“The Godfather” at 40!

 

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One of the things I remember as a kid, was when Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” first came out.  It was a huge sensation and the start of the “Mafia” craze.  I was too young to go see it, though, because it was . . . Rated R, but the movie generated a lot of new buzz, for Mario Puzo’s book. 

I wasn’t generally reading popular novels at that time.  I was barely doing my assigned school readings, for that matter.  However, word spread very quickly – even without an internet – about a graphically steamy scene, which came to be known as “Page 28”.  Ooh!  Exactly what it said?  I don’t remember.  It’s been 40 years, fer Chrissakes!  All I do remember is it was like literary porn, at the time, especially to a 14 year old boy.  And, every kid who could get a hand on a copy of the book, did get his hand on a copy of the book.

From the movie, I do remember it was early on, during Connie‘s wedding scene.  Sonny Corleone (James Caan) takes Connie’s maid of honor, Lucy Mancini (Jeannie Linero), to . . . some available room, and they end up doing it, standing up, against the wall.  I don’t remember seeing a whole lot.  And, by today’s standards, I’m sure it’s considered pretty tame stuff.  But, reading it, back in 1972?  Wow.  It was right up there with “reading” a found/stolen copy of you best friend’s father’s Playboy Magazine!  Hee, hee, hee!

Good thing Mom belonged to the book-of-the-month club!

—   YUR

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