The Series
This is the third in a family of caches which replicate the hides
in Academy Award winning movies. This cache is actually a
geocache/letterbox hybrid. They differ mainly in that the geocache
description includes the coordinates of the location whereas
the letterbox clues only verbal directions are given. (So
please bring your stamp and an ink pad if you have them.)
Synopsis
"The God Father", with sequels "The Godfather: Part II" and "The
Godfather: Part III", is an epic among films. Based on the novel by
Mario Puzo, it follows the growth of a Mafia family and the passing
of leadership from one generation to the next. The Corleone family
consists of the (God)father, Vito, (played by Marlon Brando); his
heir apparent, Sonny (James Caan); his inept son Fredo; his
youngest, law-abiding son, Michael (Al Pacino); his daughter,
Connie, and her non-Italian, abusive husband. The family's
mouth-piece (Robert Duvall) is often treated as family as well - or
better. As the movies reel on for several hours we skip to the role
the cache played in the life of the family, esp. Michael.
The Cache
A competing mob, the Tattaglias, has gravely wounded the Don and
killed Sonny. A peace conference is proposed with Michael
representing the Corleones, Virgil Sollozzo representing the
Tattaglias, and the corrupt Police Captain (Sterling Hayden)
serving as arbiter. The place for the meeting determined by the mob
is supposedly unknown to the Corleones. Sollozzo and Hayden pick up
Michael, blindfold him, frisk him and take him to an Italian
restaurant in the boonies. After palavering and eating a bit,
Michael feigns queasiness, asks permission to use da
toletta. With double entendre and irony unknown to him, Hayden
replies "If you gotta go, you gotta go". The Corleone henchmen have
snooped out the meeting place and have hidden a loaded gat behind
the latrine. Michael retrieves the gun, conceals it, and returns to
the table to serve his table mates their last desserts. This begins
Michael's accent (descent?) into the power structure of the
Mafia.
Academy Awards
- "The Godfather" 1972
- Best Picture
- Brando won Best Actor (this was an offer he refused)
- Coppola and Puzo won Best Adapted Screenplay
- Plus seven additional nominations including Caan, Pacino and
Duvall for Best Suppporting Actor
- "The Godfather: Part II" 1974
- Six Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best
Supporting Actor (Robert DeNiro as the young Don Corleone), Best
Adapted Screenplay, Best Art Direction, and Best Score
- Four additional nominations
- "The Godfather: Part III" 1980
- Seven nominations but no wins.
Minnesota notes:
- Brando went to high school nearby at Shattuck Academy in
Faribault.
- "The Emigrants", made and set near Taylor's Falls, Minnesota,
was also nominated for best picture of 1970.
- Duvall starred as Jesse James in "The Great Northfield
Minnesota Bank Raid".
The cache is outside; there is no need to enter any
building.