Academy Awards

The Godfather received eleven nominations at the 45th Academy Awards, announced in February 1973, including Best Picture, Best Director for Francis Ford Coppola, Best Actor for Marlon Brando, Best Adapted Screenplay for Mario Puzo and Coppola, and Best Supporting Actor for Al Pacino, James Caan and Robert Duvall. Nino Rota's score nomination went to a re-ballot after the academy found he had used a similar theme in the 1958 comedy Fortunella. The film won Best Picture, Brando won Best Actor and Puzo won for Best Adapted Screenplay. Brando boycotted the ceremony and declined the Oscar, sending the activist Sacheen Littlefeather to explain his objection to Hollywood's depiction of American Indians, and Pacino also stayed away.