Director Francis Ford Coppola's epic masterpiece, The Godfather, is viewed
by fans and critics alike as quite possibly the greatest film of all time. 1972's
Oscar winner for Best Picture, The Godfather tracks the Corleone family's rise
to power in the late 1940's and early 1950's, featuring an award winning
performance by Marlon Brando and career-making turns by Al Pacino, Robert
Duvall, and James Caan.

It is significant that the first shot in the movie is inside a dark shuttered
room. It is the wedding day of Vito Corleone's daughter, and on such a day a
Sicilian must grant any reasonable request. A man has come to ask for
punishment for his daughter's rapist. Don Vito asks why he did not come to
him immediately.

ãI went to the police, like a good American,ä the man says.

ãWhy did you go to the police? Why didn't you come to me first? What have I
ever done to make you treat me so disrespectfully? If you had come to me in
friendship, then this scum that ruined your daughter would be suffering this
very day. And if by chance, an honest man like yourself should make
enemies · then they would become my enemies. And then they would fear
you.ä

The Godfather is a reasonable man, a just man, a man of respect.
And all he asks is that he be treated as such.
But there is always a catch.

ãSomeday, and that day may never come, I will ask a favor of you.ä