As a crime film, The Godfather contains numerous violent, sexual and profane scenes as its plot centers on the Corleone family and their criminal business. However, despite its genre, Nino Rota’s score for the film is generally calm, elegant and operatic. For instance, the main theme of the film is a waltz called the “Godfather Waltz,” which counterpoints the horrible images presented on the screen. As a mournful waltz with a melancholic vibe, the “Godfather Waltz” serves as a leitmotif for Don Vito Corleone. In The Godfather, the “Godfather Waltz” is repeatedly used throughout the film. In total, it is played sixteen times. For each scene, the theme continually modifies in terms of its tempo, a few notes and the musical instruments that are featured in the music. Therefore, this paper will examine how the “Godfather Waltz” changes according to each scene to argue that it effectively serves as Don Corleone’s leitmotif since it shows Vito’s characteristics as a Mafia boss, emotional sides of him as a father and his downfall. Before examining how the “Godfather Waltz” changes to fit into each scene, it is important to first have an understanding of Rota’s score in general.
…show more content…
Since most of the characters who appear in The Godfather are Italian-Americans, the Paramount product casted an Italian director, Francis Coppola and an Italian composer, Nino Rota. Accordingly, such reasons explain why the “Godfather Waltz” has Sicilian folk tune to it. Prior to The Godfather, Rota has several experiences of composing scores for movies with Italian settings such as Romeo and Juliet (1968). However, The Godfather has unique scores as it consists of a blend of American pop music and Italian folk music. This is because the characters in The Godfather are Italian immigrants settled in America. Moreover, although some people including the editor, Robert Evans, have criticized Rota’s score as being unsuitable with the content of the film, his music fulfills the requests made by Coppola. This is because Coppola wanted Rota to “underscore the continuous string of murders occurring in the film with a waltz, a leitmotif signifying a recurring cycle devoid of closure.” Also, most of the themes created by Rota are in minor keys, which set up gloomy mood. Finally, Rota has created the underscore for The Godfather by “utilizing a symphonic structure to comment on characters and situations” and thus, his score fits well with the film. Don Vito Corleone’s leitmotif, the “Godfather Waltz” is introduced from the very beginning of the film as it is featured in the opening title. The music starts on black screen and is heard until the name of the director and the title of the film are shown. The use of “Godfather Waltz” in the opening title makes it clear that it will be serving as the main theme of the film. Moreover, by presenting it as the very first tune, the audiences get used to the melody of it. In the opening title, “Godfather Waltz” is played by a trumpet solo without any accompaniment. The monophonic texture makes the music makes the tune more memorable. The first way that the film uses the “Godfather Waltz” as Don Corleone’s leitmotif is to show his characteristics as a Mafia boss. Accordingly, the “Godfather Waltz” is played whenever Vito commits crimes. For instance, Vito’s leitmotif is played when the betrayer, Paulie Gatto gets shot in the car. The murder of Gatto was ordered by Don Corleone’s eldest son, Sonny. Although Vito Corleone does not appear in this scene, the playing of the “Godfather Waltz” makes it clear that Gatto’s murder was done in favour of Vito. In this scene, the leitmotif is featured by a solo trumpet. Its low and strong sound implies that the Corleone family do not hesitate to commit crimes if anyone attempts to harm them. Moreover, Vito’s leitmotif is played in the horse’s head scene. Jack Woltz, a film producer, refuses to cast Johnny in a film that could lead to the revival of his popularity. As the godfather, Don Corleone promises Johnny that he will make an offer that Woltz cannot refuse. However, Woltz continuously resists until he wakes up in the morning in his bed covered with blood of his beloved horse. This scene starts with
Since most of the characters who appear in The Godfather are Italian-Americans, the Paramount product casted an Italian director, Francis Coppola and an Italian composer, Nino Rota. Accordingly, such reasons explain why the “Godfather Waltz” has Sicilian folk tune to it. Prior to The Godfather, Rota has several experiences of composing scores for movies with Italian settings such as Romeo and Juliet (1968). However, The Godfather has unique scores as it consists of a blend of American pop music and Italian folk music. This is because the characters in The Godfather are Italian immigrants settled in America. Moreover, although some people including the editor, Robert Evans, have criticized Rota’s score as being unsuitable with the content of the film, his music fulfills the requests made by Coppola. This is because Coppola wanted Rota to “underscore the continuous string of murders occurring in the film with a waltz, a leitmotif signifying a recurring cycle devoid of closure.” Also, most of the themes created by Rota are in minor keys, which set up gloomy mood. Finally, Rota has created the underscore for The Godfather by “utilizing a symphonic structure to comment on characters and situations” and thus, his score fits well with the film. Don Vito Corleone’s leitmotif, the “Godfather Waltz” is introduced from the very beginning of the film as it is featured in the opening title. The music starts on black screen and is heard until the name of the director and the title of the film are shown. The use of “Godfather Waltz” in the opening title makes it clear that it will be serving as the main theme of the film. Moreover, by presenting it as the very first tune, the audiences get used to the melody of it. In the opening title, “Godfather Waltz” is played by a trumpet solo without any accompaniment. The monophonic texture makes the music makes the tune more memorable. The first way that the film uses the “Godfather Waltz” as Don Corleone’s leitmotif is to show his characteristics as a Mafia boss. Accordingly, the “Godfather Waltz” is played whenever Vito commits crimes. For instance, Vito’s leitmotif is played when the betrayer, Paulie Gatto gets shot in the car. The murder of Gatto was ordered by Don Corleone’s eldest son, Sonny. Although Vito Corleone does not appear in this scene, the playing of the “Godfather Waltz” makes it clear that Gatto’s murder was done in favour of Vito. In this scene, the leitmotif is featured by a solo trumpet. Its low and strong sound implies that the Corleone family do not hesitate to commit crimes if anyone attempts to harm them. Moreover, Vito’s leitmotif is played in the horse’s head scene. Jack Woltz, a film producer, refuses to cast Johnny in a film that could lead to the revival of his popularity. As the godfather, Don Corleone promises Johnny that he will make an offer that Woltz cannot refuse. However, Woltz continuously resists until he wakes up in the morning in his bed covered with blood of his beloved horse. This scene starts with