Paramount Pictures announced today that the film will have a limited theatrical release in Dolby Vision beginning February 25, 2022 exclusively in Dolby Cinema at AMC Theatres in the U.S., as well as in international territories around the world. All three films in the epic trilogy have been meticulously restored under the direction of Coppola and will be made available on 4K Ultra HD for the first time ever on March 22, 2022.
"I am very proud of The Godfather, which certainly defined the first third of my creative life. With this 50th anniversary tribute, I'm especially proud Mario Puzo's THE GODFATHER, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone is included, as it captures Mario and my original vision in definitively concluding our epic trilogy. It's also gratifying to celebrate this milestone with Paramount alongside the wonderful fans who've loved it for decades, younger generations who still find it relevant today, and those who will discover it for the first time," said Francis Ford Coppola.
In preparation for the 50th anniversary of the first film's original release on March 24, 1972, Paramount and Coppola's production company American Zoetrope undertook a painstaking restoration of all three films over the course of three years. Every effort was made to create the finest possible presentation for today's audiences who can watch the films using technology that has advanced dramatically since 2007 when the last restoration was completed by eminent film historian and preservationist Robert Harris.
"We felt privileged to restore these films and a little in awe every day we worked on them," said Andrea Kalas, senior vice president, Paramount Archives. "We were able to witness first-hand how the brilliant cinematography, score, production design, costume design, editing, performances, and, of course, screenwriting and direction became famously more than the sum of their parts. It was our commitment to honor all of the filmmakers' exceptional work."
In addition to the widely available 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray set, a 4K Ultra HD Limited Collector's Edition will also be released in deluxe packaging and includes a hardcover coffee table book featuring stunning photographs, as well as portrait art prints on archival paper. Both 4K Ultra HD sets include new bonus content including an introduction to The Godfather by Coppola, a featurette about the preservation process, photos by acclaimed photographer Steve Schapiro, home movie footage, and comparisons of the new restoration to earlier versions of the films. A full list of new and legacy bonus content follows:
NEW BONUS CONTENT:
*Introduction to The Godfather by Francis Ford Coppola
*Full Circle: Preserving The Godfather-Paramount Pictures archivists detail the incredible restoration process with archival footage showing the evolution of the film through various home entertainment incarnations as picture and audio technologies make quantum leaps over the decades.
*Capturing the Corleones: Through the Lens of Photographer Steve Schapiro- In this reflective and frank discussion, special photographer Steve Schapiro shares his unique perspective and cherished memories as a witness to the making of this seminal film. Commentary on curated archival images makes for a fascinating, never-before-seen addition to the production's history.
*The Godfather: Home Movies- An assortment of 8mm home movie footage shot in 1971 offers a candid glimpse into the production of The Godfather. Shot on location at the Norton family estate on Staten Island's Emerson Hill, this is the first time it's been made available to the public.
*Restoration Comparisons- Before and after highlights showcase extensive picture quality improvements to The Godfather.
LEGACY BONUS CONTENT:
*The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn't
*Godfather World
*Emulsional Rescue-Revealing The Godfather
*…when the shooting stopped
*The Godfather on the Red Carpet
*Four Short Films on The Godfather
*The Godfather vs. The Godfather: Part II
*Cannoli
*Riffing on the Riffing
*Clemenza
*The Family Tree
*Crime Organization Chart
*Connie and Carlo's Wedding Album
*2008 Credits
*Behind the Scenes
*A Look Inside
*On Location
*Francis Ford Coppola's Notebook
*Music of The Godfather
*Nino Rota
*Carmine Coppola
*Coppola & Puzo on Screenwriting
*Gordon Willis on Cinematography
*Storyboards - The Godfather: Part II
*Storyboards - The Godfather: Part III
*The Godfather Behind the Scenes 1971
*Additional Scenes
*Galleries
*Trailers
*Acclaim & Response
*Additional Material
*The Filmmakers
*The Godfather: Part III-newly remastered and restored versions of the original theatrical cut and Coppola's 1991 cut (note: these are exclusive to the 4K Ultra HD Collections)
Newly restored and remastered versions of The Godfather, The Godfather: Part II, and Mario Puzo's THE GODFATHER, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone will also be available together on Blu-ray™ with access to Digital copies and the new and legacy bonus content detailed above.
