamics that define the world of The Godfather. For example, the subplot involving Lucy Mancini and her affair with Sonny Corleone and subsequent relationship with Dr. Jules Segal adds another dimension to the story, but Lucy only appears briefly in the film.

Another thing the film couldn’t offer is a glimpse into the characters’ inner thoughts and feelings, something that’s difficult to convey in a visual medium. Through Puzo’s narration, readers gain access to the inner conflicts and moral dilemmas faced by characters like Michael Corleone, Vito Corleone, and Tom Hagen. This inner monologue enriches the reader’s connection to the characters and enhances the emotional depth of the story. For example, Michael’s transformation from reluctant outsider to ruthless head of the family – or Don – is more gradual and psychologically complex in the book, allowing readers to fully grasp the extent of his inner struggle.

Finally, the book contains a wealth of rich, descriptive prose that creates a vibrant and atmospheric setting that makes it a pleasure to read. Puzo’s detailed descriptions of Italian-American culture, the opulent lifestyle of the Mafia, and the stark contrast between the different worlds the characters inhabit make for a sensory experience that the film, with its time constraints and visual focus, cannot fully recreate.

As for the film, Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of The Godfather is a milestone in film history. Coppola made The Godfather a great film by staying true to the essence of the novel. He also assembled a stellar cast including Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan and Diane Keaton whose performances were simply fantastic. The score by Nino Rota was also superb. Most importantly, Coppola brought cultural authenticity to the film that reflected the Italian-American experience and the intricacies of mafia life, making the story more relatable and engaging. Coppola’s genius transformed The Godfather into a timeless cinematic masterpiece.

Mario Puzo’s novel offers a deeper exploration of characters, themes, and narrative complexity. The book’s ability to delve into the depths of the mafia world and its backstories and inner monologues makes it a richer and more immersive experience for those who want to fully understand the intricacies of this iconic story. The author has been criticized for glorifying and romanticizing the mafia, but let’s admit it: he did it with a panache that made this book immortal. Guys, I liked all three installments of The Godfather, but the novel remains my first love.