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Introduction

The Godfather is an American film, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, which was released in 1972. Two sequels of the film were released later in 1974 and 1990 respectively. It is a crime film that depicts chronicles of a crime family. "Bonnie and Clyde" is a biographical crime, an American film that was released in 1967. It was directed by Arthur Penn. It belongs to the film genre, Noir, which refers to crime films with dark meanings.

Discussion

The Godfather

Don Vito Corleone is the Head of New York crime family. His daughter’s wedding has been scheduled, and she is going to marry Carlo Rizzi. The ceremony has almost begun. Don Vito Corleone has managed to build his reputation as an authority parallel to that of the city’s government. People come to him in search of justice that the government authorities fail to provide them. A person named Bonasera is in a fix as his daughter has been brutally injured by her boyfriend. Bonasera seems to seek justice from the Don. Don’s youngest son, Michael Corleone, enters the scene with his girlfriend to attend the wedding ceremony. He introduces the girl to his family. A singer asks help about getting a role in some war film in Hollywood. Don Corleone sends one of his subordinates to talk to a studio owner for a role. He refuses to give the role.

Don Vito is tempted to indulge in narcotics business by Sollozzo. He tries to persuade Don by urging him to use his influence and make countless money in the new business. Sollozzo seems to be hopeful that Don will ultimately give his approval for a narcotics business. However, Don refuses to pursue the business. He does not want to damage his reputation. Don Vito sends his spy after Sollozzo, but he is murdered by the drug dealer. Sollozzo kidnaps the studio owner, Hagen, and plans the murder of Don Vito. However, Don remains unharmed in the attack. When Michael hears about the attack on his father, he rushes to see him. Gatto is suspected of leaking the confidential information and destined to be killed. Later, he is murdered in suspicion of selling out the Don to Sollozzo.

Sollozzo is after killing Don Vito head over heels. While Don is in the hospital, he plans to kill him. However, Michael notices the arrangements made by Sollozzo in the hospital. He is afraid for his father's life, and hides him in another room. Meanwhile, he fought with McCluskey (The godfather, N.p.). After this is over, Michael makes a plan for killing both Sollozzo and McCluskey. He is advised to leave the idea, as it is very difficult to accomplish this task. However, Michael is determined to pursue his will. He thinks that these two gangsters have to die essentially; otherwise, they will kill his father by hook or by crook. Michael succeeds in completing the task without a miss.

Michael leaves the screen and stays in Sicily, falling in love with a girl. Don Vito starts recovering, and the business is headed by his eldest son, Sonny, who is eventually killed in an ambush laid by his brother-in-law. Don Vito, deeply devastated by his son's death, starts thinking to end the gang war. Michael is informed of his brother's death and warned to be alert because he might be attacked by the enemy. Later, his car explodes on the road killing his girlfriend. Don Vito signs the agreement of peace among the big crime families of the city. Michael wants to get engaged with Kay and ascertains that he will reform his company’s business. He takes over his father's business, but do not change anything. Don Vito expresses his sorrow with Michael that he never wanted him to become a Don. He has supposed his son always to be a politician. One day, Don Vito dies, and Michael is appointed the godfather later. Michael kills all the gangs' heads after holding the position. He plans to shift the company's business to Las Vegas.

Bonnie and Clyde

Clyde Barrow is about to steal the car of Bonnie Parker but caught red-handed by her. This is their first meeting. Clyde begins to convince her to join him. She agrees, and the two begin their journey of crimes. They indulge in bank robberies and stealing cars of people. Another person named Moss joins them at a gas station. Further, Clyde's brother and his brother's wife also join them. The group becomes famous as the Barrow gang. Their crimes start increasing in count and severity. Forces are after them now. After committing several murders, they continue strolling on the roads for creating more violence.

A cop named Frank Hammer chases them and has an encounter with them. He is defeated by them, who laugh at him in a humiliating way (Bonnie and Clyde, N.p.). The gang moves on. Clyde is unable to come up to Bonnie's needs of sexual fulfilment. She misses her mother and pays her a visit, who is angry with Bonnie for her false-doings. Later, the gang is surrounded by police at one place, where Clyde's brother is shot dead, and his wife is arrested by police. During an interrogation with the woman, police discover about Moss, who is an unknown figure to police until now. The remaining three members of the Barrow Gang are staying at Moss's father house. Moss's father makes a deal with Frank Hammer that he will tell him whereabouts of Bonnie and Clyde, and he will let his son go. At last, Bonnie and Clyde are killed in an ambush laid by police.

Analysis

Both films belong to the crime genre and depict numerous killings during their course. The godfather is a gang war movie showing conflicts between five big crime families of New York City. Bonnie and Clyde is a noir film that presents crime in a dark and gloomy mood. The former relates the battle to attainment of power, while the latter gives an account of violence created only for the sake of pleasure, in an adventurous way, for nothing.

Both movies have love themes. In the godfather, there is a father who breaks into tears at his eldest son's death. The youngest son fears his father's life that is in danger at the hands of other gangsters. He makes a master plan to kill all the heads of gangster families to bring an end to this fear. He is also in the pursuit of gaining absolute power and control over the crime world affairs. In Bonnie and Clyde, two lovers fail to understand the value of life and indulge in good-for-nothing violence. In spite of having issues in their private life, they stay together and stand side by side in every difficult situation.

Both movies display characters who have no regard for human life. Bloodshed is common everywhere, and there is no food for the moral sense. The movies concern with the darker sides of human life and highlight the disastrous consequences of negative inclinations of human nature.

Conclusion

The crime film genre has further subcategories of different types of crimes and scenarios. ‘The Godfather’ and ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ belong to different types of crime-genre films. However, both films have some similarities and differences. The striking difference remains to be the motives involved in carrying out crimes by the lead characters. The remarkable similarity lies in being void of any regard for human life.

Works Cited

"The Godfather (1972)." Rotten Tomatoes. N. p., 2019. Web. 12 Oct. 2019.

"Bonnie and Clyde (1967)." Rotten Tomatoes. N. p., 2019. Web. 12 Oct. 2019.