The Art of Moviemaking: The Godfather Exhibition in LA

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Located in Los Angeles, CA, the Academy Museum is the largest movie museum in the USA dedicated to arts, sciences, and artists of moviemaking. It’s full of interactive exhibits covering film production techniques, cinematic innovation and special effects, as well as a glimpse into Hollywood behind the scenes, and a collection of original movie props and costumes.

“The Art of Moviemaking: The Godfather,” features a wide array of original objects from The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974), offering an exciting glimpse into the process of making a masterpiece. From costumes to props to scripts and equipment, these materials—many on view for the first time—highlight the contributions of several cinematic branches and how they innovated amid the changing landscape of Hollywood.

If you’re not familiar with the iconic movie of the 1970s, here’s what you need to know:

• The Godfather series is made up of three films: The Godfather (1972), The Godfather Part II (1974), and The Godfather Part III (1990).
• The series was directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
• Based on Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel of the same name.
• It tells the story of the fictional Italian-American crime family – the Corleones.
• Vito Corlene, played by Marlon Brando, is the head of the family and a major figure in organised crime.
• His youngest son Micheal Corlene, played by Al Pacino, becomes his successor. We follow his transformation from reluctant outsider to ruthless mafia boss as he is drawn deeper into the family business.
• The series was nominated for a total of 29 Academy Awards, winning 9.

That’s just the basics, but at the Academy Museum you get to deep-dive into the movie’s production, learning how Director Francis Ford Coppola’s interpretation of Mario Puzo’s popular novel made the films an instant phenomenon that not only radically transformed the moviegoing experience, but also moviemaking in the 1970s.

Here’s a taster of what to expect at “The Art of Moviemaking: The Godfather” at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures until January 5, 2025

See how they made Marlon Brando age for the film despite his refusal to use external prosthetics:

This video was created by the Digital Content department of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

Find out about the notebook that Francis Ford Coppola didn’t let leave his side throughout the making of the film:

This video was created by the Digital Content department of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

Hear how they made the film’s static shots feel more fluid with the Elemack Spyder Dolly:

This video was created by the Digital Content department of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

So, if this exhibition sounds like an offer you can’t refuse, download Bloomberg Connects and open the Academy Museum guide today. There’s so much more to discover about this exhibition and thousands more.