Film: THE GODFATHER (Edit Sample #22)

PARALLEL MONTAGE in
The Godfather

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THE PARALLEL MONTAGE sequence at the end of The Godfather (not to be confused with Godfather II or Godfather III) is one of the most famous examples of parallel montage in the modern cinema.
    The mafioso (mob gangster, Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino in his first big role) is acting as a godfather to his sister's child, as the newborn infant is being baptized in church. The sequence, part of Catholic church ritual (beginning, "Do you renounce Satan and all his works?") is intercut, with great irony, with images of members of Corleone's "family" (mob) killing members of another gang family, to the accompaniment of church words and church organ music (Bach).
     It's a model in how to use parallel montage, along with the sound track (including dialogue, music, and sound bridges) to build a sequence with significance.
    To view the film clip, go here. The clip includes an earlier scene from the film. To get to the main part of the parallel montage sequence, go here, then move the time bar to 3:44; the parallel montage sequence ends at around 6:35.
    Otherwise, the film is available in our library. You can view the sequence near the end of the film in the library.

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