Restoring ‘The Godfather’ to its original

After 50 years, Francis Ford Coppola still isn’t finished with “The Godfather” — and it isn’t finished with him, either.

Coppola made his bones with that crime epic, which won three Academy Awards, including best picture, made untold millions of dollars for Paramount Pictures and influenced a half-century of filmmaking in the process.

But times have changed. It’s not like the old days. And yet “The Godfather” continues to age like a satisfied don sitting blithely in his garden.

In efforts to preserve “The Godfather” for future generations, Paramount, Coppola and his colleagues at American Zoetrope previously worked together on repaired and revitalized versions of the film as recently as 15 years ago, in what was then billed as “The Coppola Restoration.”

Now for the 50th anniversary of “The Godfather,” which opened in New York on March 15, 1972, Coppola and these studios have produced a new restoration. This latest edition was created with higher-quality sources of the film, improved digital technology and some 4,000 hours spent repairing stains, tears and other flaws. (It will be released in theaters on Friday and on home video on March 22.)

New York Times

‘The Godfather’ is screening at Colombo City Center, Liberty By Scope, PVR – Colombo, KCC – Kandy, Majestic – Colombo, Savoy 3D – Colombo, Maxx Lite – Moratuwa, Vista Lite – Ja Ela and Amity – Maharagama   Picture – Godfather