In the book it's made a little more clear that the whole larger story happens because of Sonny showing his emotions during the meeting with Sollozzo, revealing he was interested in getting involved with the drug trade. This made Sollozzo calculate that he could ultimately get Sonny to the table if he got rid of Vito, once Sonny got over his initial hotheaded reaction. The bit with the horse's head was brilliant because not only did they destroy the biggest symbol of Woltz's wealth and power, his prize possession, but the fact that it was slipped into his bed while he was sleeping meant that the servants or security in his home also betrayed him and he wasn't safe in his own home.
@@kimberlys8422this may be the first movie that is better than the book. The book is great but it had weird sub plots like Sonny’s mistress having a super wide vagina, and her struggle to be sexually satisfied after Sonny’s death (he had a famously huge penis, which his wife eludes to in the opening wedding scene). Also they expand on Johnny Fontaine’s story, which really didn’t affect the overall plot.
Michael’s injury was very bad in the novel. His eye socket was shattered along with his septum, and a broken jaw. He had to constantly wipe his nose and always had a handkerchief in his left hand. This is why he was still bruised in Sicily.😎
The most insightful and brilliant reaction and understanding of what was going on in The Godfather that I've seen to date. The both of you bouncing off each other and filling in the plot worked _very_ well for this movie. This is when watching a movie reaction is worth the time!
For Marlon´s Brando character in this movie, Don Vito Corleone, Francis Ford Coppola put a jaw prosthesis in his mouth and a gauze, to give him that particular face. Brando was relatively young in this film, and Coppola pretended to age him and look more threatening.
Λαθος το λες ο Μαρλον οταν πηγαν στο σπιτι του για το δοκιμαστικο εβαλε βαμβακια στο στομα του ηταν δικη του ιδεα οπως και η σκηνη με την γατα ηταν δικη του ιδεα.Ο Μπραντο απο τα πρωτα χρονια του ηταν πολυ εφευρετικος
As a Sicilian American from the Bronx, I can assure you that this film is on the money. I wasn't born yet in 1945, but things hadn't changed very much by the time I came along. Most of the NY scenes were filmed on locations, some of which I've been to. My grandfather's town is located close to Corleone , and that too is quite accurate--still looks much like that. Corleone is actually the well-established "base" of the Sicilian Mafia.
The greatest movie of all time 😊 No other movie not even Godfather II can match screen play, script, cinematography, cast, acting, score, and makeup! I saw a short with Tom Hanks talking about Marlon Brando from the beginning of the movie aging through the movie until he's an old man in his garden and you don't notice the changes until you watch again. Hanks said he didn't realize it until he became an actor working in movies.
Good reaction. I like how you talked about Michael's military career. He's referred to at least once in the movie as a "war hero." Some of the people around him underestimate him because he's not like them, but it's not like he's unfamiliar with violence.
Exactly. He enlisted in the Marines immediately after Pearl Harbor and fought through the Pacific Campaigns, rising from private to captain. He has not only been in combat, he has led other men in combat. He earned a Silver Star and a Navy Cross, two of the highest decorations for valor. The combat he would have experienced in the Pacific would have been brutal. Sonny’s crack about having to get up close to kill Salazzo shows how clueless everyone is about what Michael experienced.
"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli." Good call. 👍 Fun Fact: Theatrical debut of Morgana King, Sofia Coppola, Italia Coppola, and Joe Spinell (in the uncredited role of Willi Cicci). Location Location Fact: Because Corleone, Sicily, was too developed, even in the early 1970s, the Sicilian town of Savoca, outside Taormina, was used instead. Historical Fact: Most of the cars in the movie have wooden bumpers. Bumpers were removed by car owners during World War II, and replaced with wooden ones. The chrome ones were turned in to help with the war effort. After the war, it took several years for them to be replaced. What Script Fact: Lenny Montana (Luca Brasi) was so nervous about working with Marlon Brando that in the first take of their scene together, he flubbed some lines. Director Francis Ford Coppola liked the genuine nervousness and used it in the final cut. The scenes of Luca practicing his speech were added later. Dark Filmmaking Fact: Cinematographer Gordon Willis earned himself the nickname "The Prince Of Darkness" since his sets were so underlit. Paramount Pictures executives initially thought that the footage was too dark, until persuaded otherwise by Willis and Francis Ford Coppola that it was to emphasize the shadiness of the Corleone family's dealings.
Newspapers in big cities like New York had several editions every day, and if there was “breaking news”, they could put out a “special edition.” So, Michael got the news fairly quickly after the shooting.
The only "Extra" I ever saw was when Reagan was shot. The way they did it was they added one sheet with all the coverage of the event. It was wrapped around the regular edition that had gone out that morning. So the first, second, next to last and last page had all the breaking news. When Michael opens up the paper to read that story, that's not how it would've been.
7:18 "Johnny Fontaine" That is supposed to be Frank Sinatra. The story Michael tells about getting out of the contract is how Frank got out of his contract with the Tommy Dorsey Band. "That's a true story"
@@RamblersInc More like vague mob ties. The mob had influence in pretty much all forms of entertainment back then - including the making of this movie itself. It almost didn't get made because the mafia wouldn't agree to the script if it portrayed the them in too much of a negative light
@randywhite3947 That's true. But when Old Blue eyes got wind of the character and such, he quickly assumed it was based on his real life connection to "organized crime."
Great reaction. Yes, Vito knew of Michael's plans. He helped make them. This is shown a tiny bit more in the novel. There is also a deleted movie scene where Vito tells Michael , "I gave my word." and Michael responds "I never gave mine."
That scene at the restaurant is my favorite, just watching Michael's eyes before his first kill, you can read everything that's going through his mind. Incredible acting without a word.
Yep, you can tell from Michael’s eyes that he isn’t paying one bit of attention to what Solozzo is saying to him because he’s so engulfed with what he’s about to do. Brilliant. 💎
There are so many movies that are spoiled by their endings. But this one is perfect. The key moment for Michael is when Enzo the baker is shaking too much to light his cigarette, and Michael notces his own hand is completely steady. Fredo is important in Part II and you see what a brilliant actor John Cazale is.
The two central metaphors of the climax were a one-two punch.The Baptism scene was a pure cinema gut punch...but the closing of the door in Kay's face was the knockout.
Excellent reaction gents, as people have said part 2 is so good, I watched it again recently and it’s almost perfect in every way, the story, the acting, cinematography, subbed for more!!!
A timeless masterpiece. Definitely should react to Part II- probably the best sequel ever and often considered the better film. Reactors always get confused about Michael seeing his dad was shot in the paper. He’s in Manhattan with Kaye on a date. They are all in the same city. The date was at a show / cinema whatever. No cells in late 1940s, obviously. What they see at the newsstand is the EVENING editions of the NY papers. Back in the day there were morning and evening editions. Leave the gun; take the cannoli is still one of the best lines ever - but so much of this film has seeped into everyday conversations. Offer he can’t refuse, sleeps with the fishes, it was strictly business - not personal etc etc. The five families in the book/films is a fictionalization of the 5 mafia families in NYC. The Bonnano, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchesi families.
Luca Brasi the enforcer for the Corleone family in The Godfather was played by Lenny Montana a former pro wrestler and real life enforcer for the Colombo crime family. He was sent to oversee the shooting of the film because Francis Ford Coppola agreed he wouldn't put in a scene where they mentioned the Mafia or Cosa Nostra to film The Godfather. A little fun fact about Luca Brasi the scene where he's practising his speech before meeting the godfather was because Lenny Montana was very nervous because he was doing a scene with Marlon Brando so when Coppola saw him going over his lines because of his nerves Coppola decided to keep it in the film.
Marlon Brando putting cotton balls in his cheeks was a nice effect; also the scene when he saw his son Santino's body and how they "massacred his boy" trying not to cry (like a woman) that deserved him the Oscar. It just takes one brilliant scene.
So. Many. Thoughts. Michael finding out via the newspaper happens a few hours after the shooting. Evening edition newspapers back then were as much or more a source of breaking news as radio. If you are familiar with the term "Stop the presses!", it derives from the that age of print journalism. Oranges are a used repeatedly in the whole saga as a foreshadowing of death or tragedy. Michael genuinely loves Apollonia; he got stuck by the "thunderbolt". IMHO, he loves the *idea* of Kay. When he is telling her about the family going legitimate, he is unconsciously telling her that she is part of that, i.e. a WASP from New England to Americanize a Sicilian crime family. The Five Families all had different territories of the New York/ New Jersey area. Within each family, the capos (like Tessio and Clemenza) controlled a portion of that territory. Peace was maintained by not infringing on another family's territory, The Corleones main income at the start of the film was primarily from gambling, controlling the unions, and extortion. Besides understanding that narcotics were too dangerous, Vito had a personal distaste for prostitution and kept the family out of that. Tom's unflappable nature goes too far when it jeopardizes the future of the family. There are times to seek compromise or seek peace (as Vito shows), but Tom's path would have fatally weakened the family's position. He is obviously the counterpoint to Sonny, whose instinct is to lash out. Sonny's not dumb, he just struggles with controlling his nature. Remember that Tom was "adopted" by Vito at a young enough age that Michael would have always known him as an older brother. Above all, Michael studies people, as his father did. This is why his evolution owes as much to his older brothers as to his father. His calm and patience is terrifying, and his ruthlessness is laser focused. The juxtaposition of the baptism and the takedown of the Five Families is classic Coppola. He frequently juxtaposes religious imagery and violence in his films. Also, not seen in the film but in the book is that besides the Dons, the Corleones also eliminate a lot of the capos and "button men" of the rival Families so they are critically weakened without being destroyed.
Anecdote for the wedding scene in Italy from Al Pacino: Francis Coppola: Ok Al, can you dance a bit? Pacino: I can't dance? Francis Coppola: OK, speak some Italian! Pacino: I don't speak Italian! Francis Coppola: OK, drive the car! Pacino: I can't drive?! Francis Coppola: ... 😆😆😆
A couple of points regarding differences in the original novel - in the story, Luca was a vile, psychopathic killer who was so feared he practically ran his own crew independent of any of the families but he was undyingly loyal to Vito because Vito had saved his life in the gang wars that had put the Corleone family on top. He did not immediately approach the Turk but instead spent some weeks grumbling and subtly dropping hints in neutral locations (brothels, clubs, etc.) that he was unhappy knowing that eventually word would reach the right ears and they'd ask to meet him. He originally wanted to kill everyone at the meeting and be done with it but in deference to Vito's wishes, he decided to hear them out before reporting back to Vito but they got the jump on him and even then, it took three men to subdue him. As for Tessio's betrayal - he did not beg for his life in the novel, he accepted his fate with stoic resignation. It was Tom who asked Michael to spare him since Michael and his father's master plan was to deliberately roll over in the name of peace and push Tessio and Clemenza into Barzini's arms by hanging them out to dry while they surrendered territory and operations to the other families in the hopes that either one of them would break and turn - as Michael says, because it was the the smart move. No one but Michael and his father knew of the this general retreat by the Corleone family was a ruse while secretly built up a powerful shadow regime under everyone's noses until the time was right to strike - Tom actually came closest to figuring out the gambit; he knew something was wrong but could not put the pieces together..
@@RamblersInc Absolutely. It's interesting, Vito's sons each reflect an aspect of their father - Sonny has Vito's passion, Fredo has his heart and Michael... Michael has his cunning.
Absolutely. Michael played the part of the incompetent outsider perfectly reassuring the other families that he was no threat. This allowed him to monitor everything they did without arousing suspicion. When it was time to make his move he knew exactly what they were doing and thinking and could get everyone at once. "If I determine the enemy's disposition of forces while I have no perceptible form, I can concentrate my forces while the enemy is fragmented."--Sun Tzu
Your connecting Michael's mother and his wife was covered in the book. Early in the story, his mother is praying for Vito's soul. At the end, Kaye is praying for Michael's.
There's an amazing series on Paramount+ called The Offer that relives the crazy odyssey that was the making of The Godfather. The effort to bring Mario Puzo's book to film is as entertaining as The Godfather itself. If you loved The Godfather, it's a must see! Thanks for your excellent reactions!
The actor who played Fredo is John Cazale, considered a great actor (he appeared in only 5 movies-all of which were nominated or won Best Picture). He passed away shortly after his last movie from lung cancer-he and Meryl Streep met while filming The Deer Hunter and were planning to marry). You should definitely react to The Deer Hunter with Robert DeNiro, Christopher Walken, John Cazale, and Meryl Streep. One of the greatest movies ever made and a great take on the time of the Vietnam War.
You two did a good job, especially not knowing the history of Gangsters in USA which was kick started in 1920 by "Prohibition", a national law making alcoholic beverages illegal. This was the event that made crime a "Big business" and 5 NY Families, and other associates in Chicago, California, Philadelphia organized illegal booze distribution across the country. Congress then revoked Prohibition around 1933 and organized crime had to find and grow other businesses, such as unions, narcotics and gambling. Gambling was illegal in every state except Nevada and a gangster named Bugsy Siegel built the first casino in Las Vegas with mob money from NY. But he had cost overruns and never made money and the NY "commission" decided to take him out. He was shot by machine gun but one bullet went right through his eye. So the character and death of Moe Green was loosely based on him.
This and The Godfather II make the greatest film ever. John Cazale (Fredo Corleone) only made 5 movies in his life. The first 2 Godfather movies, Dog Day Afternoon, The Conversation and The Deer Hunter. Then he died from lung cancer with his girlfriend Meryl Streep at his side.
Kudos for highlighting a very small, but pivotal scene that most reactors neglect. Michael's steady hands while lighting the cigarette in a stressful situation. It foreshadowed Michael being the natural leader of the family.
"I've always thought of THE GODFATHER as the story of a king and his three sons. The first inherited his sweetness and childlike qualities [sic], the second his passion and aggressiveness, the third his cunning and coolness." -Francis Coppola
The door closing on Kaye. Its a faits accomplis. Michael is fully moved on one side of morality & Kaye is out. He's fully on the dark side of the moral door and redemption is 'closed' for him. Chilling
The whole process starts when he gets the news that Vito has been shot. Notice the symbolism when he's in the phone booth and Kaye is on the outside of the booth, looking in while he talks to his family.
Enjoyed your reaction. Saw this in the cinema in a small farming community when it was first released. The movie hypnotized the audience since it was so outlandish & artistic, unlike any crime film before it. Michael's military experience in the US Marines fighting the Japanese in the Pacific did serve him well. 26:12 The director said he moved the gun from where Al Pacino thought it would be just to add a little more tension.
There are a lot of catchphrases from this movie that are still used today in America although not as much as in the 1970's. Sleep with the fishes; leave the gun, take the cannoli; Make him an offer he can't refuse, etc. Even the word Fredo is still used today to describe someone who is inept but you keep them around cuz you love them or they are kind hearted
A great, classic movie and you both really got the nuances of it. Really liked how you got into it, and the GF 2 will really give you the background so know you’ll dig into it.
A few things to show how smart Sonny was cause a a lot of people think he was just a hot head 1. Sonny had it down to either Celemenza or Pauly as the ones who sold the don out he determined it was Pauly, there is a deleted scene where he tells the guys that he had their connections at the operators switchboard check phone records and they found out that pauly was sending phone calls to Solottzo and the Taigtalleas 2. The reason Sonny chose Bruno Tataitghallea as the first target for their response, was because he was the only son of Don Tatagella which means by taking him out, sonny wiped out the families heir and the only male name of the family line, which is a big deal, essentially he ended the entire family line along male lines by doing that 3. While the Corleone and black hand were not the most numerous, and had the other families against them Sonny was winning the war, or at least holding his own brutal and targeted attacks against key members of the other families and against specific businesses of theirs under his leadership literally had crippled the Tatalleas and it was the Branzini’s and other families holding on so Branzinni had to use Carlo to lure Sonny into a trap.
@@RamblersIncNo, the problem with Sonny was while he was good at War He wasn't as good as politics and peacetime He never would have maintained the families political or legal connections as easily Michael it seems understood the importance of both brutality and diplomacy in a way that Sonny didn't. Michael would never have gotten angry enough to fall into Barzinni's trap Whereas Sonny only was thinking of his sister.
Small technical point: when Michael answers yes to the renouncing Satan question, he could, in a hair-splitting way, claim he was not lying. In the Catholic ceremony the Godfather speaks for the child: the actual question was "Do you, Michael Francis Rizzi [not Michael Corleone], renounce Satan and al his works" Michael is saying the child will, with the implied promise that the godfather will help the child renounce Satan etc.
Ramblers. Lad's, In the early 1950's the film "From Here to Eternity" had already started filming. Frank Sinatra had been refused a part in the film. Rumour of the day had it that Sinatra flew to New York to see some people. He got the part. Not long after that he would perform in Las Vegas every year. The author of the book thought the rumour was to good not to use. When the Don promises not to break the peace he never does. But Michael was never asked. The Don kept his promise. Cheers, Chris Perry.
Luca Brasi was played by Lenny Montana. Lenny was an aspiring actor who happed to be muscle for the Columbo Crime Family. Besides not being allowed to mention the word “mafia” in the movie, Francis also had to give Lenny a role if he wanted to film in NYC. The scene with him and Brando was genuine. Brando was making faces at him with notes taped to his face with insults written on them, making Lenny extremely nervous.😎
Gents, just found your channel and really enjoyed your reaction! Of course, you will now have to watch Godfather ll. I am extremely confident that you will enjoy it as much as Part l. Have a great day.
Luca Brasi was Vito Corleone's top enforcer/assassin. He would take out ANYONE. He had no conscience at all. Sollozzo knew that he had to take him out along with Vito to ensure his defeat of the Corleone Family.
Great reaction! You picked up on all the little details that most people miss. I thought for a second you were going to connect the dots with Carlo and Sonny's killing and that would kind of spoil big reveal at the end, so I'm glad you didn't make that connection right away. I'm not convinced that the vest that Luca was wearing was a "bullet proof vest." They didn't have Kevlar or other ballistic fibers back then. To the extent that they even had "bulletproof vests" they were big, bulky things with steel plates in them. The vest Luca wears is this flimsy padded thing made of some kind of cloth. I suspect that it was instead a knife-resistant vest, or possibly a surplus military "flak vest." I doubt it would stop even pistol bullets, but might have protected him from knife cuts. He probably wore that because he knew of Sollozzo's reputation as a knife man.
The first bulletproof vest was made around 1893 with an improved design in 1903. The vests became significantly lighter with the advent of Kevlar and other fabrics but they did indeed have vests back then. They were so heavy and cumbersome few opted for them.
@@sirguys2469 "heavy and cumbersome" In other words, everything I said. To wit: "To the extent that they even had 'bulletproof vests' they were big, bulky things with steel plates in them." Did you notice what Luka put on was neither heavy, nor cumbersome? No way was it bulletproof.
@@RamblersIncThe guy playing Luca, Lenny Montana, was not a professional actor. He was a bodyguard and former pro wrestler who Coppola discovered on the set and cast as Luca because of his size (6'6" and 320lbs) and the fact that he could speak Sicilian. Luca's rehearsing his speech came about because Lenny Montana was overwhelmed at performing in the presence of the great Marlon Brando and kept flubbing his lines. So they came up with the idea of Luca being nervous because he didn't expect to be invited (and probably a little drunk).
Don’t know if anyone mentioned this yet, but the reason Luca got clipped, was two fold: 1) there was *no way* he would ever turn his back on Vito Corleone to go work for the Tataglias of all people…and 2) of a more immediate nature…Luca gave himself away at the end by not shaking the Turk’s hand. You’d never do that to someone that you were actually going into business with.
I have to disagree with most people here about GF2, I think this one the original is the best, the second one is good but it was boring in a lot of areas and to dramatic in others. You should watch both but this one is far better than the second. Very good reaction by you 2, you kept everyone separated and did not get confused.👍✌
Fontane was played by big sixties singer Al Martino. "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli" was an ad lib, as was the chase scene where The Don dies. Look out for Michael's bodyguard Neri (the fake cop in the 5 families shooting). Along with Al Pacino & Talia Shire (Connie), they are the only actors in all 3 films.
The horse head was a real horse head. Purchased from a dog food company. The actor supposedly didn’t know it was a real head. And the reason they got married on the steps of the church is because they were not allowed to film inside. Godfather II is a different movie but still brilliant. And the chilling performance of Al Pacino.
@@RamblersInc I'm pretty sure even if you can still buy a dead animal carcass that would never be allowed on any production set for health and safety reasons.
@@RamblersInc…. Back then, horses were often used to make dog food. In this case, the film producers knew a guy who worked at a slaughterhouse, and he sent over a fresh horse’s head.
Luca Brasi the guy practicing what he's going to say to the Godfather is played by Lenny Montana. Lenny was a Professional Wrestler and an Enforcer for the Colombo crime family in real life. The reason he's reading the lines are that he had trouble remembering his lines so they had him write them down.
The gangster playing the piano is Coppola's father, Carmine. Coppola said he had fun making his father wear a gun and shoulder holster because his dad was such a gentle man.
Outstanding channel! You are both thoughtful, good humored, and work very well off of each other without stepping on each other. Good sound quality on your mics. Solid analysis. You'll be fine if you stick to the five basics of writing, acting, sound design, cinematography, and editing.
@@RamblersInc Your reviews are fine. That's just a guide that I remember from film class that helped our discussions get more out of each film. Without spoiling, it helps to know that the Godfather films were designed by Puzo and Coppola as a masculine version of Shakespeare's "King Lear". People who don't understand Shakespeare or King Lear usually misinterpret Part 2 and become very lost during Part 3. Michael obviously begins Part 1 as Cordelia, proving his love for Vito as the child on the outside, but ends up taking the role of Lear. Instead of daughters, Vito plans for the future of his family and kingdom with his sons. Part 2 develops the primary theme of emotional/moral blindness that is usually associated with King Lear and Gloucester. Part 3 uses the King Lear model to complete the narrative thread with a definitive ending and a clear moral to the story common to the Shakespearean tradition, but missing in the first two films.
There are a number of scenes that were cut out. There was a scene in a hospital, just after the wedding where Don Corleone, his sons and Johnny Fontaine visit Genco, who was the former consigliere and is about to die. In another scene you discover that Woltz, the movie producer is also a child molester. When Don Corleone finds out he asks for Luca Brasi and it's suggested that Luca is the one that killed the horse and placed it in Woltz bed. There is also a scene that confirms that Paulie did sellout the Don.
In a deleted scene (that might still be on youtube) Michael asks Vito that if The Corleones let the killings of Sonny and Appolonia slide, would the other families see it as a sign of weakness, Vito's response is quite revealing about how he feels about combat...
By the way, in the book, it's heavily implied that Woltz the studio guy is also a pedophile, which Tom witnesses hints at, which he passes the info on to Vito Corleone. He's not happy about that.
@@sirguys2469 I don't think it's inferred in the protege's case, then that would make Johnny a pedo too. But that's not to say that Wolz didn't prey on other young actors.
@@billross7245 In the beginning, when Tom is waiting to speak to Wolz, there is a young girl with her mother who Wolz kisses (the girl, not the mother). She doesn't even look 18.
46:57 .. ..Michael already knew it was Barzini all along. But there still could have been a minute possibility that there was some other plan in play to catch Sonny on the causeway, but his sister just coincidentally called him during that same window of time. Michael asks Carlo the question because he needed to be 100% sure that Carlo set Sonny up, before he made his sister a widow.
Two years ago, Miles Teller starred in a 10-episode TV series depicting the making of The Godfather. It was pretty good (if you ever want to devote 10 hours to the making of a 3-hour movie). There was a lot of drama behind the scenes, including with the real-life mafia. It's based on the memories of The Godfather producer Al Ruddy (whom Teller plays). He won the Oscar for Best Picture and turns 94 next month. Here's the trailer: th-cam.com/video/iowLzO9-aew/w-d-xo.html Also, Coppola's director's commentary is on TH-cam. He details how he was almost fired and how he overheard people talking shit behind his back while he was in the bathroom. th-cam.com/video/3afdrZflltY/w-d-xo.html
Two most famous opening lines in film history: "Rosebud" and "I believe in America." Also, one of the few movies that improves and surpasses the novel it was based on. Coppola dumped some really trashy stuff and made it Shakepearean.
Another movie you may want to see is "The Freshman," with Mathew Broaderick (Ferris Buhler's Day Off) and featuring Marlon Brando, in a role modeled very much like his role in "The Godfather." It's a really great movie!
I realized there were two times in my life that I pulled a Michael Corleone. 1: In a bad “Out of Towner” situation I acted like I had a cannon in the car with me. Like Michael outside the hospital protecting his father. 2: I calmly got a cheating “almost” fiancé to admit it after she had swore on everything and everyone she cared about that she was innocent. Like Michael got Carlo to admit his involvement in betrayal. 🤷🏾♂️🤜🏾🫷🏾
Kay represented the American dream. She was a northeastern blond hair, blue eyed, blue blood at a time when there was intense racism against southern Italians as “less than white.” Michael was an Ivy League student and a war hero. He was supped to be the brother who “made it” as an American. The movie is about the corruption of the American dream. The Godfather realized this, that’s why he’s so sad. That’s why he told Michael about the hopes he had for him.
@rsInc Vito made his choices. In the book he knew Sonny and Fredo were lost, but hoped Mike had other options. The Don no longer had the heart to do what needed to be done, so Michael took his sins upon himself. That was the symbolism of the murders committed while Mike was in Church renouncing Satan.
The reason they figured out that Lucabrasi was a spy is because when they made the deal to him to join, Sollozzo noticed Luca wouldn't shake his hand, so at that moment he and Bruno knew that he wasn't serious. Luca was so loyal to the Don that even pretending would be an insult. So Lucas loyalties and principles got him killed
I've watched 20 reactions to this movie. This is one of the better. Maybe because I'm a fan of an English accent and/ or smart people but good go Gents. On to part II quickly! Even better!
Sonny’s “Bada beep, bada boop” is the late 1940’s version of “Blah blah blah” and “Yada yada yada”……😆 In the novel, Vito was fully involved in Michael’s grand plan. He also knew about Carlo beating on Connie. One of the best lines from the novel is when Vito tells Michael, “It’s always personal”….which shows the underlying dishonesty of the mafia way of doing business. When they say, “It’s nothing personal; it’s strictly business”, they are lying.
The photographer that Sonny roughed up was working for the FBI recording license plates on cars. Lenny Montana, who played Luca Brazzi, was not an actor. Rather, he was a leg-breaker who worked for mafia don Joe Colombo. Colombo originally wasn't sure he wanted the movie made. He quite ironically feared that it would be an insult to all Italian-Americans by making them look like mobsters. So his price for cooperating with Al Ruddy, the producer, and Francis Ford Copolla, the director -- and they needed Colombo's approval to get certain things done at their shooting locations in New York -- was to have Lenny Montana on set keeping an eye on things. And the moment Montana saw anything he thought Joe Colombo wouldn't like, he's call it in to get the okay to wreck the production. But he never made that call, and ended up acting in the movie.
@@RamblersInc Oh yeah. In order to get the movie made without interference from the mob, Al Ruddy played ball. He gave Colombo script approval, and effectively made a deal in which, had the final film not been acceptable, Colombo could outright shoot Ruddy.
My favorite Abstract Inversion of this film... Yin) Kay arrives by cab unannounced to the estate and is met by Tom who won't confirm or deny knowing Michaels whereabouts for legal reasons. Kay asks about a burned vehicle. Vehicle shown by the (American) driver side on the left with door blown loose. Tom says no one was hurt then allows Kay in to call a cab. Yang) Fabrizio betrays Michael after enemies learn his location. He places a bomb on vehicle unaware Michael won't start the car but Appolonia instead, who dies in explosion. Fabrizio runs away on foot as Michael is blown back into bushes while European driver side is shown with deceased wife inside. Future wife Kay seeks Michael to no avail, surprising Tom with appearance. Current newlywed wife perishes after wanting to surprise Michael by driving. A.I. at its darkest.
I like the scene where Michael confronts Carlo at the end. He isn't going to kill his sister's husband without absolute confirmation of his theory of Carlo staging his domestic scuffle to draw out Sonny. He is sure, but he needs to know from Carlo directly. He asks who approached him, Tattaglia or Barzini, but it really doesn't matter, because he already killed them both. He needs Carlo to say it before he sends him to Clemenza.
DeNiro and Pacino never did a scene together in any movie, until Heat! They were also in the recent, The Irishman! The funniest comedy based on godfather ever, where Marlon and young Clemenza parodies himself, is the Matthew Broderick movie, the Freshman! A lot of people say, don't watch 3, it's no good. But that's a flaw because they are comparing 3, with two of the best movies ever made! Connie is the director's sister, and also related to Sophia Coppola and Nicolas Cage!!! Carlo from first movie is still alive, always mob associated, and tells in one of his books, who and why JFK RFK and Marilyn got whacked....and he's never been sued by the Kennedys!!! A mob movie DeNiro and Pesci did, that was a semiautobiographical tale by the main actor, who grew up in a small Italia neighborhood that's a MUST watch, A Bronx Tale! John Cazale is Fredo, who's been in maybe some of the top 10 all time movies, including Dog Day Afternoon and Deer Hunter. Roth is based on a real guy , Micky Cohen. Who lived a very plain middle class life! But like Roth, pulled all mob strings. Everything bad that happened in this movie, Roth engineered behind the scenes, by innuendo and whispers! In the first movie where Sonny is screwing the woman behind the door, she gets pregnant and has his illegitimate son, who shows up in 3! And he's definitely sonny's son, his temper! Tom has a son who becomes a priest, and Michael's son is a opera singer, who wants nothing to do with the business! Connie is also Adrian, rockys wife! The singer is the real life story about frank sinatra! Before 1966, to immigrate into America, wasn't easy. U had to pass physical and mental tests, prove u have relatives here, prove u had a job or useful skills, and other things...Connie is Rocky's wife! She is a Coppola/Cage! Her husband in the first, is still alive, has been mob ties all this time, and has written books covering who killed JFK RFK and Marilyn, and why! And has never been sued by the Kennedy family! We knowost sequels arent as good as the first, and a handful are as good. This proly one of about 10 or less, where the sequel is better!And one of the funniest movies ever done is called, The Freshman! Marlon and the young partner of marlon in this, Clemenza, ( also in Good morning Vietnam, When Harry met Sally, City Slickers)basically mimic their roles, and the star is Matthew Broderick!!! And fredo was in some of the biggest movies of the 70s and early 80s with either Robert or Al. Dog Day Afternoon, the deer hunter, these two movies, and others. Everything that bad happens in this movie, is because of Roth. Simple rumor and innuendo, caused fredo, tessio, frankie, etc., to do what they did. The guy testifying in court, is Rocky's first boss! One of Frankie's asassin guys, was in Do the Right Thing, and The Professional and many other great movies. Danny Aiello. The FBI agent has been in every movie since the silent era 😅 dillinger, this, red dawn, green mile, Alien etc. Harry Dean Stanton! The difference between Vito and Michael is, vito did all decisions, and spent all his time, immediate blood family first. Michael put mob family first. Ues frankie did the hit, but based on roth telling him, Michael was going with the Rosatto brothers.When connie asked Michael to forgive Fredo and he hugged him, he was going to. But when Michael looked up and saw Neri, and Neri kind of lowered his head in disappointment, Michael knew he had to kill Fredo. Pro tip...the towel catching on fire, not planned!😮😮😮😮
52 years on, still an absolute masterpiece.
In the book it's made a little more clear that the whole larger story happens because of Sonny showing his emotions during the meeting with Sollozzo, revealing he was interested in getting involved with the drug trade. This made Sollozzo calculate that he could ultimately get Sonny to the table if he got rid of Vito, once Sonny got over his initial hotheaded reaction.
The bit with the horse's head was brilliant because not only did they destroy the biggest symbol of Woltz's wealth and power, his prize possession, but the fact that it was slipped into his bed while he was sleeping meant that the servants or security in his home also betrayed him and he wasn't safe in his own home.
I want to read the book so badly; I'm one of those who watches the movie then reads the book;
the book is always better.
@@kimberlys8422 It's *that* good.
@@kimberlys8422this may be the first movie that is better than the book. The book is great but it had weird sub plots like Sonny’s mistress having a super wide vagina, and her struggle to be sexually satisfied after Sonny’s death (he had a famously huge penis, which his wife eludes to in the opening wedding scene). Also they expand on Johnny Fontaine’s story, which really didn’t affect the overall plot.
You guys gave one of the best reactions to The Godfather I've ever seen. 👍👍
Thank You 🙂
There's a great Sicilian deli in San Francisco that has two neon signs. One says "leave the gun", the other "take the cannoli."
🤣
That was allegedly an ad lib by Castellano
What is the name of the restaurant?
Cavalli Cafe
@@johannesvalterdivizzini1523 100% it was
Michael’s injury was very bad in the novel. His eye socket was shattered along with his septum, and a broken jaw. He had to constantly wipe his nose and always had a handkerchief in his left hand. This is why he was still bruised in Sicily.😎
Also refused surgery cuz he knew the Sicilian doctor only got through medical school due to connections
Awesome detail, thanks!
The most insightful and brilliant reaction and understanding of what was going on in The Godfather that I've seen to date. The both of you bouncing off each other and filling in the plot worked _very_ well for this movie. This is when watching a movie reaction is worth the time!
Thank you 😊. This was such a brilliant movie to react to. That ending...oof.
The Media Knights' reaction was _exceptional_ as well. Can never get enough of this movie.
For Marlon´s Brando character in this movie, Don Vito Corleone, Francis Ford Coppola put a jaw prosthesis in his mouth and a gauze, to give him that particular face. Brando was relatively young in this film, and Coppola pretended to age him and look more threatening.
Λαθος το λες ο Μαρλον οταν πηγαν στο σπιτι του για το δοκιμαστικο εβαλε βαμβακια στο στομα του ηταν δικη του ιδεα οπως και η σκηνη με την γατα ηταν δικη του ιδεα.Ο Μπραντο απο τα πρωτα χρονια του ηταν πολυ εφευρετικος
As a Sicilian American from the Bronx, I can assure you that this film is on the money. I wasn't born yet in 1945, but things hadn't changed very much by the time I came along. Most of the NY scenes were filmed on locations, some of which I've been to. My grandfather's town is located close to Corleone , and that too is quite accurate--still looks much like that. Corleone is actually the well-established "base" of the Sicilian Mafia.
Watch the detailed analysis of the Godfather trilogy on my channel!
Aside from the movie, it must have been a beautiful place to visit.
@@RamblersInc In Agrigento, nearby, are some of the best Greco/Roman temples in existence. It's such a place of antiquity.
The greatest movie of all time 😊 No other movie not even Godfather II can match screen play, script, cinematography, cast, acting, score, and makeup! I saw a short with Tom Hanks talking about Marlon Brando from the beginning of the movie aging through the movie until he's an old man in his garden and you don't notice the changes until you watch again. Hanks said he didn't realize it until he became an actor working in movies.
He became The Godfather as he was becoming a Godfather.
🤯
Good reaction.
I like how you talked about Michael's military career. He's referred to at least once in the movie as a "war hero." Some of the people around him underestimate him because he's not like them, but it's not like he's unfamiliar with violence.
Yeh, he had to have been through something in the war to be that calm in a tense situation.
Exactly. He enlisted in the Marines immediately after Pearl Harbor and fought through the Pacific Campaigns, rising from private to captain. He has not only been in combat, he has led other men in combat. He earned a Silver Star and a Navy Cross, two of the highest decorations for valor. The combat he would have experienced in the Pacific would have been brutal. Sonny’s crack about having to get up close to kill Salazzo shows how clueless everyone is about what Michael experienced.
@@fusiliers It's never actually stated but no doubt Michael killed enemy Japanese soldiers in combat.
"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."
Good call. 👍
Fun Fact: Theatrical debut of Morgana King, Sofia Coppola, Italia Coppola, and Joe Spinell (in the uncredited role of Willi Cicci).
Location Location Fact: Because Corleone, Sicily, was too developed, even in the early 1970s, the Sicilian town of Savoca, outside Taormina, was used instead.
Historical Fact: Most of the cars in the movie have wooden bumpers. Bumpers were removed by car owners during World War II, and replaced with wooden ones. The chrome ones were turned in to help with the war effort. After the war, it took several years for them to be replaced.
What Script Fact: Lenny Montana (Luca Brasi) was so nervous about working with Marlon Brando that in the first take of their scene together, he flubbed some lines. Director Francis Ford Coppola liked the genuine nervousness and used it in the final cut. The scenes of Luca practicing his speech were added later.
Dark Filmmaking Fact: Cinematographer Gordon Willis earned himself the nickname "The Prince Of Darkness" since his sets were so underlit. Paramount Pictures executives initially thought that the footage was too dark, until persuaded otherwise by Willis and Francis Ford Coppola that it was to emphasize the shadiness of the Corleone family's dealings.
Best line in the movie 🤣
Wow. I didn't know that about car bumpers. Makes sense.
I'm glad Willis got his way. It set a mood in the movie.
@@RamblersIncApparently that line was an ad lib.
I have always loved that dark shadowy look in the movie. Such a rich tone. ❤
Especially if it's from an authentic Italian bakery.
Newspapers in big cities like New York had several editions every day, and if there was “breaking news”, they could put out a “special edition.” So, Michael got the news fairly quickly after the shooting.
And newspapers were the social media of the day...
No cell phones.......
Yeah, that's where you get that cliché of the kid selling papers, standing on the corner, waving a paper and yelling "EXTRA! EXTRA!"
Also, the guy in shirtsleeves with a cigar running into the room yelling "STOP THE PRESSES!"
The only "Extra" I ever saw was when Reagan was shot. The way they did it was they added one sheet with all the coverage of the event. It was wrapped around the regular edition that had gone out that morning. So the first, second, next to last and last page had all the breaking news. When Michael opens up the paper to read that story, that's not how it would've been.
7:18 "Johnny Fontaine" That is supposed to be Frank Sinatra. The story Michael tells about getting out of the contract is how Frank got out of his contract with the Tommy Dorsey Band. "That's a true story"
oh wow. Sinatra had close mob ties?
@@RamblersInc More like vague mob ties. The mob had influence in pretty much all forms of entertainment back then - including the making of this movie itself. It almost didn't get made because the mafia wouldn't agree to the script if it portrayed the them in too much of a negative light
Frank was livid with Francis concerning the character of Johnny Fontaine. Because he knew it was exactly like himself.
@randywhite3947 That's true. But when Old Blue eyes got wind of the character and such, he quickly assumed it was based on his real life connection to "organized crime."
Great reaction. Yes, Vito knew of Michael's plans. He helped make them. This is shown a tiny bit more in the novel. There is also a deleted movie scene where Vito tells Michael , "I gave my word." and Michael responds "I never gave mine."
Wow. That scene might have done well in the movie.
That scene at the restaurant is my favorite, just watching Michael's eyes before his first kill, you can read everything that's going through his mind. Incredible acting without a word.
The expressionless cold acting in this is terrifying in this movie. Brilliant from Al Pacino.
Mine too. In a film full of incredibly shot, intense sequences, that scene stands out for me. So intense.
Yep, you can tell from Michael’s eyes that he isn’t paying one bit of attention to what Solozzo is saying to him because he’s so engulfed with what he’s about to do. Brilliant. 💎
There are so many movies that are spoiled by their endings. But this one is perfect.
The key moment for Michael is when Enzo the baker is shaking too much to light his cigarette, and Michael notces his own hand is completely steady.
Fredo is important in Part II and you see what a brilliant actor John Cazale is.
The two central metaphors of the climax were a one-two punch.The Baptism scene was a pure cinema gut punch...but the closing of the door in
Kay's face was the knockout.
Yeh, that final scene with her facial expression as the door shut...👌
If you do 1.. you HAVE to do 2!
I would back to back them when I was sick as a kid in school.
2 is some of the best Pacino
We'll get there for sure.
Excellent reaction gents, as people have said part 2 is so good, I watched it again recently and it’s almost perfect in every way, the story, the acting, cinematography, subbed for more!!!
Thank You 🙂
A timeless masterpiece. Definitely should react to Part II- probably the best sequel ever and often considered the better film.
Reactors always get confused about Michael seeing his dad was shot in the paper. He’s in Manhattan with Kaye on a date. They are all in the same city. The date was at a show / cinema whatever. No cells in late 1940s, obviously. What they see at the newsstand is the EVENING editions of the NY papers. Back in the day there were morning and evening editions.
Leave the gun; take the cannoli is still one of the best lines ever - but so much of this film has seeped into everyday conversations. Offer he can’t refuse, sleeps with the fishes, it was strictly business - not personal etc etc.
The five families in the book/films is a fictionalization of the 5 mafia families in NYC. The Bonnano, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchesi families.
Luca Brasi the enforcer for the Corleone family in The Godfather was played by Lenny Montana a former pro wrestler and real life enforcer for the Colombo crime family. He was sent to oversee the shooting of the film because Francis Ford Coppola agreed he wouldn't put in a scene where they mentioned the Mafia or Cosa Nostra to film The Godfather. A little fun fact about Luca Brasi the scene where he's practising his speech before meeting the godfather was because Lenny Montana was very nervous because he was doing a scene with Marlon Brando so when Coppola saw him going over his lines because of his nerves Coppola decided to keep it in the film.
When they did the miniseries about the making of, Lou Ferrigno-yes, the OG Hulk himself played that role.
Wow. That sounds crazy.
According to the novel. Luca Brasi wasn't afraid of God or Satan.
Marlon Brando putting cotton balls in his cheeks was a nice effect; also the scene when he saw his son Santino's body and how they "massacred his boy" trying not to cry (like a woman) that deserved him the Oscar.
It just takes one brilliant scene.
Outstanding reaction, guys. I truly hope you’ll be reacting to Godfather II in the near future-it’s a worthy sequel!
So. Many. Thoughts.
Michael finding out via the newspaper happens a few hours after the shooting. Evening edition newspapers back then were as much or more a source of breaking news as radio. If you are familiar with the term "Stop the presses!", it derives from the that age of print journalism.
Oranges are a used repeatedly in the whole saga as a foreshadowing of death or tragedy.
Michael genuinely loves Apollonia; he got stuck by the "thunderbolt". IMHO, he loves the *idea* of Kay. When he is telling her about the family going legitimate, he is unconsciously telling her that she is part of that, i.e. a WASP from New England to Americanize a Sicilian crime family.
The Five Families all had different territories of the New York/ New Jersey area. Within each family, the capos (like Tessio and Clemenza) controlled a portion of that territory. Peace was maintained by not infringing on another family's territory, The Corleones main income at the start of the film was primarily from gambling, controlling the unions, and extortion. Besides understanding that narcotics were too dangerous, Vito had a personal distaste for prostitution and kept the family out of that.
Tom's unflappable nature goes too far when it jeopardizes the future of the family. There are times to seek compromise or seek peace (as Vito shows), but Tom's path would have fatally weakened the family's position. He is obviously the counterpoint to Sonny, whose instinct is to lash out. Sonny's not dumb, he just struggles with controlling his nature. Remember that Tom was "adopted" by Vito at a young enough age that Michael would have always known him as an older brother. Above all, Michael studies people, as his father did. This is why his evolution owes as much to his older brothers as to his father. His calm and patience is terrifying, and his ruthlessness is laser focused.
The juxtaposition of the baptism and the takedown of the Five Families is classic Coppola. He frequently juxtaposes religious imagery and violence in his films. Also, not seen in the film but in the book is that besides the Dons, the Corleones also eliminate a lot of the capos and "button men" of the rival Families so they are critically weakened without being destroyed.
This was a brilliant read 👍.
I need to go back and watch all the oranges scenes 😂
If only Sonny wasn't hot headed.
Anecdote for the wedding scene in Italy from Al Pacino:
Francis Coppola: Ok Al, can you dance a bit?
Pacino: I can't dance?
Francis Coppola: OK, speak some Italian!
Pacino: I don't speak Italian!
Francis Coppola: OK, drive the car!
Pacino: I can't drive?!
Francis Coppola: ...
😆😆😆
🤣
Great job you guys. Always a treat watching you guys react to the classics.
The Oscar on the table next to Waltz's bed was genuine. Coppola had just won it for co-writing PATTON the year before.
Ahh that's a good bit of trivia.
@@RamblersInc That's a movie you might want to check out.
That's was FBI man not a "wedding photographer". 🍺
Ahh ok. At least Sonny paid him for the camera lol
Yes, the FBI / police, etc guys were writing down license plate numbers of the wedding guests, to see who was attending.
A couple of points regarding differences in the original novel - in the story, Luca was a vile, psychopathic killer who was so feared he practically ran his own crew independent of any of the families but he was undyingly loyal to Vito because Vito had saved his life in the gang wars that had put the Corleone family on top. He did not immediately approach the Turk but instead spent some weeks grumbling and subtly dropping hints in neutral locations (brothels, clubs, etc.) that he was unhappy knowing that eventually word would reach the right ears and they'd ask to meet him. He originally wanted to kill everyone at the meeting and be done with it but in deference to Vito's wishes, he decided to hear them out before reporting back to Vito but they got the jump on him and even then, it took three men to subdue him.
As for Tessio's betrayal - he did not beg for his life in the novel, he accepted his fate with stoic resignation. It was Tom who asked Michael to spare him since Michael and his father's master plan was to deliberately roll over in the name of peace and push Tessio and Clemenza into Barzini's arms by hanging them out to dry while they surrendered territory and operations to the other families in the hopes that either one of them would break and turn - as Michael says, because it was the the smart move. No one but Michael and his father knew of the this general retreat by the Corleone family was a ruse while secretly built up a powerful shadow regime under everyone's noses until the time was right to strike - Tom actually came closest to figuring out the gambit; he knew something was wrong but could not put the pieces together..
That was cunning from Michael.
@@RamblersInc Absolutely. It's interesting, Vito's sons each reflect an aspect of their father - Sonny has Vito's passion, Fredo has his heart and Michael... Michael has his cunning.
Absolutely. Michael played the part of the incompetent outsider perfectly reassuring the other families that he was no threat. This allowed him to monitor everything they did without arousing suspicion. When it was time to make his move he knew exactly what they were doing and thinking and could get everyone at once.
"If I determine the enemy's disposition of forces while I have no perceptible form, I can concentrate my forces while the enemy is fragmented."--Sun Tzu
Your connecting Michael's mother and his wife was covered in the book.
Early in the story, his mother is praying for Vito's soul. At the end, Kaye is praying for Michael's.
Oof
There's an amazing series on Paramount+ called The Offer that relives the crazy odyssey that was the making of The Godfather. The effort to bring Mario Puzo's book to film is as entertaining as The Godfather itself. If you loved The Godfather, it's a must see! Thanks for your excellent reactions!
Thanks for the recommendation 🙂.
That series is what is known as historical fiction.
To me, Michael's years in the military did help shape him into who he becomes after his dad steps down.
The actor who played Fredo is John Cazale, considered a great actor (he appeared in only 5 movies-all of which were nominated or won Best Picture). He passed away shortly after his last movie from lung cancer-he and Meryl Streep met while filming The Deer Hunter and were planning to marry). You should definitely react to The Deer Hunter with Robert DeNiro, Christopher Walken, John Cazale, and Meryl Streep. One of the greatest movies ever made and a great take on the time of the Vietnam War.
You two did a good job, especially not knowing the history of Gangsters in USA which was kick started in 1920 by "Prohibition", a national law making alcoholic beverages illegal. This was the event that made crime a "Big business" and 5 NY Families, and other associates in Chicago, California, Philadelphia organized illegal booze distribution across the country. Congress then revoked Prohibition around 1933 and organized crime had to find and grow other businesses, such as unions, narcotics and gambling. Gambling was illegal in every state except Nevada and a gangster named Bugsy Siegel built the first casino in Las Vegas with mob money from NY. But he had cost overruns and never made money and the NY "commission" decided to take him out. He was shot by machine gun but one bullet went right through his eye. So the character and death of Moe Green was loosely based on him.
This stuff is so interesting. I need to watch a documentary on that time.
The cat wasn't supposed to be in the movie 😊 The director Francis Coppola found it wondering around the set and gave it to Brando 😊
Perfect 👌
My cat’s name is Vito Corleone! 🐈⬛
Vito was loved, respected & feared. Micheal is only feared.
Well said 👏
This and The Godfather II make the greatest film ever. John Cazale (Fredo Corleone) only made 5 movies in his life. The first 2 Godfather movies, Dog Day Afternoon, The Conversation and The Deer Hunter. Then he died from lung cancer with his girlfriend Meryl Streep at his side.
These are all top movies from googling them. He chose well. I had no idea he dated Meryl Streep.
@@RamblersInc Meryl's career was just starting to break before he died.
It was bone cancer. Also, do a reaction to Dog Day Afternoon!
@@janeathome6643 It started as lung cancer which then metastasized into bone cancer.
Oh dude, this is the first of trilogy that defined a style for years to come.
Johnny Fontaine was based on Frank Sinatra. Tom Hagen is played by Robert Duvall.
Crazy how he's based on a real singer where the same thing happened to him.
Kudos for highlighting a very small, but pivotal scene that most reactors neglect. Michael's steady hands while lighting the cigarette in a stressful situation. It foreshadowed Michael being the natural leader of the family.
"I've always thought of THE GODFATHER as the story of a king and his three sons. The first inherited his sweetness and childlike qualities [sic], the second his passion and aggressiveness, the third his cunning and coolness."
-Francis Coppola
Sounds very Shakespearean.
19:16 in the book it explains Sonny had a contact who worked for the phone company and it should he was talking to the other family
The door closing on Kaye. Its a faits accomplis. Michael is fully moved on one side of morality & Kaye is out. He's fully on the dark side of the moral door and redemption is 'closed' for him.
Chilling
The whole process starts when he gets the news that Vito has been shot. Notice the symbolism when he's in the phone booth and Kaye is on the outside of the booth, looking in while he talks to his family.
@@championskyeterrier good point!. It's a descent from there on. Untill the dock in II
It's been over 50 years, and I still weep for Apollonia. 😰
So young. Probably made Michael colder when he got back.
Enjoyed your reaction. Saw this in the cinema in a small farming community when it was first released. The movie hypnotized the audience since it was so outlandish & artistic, unlike any crime film before it. Michael's military experience in the US Marines fighting the Japanese in the Pacific did serve him well. 26:12 The director said he moved the gun from where Al Pacino thought it would be just to add a little more tension.
Brilliant addition. Made us tense as well 😂
There are a lot of catchphrases from this movie that are still used today in America although not as much as in the 1970's. Sleep with the fishes; leave the gun, take the cannoli; Make him an offer he can't refuse, etc. Even the word Fredo is still used today to describe someone who is inept but you keep them around cuz you love them or they are kind hearted
A great, classic movie and you both really got the nuances of it. Really liked how you got into it, and the GF 2 will really give you the background so know you’ll dig into it.
A few things to show how smart Sonny was cause a a lot of people think he was just a hot head
1. Sonny had it down to either Celemenza or Pauly as the ones who sold the don out
he determined it was Pauly, there is a deleted scene where he tells the guys that he had their connections at the operators switchboard check phone records
and they found out that pauly was sending phone calls to Solottzo and the Taigtalleas
2. The reason Sonny chose Bruno Tataitghallea as the first target for their response, was because he was the only son of Don Tatagella
which means by taking him out, sonny wiped out the families heir and the only male name of the family line,
which is a big deal, essentially he ended the entire family line along male lines by doing that
3. While the Corleone and black hand were not the most numerous, and had the other families against them
Sonny was winning the war, or at least holding his own
brutal and targeted attacks against key members of the other families and against specific businesses of theirs under his leadership literally had crippled the Tatalleas and it was the Branzini’s and other families holding on
so Branzinni had to use Carlo to lure Sonny into a trap.
Do you think if he wasn't such a hot head, he would have made a better Don than Michael?
@@RamblersIncNo, the problem with Sonny was while he was good at War
He wasn't as good as politics and peacetime
He never would have maintained the families political or legal connections as easily
Michael it seems understood the importance of both brutality and diplomacy in a way that Sonny didn't.
Michael would never have gotten angry enough to fall into Barzinni's trap
Whereas Sonny only was thinking of his sister.
Fair point
Small technical point: when Michael answers yes to the renouncing Satan question, he could, in a hair-splitting way, claim he was not lying. In the Catholic ceremony the Godfather speaks for the child: the actual question was "Do you, Michael Francis Rizzi [not Michael Corleone], renounce Satan and al his works" Michael is saying the child will, with the implied promise that the godfather will help the child renounce Satan etc.
Ooooooohhh good catch.
Ramblers. Lad's, In the early 1950's the film "From Here to Eternity" had already started filming. Frank Sinatra had been refused a part in the film. Rumour of the day had it that Sinatra flew to New York to see some people. He got the part. Not long after that he would perform in Las Vegas every year. The author of the book thought the rumour was to good not to use. When the Don promises not to break the peace he never does. But Michael was never asked. The Don kept his promise. Cheers, Chris Perry.
I love your description of Luca Brasi: That Big Tank.
😂
Luca Brasi was played by Lenny Montana. Lenny was an aspiring actor who happed to be muscle for the Columbo Crime Family. Besides not being allowed to mention the word “mafia” in the movie, Francis also had to give Lenny a role if he wanted to film in NYC. The scene with him and Brando was genuine. Brando was making faces at him with notes taped to his face with insults written on them, making Lenny extremely nervous.😎
Wow. I had no idea just how involved the Columbo Crime family were with the movie.
Gents, just found your channel and really enjoyed your reaction! Of course, you will now have to watch Godfather ll. I am extremely confident that you will enjoy it as much as Part l. Have a great day.
In the book Micheal had the bruise for years and it took corrective surgery to fix it
That copper broke his facial bones.
Luca Brasi was Vito Corleone's top enforcer/assassin. He would take out ANYONE. He had no conscience at all.
Sollozzo knew that he had to take him out along with Vito to ensure his defeat of the Corleone Family.
Sollozzo wasted no time after getting the "no" from Vito
Great reaction! You picked up on all the little details that most people miss. I thought for a second you were going to connect the dots with Carlo and Sonny's killing and that would kind of spoil big reveal at the end, so I'm glad you didn't make that connection right away.
I'm not convinced that the vest that Luca was wearing was a "bullet proof vest." They didn't have Kevlar or other ballistic fibers back then. To the extent that they even had "bulletproof vests" they were big, bulky things with steel plates in them. The vest Luca wears is this flimsy padded thing made of some kind of cloth. I suspect that it was instead a knife-resistant vest, or possibly a surplus military "flak vest." I doubt it would stop even pistol bullets, but might have protected him from knife cuts. He probably wore that because he knew of Sollozzo's reputation as a knife man.
The first bulletproof vest was made around 1893 with an improved design in 1903. The vests became significantly lighter with the advent of Kevlar and other fabrics but they did indeed have vests back then. They were so heavy and cumbersome few opted for them.
That makes sense. Poor Luca. He memorised that entire speech in the beginning for nothing.
@@sirguys2469 "heavy and cumbersome"
In other words, everything I said.
To wit: "To the extent that they even had 'bulletproof vests' they were big, bulky things with steel plates in them."
Did you notice what Luka put on was neither heavy, nor cumbersome? No way was it bulletproof.
@@RamblersIncThe guy playing Luca, Lenny Montana, was not a professional actor. He was a bodyguard and former pro wrestler who Coppola discovered on the set and cast as Luca because of his size (6'6" and 320lbs) and the fact that he could speak Sicilian. Luca's rehearsing his speech came about because Lenny Montana was overwhelmed at performing in the presence of the great Marlon Brando and kept flubbing his lines. So they came up with the idea of Luca being nervous because he didn't expect to be invited (and probably a little drunk).
21:10 Enzo is the Baker that the Don got to stay in the US.
Don’t know if anyone mentioned this yet, but the reason Luca got clipped, was two fold: 1) there was *no way* he would ever turn his back on Vito Corleone to go work for the Tataglias of all people…and 2) of a more immediate nature…Luca gave himself away at the end by not shaking the Turk’s hand. You’d never do that to someone that you were actually going into business with.
Yeh he was going to go no matter what. Brutal
I have to disagree with most people here about GF2, I think this one the original is the best, the second one is good but it was boring in a lot of areas and to dramatic in others. You should watch both but this one is far better than the second. Very good reaction by you 2, you kept everyone separated and did not get confused.👍✌
Barzinni sat at the head of the table in that meeting
Yes and he was the one who said how drugs would be managed by the families. Vito noticed everything.
Fontane was played by big sixties singer Al Martino.
"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli" was an ad lib, as was the chase scene where The Don dies. Look out for Michael's bodyguard Neri (the fake cop in the 5 families shooting). Along with Al Pacino & Talia Shire (Connie), they are the only actors in all 3 films.
27:27. Vito didn't want Michael to be part of it. That's why at 20:56 Michael says "I'm with you", that means Michael has entered the family business.
Powerful scene
Michael didn't want to be part of it, but when his father was shot, it changed everything. Michael's Dark Side came to life.
The horse head was a real horse head. Purchased from a dog food company. The actor supposedly didn’t know it was a real head. And the reason they got married on the steps of the church is because they were not allowed to film inside. Godfather II is a different movie but still brilliant. And the chilling performance of Al Pacino.
I didn't even know you could buy that 😵
@@RamblersInc I'm pretty sure even if you can still buy a dead animal carcass that would never be allowed on any production set for health and safety reasons.
@@RamblersInc…. Back then, horses were often used to make dog food. In this case, the film producers knew a guy who worked at a slaughterhouse, and he sent over a fresh horse’s head.
Well.....that's a fun day on set 🤢
Luca Brasi the guy practicing what he's going to say to the Godfather is played by Lenny Montana. Lenny was a Professional Wrestler and an Enforcer for the Colombo crime family in real life. The reason he's reading the lines are that he had trouble remembering his lines so they had him write them down.
The gangster playing the piano is Coppola's father, Carmine. Coppola said he had fun making his father wear a gun and shoulder holster because his dad was such a gentle man.
Singer.Actor Johnny Fontaine was Frank Sinatra and the movie he wanted tuStae in was "From Here to Eternity".
Outstanding channel! You are both thoughtful, good humored, and work very well off of each other without stepping on each other. Good sound quality on your mics. Solid analysis. You'll be fine if you stick to the five basics of writing, acting, sound design, cinematography, and editing.
Thank You. Good call. It'll help us review better in the future instead of rambling like we normally do.
@@RamblersInc Your reviews are fine. That's just a guide that I remember from film class that helped our discussions get more out of each film. Without spoiling, it helps to know that the Godfather films were designed by Puzo and Coppola as a masculine version of Shakespeare's "King Lear". People who don't understand Shakespeare or King Lear usually misinterpret Part 2 and become very lost during Part 3. Michael obviously begins Part 1 as Cordelia, proving his love for Vito as the child on the outside, but ends up taking the role of Lear. Instead of daughters, Vito plans for the future of his family and kingdom with his sons. Part 2 develops the primary theme of emotional/moral blindness that is usually associated with King Lear and Gloucester. Part 3 uses the King Lear model to complete the narrative thread with a definitive ending and a clear moral to the story common to the Shakespearean tradition, but missing in the first two films.
The cat just wandered onto the set, Brando picked it up and was petting it before the scene began, so they just left it in.
Glad they did. It made the scene 10x better.
There are a number of scenes that were cut out. There was a scene in a hospital, just after the wedding where Don Corleone, his sons and Johnny Fontaine visit Genco, who was the former consigliere and is about to die. In another scene you discover that Woltz, the movie producer is also a child molester. When Don Corleone finds out he asks for Luca Brasi and it's suggested that Luca is the one that killed the horse and placed it in Woltz bed. There is also a scene that confirms that Paulie did sellout the Don.
I'd ask why it was cut out but it was already close to a 3 hour movie. Still....these all sound like important scenes
In a deleted scene (that might still be on youtube) Michael asks Vito that if The Corleones let the killings of Sonny and Appolonia slide, would the other families see it as a sign of weakness, Vito's response is quite revealing about how he feels about combat...
they also cut the scene where Vito and Mike were talking the night of the wedding when they went to visit Genco in the hospital
By the way, in the book, it's heavily implied that Woltz the studio guy is also a pedophile, which Tom witnesses hints at, which he passes the info on to Vito Corleone. He's not happy about that.
He speaks of "grooming" the young girl and saying he'd already had her, so that's definitely inferred.
@@sirguys2469 I don't think it's inferred in the protege's case, then that would make Johnny a pedo too. But that's not to say that Wolz didn't prey on other young actors.
@@sirguys2469 In the book, a very young girl walking on very shaky legs, is being led away by her mother(!!!! ewww!!) as Tom is arriving for dinner.
@@billross7245 In the beginning, when Tom is waiting to speak to Wolz, there is a young girl with her mother who Wolz kisses (the girl, not the mother). She doesn't even look 18.
@@janescribner8258You know, I seem to remember that now. We read the book in high school.
Interesting notes-Clemenza was personally involved with whacking Paulie because Paulie was his protege. Also, Clemenza was Sonny's actual Godfather.
He had the best line of the movie 😂
46:57 .. ..Michael already knew it was Barzini all along. But there still could have been a minute possibility that there was some other plan in play to catch Sonny on the causeway, but his sister just coincidentally called him during that same window of time. Michael asks Carlo the question because he needed to be 100% sure that Carlo set Sonny up, before he made his sister a widow.
Two years ago, Miles Teller starred in a 10-episode TV series depicting the making of The Godfather. It was pretty good (if you ever want to devote 10 hours to the making of a 3-hour movie). There was a lot of drama behind the scenes, including with the real-life mafia. It's based on the memories of The Godfather producer Al Ruddy (whom Teller plays). He won the Oscar for Best Picture and turns 94 next month.
Here's the trailer: th-cam.com/video/iowLzO9-aew/w-d-xo.html
Also, Coppola's director's commentary is on TH-cam. He details how he was almost fired and how he overheard people talking shit behind his back while he was in the bathroom. th-cam.com/video/3afdrZflltY/w-d-xo.html
That trailer looks amazing. I don't remember seeing a lot about it but it looks hilarious.
Thanks for the link on the Coppola commentary.
loved the reaction guys.
Never get into a vehicle with Clemenza in the backseat
🤣
❤....and a rare treat, the Godfather 2 .....is as epic as the first!
6:52 that wasn't acting the person playing Luca was excited to see Marlon Brando, also he isn't an actor but a former mobster
Two most famous opening lines in film history: "Rosebud" and "I believe in America." Also, one of the few movies that improves and surpasses the novel it was based on. Coppola dumped some really trashy stuff and made it Shakepearean.
Godfather II is a must watch...
Great reaction. Now you have to watch Godfather Part 2. You will be blown away.
Another movie you may want to see is "The Freshman," with Mathew Broaderick (Ferris Buhler's Day Off) and featuring Marlon Brando, in a role modeled very much like his role in "The Godfather." It's a really great movie!
The description sounds hilarious. Added to our list
38:14 Tattaglia kept glancing at Barzini, and much of Barzini's talk is almost exactly the same as Sollozo. That's how Vito knew.
I realized there were two times in my life that I pulled a Michael Corleone.
1: In a bad “Out of Towner” situation I acted like I had a cannon in the car with me. Like Michael outside the hospital protecting his father.
2: I calmly got a cheating “almost” fiancé to admit it after she had swore on everything and everyone she cared about that she was innocent. Like Michael got Carlo to admit his involvement in betrayal. 🤷🏾♂️🤜🏾🫷🏾
I hope there isn't a third time. That's way too intense.
Yeah. If a cop did that to my face I might have to leave the county also. 😂 Order spaghetti and wait for the train.
🤣
Kay represented the American dream. She was a northeastern blond hair, blue eyed, blue blood at a time when there was intense racism against southern Italians as “less than white.” Michael was an Ivy League student and a war hero. He was supped to be the brother who “made it” as an American. The movie is about the corruption of the American dream. The Godfather realized this, that’s why he’s so sad. That’s why he told Michael about the hopes he had for him.
When you look at it that way, it's so sad for Vito.
@rsInc Vito made his choices. In the book he knew Sonny and Fredo were lost, but hoped Mike had other options. The Don no longer had the heart to do what needed to be done, so Michael took his sins upon himself. That was the symbolism of the murders committed while Mike was in Church renouncing Satan.
The reason they figured out that Lucabrasi was a spy is because when they made the deal to him to join, Sollozzo noticed Luca wouldn't shake his hand, so at that moment he and Bruno knew that he wasn't serious. Luca was so loyal to the Don that even pretending would be an insult. So Lucas loyalties and principles got him killed
I've watched 20 reactions to this movie. This is one of the better. Maybe because I'm a fan of an English accent and/ or smart people but good go Gents. On to part II quickly! Even better!
Thank You 🙂
"This guy's been in other things as well, just don't know what his name is." His name is ROBERT DUVALL, ACADEMY AWARD WINNER (ACTOR).
Thaaat's the one 😁
Need to add some of his movies on our watchlist.
Sonny’s “Bada beep, bada boop” is the late 1940’s version of “Blah blah blah” and “Yada yada yada”……😆
In the novel, Vito was fully involved in Michael’s grand plan. He also knew about Carlo beating on Connie.
One of the best lines from the novel is when Vito tells Michael, “It’s always personal”….which shows the underlying dishonesty of the mafia way of doing business. When they say, “It’s nothing personal; it’s strictly business”, they are lying.
Damn. The book has some of the best lines. I may need to start it.
The photographer that Sonny roughed up was working for the FBI recording license plates on cars.
Lenny Montana, who played Luca Brazzi, was not an actor. Rather, he was a leg-breaker who worked for mafia don Joe Colombo. Colombo originally wasn't sure he wanted the movie made. He quite ironically feared that it would be an insult to all Italian-Americans by making them look like mobsters. So his price for cooperating with Al Ruddy, the producer, and Francis Ford Copolla, the director -- and they needed Colombo's approval to get certain things done at their shooting locations in New York -- was to have Lenny Montana on set keeping an eye on things. And the moment Montana saw anything he thought Joe Colombo wouldn't like, he's call it in to get the okay to wreck the production.
But he never made that call, and ended up acting in the movie.
It was so funny that he threw him money after smashing the camera.
Omg. The actual mafia were involved in this? 😳
@@RamblersInc Oh yeah. In order to get the movie made without interference from the mob, Al Ruddy played ball. He gave Colombo script approval, and effectively made a deal in which, had the final film not been acceptable, Colombo could outright shoot Ruddy.
Yes lads!
My favorite Abstract Inversion of this film...
Yin)
Kay arrives by cab unannounced to the estate and is met by Tom who won't confirm or deny knowing Michaels whereabouts for legal reasons.
Kay asks about a burned vehicle.
Vehicle shown by the (American) driver side on the left with door blown loose.
Tom says no one was hurt then allows Kay in to call a cab.
Yang)
Fabrizio betrays Michael after enemies learn his location.
He places a bomb on vehicle unaware Michael won't start the car but Appolonia instead, who dies in explosion.
Fabrizio runs away on foot as Michael is blown back into bushes while European driver side is shown with deceased wife inside.
Future wife Kay seeks Michael to no avail, surprising Tom with appearance.
Current newlywed wife perishes after wanting to surprise Michael by driving.
A.I. at its darkest.
Great reaction, Part Two !
Gotta watch Godfather 2, also won academy award, on sequel to do that
When the Godfather came home, I heard that Marlon Brando put some barbell weights in the gurney as a joke on the two orderlies carrying him.
😂
I like the scene where Michael confronts Carlo at the end. He isn't going to kill his sister's husband without absolute confirmation of his theory of Carlo staging his domestic scuffle to draw out Sonny. He is sure, but he needs to know from Carlo directly. He asks who approached him, Tattaglia or Barzini, but it really doesn't matter, because he already killed them both. He needs Carlo to say it before he sends him to Clemenza.
Yep. Carlo has an IQ of 20. 😂
"If you'll excuse me, he likes to hear bad bad news early."
😂
DeNiro and Pacino never did a scene together in any movie, until Heat! They were also in the recent, The Irishman! The funniest comedy based on godfather ever, where Marlon and young Clemenza parodies himself, is the Matthew Broderick movie, the Freshman! A lot of people say, don't watch 3, it's no good. But that's a flaw because they are comparing 3, with two of the best movies ever made! Connie is the director's sister, and also related to Sophia Coppola and Nicolas Cage!!! Carlo from first movie is still alive, always mob associated, and tells in one of his books, who and why JFK RFK and Marilyn got whacked....and he's never been sued by the Kennedys!!! A mob movie DeNiro and Pesci did, that was a semiautobiographical tale by the main actor, who grew up in a small Italia neighborhood that's a MUST watch, A Bronx Tale!
John Cazale is Fredo, who's been in maybe some of the top 10 all time movies, including Dog Day Afternoon and Deer Hunter. Roth is based on a real guy , Micky Cohen. Who lived a very plain middle class life! But like Roth, pulled all mob strings. Everything bad that happened in this movie, Roth engineered behind the scenes, by innuendo and whispers! In the first movie where Sonny is screwing the woman behind the door, she gets pregnant and has his illegitimate son, who shows up in 3! And he's definitely sonny's son, his temper! Tom has a son who becomes a priest, and Michael's son is a opera singer, who wants nothing to do with the business! Connie is also Adrian, rockys wife! The singer is the real life story about frank sinatra! Before 1966, to immigrate into America, wasn't easy. U had to pass physical and mental tests, prove u have relatives here, prove u had a job or useful skills, and other things...Connie is Rocky's wife! She is a Coppola/Cage! Her husband in the first, is still alive, has been mob ties all this time, and has written books covering who killed JFK RFK and Marilyn, and why! And has never been sued by the Kennedy family! We knowost sequels arent as good as the first, and a handful are as good. This proly one of about 10 or less, where the sequel is better!And one of the funniest movies ever done is called, The Freshman! Marlon and the young partner of marlon in this, Clemenza, ( also in Good morning Vietnam, When Harry met Sally, City Slickers)basically mimic their roles, and the star is Matthew Broderick!!! And fredo was in some of the biggest movies of the 70s and early 80s with either Robert or Al. Dog Day Afternoon, the deer hunter, these two movies, and others. Everything that bad happens in this movie, is because of Roth. Simple rumor and innuendo, caused fredo, tessio, frankie, etc., to do what they did. The guy testifying in court, is Rocky's first boss! One of Frankie's asassin guys, was in Do the Right Thing, and The Professional and many other great movies. Danny Aiello. The FBI agent has been in every movie since the silent era 😅 dillinger, this, red dawn, green mile, Alien etc. Harry Dean Stanton! The difference between Vito and Michael is, vito did all decisions, and spent all his time, immediate blood family first. Michael put mob family first. Ues frankie did the hit, but based on roth telling him, Michael was going with the Rosatto brothers.When connie asked Michael to forgive Fredo and he hugged him, he was going to. But when Michael looked up and saw Neri, and Neri kind of lowered his head in disappointment, Michael knew he had to kill Fredo. Pro tip...the towel catching on fire, not planned!😮😮😮😮
You should warn readers of your comments of spoilers for #2 and #3. Then comment. That way they have a choice to know or not.