Title: The Godfather: Part II
Writer: Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo,
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Year: 1974
Actors: Al Pachino, Robert De Niro, and Robert Duvall
Identify the type of lighting used in the film (traditional three-point, high-key, or low-key).
In the movie The Godfather: Part II, the lighting used most often was low-key natural light. The overall theme of low-key lighting begins in the opening scenes which are mostly filmed outside in a natural environment. The use of low-key lighting is carried over into the scenes shot inside Don Corleone’s den where he is meeting with visitors and conducting “family” business. Another great example of the low-key lighting is in the scene where young Vito Corleone, played by actor Robert De Niro, is about to kill Don Fanucci and is standing in the dark shadows only showing the gun wrapped in a towel, while his face is hidden in the dark shadows.
Assess the impact of the lighting used to establish the theme.
The primary benefit of using low-key lighting in the filming of The Godfather: Part II was to set a dramatic tone for the audience. In the scenes filmed inside Don Corleone’s house where he was giving orders to his henchmen, the only lighting for the scenes came from the large picture windows behind the actors. This left the actors in deep shadows where their faces were obscured, while discussing matters that were considered family business. This left the viewer with an ominous dramatic feeling. Almost a feeling as if the audience was allowed the privilege of knowing the family’s secrets. The use of the low-key lighting throughout most of the movie helped to build the more suspenseful scenes and added to the overall dramatic effect (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011). The low-key lighting was the perfect choice for this film since it had the added effect of drawing the audience in to feel as though they are actually in the room as the scene unfolds and were a part of the various conspiracies.
Compare how the scene would play if different choices had been made.
I think the scenes shot in Don Corlone’s den and of young Vito Corleone assassinating Don Fanucci would not have had the same dramatic effect on the view had a different lighting technique been used. High-key light, for example, would have produced very little in the way of shadows and would have given the ominous scenes too much of a light and airy impression. It is much in the same way that there is a different feel of a dark and cloudy day and of a bright sunshine day. The overall feel of the scenes would simply not have been the same without the use of the dark shadows to underscore the dramatic setting of the story.
Resources:
Goodykoontz, Bill & Jacobs, Christopher. (2011). Film: From Watching to Seeing. San Diego, California. Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Movie Clips, (2011). The Godfather: Part 2 (2/8) Movie CLIP – The Murder of Don Fanucci [Video file] Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em7EcaXPJF8
Paramount Movies Trailer, (2012). The Godfather: Part II official movie trailer [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O1Iy9od7-A
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