The Royal Albert Hall is making movie fans an offer they can’t refuse – the chance to see The Godfather on the big screen as Nino Rota’s immortal orchestral score is played live.
This unique version of Francis Ford Coppola’s timeless masterpiece, starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, and spanning 10 years in the lives of a New York “crime family”, will grace the iconic venue on Monday, 8 December 2014.
The world premiere of The Godfather Live will be a celebration of a crime classic regularly cited as one of the greatest films ever made.
The Godfather, released in 1972 to popular and critical acclaim, tells the story of the Corleones and their rivalry with other New York crime families between 1945 and 1955, as the title character (Marlon Brando) hands over the reins of power to his youngest son (Al Pacino).
Also starring James Caan, John Cazale, Robert Duvall and Diane Keaton, the film won three Academy Awards – including Best Picture and Best Actor (Marlon Brando) – and established Coppola’s reputation as one of the exciting new breed of directors who revolutionised Hollywood from the late-1960s onwards.
In 2008, an Empire magazine vote saw The Godfather named as the greatest film ever made, a distinction also awarded it by Entertainment Weekly and Metacritic. It came second in Sight & Sound’s 2002 list and Time Out’s 2003 readers’ poll, and is currently ranked at number two in IMDb’s all-time list.
Composer Nino Rota achieved international acclaim in the 1950s and ‘60s for his work with Italian directors Federico Fellini and Luchino Visconti, scoring the likes of White Nights, The Leopard, La Dolce Vita and 8 ½. His music for The Godfather, including its immortal Love Theme, was ranked at #5 in the American Film Institute’s list of the greatest scores ever written.
The Godfather Live is part of the Hall’s ongoing series presenting cinematic landmarks with live orchestral accompaniment. Future events include the UK premieres of Gladiator and J. J. Abrams’ Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness, as well as the legendary 1961 musical West Side Story, and a repeat performance of last year’s world premiere celebrating the work of composer Danny Elfman in the films of Tim Burton.
For more information, go to www.royalalberthall.com.
Listings information:
The Godfather Live
Monday 8 December 2014, 7.30pm (doors 6.45pm)
Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP
Tickets £15 - £55 (booking fees apply)
Box Office 020 7589 8212
www.royalalberthall.com
