Introduction

On this day 50 years ago, the godfather was in its third week of release. The five actual families of new york crime were absorbing the events of the night before. Gangland slayings not national news any more. When they do happen, they are treated with the proper perspective as internescent violence. But you know what lasts? The art. Not just the godfather movies that can still be watched with fresh eyes, but the greatest show in t v history, the sopranos.