In ‘The Godfather’, mise-en-scene is sometimes used to express the impact of a certain scene on the overall narrative of the movie. For example, in this scene, the godfather is shot by a rival gang member. The birds eye view shot highlights the movie’s setting in New York (classic New York sidewalk and drain), this reinforces the affect in which the Godfather getting shot will have on the streets of New York. The visceral imagery of the fresh oranges spilt over the street floor may reflect the disruption in order/ formality that the shooting may cause for the Corleone family.


In this scene, Coppola uses mise-en-scene to develop the characterisation of all the characters involved, however, most importantly the Godfather. The lighting within this scene is quite dim, casting shadows over much of the room. This causes the characters to come across as sombre and serious, as the lighting also offers an almost judging and suspicious undertone. The furniture used within this scene demonstrates the opulent lifestyle in which the Godfather lives. In addition, the placement of the characters within this scene insights into the workings of the Corleone family; the Godfather is placed in the centre of the screen, highlighting his importance above the others. He is also the only character facing the camera, furthering the idea that he has the most power over that scene. Lastly, the costumes used within this scene (extremely smart suits) adds to the sombre tone, with an almost complete lack of colour except for the Godfather’s rose attached to the lapel of his suit. This rose may connotate love and passion for his family, above his dark personality (or black suit).