The very first shot of The Godfather, following the opening titles, is an extended shot of a speaking character, in a heavily darkened room, that zooms back out to reveal whom it is he is pleading to. For the first few minutes of the film we are oblivious to the appearance of this character of authority, who much like the audience, is listening intently to the story the other character is telling. The speech that makes up much of this sequence gives a strong hint to the nature of these characters and their situations - he talks of his daughter's sexual rape and abuse, before pleading the titular character to deal with those responsible, as he descends into tears. The first part of the scene is supposed to be extremely powerful, and it works, as the audience takes in everything he has to say, whilst also wondering who else is present in the room.
Eventually the shot is wide enough to reveal the other man, the titular character portrayed by Marlon Brando , who only the shadowed right side of his face is visible. We hear his first words in the film, before cutting to a close up shot that shows his entire face, and his response to the request. A shot from further away in the room reveals two other men, who presence was not suggested previously. The lack of frequency of shots makes the opening extremely effective as we focus strictly on the character on screen, digesting each and every emotion in their face and the way they communicate. The non-presence of music is also powerful as it would otherwise be distracting from the characters' voices. Overall, this is a very powerful opening, even for a crime film, as it establishes the many themes present in gangster films such as the heirachy of power in the criminal environment.
Eventually the shot is wide enough to reveal the other man, the titular character portrayed by Marlon Brando , who only the shadowed right side of his face is visible. We hear his first words in the film, before cutting to a close up shot that shows his entire face, and his response to the request. A shot from further away in the room reveals two other men, who presence was not suggested previously. The lack of frequency of shots makes the opening extremely effective as we focus strictly on the character on screen, digesting each and every emotion in their face and the way they communicate. The non-presence of music is also powerful as it would otherwise be distracting from the characters' voices. Overall, this is a very powerful opening, even for a crime film, as it establishes the many themes present in gangster films such as the heirachy of power in the criminal environment.