<P> The Godfather was released on March 15 , 1972 . The feature - length film was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and based upon Mario Puzo 's novel of the same name . The plot begins with Don Vito Corleone declining an offer to join in the narcotics business with notorious drug lord Virgil Sollozzo , which leads to an assassination attempt . Meanwhile , Vito 's oldest son Sonny takes over the family and Michael strikes back for the assassination attempt by killing Sollozzo and a corrupted police captain , forcing Michael to go to Sicily in hiding . While in Sicily , Michael travels around the country and meets a woman he marries but who is killed in a car bombing . Michael returns to America after the news of his brother Sonny 's murder . After returning , Vito turns over the reins of the family to Michael . Michael plans to move the family business to Las Vegas ; but before the move , he plots the killing of the heads of the five families on the day of his nephew 's baptism . Other subplots include Vito 's daughter 's abusive marriage , Johnny Fontaine 's success in Hollywood and Vito 's second son Fredo 's role in the family business in Las Vegas . </P>
<P> The Godfather was released on March 15 , 1972 . The feature - length film was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and based upon Mario Puzo 's novel of the same name . The plot begins with Don Vito Corleone declining an offer to join in the narcotics business with notorious drug lord Virgil Sollozzo , which leads to an assassination attempt . Meanwhile , Vito 's oldest son Sonny takes over the family and Michael strikes back for the assassination attempt by killing Sollozzo and a corrupted police captain , forcing Michael to go to Sicily in hiding . While in Sicily , Michael travels around the country and meets a woman he marries but who is killed in a car bombing . Michael returns to America after the news of his brother Sonny 's murder . After returning , Vito turns over the reins of the family to Michael . Michael plans to move the family business to Las Vegas ; but before the move , he plots the killing of the heads of the five families on the day of his nephew 's baptism . Other subplots include Vito 's daughter 's abusive marriage , Johnny Fontaine 's success in Hollywood and Vito 's second son Fredo 's role in the family business in Las Vegas . </P>
when did the first godfather movie come out
when did the first godfather movie come out
March 15 , 1972
March 15 , 1972