I'm still in awe of The Godfather. I was struck today by the image below, which comes from set photographer Steve Schapiro's recently released The Godfather Family Album:

(Inset added by the author)

It's easy to forget Brando's relative youth at the time of shooting; He was only 47!

Credit is obviously due to the skilled make-up artists who worked with Brando. But consider also the way Don Vito moves. Hear the fatigue in his voice and see it in his eyes - the cumulative weight of a life spent building an empire. Indeed a performance for the ages. And to think Brando was considered "washed up".

Click here for more photos from The Godfather Family Album.