Gangster film Ford Coppola's "The Godfather" was released. The epic story of the Corleone family, its generational transition from post-prohibition to post-war, its fratricidal intrigues, and its tapestry of mid-century America's criminal underworld became a huge critical and commercial success. It accounted for nearly 10% of gross proceeds for all films for the entire year. It won the Oscar for Best Picture, as well as the award for Best Actor for Marlon Brando and is widely considered one of the greatest American films of all time. Two years later, "The Godfather Part II" became the fifth-highest-grossing film of the year and garnered
Joe (1970 film) "The French Connection" (1971). The role would earn Gene Hackman the Oscar for Best Actor. Boyle nevertheless played a ruthless gangster four years later in "Crazy Joe" (not a sequel) and a not-so-ruthless gangster in the comedy "Johnny Dangerously". He also appeared in the violent drama "Taxi Driver". "Joe" inspired the creation of other tough, working class characters in 70s films and TV shows, including the character of Archie Bunker on the TV show "All in the Family". In the 1980s, there were rumors that Peter Boyle might appear in a sequel to "Joe". "Citizen Joe", the sequel, would follow