Copyright
Copyright 2009 by Edmund James Brown. This material is copyrighted, and any further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission of the copyright owner.
Subject
Monomyth; Corleone, Michael (fictitious character); Gangster films; Campbell, Joseph, 1904-1987. The hero with a thousand faces; Godfather films - History and criticism; Heroes in motion pictures; Mythology in motion pictures;
Description
Mythic analysis of film is not a new concept. In fact, it has been done since the 1960s. Although this study takes a classic approach to film, it does differentiate itself in a few ways. Traditional mythic analyses are kept within the genres of science-fiction, fantasy and westerns. This study looks at The Godfather Trilogy and examines the character of Michael Corleone as the hero. Most hero-based myths are identified with classic examples, such as the knight in shining armor or the lone cowboy. This study uses the concepts presented in The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949) by Joseph Campbell and applies his 17 stage structure to the three films.