The Godfather (1972)

Why Brando Took the Role
In 1971, Brando was at his career low point. The word on the street was that Brando was fat, lazy, and phoning it in. His behavior on Burn, forcing the film production to  be moved from Columbia to Morocco, didn't help his reputation. And he was no longer a box office star, (his last box office hit was Mutiny on the Bounty in 1962). Result?  "The Suits" were reluctant to hire him.

Given Brando's constant need for cash, this was a real problem. The solution was the Godfather role. It would make him some money ($500,000 for salary and points) and revive his career.  Brando was so eager for the role, he took a screen test and behaved like an angel on the set.  Of course, he didn't care about the movie, it was just a means to an end. He later refused to do Godfather II. 

Brando's Performance
Well, it won him an Oscar - deserved or not. He certainly didn't deserve it in the Leading Man category - Al Pacino is the Godfather's "Lead actor." And its easy to impress the Academy when you have memorable lines like: "I made him an offer he couldn't' refuse", and can play off great co-stars.  Despite the hysterical praise in 1972, some film critics weren't smitten. Such as:

Brando has a weak, gray voice, a poor ear for accents, and an unrivaled capacity for hamming things up through sheer underacting - and unconscionably long pauses.  He's out-acted by everyone else - even a lowly talent like James Caan.  (John Simon)

But from his opening first line, Brando betrays that he hasn't even gotten the man's voice under control. Insecurity and assumption streak the job from then on. They have put padding in his cheeks, and  dirtied up his teeth, he speaks hoarsely and moves stiffly, and these mechanics are acclaimed as great acting. I don't see how any gifted actor could've done less than what Brando does here. His resident power, his sheer innate force, has rarely seemed weaker. What Brando manufactures is surface - studied but easy effects. Brando is being praised for the difference between himself and the role - not for his achievement in it. (Stanley Kauffmann)

I think Brando did a good, if not great, job. Somehow the great actor gets lost in the Italian accent and all that makeup. I think its a top 10 performance - but below his absolute best. Rating ***

The Movie
Along with Godfather II, one of the Greatest Gangster movies ever. Perfectly acted, directed, and filmed.  If not the best movie Brando appeared in, its certainly the most popular.  Rating ****