A CASE OF THE MONDAYS

The Drexel is gonna make you an offer you can’t refuse this April when we present The Godfather Trilogy.

The series starts April 14 with Francis Ford Coppola’s original 1972 blockbuster. Starring Al Pacino, Marlon Brando (who declined his Oscar win), James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, and John Cazale, this gangster epic chronicles the turbulent lives of the Corleone family as the aging patriarch Vito (Brando) finds himself the target of other ruthless Mafia dynasties. Vito’s son Michael (Pacino), a WWII vet who has distanced himself from his kin, finds himself drawn into the war after a failed assassination attempt on his father’s life. Michael soon finds himself trapped between the straight life and the violent world of his family. Nominated for eleven Oscars, winning three of them, The Godfather broke every box office record upon its release, changed the way Hollywood treated gangster films, and continues to draw in new audiences over fifty years after its release.

On April 21, the saga continues with The Godfather Part II. Often declared one of the best sequels ever made, the film serves as both a prequel and a sequel. Coppola and Godfather novelist Mario Puzo chart parallel stories, introducing us to Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) as he rises to power in the early 1900s New York City while simultaneously charting Michael’s downfall in the 1950s as his crime empire expands with deadly consequences. John Cazale is a particular standout in the picture, returning to the role of meek and bitter Fredo, whose jealousy pits him against his brother Michael over control of the empire. De Niro won his first Oscar for his portrayal of Vito. The film picked up another five Oscars: Best Original Dramatic Score, Best Art Direction, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture.

The series closes on April 28 with The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone, Francis Ford Coppola’s 2020 recut of his 1990 trilogy capper. It’s 1979. Michael Corleone is pushing 60, and the decades of violence are wearing on him. He is racked with guilt over the murder of Fredo. Kay (Keaton), his long-suffering wife, has divorced him. His son Anthony refuses to be part of the family business, instead pursuing a career as an opera singer. Michael has begun to turn control of the operation over to less scrupulous lieutenants, setting the stage for his eventual retirement and ensuring the safety of his family. As Michael donates millions of dollars to the Vatican in the hopes of buying forgiveness, trouble arises when his daughter Mary (Sofia Coppola) falls in love with her temperamental cousin Vincent (Andy Garcia). The walls close in around Michael as he struggles against his mortality and the enemies who have waited many years to finally strike down the king. The changes Coppola has made to Coda turn the film into a much more powerful, heartbreaking experience, delivering a haunting ending that punctuates the Corleone saga perfectly.

Drexel Members get free admission to The Godfather.