The Sunrise Theater’s Movies on the Big Screen series for November kicks off with “The Godfather.” The film will be shown Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m.

Made in 1972 by a relatively unknown young director, Francis Ford Coppola, “The Godfather” tells the story of a fictional New York Mafia family between the years 1940-1955. And what a story it is! In oversimplified terms, it is the last years of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), the head of this Italian-Sicilian family. The film tells of his attempts to maintain and further the welfare of his family. Moments of tenderness and fidelity alternate with moments of anger and violence.

Winner of three Academy Awards in 1972 including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Screenplay, it is considered by many the best film ever made. In an American Film Institute poll in 2007, it came in No. 2 behind “Citizen Kane” on the 100 Best Films of All Time list. It deserves its R rating and is close to three hours long.

Upcoming November films in this Wednesday series include “The Sting” (Nov. 9), “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” (Nov. 16) and “From Here to Eternity” (Nov. 30).

The Sunrise is at 250 NW Broad St., Southern Pines.

For information, visit www.sunrisetheater.com.