Hey Jen, the man playing Luca Brasi was a former mob enforcer turned actor. He was not experienced as an actor and was overwhelmed to have to act in the same scene as Brando. That's why he flubbed his line when he was talking to Vito at the wedding. Brando, being a great actor, just kept listening and staying in character. Eventually, Coppola decided the mistake fit the nervousness the character was supposed to be feeling and so kept it in the film.
The cat in the opening in the movie was a stray that Francis Ford Coppola found on the Paramount Studios lot and was not in the original script. Five minutes before shooting the scene Coppola put the cat with Brando and is now one of the most famous cats in movie history. The cat purred so loud that they had to loop most of Brando’s lines in post production
Jen early in John Wick: nothing better happen to this dog. Jen early in Se7en: oh God I hope Gwyneth Paltrow doesn't die. Jen here in Godfather: I love horses. When she gets attached early, we're all waiting for her inevitable shock face 😲 😨😱
Probably was Luca Brasi to did the horse. Hell of a message to sent to Woltz. Our hitmen are so good that they can put a severed horse's head in your bed without waking you up. I understand the way the Mafia's predecessors did it back in Sicily was to leave a dagger stuck into the pillow of the guy they wanted to intimidate. The message being, "This could have just as easily have been left in your throat. Sweet dreams."
@@docbearmb VERY well said!!!! And this is one of the reasons I love watching reactor videos, Jen pointed out that they used the word "respect" like 5 times already within the first 20 minutes, I personally hadn't even noticed that!
“Going to the mattresses” was a phrase used when two Italian families would go to war, in this case, Mafia families. They would vacate their homes, and find lodging elsewhere and hire soldiers (other hired guns) for protection. And, if you notice in the montage after Michael kills Solozzo, there’s a brief shot of a guy sitting on a mattress, and cleaning his gun. 😁
Who else cracked a sinister smile when she said she loves horses? lol It was REAL to boot! It "fell of the back" of a dogfood processing truck. You can actually kind of hear when the actor John Marley is acting, and when he actually realizes the head is real. (because of course Francis didnt tell him on purpose) The blood was fake though, of course. (or wasss ittt!?!?!!? lol)
@@Kenny-ep2nf i watched it recently and realized...the horse head scene is technically a flash-forward. . The scene after is Brando scratching his cheek thinking what to do after duvall tells him the news.........I never realized that.
No, it was purchased, didn't just "fall off the back" of a truck. Perhaps you didn't realize it, but Europeans still buy and eat horse meat ("chaval"), most of which is imported from American meat packing plants.
I love Al Pacino’s acting in this movie. Somehow he is able to express with his eyes the moment that Michael “flipped the switch,” at the restaurant scene.
Another great reaction Jen. The Godfather is one of the greatest movies of all time. And epic and a classic. You're definitely gonna like Godfather 2. "Leave the gun take the Canolis." Classic.
I loved how the Don said " 'I' forego the vengeance of my son..i swear that "I' will not be the one to break the peace." Lol. He already knew just how ruthless Michael was under that quiet exterior..
Fun fact: Luca Brazzi, played by Lenny Montana, was actual muscle for the Columbo family in NYC at the time this was filmed. It was part of the deal if Coppola wanted to film there. He wasn’t acting..he was actually practicing his speech. In the room with the Don, Brando was making faces at him with post-it’s stuck un his forehead with insults. It was a genuine reaction.😎
Hi Jen.. the Godfather is one of my favorite films. Great watching this movie with you. Knew the horse head scene would get you. Poor Jen, you’re so sweet. Keep watching these great films. 😊😊😊
"Going to the mattresses" is a euphemism for going to war. When at war, new apartments were rented at previously unknown locations, where "soldiers" could go to stay. For accommodation they would buy ten or so mattresses for each apartment, just as temporary places for the men to sleep. Thus, soldiers could be "anywhere" and attack from or hide in places where they weren't suspected to be staying.
It's so cool to see someone discover Godfather (1) all these years later. Your reaction was great! It's a film I watch every 5-10 years or so. It's funny how every time you watch the film you come away with a different take away from it. It really isn't a film about mafia as much as it's a film about family. You should definitely watch the sequels (yes some people say skip the 3 but I think 3 is worth a watch as well).
Absolutely 3 is worth a watch.. Her part was always criminally small.. But Connie's character in part III.. Would love to have seen what would have become of the family after the finale.
I waited over 20 years to see this movie! Simpsons and other comedies made a bunch of references over the years and most of them flew over my head. I reached my breaking point and decided to watch it. A year or two after that, I saw Zootopia in theaters and laughed so hard!
Happy 50th Anniversary to "The Godfather" 03/24/1972)! I'm glad you are able to see this epic film that so many people have talked about as the staple of mob movies. In truth, "The Godfather" isn't about the glorification of the Mafia but rather about family. You will see that theme in the other two sequels too. Once you're done with "The Godfather" trilogy, you must see "Goodfellas". [R.I.P. Ray Liotta 😢💖] I'm enjoying your reactions more and more Jen. Keep doing what you're doing. 🎥💗
Remarkable in every possible way - one of the greatest films in cinematic history. True story: Paramount did not want Brando nor Pacino and only settled for Coppola because of a string of box office turkeys in mob films so they figured an Italian filmmaker would break their streak. You so need to see the 2nd one - greater even than this one (but can so skip the final third one). Great job reacting :D
"Go to the mattresses" is literal. When they're at war, they hole up in safehouses without much furniture. A lot of them stay in one place, so the place is covered in mattresses like a slum or a barracks.
"I heard they "exterminate" them. Exterminate them? That's a bad word to use. Maybe we'll exterminate you. Hahahaha,. Hey pull over. I got to take a leak."
So cute Jen! When I saw the suit I thought two things. Schoolgirl uniform and Men in Black. I think it was the tie. 50 years since this was a thing and it's still fine. Godfather II is a prequel and a sequel. And III wraps a great trilogy even with Fredo. The cat was an unplanned unpaid extra. The horse was completely planned. Al Pacino followed this up with a true life cop movie "Serpico ". Jen followed this up with something not yet known.
If you want to see Marlon Brando in his prime and at his best I highly recommend 'On The Waterfront' from 1954. It's an all time great movie and for some reason nobody has done a reaction to it.
The restaurant scene with the double assassination is my favourite scene ever. The whole thing is masterful. The editing of the el train sound fits it so well.
Not that it’s required, but this movie only gets better with each viewing. The genius gets more profound, not less. All the motivations, all the plotting… it’s so rich.
You have sealed me as a kindred spirit. Your enjoyment watching this ground breaking classic was like enjoying the scenery outside the car window during a long, easy going road trip.
I've noticed in almost every reaction to the causeway hit, the reviewer states the gunmen wanted to "make sure" they killed Sonny. It's likely all those machine guns were in preparation for Sonny travelling with at least seven bodyguards. An actual Mafia member (Michael Franzese) once stated on his site they'd never use that much firepower on just one guy.
Good point! My interpretation is that they wanted to inflict as much damage on the body as humanly possible as "extra" revenge against the family (hence the kick in the face afterwards). Notice how Vito takes his son's corpse to the undertaker who owes him the favor: "I don't want his mother to see him like this." Having an open casket in Italian Catholic culture was an important part of the grieving/healing process. The assassins were trying to make an open casket funeral impossible (we don't know whether or not they succeeded).
This is a kind of movie gets better and better and better, every time you watch it. Watch it now and it is good, and then watch it 4 - 5 - 6 years later, it's gonna get better. As you get older and you get experienced in life, these Godfather movies kinda grow old with you and get more meaningful. There are no movies like these are which are capable to do this that I know of.
And yes, it was a real horse's head and the reaction from the actor was genuine. The director thought the dummy head used in rehearsals looked too phony, and he had staff go to a nearby dog food manufacturing company (yes, they used horse parts back in the day) and they brought back a real severed head and placed it under the sheets without telling the actor. Needless to say, there was only one take. "Go to the mattresses" as far as I understand it, was when there was a mob war, there would be "soldiers" from either side who would leave their homes and hole up in an apartment (like a mini-base), where they would sleep on mattresses on the floor in shifts (to protect each other if the opposition found out their location and attacked) while awaiting orders from their bosses on the plan of attack. and technically, Michael did not kill Carlo. He ordered Carlo to be killed, but did not directly commit the act--so, in his mind, he did not lie to Kay.
And $600k in 1946 is the equivalent of over $9 million in 2022. So the horse's head was not only a grisly discovery, but a very expensive one. I'd be yelling, too.
George Lucas, Spielberg and Coppola were all roommates before this was filmed and Lucas personally edited the newspaper montage after the big restaurant scene.
Hey Jen, I just discovered your channel and am really enjoying your reactions. This video struck me at this time because I just rewatched the Godfather series. I highly recommend the Paramount+ series "The Offer" about the making of the Godfather with Miles Teller. It is excellent and a fun companion piece to the Godfather series.
Old-time hospitals were a lot different-looking. There was no air-conditioning in the 1940's, so in the warm months they had to open the windows. That was why they were much stricter about low speed limits and no noise in hospital zones, at that time much stricter than they were about school zones. Marlon Brando was only 47 when this movie was shot.
I was concerned when I seen the edit version here was only 30min LOL. Maybe it's because I've seen this a gazillion times, so I could follow along very easily with this edit. Anyways... I enjoyed it and glad that you liked it too. You did seem genuinely interested throughout, while at the same time, surprised that it wasn't a bang bang movie as much as it was just a story that included some violence.
Love your reviews Jen..fun fact the cat in Marlon Brandos lap at the start was a stray that was wondering around the set and they decided to use it in the scene.lol🙂..Keep up the good work😊😊
“Going to the mattresses” refers to when mobsters go to war, they would sleep on mattresses on the ground in their homes or apartments so as to not get shot by their enemies driving by.
I nice character character touch: when Michael lights Enzo's cigarette for him after their bluff in front of the hospital, Michael notices that his own hands are steady as a rock while Enzo's hands are shaking (understandable right after a frightening and dangerous moment). He realizes that this is his element.
Seen this movie many times. Two scenes always hit me everytime. One is when Michael kills Sollozzo and the other one is when Carlo hits Connie. My blood boils every time I watch the second one. How can anyone be so cruel?
Going to the mattresses means getting a bunch of apartments all over the city and filling them with mattresses so there's plenty of places for your mobsters to sleep during war times. This movie is based on a novel that does a better job explaining how certain parts of the mafia work.
That was a REAL horse’s head according to a book on the making of this film. This movie came out in the cinemas a year before I was born. So missed the magic of its premiere; however I did watch it on hbo on its 25th anniversary. Even then I agree that it is an epic feature and a humongous experience. Which motivated me then to watch parts 2 & 3
According to the book by the late great Mario Puzo, the horse Khartoum was drugged heavily by the Don’s men, and its head was dispatched and very discreetly slipped between Wolt’s mattress and his blanket. Guess where Khartoum’s decapitated body was? In that stable!
Frank Sinatra was reportedly outraged after the book came out because Johnny Fontaine's character mirrored how he suddenly became big again. His movie role in "From Here to Eternity" won him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor--after having seemingly faded from the limelight.
In the video game, you start off as a soldier by leading the guy carrying the horse head into the house, plant the gun and chase down tessio and finish him off. Now you have to watch them all, if anything to see the grown up baby being baptized!
Marlon Brando was amazing. His breakthrough role was in A Streetcar Named Desire with Vivien Leigh, his natural performance in that single handedly changed movie acting forever... Also the most handsome guy who ever lived...you'll be in a trance😁
If you plan on watching Part III as well, just be warned, director Francis Ford Coppola never had any plans for a third film and refused point blank to do one. Unfortunately, he ran up some rather large debts when his Zoetrope studio collapsed, so he reluctantly accepted the studio request for another Godfather film. He also cast his daughter in one of the lead roles, which was a huge mistake as she was very inexperienced as an actress and received a lot of flak for her performance. Amusingly, the cast seem to have the same opinion of the film as many fans do. At a reunion event with the main cast, an interviewer asked them if they thought Part II was actually better than Part I. As they considered the question, Robert Duvall comically quipped "Well, they were both a helluva lot better than the third one!". Pacino & DeNiro both roared with laughter at this!
Great video, Jen. Nice suit. 👌 🤣 That nurse has scared a lot of people over the years. Have I recommended The Sting (1973)? Brilliant film. It's a caper story, staring Robert Redford and Paul Newman.
Great reaction to a great movie. I'm impressed on how well you input, process and understand all the events and all the characters through out the movie. I didn't do so well the first time I watched it.
I have to agree.... most every other person who reacts to seeing this movie for the first time, has a hard time keeping track of the many characters. Jen did a very good job tracking who was who. The one that most everyone misses is Enzo, the baker.... who helped Michael at the hospital. Earlier in the film, during Connie's wedding, the father of Enzo's fiance (?) went to the Don for help in keeping Enzo from being deported.
Jen, I didn't think it was possible to sum up a classic like The Godfather in 30 minutes, but you made me a video I couldn't refuse! Great editing job!! 🐴
@Move_I_Got_This I also definitely prefer the first one. The Deniro scenes in II are fantastic, but I just never found the Michael parts nearly as interesting.
@Move_I_Got_This The first one is just solid, such a "lean" 3hr movie. The second has a different feel and pacing, probably because it's a sequel and prequel simultaneously.
As great as G1 is the second part is even better with a magnificent performance by Robert DeNiro. TY for a great reaction Jen ❤ So sorry you had to see the horse scene.
This was adapted from the Mario Puzzo novel of the same name. Besides this trilogy, I also recommend watching Goodfellas, Casino, The Departed and The Sopranos. Michael starts the movie as a Captain in the Marines
Your editor is excellent. You should give them a shout out. If it's you, you should give yourself a shout out. Congratulations on watching one of the two or three best American movies ever made. Top position probably still goes to Citizen Kane, and Good Fellas gives this a run for its money. I don't understand people who think Godfather II is even better. It lacks Marlon Brando and James Caan (and Richard Costellano). They're irreplaceable. Especially Brando. It's kind of a crazy performance, but you never doubt it. On multiple viewings you realize he's just acting on a different plane. He was 47 when this movie was filmed.
Theres a famous picture of Robert Duvall wearing a giant cue card on his chest with Marlon's lines written down during a scene. Marlon refused to memorize lines. Richard Harris (Dumbledore) said in an interview that his reading of the lines on camera is what caused Marlon to do those amazing glances and pauses and look-aways and subtle squints and head turns that hes always been known for.. he got a little carried away with Apocalypse Now but even that turned out to be pure genius (with a lot of thanks to Francis of course) I think Brando is amazing in Mutiny on the Bounty which he was blasted for as having one of the worst english accents in film, but i think its quite good.
Looking forward to this after work. I don’t know how many times I would catch this on TV but for whatever reason it was either the beginning or the ending and I always missed out on about an hr in the middle because of one thing or another. It wasn’t until about a year ago I finally seen it all. Yes, I could have bought the dvd or streamed it but for some daft reason it always slipped my mind. Excellent movie. I’m not sure if you’re aware of the tragic life of John Cazale who played Fredo. The first movie I recall seeing him in was Dog Day Afternoon with Al Pacino and also a very young Lance Henrikson. Another excellent movie. He’s been in 5 major productions that many consider classics. His girlfriend was Meryl Streep up until he passed away from cancer. You should definitely read up on him over at IMDB including the trivia section. I didn’t really know much about him till a few years ago. One of those people that probably would have had a phenomenal career if he hadn’t passed away at such a young age.
Al Pacino is the name of the actor playing Michael, though originally the studio didn't want him because he was an unknown name at the time and he was too short to be a leading man, they wanted names like Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty, Dustin Hoffman, Martin Sheen, Ryan O'Neal and Robert Redford as Michael. They even wanted James Caan (who plays Sonny) as Michael, but director Francis Ford Coppola and producer Albert S. Ruddy insisted and fought to have Al as Michael and I thank both of them for doing it! Next to Brando, Pacino is an amazing actor and one of my inspirations! Robert DeNiro was close to play Michael, but they traded him back for Pacino. I'm amazed that you knew Robert Duvall =) You really should watch the bio mini-series The Offer.
Don Vito didn't have the guys killed who beat up Bonaserra's daughter. They just got beat up themselves and ended up in the hospital. That's why the Godfather wanted Clemenza to use a couple of guys who wouldn't get carried away. After all, they're not murderers, regardless of what that underraker thinks.
The mattresses are for the additional "soldiers " they'll recruit and need to have hide out in a safe place for the gang war. So go to the mattresses IS a metaphor, but there are also real mattresses.
You were mentioning about how much time went by in the movie because of the time jumps . Connie's wedding at the beginning of the movie was the late part of 1945 , right after World War 2 ended , which explains Michael wearing his Marine Corps uniform . When Vito died and Michael took over and wiped out the heads of the five families , it was 1955 . According to what I have heard about The Godfather timeline .
Hey Jen, the man playing Luca Brasi was a former mob enforcer turned actor. He was not experienced as an actor and was overwhelmed to have to act in the same scene as Brando. That's why he flubbed his line when he was talking to Vito at the wedding. Brando, being a great actor, just kept listening and staying in character. Eventually, Coppola decided the mistake fit the nervousness the character was supposed to be feeling and so kept it in the film.
I love that!!
@@jenmurrayxo I love love love the politics and intrigue in this movie.
Also, he was a fairly well known professional wrestler at that time, named Lenny Montana.
@@vorlon1 yes,love the docs.& deleted scenes,i just play em all,like with books,from wherever i left,all the best.
@@rustincohle2135 all filmed at night in a studio set that entire sequence,amazing.
The cat in the opening in the movie was a stray that Francis Ford Coppola found on the Paramount Studios lot and was not in the original script. Five minutes before shooting the scene Coppola put the cat with Brando and is now one of the most famous cats in movie history. The cat purred so loud that they had to loop most of Brando’s lines in post production
It was fate: that cat was determined to be famous.
Thank you Mr. IMDB
His name was Don Catalini. Barzini worked for him!
I still wonder if that cat found his way to a good, loving home. He seemed like a sweet kitty.
That wasn't at Paramount. It was filmed at Filmways in Harlem. Most of the movie was filmed in New York.
The moment Jen said, "Oh, I love horses!" I braced myself for THE moment she would witness cinematic shock. What a genuine reaction 😲
Me too, was going to post this too!
At that moment I said, "Well, don't get too attached to this one."
I literally went to clutch my pearls...and I wasn't even wearing any.
@@mmtsr8848 😆
yup
“ leave the gun, take the cannoli “. My favorite movie line, ever!
I don't really care for cannoli, personally.
@@barreloffun10 Well maybe Cannoli doesn't like you either.
Sorry. It's late, I'm kind of buzzed and I couldn't resist.
@@barreloffun10 not all cannoli are created equal. These must have been some finger licking cannoli.
Richard Castellano (Clemenza) was only supposed to say, "Leave the gun." He ad-libbed "Take the cannoli."
Jen early in John Wick: nothing better happen to this dog.
Jen early in Se7en: oh God I hope Gwyneth Paltrow doesn't die.
Jen here in Godfather: I love horses.
When she gets attached early, we're all waiting for her inevitable shock face 😲 😨😱
Lollllll 😱
"Maybe theres a lot of gun fire"....Sonny....
I sure do love olive oil.
Probably was Luca Brasi to did the horse. Hell of a message to sent to Woltz. Our hitmen are so good that they can put a severed horse's head in your bed without waking you up. I understand the way the Mafia's predecessors did it back in Sicily was to leave a dagger stuck into the pillow of the guy they wanted to intimidate. The message being, "This could have just as easily have been left in your throat. Sweet dreams."
@@Cybrludite if I recall, 1 of the missions in The Godfather video game was you had to put the horse head onto the bed without waking him up.
“You don’t come before The Godfather not in a suit.” Well said, Jen!
Well it was a wedding. Dressing like you were going to a ball game would have gotten your ass kicked.
@@docbearmb VERY well said!!!! And this is one of the reasons I love watching reactor videos, Jen pointed out that they used the word "respect" like 5 times already within the first 20 minutes, I personally hadn't even noticed that!
FR
When you're watching The Godfather films always be aware of Oranges, cuz they signify that something bad is coming.
“Going to the mattresses” was a phrase used when two Italian families would go to war, in this case, Mafia families. They would vacate their homes, and find lodging elsewhere and hire soldiers (other hired guns) for protection.
And, if you notice in the montage after Michael kills Solozzo, there’s a brief shot of a guy sitting on a mattress, and cleaning his gun. 😁
14:00 🔫🔫
Who else cracked a sinister smile when she said she loves horses? lol It was REAL to boot! It "fell of the back" of a dogfood processing truck. You can actually kind of hear when the actor John Marley is acting, and when he actually realizes the head is real. (because of course Francis didnt tell him on purpose) The blood was fake though, of course. (or wasss ittt!?!?!!? lol)
I was like to myself "she's in for the shock of her life"
@@Kenny-ep2nf i watched it recently and realized...the horse head scene is technically a flash-forward. . The scene after is Brando scratching his cheek thinking what to do after duvall tells him the news.........I never realized that.
@@TheRealDarrylStrawberry wow nice, great point you made. I never really saw it that way
No, it was purchased, didn't just "fall off the back" of a truck. Perhaps you didn't realize it, but Europeans still buy and eat horse meat ("chaval"), most of which is imported from American meat packing plants.
I love Al Pacino’s acting in this movie. Somehow he is able to express with his eyes the moment that Michael “flipped the switch,” at the restaurant scene.
that's what made Paramount take notice too
@10:05 lol That nurse gets everyone. 😆
🤣🤣
Another great reaction Jen. The Godfather is one of the greatest movies of all time. And epic and a classic. You're definitely gonna like Godfather 2.
"Leave the gun take the Canolis." Classic.
Thanks vic! I really got into it, looking forward to Part II ☺👍
@@jenmurrayxo Keep up the great reactions. 😊
"I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse." Classic
Thanks vic!
@@Craig121000 Or perhaps it's just not good. And it's not.
With you watching this movie and the passing of Ray Liotta, there is another amazing gangster movie you really should watch, Goodfellas.
I do want to see that one too 👍
I loved how the Don said " 'I' forego the vengeance of my son..i swear that "I' will not be the one to break the peace." Lol. He already knew just how ruthless Michael was under that quiet exterior..
Fun fact: Luca Brazzi, played by Lenny Montana, was actual muscle for the Columbo family in NYC at the time this was filmed. It was part of the deal if Coppola wanted to film there. He wasn’t acting..he was actually practicing his speech. In the room with the Don, Brando was making faces at him with post-it’s stuck un his forehead with insults. It was a genuine reaction.😎
my grandpa wrestled against Lenny a few times & said he was the nicest guy ever ☺
Hi Jen.. the Godfather is one of my favorite films. Great watching this movie with you. Knew the horse head scene would get you. Poor Jen, you’re so sweet. Keep watching these great films. 😊😊😊
I was kinda expecting that scene when I first saw it happen
"Going to the mattresses" is a euphemism for going to war. When at war, new apartments were rented at previously unknown locations, where "soldiers" could go to stay. For accommodation they would buy ten or so mattresses for each apartment, just as temporary places for the men to sleep. Thus, soldiers could be "anywhere" and attack from or hide in places where they weren't suspected to be staying.
"Two weddings, a funeral and a baptism"
The straight-to-video sequel
🤣
It's so cool to see someone discover Godfather (1) all these years later. Your reaction was great! It's a film I watch every 5-10 years or so. It's funny how every time you watch the film you come away with a different take away from it. It really isn't a film about mafia as much as it's a film about family. You should definitely watch the sequels (yes some people say skip the 3 but I think 3 is worth a watch as well).
Ya I was surprised by it! Looking forward to watching Part II 👍👍
I watch it every year or so, it's way too nostalgic to forget haha
Absolutely 3 is worth a watch.. Her part was always criminally small.. But Connie's character in part III.. Would love to have seen what would have become of the family after the finale.
I waited over 20 years to see this movie! Simpsons and other comedies made a bunch of references over the years and most of them flew over my head. I reached my breaking point and decided to watch it. A year or two after that, I saw Zootopia in theaters and laughed so hard!
Happy 50th Anniversary to "The Godfather" 03/24/1972)! I'm glad you are able to see this epic film that so many people have talked about as the staple of mob movies. In truth, "The Godfather" isn't about the glorification of the Mafia but rather about family. You will see that theme in the other two sequels too. Once you're done with "The Godfather" trilogy, you must see "Goodfellas". [R.I.P. Ray Liotta 😢💖] I'm enjoying your reactions more and more Jen. Keep doing what you're doing. 🎥💗
and casino!
Years ago on the Game Show "What's My Line"?" John Marley was the Secret Guest and everyone commented that Marley would have been the best Godfather.
Never get in a car when Clemenza is in the back seat behind you.
Jen: “awww, I love horses!”
Absolutely everyone: 😳
Remarkable in every possible way - one of the greatest films in cinematic history. True story: Paramount did not want Brando nor Pacino and only settled for Coppola because of a string of box office turkeys in mob films so they figured an Italian filmmaker would break their streak. You so need to see the 2nd one - greater even than this one (but can so skip the final third one). Great job reacting :D
Your reaction to the iconic horse’s head scene was hilarious! 🤣
4:58 - "Awww....I love horses..." *GULP*
Your don Vito Corleone impression at the end was too funny. 😂
Never, NEVER SIT IN THE FRONT SEAT OF A CAR, with Clemenza sitting BEHIND YOU. That's my motto. I actually have that stitched on a pillow.
"Go to the mattresses" is literal. When they're at war, they hole up in safehouses without much furniture. A lot of them stay in one place, so the place is covered in mattresses like a slum or a barracks.
"I heard they "exterminate" them. Exterminate them? That's a bad word to use. Maybe we'll exterminate you. Hahahaha,. Hey pull over. I got to take a leak."
So cute Jen! When I saw the suit I thought two things. Schoolgirl uniform and Men in Black. I think it was the tie. 50 years since this was a thing and it's still fine. Godfather II is a prequel and a sequel. And III wraps a great trilogy even with Fredo. The cat was an unplanned unpaid extra. The horse was completely planned. Al Pacino followed this up with a true life cop movie "Serpico ". Jen followed this up with something not yet known.
If you want to see Marlon Brando in his prime and at his best I highly recommend 'On The Waterfront' from 1954. It's an all time great movie and for some reason nobody has done a reaction to it.
I know. It's crazy no one has reacted to "on the waterfront". Also no james cagney reactions. A top 5 actor of the 20th century.
He changed film acting. Literally.
'You think you're God almighty, but you know what you are? You're a CHEAP, LOUSY, DIRTY, STINKING MUG!' - Terry Molloy
I would add "Last Tango in Paris" and, at the least, the opening scene of "The Fugitive Kind."
The restaurant scene with the double assassination is my favourite scene ever. The whole thing is masterful. The editing of the el train sound fits it so well.
My favorite ALL-TIME movie. Pacino's performance, so subtle, scary, such an arc...he was BRILLIANT in this.
I personally think this is Gabriele Torrei...Enzo the Baker. "Fu'u fada fu'u fada"
Michael Corleone is so much better than Tonny Montana.
Not that it’s required, but this movie only gets better with each viewing. The genius gets more profound, not less. All the motivations, all the plotting… it’s so rich.
You have sealed me as a kindred spirit. Your enjoyment watching this ground breaking classic was like enjoying the scenery outside the car window during a long, easy going road trip.
Thanks David! So glad you enjoyed the ride with me ☺👍
Leave the gun, take the cannoli, one of my favorite lines
I've noticed in almost every reaction to the causeway hit, the reviewer states the gunmen wanted to "make sure" they killed Sonny. It's likely all those machine guns were in preparation for Sonny travelling with at least seven bodyguards. An actual Mafia member (Michael Franzese) once stated on his site they'd never use that much firepower on just one guy.
Good point! My interpretation is that they wanted to inflict as much damage on the body as humanly possible as "extra" revenge against the family (hence the kick in the face afterwards). Notice how Vito takes his son's corpse to the undertaker who owes him the favor: "I don't want his mother to see him like this." Having an open casket in Italian Catholic culture was an important part of the grieving/healing process. The assassins were trying to make an open casket funeral impossible (we don't know whether or not they succeeded).
Coppola used the wedding reception to introduce the characters. Brilliant.
Jen around 5:00 "Oh, I love horses." Oh dear. You're not ready for later.
This is a kind of movie gets better and better and better, every time you watch it. Watch it now and it is good, and then watch it 4 - 5 - 6 years later, it's gonna get better. As you get older and you get experienced in life, these Godfather movies kinda grow old with you and get more meaningful. There are no movies like these are which are capable to do this that I know of.
And yes, it was a real horse's head and the reaction from the actor was genuine. The director thought the dummy head used in rehearsals looked too phony, and he had staff go to a nearby dog food manufacturing company (yes, they used horse parts back in the day) and they brought back a real severed head and placed it under the sheets without telling the actor. Needless to say, there was only one take. "Go to the mattresses" as far as I understand it, was when there was a mob war, there would be "soldiers" from either side who would leave their homes and hole up in an apartment (like a mini-base), where they would sleep on mattresses on the floor in shifts (to protect each other if the opposition found out their location and attacked) while awaiting orders from their bosses on the plan of attack. and technically, Michael did not kill Carlo. He ordered Carlo to be killed, but did not directly commit the act--so, in his mind, he did not lie to Kay.
And $600k in 1946 is the equivalent of over $9 million in 2022. So the horse's head was not only a grisly discovery, but a very expensive one. I'd be yelling, too.
On the dvd behind the scene stuff i believe the horse head came from Alpo. Back then they used horses for dog food
They painted the horse head to look like the live horse shown earlier.
George Lucas, Spielberg and Coppola were all roommates before this was filmed and Lucas personally edited the newspaper montage after the big restaurant scene.
Jen: "I like his scratch."
Me: You're nailing the cheek scratch, Jen. You just need to add, "What is the interest for my family?"
Hey Jen, I just discovered your channel and am really enjoying your reactions. This video struck me at this time because I just rewatched the Godfather series. I highly recommend the Paramount+ series "The Offer" about the making of the Godfather with Miles Teller. It is excellent and a fun companion piece to the Godfather series.
Old-time hospitals were a lot different-looking. There was no air-conditioning in the 1940's, so in the warm months they had to open the windows. That was why they were much stricter about low speed limits and no noise in hospital zones, at that time much stricter than they were about school zones. Marlon Brando was only 47 when this movie was shot.
How have you not watched this yet??... :D Such a great film! but glad you watched it now..now onto the The Godfather 2...even better...
In the novel, when Tessio takes his last ride, he asks the guys to turn on the radio so that he can check the baseball scores.
I'm envious of you.....seeing this movie for the first time.
There are many who believe that the sequel is even better. I won't argue with them.
The baby used in the baptism scene is Francis Ford Coppola's daughter, Sofia, who decades later also became a film director.
Thing I learned from mafia movies. Never be in the front seat of a car, while there is someone sitting behind you in the back.
I was concerned when I seen the edit version here was only 30min LOL. Maybe it's because I've seen this a gazillion times, so I could follow along very easily with this edit. Anyways... I enjoyed it and glad that you liked it too. You did seem genuinely interested throughout, while at the same time, surprised that it wasn't a bang bang movie as much as it was just a story that included some violence.
Ya I was surprised it was more about family & I got really into it!
I'm sorry for being so repetitive, Jen, but you are just so entertaining and adorable that it's impossible for me to not express my appreciation! 🤭🥰
that's a bit cringy
@@thekububeach She's too cute for words. 🥰🥰🥰
@@DoctorStagger really?
Love your reviews Jen..fun fact the cat in Marlon Brandos lap at the start was a stray that was wondering around the set and they decided to use it in the scene.lol🙂..Keep up the good work😊😊
Thanks Mark! ☺️👍
Thanks! I really enjoyed your reaction to this movie.
Jen: "Oh, I love horses"
Me: "Uh oh"
Great reaction.
And Jen one more thing. Love the suit
Taking a break from the new season of Stranger Things to watch a Jen Murray movie reaction vid? Now that's an offer I can't refuse!
R.I.P. Ray Liotta
Lol thanks Jarrod! Haven't seen the mew season but looking forward to it 👍👍
“Going to the mattresses” refers to when mobsters go to war, they would sleep on mattresses on the ground in their homes or apartments so as to not get shot by their enemies driving by.
I nice character character touch: when Michael lights Enzo's cigarette for him after their bluff in front of the hospital, Michael notices that his own hands are steady as a rock while Enzo's hands are shaking (understandable right after a frightening and dangerous moment). He realizes that this is his element.
Seen this movie many times. Two scenes always hit me everytime. One is when Michael kills Sollozzo and the other one is when Carlo hits Connie. My blood boils every time I watch the second one. How can anyone be so cruel?
Going to the mattresses means getting a bunch of apartments all over the city and filling them with mattresses so there's plenty of places for your mobsters to sleep during war times. This movie is based on a novel that does a better job explaining how certain parts of the mafia work.
the novel also went into some "interesting" tangents not really related to the mafia at all.
Going to the mattresses means you made up your mind to do something no matter how stupid it is and consequences be dammed.
That was a REAL horse’s head according to a book on the making of this film. This movie came out in the cinemas a year before I was born. So missed the magic of its premiere; however I did watch it on hbo on its 25th anniversary. Even then I agree that it is an epic feature and a humongous experience. Which motivated me then to watch parts 2 & 3
According to the book by the late great Mario Puzo, the horse Khartoum was drugged heavily by the Don’s men, and its head was dispatched and very discreetly slipped between Wolt’s mattress and his blanket. Guess where Khartoum’s decapitated body was? In that stable!
Frank Sinatra was reportedly outraged after the book came out because Johnny Fontaine's character mirrored how he suddenly became big again. His movie role in "From Here to Eternity" won him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor--after having seemingly faded from the limelight.
In the video game, you start off as a soldier by leading the guy carrying the horse head into the house, plant the gun and chase down tessio and finish him off. Now you have to watch them all, if anything to see the grown up baby being baptized!
New subscriber here, I just have to say, i love ur channel. I will also become a patreon soon, so i can vote on the polls. 😊
"I love horses". Me: uh-oh
🤦♀️🤦♀️😬
The suit looks cool
Now you know that you have to keep your friends near and your enemies even nearer, Jen.
i just been binging all ur movies today and yesterday lol
Don Vito loved Oranges and they appear several times in this film and in the sequel.
Great reaction, very thoughtful and you make the suit work very nicely! Very sharp.
Brando found the cat wandering around the set and took a liking to it and insisted he be holding it in the first scene. Cute huh?
Marlon Brando was amazing. His breakthrough role was in A Streetcar Named Desire with Vivien Leigh, his natural performance in that single handedly changed movie acting forever... Also the most handsome guy who ever lived...you'll be in a trance😁
@@TTM9691 Agreed. Kudos On The Waterfront is a masterpiece.
Did you ever see Brando as Marc Antony in "Julius Caesar"?
This is my favorite movie all time. I'm glad you liked it. I echo what others said about Godfather part 2.
If you plan on watching Part III as well, just be warned, director Francis Ford Coppola never had any plans for a third film and refused point blank to do one. Unfortunately, he ran up some rather large debts when his Zoetrope studio collapsed, so he reluctantly accepted the studio request for another Godfather film. He also cast his daughter in one of the lead roles, which was a huge mistake as she was very inexperienced as an actress and received a lot of flak for her performance.
Amusingly, the cast seem to have the same opinion of the film as many fans do. At a reunion event with the main cast, an interviewer asked them if they thought Part II was actually better than Part I. As they considered the question, Robert Duvall comically quipped "Well, they were both a helluva lot better than the third one!". Pacino & DeNiro both roared with laughter at this!
I read the comment down below. I too cringed when you said you loved horses. Great movie -- great reaction. Thanks so much.
Thanks Joseph ☺️👍
Great video, Jen. Nice suit. 👌
🤣 That nurse has scared a lot of people over the years.
Have I recommended The Sting (1973)? Brilliant film. It's a caper story, staring Robert Redford and Paul Newman.
Great reaction to a great movie. I'm impressed on how well you input, process and understand all the events and all the characters through out the movie. I didn't do so well the first time I watched it.
Right? It took me a couple of watches to catch all the names and families?
I have to agree.... most every other person who reacts to seeing this movie for the first time, has a hard time keeping track of the many characters. Jen did a very good job tracking who was who. The one that most everyone misses is Enzo, the baker.... who helped Michael at the hospital. Earlier in the film, during Connie's wedding, the father of Enzo's fiance (?) went to the Don for help in keeping Enzo from being deported.
Jen, I didn't think it was possible to sum up a classic like The Godfather in 30 minutes, but you made me a video I couldn't refuse! Great editing job!! 🐴
This was my editor Steph G, she's awesome!!
@@jenmurrayxo Please pass along my compliments!!
" Take the Cannoli" was a great ad lib line by Richard Castellano who played Peter Clemenza. Can't wait for you to see part 2 of the trilogy.
Looking forward to it! 👍
Definitely watch Part II now. Some folks consider it even "better" than the first. It's a little longer still, and even more intricate plot-wise.
@Move_I_Got_This I also definitely prefer the first one. The Deniro scenes in II are fantastic, but I just never found the Michael parts nearly as interesting.
@Move_I_Got_This The first one is just solid, such a "lean" 3hr movie. The second has a different feel and pacing, probably because it's a sequel and prequel simultaneously.
As great as G1 is the second part is even better with a magnificent performance by Robert DeNiro. TY for a great reaction Jen ❤
So sorry you had to see the horse scene.
I agree,love em equally in contrast.
G2 to me is 2 great films in one,so special,i always say it is my fav even if is as great in my brain.Cheers!
I love the nails and the scandalous librarian look!
This was adapted from the Mario Puzzo novel of the same name. Besides this trilogy, I also recommend watching Goodfellas, Casino, The Departed and The Sopranos. Michael starts the movie as a Captain in the Marines
Those nails are on point. Working undercover for tha family no doubt.
This new TV series called "The Offer" on Paramount plus is based on the making of "The Godfather". It's really good! The actors are awesome!
Your editor is excellent. You should give them a shout out. If it's you, you should give yourself a shout out.
Congratulations on watching one of the two or three best American movies ever made. Top position probably still goes to Citizen Kane, and Good Fellas gives this a run for its money.
I don't understand people who think Godfather II is even better. It lacks Marlon Brando and James Caan (and Richard Costellano). They're irreplaceable. Especially Brando. It's kind of a crazy performance, but you never doubt it. On multiple viewings you realize he's just acting on a different plane. He was 47 when this movie was filmed.
My editor Steph G is amazing & talented! 👍👍
Thank you!! and Jen does all the time! Amazing reactor to work for 😁 - and yes the acting is phenomenal in this movie 🤯
Theres a famous picture of Robert Duvall wearing a giant cue card on his chest with Marlon's lines written down during a scene. Marlon refused to memorize lines. Richard Harris (Dumbledore) said in an interview that his reading of the lines on camera is what caused Marlon to do those amazing glances and pauses and look-aways and subtle squints and head turns that hes always been known for.. he got a little carried away with Apocalypse Now but even that turned out to be pure genius (with a lot of thanks to Francis of course) I think Brando is amazing in Mutiny on the Bounty which he was blasted for as having one of the worst english accents in film, but i think its quite good.
I love your channel and you got a subscribe just for the suit!
Thanks Dominic! ☺️👍
*The Offer* on Paramount Plus, is a docuseries on the struggles on getting The Godfather made.
Oh, and Jen, just one more thing: love your suit.
Looking forward to this after work. I don’t know how many times I would catch this on TV but for whatever reason it was either the beginning or the ending and I always missed out on about an hr in the middle because of one thing or another. It wasn’t until about a year ago I finally seen it all. Yes, I could have bought the dvd or streamed it but for some daft reason it always slipped my mind. Excellent movie.
I’m not sure if you’re aware of the tragic life of John Cazale who played Fredo. The first movie I recall seeing him in was Dog Day Afternoon with Al Pacino and also a very young Lance Henrikson. Another excellent movie. He’s been in 5 major productions that many consider classics. His girlfriend was Meryl Streep up until he passed away from cancer. You should definitely read up on him over at IMDB including the trivia section. I didn’t really know much about him till a few years ago. One of those people that probably would have had a phenomenal career if he hadn’t passed away at such a young age.
Fab reaction. Love your suit, Jen. ❤️👍
Al Pacino is the name of the actor playing Michael, though originally the studio didn't want him because he was an unknown name at the time and he was too short to be a leading man, they wanted names like Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty, Dustin Hoffman, Martin Sheen, Ryan O'Neal and Robert Redford as Michael. They even wanted James Caan (who plays Sonny) as Michael, but director Francis Ford Coppola and producer Albert S. Ruddy insisted and fought to have Al as Michael and I thank both of them for doing it! Next to Brando, Pacino is an amazing actor and one of my inspirations! Robert DeNiro was close to play Michael, but they traded him back for Pacino. I'm amazed that you knew Robert Duvall =) You really should watch the bio mini-series The Offer.
Jen: I love horses
Me: wait for iiiiiiiiittttttt......
Who is out here hitting like before her videos even start?😌🤚
Thanks Stephen!! I appreciate it 🙏
Don Vito didn't have the guys killed who beat up Bonaserra's daughter.
They just got beat up themselves and ended up in the hospital.
That's why the Godfather wanted Clemenza to use a couple of guys who wouldn't get carried away. After all, they're not murderers, regardless of what that underraker thinks.
The mattresses are for the additional "soldiers " they'll recruit and need to have hide out in a safe place for the gang war. So go to the mattresses IS a metaphor, but there are also real mattresses.
You were mentioning about how much time went by in the movie because of the time jumps . Connie's wedding at the beginning of the movie was the late part of 1945 , right after World War 2 ended , which explains Michael wearing his Marine Corps uniform . When Vito died and Michael took over and wiped out the heads of the five families , it was 1955 . According to what I have heard about The Godfather timeline .