As much as the classic lines of “The Godfather” have become a part of pop culture vernacular — quotes like “Leave the gun, take the cannoli” and “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse” — where this dialogue takes place is just as important as what is being said. “The Godfather” presents an elegant yet brutal vision of the mafia’s golden age. Set in post-World War II New York, the bustling city serves as the Corleone family’s playground for violence and control. The story then shifts to the pastoral old country, returning to the Italian countryside where this illicit way of life was born. The filmmaking at these locations gives the film a sense of grandeur and makes its depiction of the mafia feel both immediate and gritty. Let’s step into the ruthless world of the Corleone family at the many on-site locations where Francis Ford Coppola filmed his greatest directorial achievement.

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Many scenes take place on the brightly lit streets of Manhattan. The famed entertainment venue Radio City Music Hall serves as the backdrop for Michael and Kay’s sweet date to see “The Bells of St. Mary’s.” The Art Deco building perfectly anchors the film in the past and captures the whirlwind of innocence and the couple’s carefree romance before loyalty to the family ends up tearing them apart. 

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Michael and Kay are also seen walking past the St. Regis Hotel, where they spend the night. It has an antiquated luxury in its ornate cornices and limestone façade, a stunning example of intricate Beaux-Arts architecture. It is also the setting for Willie Cicci’s shave at the barbershop before executing Carmine Cuneo, which is seen in the famed baptism scene.

The baptism scene was filmed at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedra, a striking example of Gothic Revival architecture. Its sharp spires and simple brownstone façade give it a solemn aesthetic — as if every glistening shard of the towering stained glass and vaulted ceilings are looking down in judgment at the hypocrisy of what is taking place inside. While Michael recounces Satan, we witness the gruesome murders that he orchestrated. 

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The Mietz Building and Fruit Stand on Mott Street, which now belongs in Chinatown, is home to Genco Pura Olive Oil Company, the front for the Corleone family’s clandestine operations. Across from the little brick building, Don Corleone is ambushed and shot by the Tattaglia family for refusing to enter the drug trade. Cinematographer Gordon Willis makes the street seem especially dark and grim during the bird’s-eye view of Vito’s body on the ground, except for the bright oranges spilled next to him.

Manhattan wasn’t the only filming location. The Corleone family’s stately home is located in Staten Island. It’s a typical Tudor-style suburban home, so the film crew built a stone wall with a metal entrance gate to give the red brick façade a sense of sturdy, impenetrable strength and honor. The massive 17,024-square-foot property also features gardens where the famed opening of Connie’s wedding took place, which /Film argues is Francis Ford Coppola’s greatest scene out of his entire filmography. Sonny’s death at the toll booths was filmed at Mitchel Field, a former U.S. Air Base. However, it does not actually take place on a highway; the toll booths were created and put on the military locale’s runway, which explains why the setting did not ring true and always felt so oddly empty. The funeral for the most significant death in the family, Vito Corleone, was filmed at Calvary Cemetery in Queens. The vast 365-acre stretch of green, dotted with marble graves, is framed by towering skylines in the background — the city Vito once ruled.

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The scenes where Michael goes into hiding were filmed in the small, picturesque Sicilian villages of Forza d’Agrò and Savoca. In Savoca, the Chiesa di San Nicolò is the 13th-century church where Michael and Apollonia held their wedding. It is perched on a hill, overseeing the surrounding lush hillsides, mountains, and crystal blue ocean. The church’s medieval architecture, with a stone façade and square bell tower, is simple yet has a commanding presence. You must climb many steep steps to get there, and just a short walk away is the stone town square where Michael and Apollonia had their reception. Bar Vitelli, where Michael first speaks to Apollonia’s father, is even closer. The cozy hideaway is wrapped in bright green leaves and vines. Apollonia’s death was filmed at The Castello degli Schiavi near Catania, a sprawling Neoclassical estate with an arched entryway and ornate roof tower. These Sicilian locations feel like stepping into another era; they are small, close-knit villages teeming with ancient history and breathtaking beauty.

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