And Hagen behind soaking every word of this speech, also realizing the sheer importance of this moment for the family.
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Expect for the fact they made Michael a U.S. Marine Captain veteran. Who fought two campaigns and won a Purple Heart. If that were true he would be foaming at the mouth with PTSD and make these goons look like Boy Scouts. It’s ridiculous, and disrespectful to portray a WW2 vet this way. Pacino is clearly just acting as a college kid in the movie. Take you out of the movie so many time when they call him a veteran.
I disagree, having known and worked with several combat veterans who acted anything but how you describe. Another thing to keep in mind is that in some ways many WWII vets dealt better with PTSD based on how they disengaged from combat and returned back to normal life in the states differently from more recent generations of vets. Veterans since Vietnam or so, one day they are in-country in a combat zone, then the next they are flown home and have to suddenly re-integrate into life in the US away from the danger of combat. Of course some of them have trouble dealing with it. The WWII generation mostly traveled home from the war via ship, a process that took weeks. During their time aboard ship coming home, they had the opportunity to decompress, relax somewhat, and talk about what they had gone through, with others who had shared the same or similar experiences. Furthermore they were welcomed home by society as the heroes they were, and didn't have to deal much with jackasses treating them as "foaming at the mouth" simply for being combat vets.
Also his jaw being swollen, to give him that bulldog like face Vito had.
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@netpackrat Dealing better with it is a mostly a myth. Alcoholism was rampant among vets with the level of combat Michael would have saw. Even if Michael and no PTSD he acts NOTHING like a marine captain that fought BOTH in ASIA and Europe. Al is just playing a college kid not a veteran. Michael seems like (again) a WW2 marine combat vet who fought in the worse battles outside of the eastern front and won a Purple Heart, and was in TIME MAGAZINE!!! Don’t be silly. Its parody to have given michael these achievements to then act like he does.
Notice how...Tom was the only one who DIDNT laugh when Mike said he'd kill them both. Tom knew in this moment, he was seeing a reflection of Vito. You can tell by the concern on his face.
This should have earned Tom complete confidence, but Michael’s onset of paranoia lead him to question Hagen’s loyalty. When Michael explains to Tom that he kept him in the dark because he was the only one that he trusted, I thought that this was more of a way to make amends for doubting his own brother but always thought that it was done in an unnecessarily-cryptic way.
Bullshit, you fellas you should read the book, in the book Sonny knew who Michael was, Sonny knew everything about his brother Michael in that scene Sonny was just pushing Michael to his limit to bring out the real Michael out of Michael himself. Read the book!
@@ThePUNisher2112YYZ nah. Even at the end of the First Godfather when Vito told Tom he was out, there were things they did NOT want Tom to be a part of for several reasons. For one - he was NOT Italian. Therefore, he could never be made an actual mafia member. No matter how close he was to the Corleone family, he could never be involved in and know EVERYTHING that was going on. For two...he was NOT a wartime consigliere. Tom was strictly and always about business and the best interest of the family. It was best to keep him from these thing.
Not authentic ! It has to have the metal lids of glass jars Fastened to the basement ceiling or joist . Then the glass jars are filled with nails , nuts and bolts you can see all the time ……
Such a clever scene. The camera slowly zooms in on Michael, to exclude everyone else, showcasing the emergence of a new leader. The King is dead. Long live the King.
And for the first time, that bruised face makes him look like a criminal punk. At that point you know he’ll be a made man. Vito’s dreams of going legitimate and having his son become president are down the drain. Here again we find fiction straining reality. None of the Sicilian mobsters ever rose beyond their thuggish roots. ‘Big Paulie’ Castellano (incidentally related to Richard Castellano) tried to run things quietly, like a business manager, but never was able to carry it off before getting rubbed out by the flamboyant John Gotti.
Yeah, many, many great films have been made since the beginning of the movies, but I can say without fear of contradiction that there is none better than "The Godfather". I've watched it ninety times now, and it never fails to amaze me.
Honestly I've low-key never seen a movie better than this. The characters, the plot, the change of the protagonist, the music score, the opening, the ending, cinematography , camera action, the inspiration that this movie gave. Maybe Interstellar or Dune 2 could come close to this in my opinion but I don't think any movie is beating this
@@jtstyle119 he had his fathers cunning, but even he didn’t realize Solozzo was not the king at the top to stop the madness and that somebody higher held the keys. Only Vito knew it at the meeting he arranged.
@@brainflash1 I don’t recall either the book or the movie specifically articulating that he did, but Clemenza’s line to Michael “You know, Mike, we was all proud of you being a hero and all. Your father too.” leads me to believe that Puzzo wanted the reader to understand that Michael wasn’t to be trifled with. As tough as a Mafioso may believe themselves to be, they hadn’t survived the harsh brutality of a determined foe such as the Japanese soldiers of WW2. I imagine US combat veterans still alive in the 1970’s could well understand the significance of underestimating such men. I know I’m making assumptions, but in the 1970’s WW2 and Korea as well as Vietnam veterans were in their prime and there were still thousands of WW1 combat veterans like grandfather who were living their lives fully.
@justme8340 yeah absolutely. Sonny telling an ex infantry officer about the brutality of killing may be more a sop to the audience than Sonny condensing to Michael. Telling a dude who had lived through Iwo Jima or Okinawa about the brutality of killing would be so stupid it leads me to believe that Sonny has never actually killed anyone, at any point.
The actors, the pace, the texture, the music, the dialog, direction, the story...and history. If anyone here hasn't seen that movie. You are missing something. Cheers all!!!
The scenes in this film are so friggin real, You know you almost forget you’re watching a film, with actors and lighting and make up and a sound stage etc etc
Without a doubt, The Godfather I and II have the greatest ensemble of actors and actresses in all of movie history. Every move, every line, every interaction is just pitch-perfect. It's been more than 50 years now, but the movie is a fresh as if it had come out yesterday.
@@qqw743 Diane Keaton is absolutely superb. Talia Shire and Simonetta Stefanelli are also perfectly cast, although in minor roles. Godfather III is a different story, especially Talia Shire and Sofia Coppola, but that's why I wrote Godfather I and II.
@@johnjim6793 , I totally agree about Diane Keaton. I think her work in "The Godfather" is the best thing she ever did, with the possible exception of "Annie Hall".
@@Grimba86 McCluskey being executed didn’t solve their problems and neither did Solozzo. Barzini knew it and knew they’d have the guts to do it. That’s what he’d do if he was in the same situation!
one of my favorite scenes in all of Cinema history. Pacino transforms from Michael college kid to the Don Corleone physically emotionally we see it happening instantly it's amazing.
@@jondstewart Tessio was loyal to vito and only vito, he would not have betrayed vito while he was alive. From the 2nd movie you can see he does trust and value vito as a leader long before they "made it" as a family, so to speak. However he didn't think Micheal was going to be as good of a leader his father was, so that was why he betrayed him. Like he said at the end: "Tell Micheal it was strictly business. I always liked him."
No one realises, except Tom, when Michael calmly explains how he would do it, shows he is ready to take over as head of the family as Sonny is too hotheaded.
In the books, they elaborate on Sonny’s reaction which is a little different than maybe it comes across here. He actually does think Michael is for real, which James Caan conveys perfectly; he’s serious and only starts laughing with the others to go along but he at least initially is like oh so he is a real Corleone.
I love how Michael is the only one sitting, and when Tom sits it’s right behind him. It looks like he is already the boss and is commanding his underlings to do his bidding.
Solozo didn't have many choice he was pyaraia or whatever if it goes smooth it Will sail smooth but if Don Corleone refuse he Will be stand in front of firing squad typewriter xD
Sonny lectures Mike about getting personal, yet their enemies knew how to get Sonny to take things personal, by his reputation, only to set him up, for the hit.
Sonny proved he wasn’t fit to lead the family, and Michael came up with the plan to prove HE was fit to lead the family, all in the same scene. Masterful.
For me, it was when Michael came back from Sicily, got out of the limo with his black Homburg, cashmere overcoat and stood there looking at Kay. She froze, like we all did...no question, he was "THE MAN". The transformation was complete.
2:37 "Let's set the meeting." Camera slow zooms in as Mike descends into power and evil, moves frame from all to just him. Absolute cinematic perfection.
It occurred to me when I saw this scene a few years ago that when Clemenza mentions that the last Great War happened 10 years prior, he was talking about the Olive Oil war which was when Vito emerged from that war as the “Boss of Bosses” and solidified the Corleone family at the top of the Underworld.
@@VonRyansExpress-v3r , it will never be bettered because it's a miracle it got made in the first place. The studio didn't want Brando; he was washed-up and too risky. The studio wanted Ryan O'Neal (wtf!) instead of Pacino, who was almost fired several times; the studio didn't want to pay to film in Italy for the whole Sicily sequence, which gives the movie so much of its classic ambience; and on, and on. Coppola fought like a lion to get that movie made.
The way Pete says that everyone was proud of him being a hero, makes sounds past tense as if to say that man is dead and whatever is standing in front of him now is ghost of someone
Sony acussing Micke with Thom for taking it very very personal as if he didnt want to do the same 2 mins ago is just hilarious 😂 what a masterpiece of movie
They both plan a reaction because they know not doing anything means seeing their power reduced, but Sonny is too emotional and scared to ever dare to think outside the rules: he'd rather go to war and risk it all, and put a lot of people in danger, but he won't go against the power structure as a whole because he's afraid of moving outside the rules. Michael on the other hand doesn't have a reverence for the rules a made man would have, but does understand diplomacy, and suggests a calculated risk that would eradicate the problem without repercussions. That's why he emerges as the new leader, because he knows the rules, but thinks outside the box for the better outcome
I never noticed that before sonny said about it being personal, I've written and told people that is the biggest flaw in the film, because the book has Vito telling michael everything in life is personal. And that is probably one of the most important things to remember
Sonny wants to wage war for personal reasons, Tom convinces him that it has to be strictly business or they all die. It's basically choosing between winning the beef or appeasing in order to avoid a lethal threat. Michael comes up with pretending to appease in order to remove the most immediate threat. It's not vengeance, since the plan is still not addressing Tattaglia's involvement, but it buys Vito safety from Solozzo. Sonny points out that the risk outweighs the gain but Michael claims they can minimize the risk by airing out the police captain's dirty laundry. The question remains. Was it personal or strictly business? I'd say it was personal while still taking care of business. That's why both Tom and Sonny end up agreeing.
The craziest thing is, the other 5 families knew the Corleone family was becoming weak, and taking out the Don could of been the right move. Cause Sonny was a hot head, and Fredo was a push over. But they didn't expect the last son, Michael.
Throughout the whole movie Michael always believed in Clemenza…even when Sonny thought he was behind Vito’s assasination attempt. This last scene of Michael and Clemenza just tells you the true love he had for him…unlike Tessio. Also in the movie…it was Tessios men who was supposed to have been at the hospital guarding Vito.
They laugh at him but Michael was a decorated WW 2 combat Marine officer with a Purple Heart. They really overlooked this in the script. By right he was already a bad ass.
I do love how the corleone family itself loves each other. Sonny could have a whole massive empire at his fingers but would do anything for his father to make a 100% recovery and take back control of everything.
Michael's army days are so ignored by everyone, even his family and his enemies. He might have PTSD. He has seen blood and carnage more than anyone in that room.
Sometimes I wonder when Tessio was at the meetings that he went to Don Barzini afterwards and told him the news. It wouldn’t affect Barzini’s operation at all, Solozzo and Tattalgia were used as pawns by him, anyway. Something tells me Tessio was used as a mole by Barzini from the beginning. Look at how he just stands in the back and calmly listens. Yes, I know about him with the plan to plant the gun and Michael assassinating the Captain and Solozzo. Tessio and Barzini knew this wouldn’t affect the plans for the narcotics business to move ahead and Barzini’s empire to expand. When Vito died, Tessio played his last card inviting Michael to a meeting to let Michael be assassinated. And his last card didn’t complete the game.
Go before that scene when Mikey goes to the hospital to visit Pop. It was Tessio's men who were all rounded up up by McClusky's men. I don't think that it was a coincidence.
Not even close my friend, you really should read the book and that will tell you that Tessio doesn't change sides until Mike's running the family, he just doesn't think Mike will win, he'd never ever in a million years betray Vito, his Godfather. He was 10000000000% loyal at this point
@davidmellish3295 I read the book many times. The movie is not a 100% adaptation, and Tessio in the movie has a colder relationship with Michael than Clemenza, who treats Mike like a loving nephew.
@@Fan_Made_Videos well if you've read the book you fully aware that Tessio doesn't turn until Mike's in charge, the film is an adaptation of the book because you can't make a 2 hr (or whatever it is) movie of the book, to do it really accurately it would go on for hours. That doesn't mean they have made any major changes, as they haven't they just haven't been able to show every little detail of the book. So what if he isn't as friendly, they haven't changed the character of Tessio to be disloyal to his Don way before he actually turned. He was always loyal to Don Vito. As you've read the book you know all this, so why make stupid statements like, Tessio is already on Barrzini payroll?
I think a bad change from the movies was not making obvious that Mike's calm rage would never let him handle this without it being personal. Like he says "its strictly business" but it was 100% personal.
I met my girlfriend and we literally couldn’t watch a movie for over a year. Man what a problem to have. She was crazy you know, but this movie came on and we stayed staring at the screen. I’m telling you
Tom Hagan’s (Robert Duvall) acting is incredible. His expressions are so real you can tell he’s fully immersed in the character. I pick him hands down over the already excellent performances of James Caan (Sonny) and Al Pacino. All three were nominated that year but Robert Duvall should’ve come on top
I always found Sonny’s misunderstanding of war to be unrealistic. He would have grown up hearing stories about the first war, which tended to have quite a bit of close quarter fighting. Not to mention that news reals of the time mentioned Banzai attacks and Japanese night raids all the time. I really can’t see him being under the illusion of war just exclusively being a bunch of dudes shooting each other from really far away. He’s literally from a time when hand to hand/melee combat was still relatively common in combat, at least compared to today. I mean yes, artillery and small arms fire accounted for the overwhelming majority of battlefield casualties, but close quarters was still something that happened quite a bit. Trenches, caves, houses, etc. plenty of guys popped each other from point blank range. Whether they used SMGs, Shotguns, knives, shovels, bayonets, etc. the average man in the late 40’s was aware of these happenings whether they went overseas or not. I know they’re just trying to reinforce the idea that Sonny doesn’t approve of military service, but I don’t think him having such a nonsensical misconception was really in character for his character. He was hot headed and impulsive, sure. But he wasn’t stupid.
Sonny is hard-headed and knows it all, so even if he heard the stories, he would ignorantly believe that what they go through with the mafia is harsher.
I think there’s something psychologically different about shooting a man at close range when you’re a soldier vs murder. You’re “not a murderer” in the first instance, and that can give some psychological comfort.
@@wkcia I suppose that’s true. But in this case, I think it’s the other way around. the men he shot nearly killed his father and were threatening his entire families well being. The Japanese soldiers were just regular dudes like him for the most part. If anything, I think it would psychologically be easier to kill Solonzo and Mcklusky than it is to kill an enemy soldier. At least they had it coming.
I see it as psychology. The older brother has seen the younger brother gain respect for his bravery in a war in which the older brother didn't serve. So he's come up in his mind with rationalizations for why the war hero isn't the real hero but he is. Staying at home and engaging in street violence is the real heroism in his mind so he stays the main character, the one really deserving the respect. It lets him continue to think patronizingly toward his younger, inferior brother.
Michael knew what he was getting into. He just didn't know that there was no way out. As soon as he picked up that bottle, he could never put it back down.
It's interesting how Sonny thinks of Michael as a college kid when he is a decorated veteran of the war. I've seen in an outtake where Michael is on the cover of Life magazine for his heroism. I think that was from 1979 when they showed "The Godfather Saga" in chronological order with outtakes.
Michael has a Silver Star, a Navy Cross, and a Purple Heart on top of a field commission from the Pacific but they doubt his resolve under fire, as if anything that’s come out of NYC could rival Guadalcanal, Iwo, or the Philippines 😂
Starting at 2:02 in the video. I've always thought this was a flaw in the movie. Sal Tessio is clearly in the corner watching and listening to the plan for the assassination (restaurant scene). Given that he was the traitor, you'd have thought that he'd have helped Solozzo. I mean afterall, he'd already betrayed the family and was committed to their downfall. Made no sense to me that he was in this scene to hear the plan.
I don't think Barzini approached Tessio until Solozzo and the captain were killed. When Michael took over, and they felt his leadership was questionable, Barzini and Tessio saw an opening, not realizing Michael was smarter, more ruthless and had the benefit of his father advising him. Critical mistake for the both of them. After observing this meeting, you'd think Tessio would know better... and he was supposed to be the smart one, damn.
Heh heh, Rheingold was the top beer in NYC in the 40s and 50s. Germans called it Pferdepisse (horse piss). You would see it at Dodgers games or at places like Clemenza’s dump. Quite a contrast to the Don’s office in the earlier scene-typical WASP decor with leather club chairs and Tiffany lamps. I guess that’s where Vito would entertain his ‘lotta friends in politics’. And hey, why does Clemenza worry about leaving prints on the gun? He’s supposed to ditch it at the scene in front of witnesses. That wouldn’t stop a DA from charging him.
Why do I always keep reminding myself that Peter Clemenza HAS to be THE most popular & favorite character in the entire series???
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3:33 most ridiculous plot hole of the movie. Michael is U.S. Marine Captain, who won a Purple Heart and fought in two campaigns. He’s the most dangerous man in that room, but the “gangsters” act like the army was the Boy Scouts. It’s a joke. They should’ve had Michael only be a college student. Him being a veteran is nonsense.
It actually is great and explains his behaviour. His brothers not understanding what it meant he fought in the pacific (among many other things) shows exactly why sonny could never lead... l think michaels identity is great!
You are grossly misinformed to think the 2 translate to each other. It's not about him being capable to pull a trigger and kill someone - it's the reasoning and ramifications behind it.
@@KingGogh The idea that active military service desensitizes one to murder-no. But think about it: He was able coldly to explain to Kay how his father’s goon used terror to get what the don wanted, and Michael felt free to detach himself from it and draw an innocent wife into a mob family. The foreshadowing goes back at least that far in the plot.
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@KingGogh “Grossly misinformed” weird projection
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@Zeiler91 It’s not just his brother it’s everyone. This is how a Purple Heart winning, marine captain who ordered 30 men and fought so well he was featured in time magazine acts? Complete nonsense. They may as well of made Fredo an award winning cardiologist, because he broke Michael’s heart.
thats actually one of the climactic phrases in the book, it says something like "at the end, everything IS personal" pointing the hypocrisy of the entire thing
Michael sittin in the chair just like his father vito. As the camera rolls in he is becoming the Don. Damn this movie was perfect.
And Hagen behind soaking every word of this speech, also realizing the sheer importance of this moment for the family.
Expect for the fact they made Michael a U.S. Marine Captain veteran. Who fought two campaigns and won a Purple Heart. If that were true he would be foaming at the mouth with PTSD and make these goons look like Boy Scouts. It’s ridiculous, and disrespectful to portray a WW2 vet this way. Pacino is clearly just acting as a college kid in the movie. Take you out of the movie so many time when they call him a veteran.
I disagree, having known and worked with several combat veterans who acted anything but how you describe. Another thing to keep in mind is that in some ways many WWII vets dealt better with PTSD based on how they disengaged from combat and returned back to normal life in the states differently from more recent generations of vets. Veterans since Vietnam or so, one day they are in-country in a combat zone, then the next they are flown home and have to suddenly re-integrate into life in the US away from the danger of combat. Of course some of them have trouble dealing with it. The WWII generation mostly traveled home from the war via ship, a process that took weeks. During their time aboard ship coming home, they had the opportunity to decompress, relax somewhat, and talk about what they had gone through, with others who had shared the same or similar experiences. Furthermore they were welcomed home by society as the heroes they were, and didn't have to deal much with jackasses treating them as "foaming at the mouth" simply for being combat vets.
Also his jaw being swollen, to give him that bulldog like face Vito had.
@netpackrat Dealing better with it is a mostly a myth. Alcoholism was rampant among vets with the level of combat Michael would have saw. Even if Michael and no PTSD he acts NOTHING like a marine captain that fought BOTH in ASIA and Europe. Al is just playing a college kid not a veteran. Michael seems like (again) a WW2 marine combat vet who fought in the worse battles outside of the eastern front and won a Purple Heart, and was in TIME MAGAZINE!!! Don’t be silly. Its parody to have given michael these achievements to then act like he does.
I love that Sonny says it's personal in the beginning to Tom, but then reminds Michael that he is taking it too personal
that shows he was not a good leader, he did not have his own point of view
He was being facetious. He was making a joke.
@@sulton_ikrom no the joke just flew over your head. Sonny was just being sarcastic
It also shows that Sonny was a warm human being, also where he apologises to Tom. Michael is as cold as ice.
Sonny was silent until clemenza laughed. He looked real proud even.
Notice how...Tom was the only one who DIDNT laugh when Mike said he'd kill them both. Tom knew in this moment, he was seeing a reflection of Vito. You can tell by the concern on his face.
Sonny knew for a second there too, just before he got carried by Clemenza’s laugh
Agreed
This should have earned Tom complete confidence, but Michael’s onset of paranoia lead him to question Hagen’s loyalty. When Michael explains to Tom that he kept him in the dark because he was the only one that he trusted, I thought that this was more of a way to make amends for doubting his own brother but always thought that it was done in an unnecessarily-cryptic way.
Bullshit, you fellas you should read the book, in the book Sonny knew who Michael was, Sonny knew everything about his brother Michael in that scene Sonny was just pushing Michael to his limit to bring out the real Michael out of Michael himself. Read the book!
@@ThePUNisher2112YYZ nah. Even at the end of the First Godfather when Vito told Tom he was out, there were things they did NOT want Tom to be a part of for several reasons.
For one - he was NOT Italian. Therefore, he could never be made an actual mafia member. No matter how close he was to the Corleone family, he could never be involved in and know EVERYTHING that was going on.
For two...he was NOT a wartime consigliere. Tom was strictly and always about business and the best interest of the family. It was best to keep him from these thing.
Love Clemenza's cave, old paint cans, pipes, tools, beer bottle, picture of a Catholic saint hanging next to pinups of girls.
Reminds me of my basement. Ìts old school. Big wooden workbe ch. Tools on hooks, dusty,exposed pipes. I have a nice work area in the barn too.
Based
Looks very much like my basement at home. Love it that way too.
Thanks for sharing, will have a look to see the surroundings this time
Not authentic !
It has to have the metal lids of glass jars
Fastened to the basement ceiling or joist .
Then the glass jars are filled with nails , nuts and bolts you can see all the time ……
Such a clever scene. The camera slowly zooms in on Michael, to exclude everyone else, showcasing the emergence of a new leader. The King is dead. Long live the King.
And for the first time, that bruised face makes him look like a criminal punk. At that point you know he’ll be a made man. Vito’s dreams of going legitimate and having his son become president are down the drain. Here again we find fiction straining reality. None of the Sicilian mobsters ever rose beyond their thuggish roots. ‘Big Paulie’ Castellano (incidentally related to Richard Castellano) tried to run things quietly, like a business manager, but never was able to carry it off before getting rubbed out by the flamboyant John Gotti.
Agreed
Also notice how he is already seated in his father's arm chair in the middle of the room.
@@johnjim6793 the attention to detail is excellent
though the Don ain't dead yet at that point lol
one of the greatest films of all time.
THE greatest film of all time.
Yeah, many, many great films have been made since the beginning of the movies, but I can say without fear of contradiction that there is none better than "The Godfather". I've watched it ninety times now, and it never fails to amaze me.
Honestly I've low-key never seen a movie better than this. The characters, the plot, the change of the protagonist, the music score, the opening, the ending, cinematography , camera action, the inspiration that this movie gave. Maybe Interstellar or Dune 2 could come close to this in my opinion but I don't think any movie is beating this
They talk to Michael about killing like he wasn't a decorated combat veteran. He's seen more death than they could ever imagine.
Yeah, I think combat is different than murder, but the guy's a Marine. I doubt he's all that squeamish.
@@QuietClean it is, but it's also not as different as you think.
@@shibity I wouldn't know. I hope I never do.
Well, lore wise I heard he served in the Pacific theater, meaning banzai charges, traps, foxholes and CQB. Implying he'd definitely had seen shit.
You didn’t pay attention to the dialogue.
The slow zooming in on Mike as he lays out the plan culminating in “I’ll kill them both myself” is absolutely brilliant.
@@jtstyle119 he had his fathers cunning, but even he didn’t realize Solozzo was not the king at the top to stop the madness and that somebody higher held the keys. Only Vito knew it at the meeting he arranged.
Sonny talking down to Mike about how he didn’t know what it was like to kill close up. Sonny’s ignorance of brutality of the war in the pacific.
Did Mike ever kill anyone face to face while he was in the army?
@@brainflash1 im asuming theres was war going on in those times yes? then theres 50 change that he did..
@@brainflash1 I don’t recall either the book or the movie specifically articulating that he did, but Clemenza’s line to Michael “You know, Mike, we was all proud of you being a hero and all. Your father too.” leads me to believe that Puzzo wanted the reader to understand that Michael wasn’t to be trifled with. As tough as a Mafioso may believe themselves to be, they hadn’t survived the harsh brutality of a determined foe such as the Japanese soldiers of WW2. I imagine US combat veterans still alive in the 1970’s could well understand the significance of underestimating such men. I know I’m making assumptions, but in the 1970’s WW2 and Korea as well as Vietnam veterans were in their prime and there were still thousands of WW1 combat veterans like grandfather who were living their lives fully.
@justme8340 yeah absolutely. Sonny telling an ex infantry officer about the brutality of killing may be more a sop to the audience than Sonny condensing to Michael. Telling a dude who had lived through Iwo Jima or Okinawa about the brutality of killing would be so stupid it leads me to believe that Sonny has never actually killed anyone, at any point.
@@brainflash1Marines, not Army.
The actors, the pace, the texture, the music, the dialog, direction, the story...and history. If anyone here hasn't seen that movie. You are missing something. Cheers all!!!
Robert Duvall is divine..
The scenes in this film are so friggin real, You know you almost forget you’re watching a film, with actors and lighting and make up and a sound stage etc etc
Without a doubt, The Godfather I and II have the greatest ensemble of actors and actresses in all of movie history. Every move, every line, every interaction is just pitch-perfect. It's been more than 50 years now, but the movie is a fresh as if it had come out yesterday.
Actors, yes. Actresses, no.
@@qqw743 Diane Keaton is absolutely superb. Talia Shire and Simonetta Stefanelli are also perfectly cast, although in minor roles. Godfather III is a different story, especially Talia Shire and Sofia Coppola, but that's why I wrote Godfather I and II.
@@johnjim6793 , I totally agree about Diane Keaton. I think her work in "The Godfather" is the best thing she ever did, with the possible exception of "Annie Hall".
The last time Sonny and Michael saw each other alive.
that scene comes later.....
ooh... you're right.. didn't think of that..!!
No it wasn't 🙂↔️
They did after filming that scene !
0:24 baddabeep baddabap baddaboop baddabeep
Imagine having that as a ringtone or a message alert instead of a hooky Drake one
Ad lib? I love it!
Might be James Caan’s best scene in my favorite move of all time.
@@danielklier2506 such a great actor
Sonny: "What about this McCluskey, what do we do with this cop?" Michael: "Whoever says he was one!"
"It's your tree, Solozzo. You're sittin in it."
NOW WAIT A MINUTE!
Hey, Rocco… chute dis pizza chit
@@Grimba86 McCluskey being executed didn’t solve their problems and neither did Solozzo. Barzini knew it and knew they’d have the guts to do it. That’s what he’d do if he was in the same situation!
"Maybe he can hand himself one of them first class tickets to the Resurrection."
"Come on, Mikey."
one of my favorite scenes in all of Cinema history. Pacino transforms from Michael college kid to the Don Corleone physically emotionally we see it happening instantly it's amazing.
Castellano's Clemenza was so, so good.
In this movie Mike is a Marine, He knows what he's talking about.
But acts like a college kid and nothing like a marine captain vet that fought 2 campaigns.
Robert Duvall: Always perfect in every role .
The way Pete jokes and mentors Michael, you knew right away it wasn't him who betrayed Michael, but Tessio.
Even for Tessio, it was just business, not personal. He made the smart move.
@@PeterT-i1w The only time insurrection is legal....IF YOU WIN. Tessio lost.
@@leoperidot482 Tessio stayed quiet at the meeting. He was probably already under Don Barzini then.
@@jondstewartI dont think so. Tessio would tell to Barzini about Michael's plan.
@@jondstewart Tessio was loyal to vito and only vito, he would not have betrayed vito while he was alive. From the 2nd movie you can see he does trust and value vito as a leader long before they "made it" as a family, so to speak. However he didn't think Micheal was going to be as good of a leader his father was, so that was why he betrayed him. Like he said at the end: "Tell Micheal it was strictly business. I always liked him."
They always make it seem like michael can't do it, as if he ain't a ww2 veteran.
And a Marine on top of that.
Clemenza: "Alright, you've shot them both. Now what do you do?"
Michael: "Sit down, finish my dinner."
Clemenza: O_O
This is when Michael made his bones.
He made his bones in the war
@@XenojinX That's when he was shooting them from a mile away, now he has to worry about getting their brains all over his nice ivy league suit.
@@joemckim1183 indeed. It’s not personal. Strictly business
@@joemckim1183 yet Moe Greene thinks he’s made no bones and just a simple practical joke at the meeting Michael makes straightforward negotiations on.
It's the love between Sonny and Mike that stands out the most no envy just respect amongst two siblings
True I loved their relationship
Yes, Michael seems detached but he was deeply sensitive, he loved his family.
No one realises, except Tom, when Michael calmly explains how he would do it, shows he is ready to take over as head of the family as Sonny is too hotheaded.
In the books, they elaborate on Sonny’s reaction which is a little different than maybe it comes across here. He actually does think Michael is for real, which James Caan conveys perfectly; he’s serious and only starts laughing with the others to go along but he at least initially is like oh so he is a real Corleone.
My #1 movie of all time. Actors, writing, plot, scenery, music score, etc. My 2nd favorite movie of all time...... The Godfather II.
I love how Michael is the only one sitting, and when Tom sits it’s right behind him. It looks like he is already the boss and is commanding his underlings to do his bidding.
The performances are incredible
This is when a monster was created
Shouldn’t have tried to kill his father .
Solozo didn't have many choice he was pyaraia or whatever if it goes smooth it Will sail smooth but if Don Corleone refuse he Will be stand in front of firing squad typewriter xD
Clemenza laughed, not because the idea is funny, but because he saw the young Vito to Mike.
Great comment
It is always the quiet ones... who are real dangerous!
Sonny lectures Mike about getting personal, yet their enemies knew how to get Sonny to take things personal, by his reputation, only to set him up, for the hit.
All their slight character flaws led to disaster. Tom, hotheaded. Froso, not a deep thinker.
Sonny proved he wasn’t fit to lead the family, and Michael came up with the plan to prove HE was fit to lead the family, all in the same scene. Masterful.
The turning point of the series. Excellent scripting.
For me, it was when Michael came back from Sicily, got out of the limo with his black Homburg, cashmere overcoat and stood there looking at Kay. She froze, like we all did...no question, he was "THE MAN". The transformation was complete.
@@oldschoolruler - That was iconic!
2:37
"Let's set the meeting."
Camera slow zooms in as Mike descends into power and evil, moves frame from all to just him.
Absolute cinematic perfection.
Clemenza: Ok, you shot them both, what you gonna do?
Mike: sit down, finish my dinner.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Its not personal Sonny, its strictly business. - The beginning of the Don.
To me, this was the best of the Godfather films. Michael's transition in this movie was just damn good writing.
It is difficult to decide what was more fascinating, the novel or the movie.
It's kinda sad knowing that most of the actors and actresses from this classic movie are no longer with us.
James Caan play italian guappo perfectly
It occurred to me when I saw this scene a few years ago that when Clemenza mentions that the last Great War happened 10 years prior, he was talking about the Olive Oil war which was when Vito emerged from that war as the “Boss of Bosses” and solidified the Corleone family at the top of the Underworld.
Playing through this scene with two friends for a drama class exam is one of my fondest high school memories
What an extraordinary movie this was/is . . . Superb casting, acting, directing and script writing . . . It will never be bettered
@@VonRyansExpress-v3r , it will never be bettered because it's a miracle it got made in the first place. The studio didn't want Brando; he was washed-up and too risky. The studio wanted Ryan O'Neal (wtf!) instead of Pacino, who was almost fired several times; the studio didn't want to pay to film in Italy for the whole Sicily sequence, which gives the movie so much of its classic ambience; and on, and on. Coppola fought like a lion to get that movie made.
@erichodge567 wow, the man had vision and created something great to the benefit of art and cinema audiences everywhere . . .
The way Pete says that everyone was proud of him being a hero, makes sounds past tense as if to say that man is dead and whatever is standing in front of him now is ghost of someone
Sony acussing Micke with Thom for taking it very very personal as if he didnt want to do the same 2 mins ago is just hilarious 😂 what a masterpiece of movie
They both plan a reaction because they know not doing anything means seeing their power reduced, but Sonny is too emotional and scared to ever dare to think outside the rules: he'd rather go to war and risk it all, and put a lot of people in danger, but he won't go against the power structure as a whole because he's afraid of moving outside the rules.
Michael on the other hand doesn't have a reverence for the rules a made man would have, but does understand diplomacy, and suggests a calculated risk that would eradicate the problem without repercussions.
That's why he emerges as the new leader, because he knows the rules, but thinks outside the box for the better outcome
1:51 Lol Sonny got Tom FUCKED up 😂
This scene is a thing of epic cinematic beauty
I never noticed that before sonny said about it being personal, I've written and told people that is the biggest flaw in the film, because the book has Vito telling michael everything in life is personal. And that is probably one of the most important things to remember
Does that mean if your Grandma slaps you across the face that you should put a bullet in her head the next day? Because everything's personal.
Sonny makes WW2 sound like a video game
He NEVER said “it’s personal”. He said the opposite.
EVERYTHING is personal.
Sonny wants to wage war for personal reasons, Tom convinces him that it has to be strictly business or they all die. It's basically choosing between winning the beef or appeasing in order to avoid a lethal threat. Michael comes up with pretending to appease in order to remove the most immediate threat. It's not vengeance, since the plan is still not addressing Tattaglia's involvement, but it buys Vito safety from Solozzo. Sonny points out that the risk outweighs the gain but Michael claims they can minimize the risk by airing out the police captain's dirty laundry. The question remains. Was it personal or strictly business? I'd say it was personal while still taking care of business. That's why both Tom and Sonny end up agreeing.
The craziest thing is, the other 5 families knew the Corleone family was becoming weak, and taking out the Don could of been the right move. Cause Sonny was a hot head, and Fredo was a push over. But they didn't expect the last son, Michael.
6:10 thats 100% uncle clem talking to mike
The mouth on Michael, the cheek...the swollen face...on one side...it is Symbolism to show he is Half Way...to being The Godfather.
Throughout the whole movie Michael always believed in Clemenza…even when Sonny thought he was behind Vito’s assasination attempt. This last scene of Michael and Clemenza just tells you the true love he had for him…unlike Tessio. Also in the movie…it was Tessios men who was supposed to have been at the hospital guarding Vito.
They laugh at him but Michael was a decorated WW 2 combat Marine officer with a Purple Heart. They really overlooked this in the script. By right he was already a bad ass.
This scene shows why tom hagen was not a wartime consiglierie. He was simply too careful.
sonny had vito's drive to be don but it's micheal who had vito's brain.
I like how calm Clamenza is even when he realize it is them vs all the other families. He is so confident in the strength of the Corleone empire
Every scene in this movie is brilliant, but especially this one.
The meeting in the office may be the best scene in any movie.
This is great acting. I like when Sonny intensely listened to Michael's proposal but only laughed when the others laughed.
All the God father films were good , in my opinion this one was the best. I have the full box set I just love it.
I do love how the corleone family itself loves each other. Sonny could have a whole massive empire at his fingers but would do anything for his father to make a 100% recovery and take back control of everything.
The header should be: "it's not personal, it's strictly business."
Michael's army days are so ignored by everyone, even his family and his enemies. He might have PTSD. He has seen blood and carnage more than anyone in that room.
Sometimes I wonder when Tessio was at the meetings that he went to Don Barzini afterwards and told him the news. It wouldn’t affect Barzini’s operation at all, Solozzo and Tattalgia were used as pawns by him, anyway. Something tells me Tessio was used as a mole by Barzini from the beginning. Look at how he just stands in the back and calmly listens. Yes, I know about him with the plan to plant the gun and Michael assassinating the Captain and Solozzo. Tessio and Barzini knew this wouldn’t affect the plans for the narcotics business to move ahead and Barzini’s empire to expand. When Vito died, Tessio played his last card inviting Michael to a meeting to let Michael be assassinated. And his last card didn’t complete the game.
Go before that scene when Mikey goes to the hospital to visit Pop. It was Tessio's men who were all rounded up up by McClusky's men. I don't think that it was a coincidence.
In the book he didn't turn until close to Vito corleone death.
Not even close my friend, you really should read the book and that will tell you that Tessio doesn't change sides until Mike's running the family, he just doesn't think Mike will win, he'd never ever in a million years betray Vito, his Godfather. He was 10000000000% loyal at this point
@davidmellish3295 I read the book many times. The movie is not a 100% adaptation, and Tessio in the movie has a colder relationship with Michael than Clemenza, who treats Mike like a loving nephew.
@@Fan_Made_Videos well if you've read the book you fully aware that Tessio doesn't turn until Mike's in charge, the film is an adaptation of the book because you can't make a 2 hr (or whatever it is) movie of the book, to do it really accurately it would go on for hours. That doesn't mean they have made any major changes, as they haven't they just haven't been able to show every little detail of the book. So what if he isn't as friendly, they haven't changed the character of Tessio to be disloyal to his Don way before he actually turned.
He was always loyal to Don Vito. As you've read the book you know all this, so why make stupid statements like, Tessio is already on Barrzini payroll?
They underestimated Michael as an Ivy League student, instead of a veteran that had just seen combat.
This scene got me into filmmaking.
"Sit down, finish my dinner." lmao
Like how Michael still has a sense of humor in such a tense situation.
Just a classic scene all around … you can say that Mike was going to be the new Godfather
"Tom, Sunny - they stole the cannolis - and that I do not forgive."
Tom knew not to laugh after Michael laid out his plan…
Tom accepted the better battle plan of Mike’s. Sonny’s war would’ve just been attrition on both sides.
I think a bad change from the movies was not making obvious that Mike's calm rage would never let him handle this without it being personal. Like he says "its strictly business" but it was 100% personal.
Thank God the enemy didn’t thoroughly check that restaurant before meeting Michael
I met my girlfriend and we literally couldn’t watch a movie for over a year. Man what a problem to have. She was crazy you know, but this movie came on and we stayed staring at the screen. I’m telling you
Tom Hagan’s (Robert Duvall) acting is incredible. His expressions are so real you can tell he’s fully immersed in the character. I pick him hands down over the already excellent performances of James Caan (Sonny) and Al Pacino. All three were nominated that year but Robert Duvall should’ve come on top
I always found Sonny’s misunderstanding of war to be unrealistic. He would have grown up hearing stories about the first war, which tended to have quite a bit of close quarter fighting. Not to mention that news reals of the time mentioned Banzai attacks and Japanese night raids all the time. I really can’t see him being under the illusion of war just exclusively being a bunch of dudes shooting each other from really far away. He’s literally from a time when hand to hand/melee combat was still relatively common in combat, at least compared to today. I mean yes, artillery and small arms fire accounted for the overwhelming majority of battlefield casualties, but close quarters was still something that happened quite a bit. Trenches, caves, houses, etc. plenty of guys popped each other from point blank range. Whether they used SMGs, Shotguns, knives, shovels, bayonets, etc. the average man in the late 40’s was aware of these happenings whether they went overseas or not.
I know they’re just trying to reinforce the idea that Sonny doesn’t approve of military service, but I don’t think him having such a nonsensical misconception was really in character for his character. He was hot headed and impulsive, sure. But he wasn’t stupid.
Sonny is hard-headed and knows it all, so even if he heard the stories, he would ignorantly believe that what they go through with the mafia is harsher.
I think there’s something psychologically different about shooting a man at close range when you’re a soldier vs murder. You’re “not a murderer” in the first instance, and that can give some psychological comfort.
@@wkcia I suppose that’s true. But in this case, I think it’s the other way around. the men he shot nearly killed his father and were threatening his entire families well being. The Japanese soldiers were just regular dudes like him for the most part. If anything, I think it would psychologically be easier to kill Solonzo and Mcklusky than it is to kill an enemy soldier. At least they had it coming.
I see it as psychology. The older brother has seen the younger brother gain respect for his bravery in a war in which the older brother didn't serve. So he's come up in his mind with rationalizations for why the war hero isn't the real hero but he is. Staying at home and engaging in street violence is the real heroism in his mind so he stays the main character, the one really deserving the respect. It lets him continue to think patronizingly toward his younger, inferior brother.
Never met an arrogant person before? Sounds like it would absolutely turn your world upside down.
Michael knew what he was getting into. He just didn't know that there was no way out. As soon as he picked up that bottle, he could never put it back down.
Michael looks like Dustin Hoffman in these scenes to contrast with who Michael becomes after the restaurant according to Pacino on Conan's podcast.
1:00
"Well then business will have to suffa..."
The writing in this movie is without equal.
I don’t care what anybody says, Mike took that personal
has there been a better transformative character than Micheal Corleone?
@5:53 Dead on import point what Clemenza says about stopping them at the beginning. You cannot appease bullys.
Britain and France caused Stalin to invade Poland in 1939.
It's interesting how Sonny thinks of Michael as a college kid when he is a decorated veteran of the war. I've seen in an outtake where Michael is on the cover of Life magazine for his heroism. I think that was from 1979 when they showed "The Godfather Saga" in chronological order with outtakes.
The greatest film of all time
Michael has a Silver Star, a Navy Cross, and a Purple Heart on top of a field commission from the Pacific but they doubt his resolve under fire, as if anything that’s come out of NYC could rival Guadalcanal, Iwo, or the Philippines 😂
3:50 Tom this is business
& and this man is taking it very personal
Starting at 2:02 in the video. I've always thought this was a flaw in the movie. Sal Tessio is clearly in the corner watching and listening to the plan for the assassination (restaurant scene). Given that he was the traitor, you'd have thought that he'd have helped Solozzo. I mean afterall, he'd already betrayed the family and was committed to their downfall. Made no sense to me that he was in this scene to hear the plan.
I'm guessing Tessio saw that as a win for him maybe there was a some gain in it for him.
I don't think Barzini approached Tessio until Solozzo and the captain were killed.
When Michael took over, and they felt his leadership was questionable, Barzini and Tessio saw an opening, not realizing Michael was smarter, more ruthless and had the benefit of his father advising him. Critical mistake for the both of them.
After observing this meeting, you'd think Tessio would know better... and he was supposed to be the smart one, damn.
He didn’t turn on the family until years after this took place and it looked like the family was weak and losing.
Michael is the main character and has a deadly calm about him that is truly intimidating
But hotheaded Sonny is hilarious.
The Pope in that picture looks like he's approving and blessing the whole thing, including the 12oz bottle of Rinegolg beer on the sjelf.😅
Heh heh, Rheingold was the top beer in NYC in the 40s and 50s. Germans called it Pferdepisse (horse piss). You would see it at Dodgers games or at places like Clemenza’s dump. Quite a contrast to the Don’s office in the earlier scene-typical WASP decor with leather club chairs and Tiffany lamps. I guess that’s where Vito would entertain his ‘lotta friends in politics’. And hey, why does Clemenza worry about leaving prints on the gun? He’s supposed to ditch it at the scene in front of witnesses. That wouldn’t stop a DA from charging him.
Why do I always keep reminding myself that Peter Clemenza HAS to be THE most popular & favorite character in the entire series???
3:33 most ridiculous plot hole of the movie. Michael is U.S. Marine Captain, who won a Purple Heart and fought in two campaigns. He’s the most dangerous man in that room, but the “gangsters” act like the army was the Boy Scouts. It’s a joke. They should’ve had Michael only be a college student. Him being a veteran is nonsense.
It actually is great and explains his behaviour. His brothers not understanding what it meant he fought in the pacific (among many other things) shows exactly why sonny could never lead... l think michaels identity is great!
You are grossly misinformed to think the 2 translate to each other. It's not about him being capable to pull a trigger and kill someone - it's the reasoning and ramifications behind it.
@@KingGogh The idea that active military service desensitizes one to murder-no. But think about it: He was able coldly to explain to Kay how his father’s goon used terror to get what the don wanted, and Michael felt free to detach himself from it and draw an innocent wife into a mob family. The foreshadowing goes back at least that far in the plot.
@KingGogh “Grossly misinformed” weird projection
@Zeiler91 It’s not just his brother it’s everyone. This is how a Purple Heart winning, marine captain who ordered 30 men and fought so well he was featured in time magazine acts? Complete nonsense. They may as well of made Fredo an award winning cardiologist, because he broke Michael’s heart.
thats actually one of the climactic phrases in the book, it says something like "at the end, everything IS personal" pointing the hypocrisy of the entire thing
Michael: At Last!
Mike realized right in this scene that Tom isn't a wartime consigliere.