Classic inspires new gangster films

The '70s were a time of peace, love and dancing. And some of the best movies and albums were released in this decade. One of the best movies of all time came out in 1972. "The Godfather" is probably one of the most copied and parodied of all times (besides of course "Scarface," another classic Al Pacino film). How many times have you heard a guy saying "Go to the mattresses," quoting a classic line from the film? Between the late Marlon Brando's infamous Don Corleone and Al Pacino's Michael, "The Godfather" truly embraced the culture of what most Americans viewed to be the life of a gangster. Who could forget the timeless scene with the bloody horse's head in the bed, or the scene when Michael loses his last bit of humanity by killing the man who he thinks was hired to put a hit out on his father? The movie is actually the first in a trilogy by Francis Ford Coppola (the man behind "Apocalypse Now" and "The Outsiders") that follows the life of Michael Corleone, son to Don Vito Coreleone, a mob boss. The Coreleones moved from Sicily to America looking for the dream: life, liberty and the ability to be able to get away with many crimes that would have usually gotten them killed or arrestedfor in Sicily. The Don is the guy to come to if you have any problems with basically anything. He'll fix it. But when the Don becomes unable to perform his duties (due to a murder attempt on his life) he calls for his youngest son, Michael, to step up and head the family. Michael, who has just returned from the war, doesn't really want to be involved in the "family business," but his brother, Sonny (James Caan), and the Don's right-hand man, Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall), convince him otherwise. Throughout the film, the audience sees how Michael struggles with being himself, and running the family. But after his father dies, Michael has no choice but to become the new "Don Coreleone." At the end of the film, he truly steps into his role as Don, and the audience prepares for a sequel. "The Godfather" inspired many other classics to be made like "Goodfellas," "Casino" and who could forget of course the continuation of the Coreleone saga in "Godfather" parts II and III. One of the best songs of that year that is still played today would be "American Pie" by Don McLean. That song has inspired remakes (the most recent of which was done by Madonna for her movie, "The Next Best Thing"). The song hit No. 1 on the singles chart in '72. The lyrics to the song deal with society, and all of the changes that were occurring at that time: "So bye, bye Miss American Pie/ Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry/ And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye, singin' this'll be the day that I die." "American Pie" sold more than three million copies that year. McLean embodied the meaning of the times with his folky version of an all for one, one for all American theme song.