Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television (1977)
The definitive television event — Francis Ford Coppola's seven-hour Corleone saga, reassembled chronologically with restored scenes, broadcast on NBC in 1977.
Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television - Series Information
- Original Title: Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television
- First Air Year: 1977
- Last Air Year: 1977
- Created by: Francis Ford Coppola
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Crime, Drama
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (423 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 4
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English, Italian, Latin, Spanish
- Networks: NBC
- Alternative Titles: El Padrino. La Epopeya Completa 1901-1959 (ES), The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television (US)
- Production Companies: Paramount Pictures, American Zoetrope
- Production Countries: United States of America
Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television - Plot
A seven-hour chronological edit of The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, expanded with over an hour of restored scenes to trace the Corleone family's rise from Vito's youth in Sicily to Michael's reign in 1950s America.
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Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Francis Ford Coppola
Main Cast
- Al Pacino
- Marlon Brando
- Robert De Niro
- Robert Duvall
- James Caan
- John Cazale
- Diane Keaton
- Talia Shire
- Richard S. Castellano
- Sterling Hayden
Writers
- Mario Puzo
- Francis Ford Coppola
Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television - FAQs
What is The Godfather Complete Novel for Television?
It's a sweeping seven-hour television event that stitches together The Godfather and The Godfather Part II into a single chronological narrative. Broadcast on NBC in 1977, it added over an hour of previously unseen footage to tell the Corleone family story from Vito's Sicilian origins to Michael's consolidation of power in 1950s America.
Why was The Godfather reassembled in chronological order?
Francis Ford Coppola wanted to present the full Corleone saga as a unified novel-like narrative for television audiences. Rearranging the films chronologically — and restoring cut scenes — allowed viewers to experience the story as a seamless generational epic rather than two separate theatrical films with intercut timelines.
Who are the main actors in this miniseries?
The cast is a who's who of Hollywood royalty: Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone, Robert De Niro as the young Vito, Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen, James Caan as Sonny, John Cazale as Fredo, Diane Keaton as Kay, and Talia Shire as Connie, among others.
What restored scenes were added to the television version?
Over an hour of footage cut from the original theatrical releases was reinstated, including extended character moments, additional family scenes, and sequences that deepened the backstories of figures like Sonny, Fredo, and Tom Hagen. These additions gave the television version a richer, more novelistic texture than either film alone.
When did this miniseries first air on television?
The miniseries aired on NBC in 1977, broadcast across four episodes. It represented one of the most ambitious television events of its era, drawing enormous audiences eager to experience the Godfather saga in its expanded, chronologically restructured form.
How many episodes does this miniseries have?
The miniseries consists of four episodes, comprising a single season. Each episode is feature-length, and together they run approximately seven hours — making this one of the longest and most ambitious television presentations of a theatrical film adaptation ever broadcast.
Who wrote the screenplay for The Godfather television version?
The screenplay was crafted by Mario Puzo, author of the original novel, and Francis Ford Coppola, who directed both theatrical films. Their collaboration produced one of cinema's most celebrated scripts, and the television version drew directly from that same foundational work, supplemented by restored material.
What are some shows similar to this Godfather miniseries?
Fans of this crime family epic tend to gravitate toward Godfather of Harlem, MobLand, Power, BMF, and Tulsa King for their organized crime narratives and complex patriarch figures. Mayans M.C. and Power Book II: Ghost also explore loyalty, power, and family within criminal hierarchies in compelling ways.
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