There's movies that completely fall apart when you try to deconstruct them and then there's movies like The Godfather I & II that only seem to get better when you look at them closely
@@haseebirshad imdb top of mafia genre Casino, Goodfellas and by hod Sopranos. And for genre change Park Chan Wook Vengeance trilogy is quite fascinating
7:54 it's something I really didn't picked on but Michael's amazing reaction time to fire, from why are the drapes open to him turning his head to see and just milliseconds in dropping his head before the bulllets fly in, for any other character it would be little unrealistic or plot armour but Michale being a war hero and probably have seen alot of enemy fire and keeping his guard up all the time in the war and in built reaction timing from real combat experience really paid off here
This breakdown is excellent 👌🏾. I’m about to watch the film again for the first time in years because you’ve pointed out so many things I’ve never noticed before. Thank you!
It would have been so easy for a sequel of the Godfather to fail and it didn't. This is largely due to the story structure and the principal actors. Cinema is literature.
Something I've always wondered is, when Michael and Fredo are in Havana talking outside, Fredo talks about wanting, "for once in [his] life, to be more like Pop", I always see Michael's reply transcribed as "It's not easy to be a son, Fredo", but what I've always heard is, "It's not easy to be HIS son, Fredo." That seems more appropriate to me, as they're both Vito Corleone's sons and are the only two men alive who feel the pressure to live up to Vito's legacy. As the head of the family, Michael knows (and bears) this pressure far better than Fredo, but to me "not easy to be his son" makes far more sense as Michael understandably sympathizes with Fredo here.
I think you are looking into it to it too much. Michael, offerd himself to save the family. He was the only one that could do it. He did out of love for his father. That was not easy thing, in fact it was hell. He never wanted that for himself or his family. Sacrifice that a son does for a father ... In a GQ mag Coppola gave an interview during which he said " Father betrays the son, son never betrays the father "... He was speaking about gf2
Also, notice that Fredo tries to copy Vito's physical appearance, with the slicked-back hairstyle and thin mustache, but it only makes him look even less threatening than he already does. I don't know if that was Coppola's idea or John Cazale's, but either way it’s a nice touch.
@@gelchert To be honest, I never really noticed that. Michael clearly doesn't attempt to physically imitate Vito at all except in the way he handles himself for meetings. (Sitting in a chair, letting them come to him, standard power moves he learned, etc). But Fredo actually changed his appearance. It really just makes him look skinnier and weaker. Poor guy.
This and the first Godfather are perfect films. I can’t fin’d anything wrong in them. I’d like seeing something about The Wire in the channel. For my money there’s never been better TV than that.
Oddly enough as near perfect as the screenplays for the Godfather I and II are, you probably couldn't sell those screenplays today nor get them greenlit. There are very few screenwriters, or rather there are very few films being made by Hollywood today that show any care about making films that not only hold up to critical analysis, but also have something to say beyond being disposable popcorn entertainment for audiences to turn off their brains and not think too hard.
Many people see TG Pt 2 as better, but I feel both are equally magnificent filmmaking. Recently I watched all 3 in 3 nites. Wow. I want to watch it again. I remember where I was when I read the book. I stayed up all night. I just couldn't put it down. The films did not disappoint.
I agree, and I've read the book twice now. You really can't put it down! (Mario Puzo does an excellent job of always pushing the narrative into the future, and it makes us constantly want to know what's going to happen next. Luckily, he translated this into the screenplays with Coppola.)
I've always had a couple of problems with GF II's storyline. The most troublesome for me is the appearance of the colorful Frankie Pentangeli. Here's a character who keeps talking about the "old days" when he doesn't appear in the original film. It rings hollow. Obviously, he is a stand-in for Clemenza (Richard Castellano backed out of Part II over script disagreements with Coppola), but it would have been far better to explain Pentangeli's absence from the original film by saying he had he been in jail during the 5 Families War. His popping up out of nowhere in the sequel would be more naturally integrated into the story, and it would make a better throughline, that he kept his mouth shut while in prison, and his loyalty is rewarded by handing him Clemenza's regime and gifting him the Don's Long Beach house. Then his later betrayal of the Corleones would hold more juice ("I went to prison for the Corleones once. I'm not doing it a second time"). The other lesser problem is Sen. Pat Geary. He makes a powerful opening appearance, and the next time we see him, he is compromised in the motel room. He should have been developed as a strong adversary against Michael by showing him set up the organized crime hearings in his Washington office, urging respected bankers to not do business with Michael, working with the FBI, holding press briefings railing against the mob, etc., and only then being brought to his knees in the most humiliating situation imaginable. If we see him as a serious threat, his downfall would have a "wow" effect. As it is, he makes a strong entrance, disappears from the plot (and is forgotten about), then shows up naked in bed a half hour later (it usually takes two screenings for a viewer to grasp what is going on in that motel scene).
I would have loved to have seen the peerless James Cagney in the Hyman Roth part as requested by Coppola...they made him an offer he DID refuse!. Yoda-like Lee Strasberg is wonderful, of course, but from a film buff's point of view, it would have been a kick to see Cagney share those scenes with the young Pacino...
Cagney was just too Irish looking to play a Jewish gangster. Strasberg's casting was brilliant. Pacino asked Coppola to give his former acting teacher the role of Roth.
@@tonym994 "All's well that ends well..."...funny story though...Cagney's bosses at Warner Bros. in the '30s were Jewish & would converse among themselves in Yiddish thinking the mostly Irish Cagney wouldn't understand...but he spoke fluent Yiddish (albeit in a strong Yorkville accent, apparently)...
Do I think The Godfather Part II is better than the first? My answer is entirely subjective. I prefer the first film because it has Marlon Brando and James Caan, and I just find it more memorable and ultimately more entertaining. It took 3 viewings for me to actually appreciate The Godfather, where as I still can’t rate Part II on par with the first film. I do really enjoy it, but not as much as it’s predecessor. Your video has given me an urge to rewatch The Godfather Part II. A viewing or two could open my eyes a little wider, and obviously the screenplay is worth paying close attention to. I forgot about the subtext lines with the hidden meanings that you pointed out here. Seriously clever writing! Another great analysis yet again, Script Sleuth! :)
Vito, Sonny, and Clemenza make GF1 better. GF2 has De Niro as young Vito. The cast for the first film was stronger and the action in the first film is more satisfying.
I really enjoy Part 1 more than Part 2, but for me Part 2 is definitely better, managing to connect two different eras and several other storylines together seamlessly
@@ScriptSleuth one of the things you might talk about is creating a strong villain And another thing, you deserve at least 10 million subs, not 10 thousand
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I'm so glad you addressed how vito would've actually been a pos person. He would've taken advantage of others and caused pain and misery in the world. There's no other way he could've obtained the power he had. Even if he didn't do it himself, his organization did it under his leadership and direction.
Vito and Michael are both very good at justifying what they do, but the more I watch the movies, the less I think Coppola or Puzo meant for us to take their excuses at face value.
This is probably your best analysis yet - The Godfather is brilliant, and the more rewatchable movie, but Part II is objectively the BETTER movie. Your analysis gives rise to what I call the Beatles paradox - when you break a piece of art down, it really doesn't seem that complicated and makes it seem like anyone could have done it. This movie has no special effects, no shocking twists, no flashy directorial or editorial flares - it doesn't have any of the "tricks" Hollywood often throws into movies to keep audiences entertained, and the screenplay, as you point out, has a number of very basic tools that good screenplays have. Hence, the paradox - if the reasons for something being great are so simple and well known....why doesn't everyone make something that great, every time?
Great question! Because it honestly takes a lot of work. It's not easy to keep all these things in mind and yet tell a good, honest story. I think that screenwriting is more like constructing a building: build a good foundation first, otherwise it doesn't matter what curtains you dress the windows with.
In my six decades as a writer, nothing on Earth separates “simple” from “easy” as surgically as screenwriting. It’s very simple - and anything but easy if you’re trying to make a real contribution.
As someone who saw the Godfather many times as a teenager (and being too young to appreciate it for the masterpiece that it was- preferring the more rudimentary yet “cooler” violent titles such as Scarface and Goodfellas) I never bothered to see part 2. Mainly because my older brother owned a DVD of The Godfather and didn’t own The Godfather 2. But also due to the popular belief that sequels are _always_ inferior to their originals. I simply lacked any interest in it. But as I grew up, and as my taste became more refined, I found myself watching The Godfather and appreciating it far more than I did as a teen. I became so impressed with it that I _finallllly_ got around to watching part 2. And wow. I was blown away. I instantly understood why it was rated so highly. How could a sequel be so good? Is it- dare I say - even superior to the original? Yes. Yes it was. In fact I adamantly believed it to be and would argue this point against anybody I knew. And it was due to one thing. And one thing alone… Robert Deniro as the young Vito Corleone. Just _everything_ about this dude was the epitome of cool. His demeanor, his soft spoken yet intimidating voice, his perfectly spoken (to my ears) Italian, that cool hat, his rise to power, knowing he becomes who he is. I’ve always been a sucker for origin stories and young Vito’s was _the_ best of all time. Around this time I also fell in love with Deniro as an actor. All of a sudden my favorite movies were Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, Deer Hunter, and of course Godfather 2. However, as I’ve continued to age and mature out of my late twenties, I have a newfound appreciation of the OG. Maybe it’s the “happier” vibe of the movie. Maybe it’s James Caan. Or Marlin Brando. Or the ultimate transformation of Michael, from a meek character to a cutthroat badass. Maybe it’s because of the more likable antagonists (Sollozzo, Tattaglia/Barzini vs Roth, Senator Geary). Maybe it’s because I read the book and appreciate that it’s based on all of Puzo work as opposed to just the young Vito portions (which I honestly think are the best parts of the sequel). Maybe it’s because the baptize scene is so insanely satisfying and climatic. I don’t know what it is exactly or why, but The Godfather is, in my eyes, superior to The Godfather 2. **However they’re both still excellent and 2 of the greatest movies of all time.
The police officer didn't thwart the murder of Frank in the bar, in my humble opinion. Roth played both sides by getting the brothers to attempt the murder, only for him to arrange for the officer to intervene and save Frank. As Hagen said, Roth played this one beautifully and also shows the manipulation tRoth employs, playing the Rissotto Brothers, Frank and a crooked officer all against each other, knowing that his tip would keep him clean and at the worst incriminate the Rissotto Brothers who were in his own opinion, small potatoes and push Frank towards cooperating with the authorities against Michael and take him out that way, since the assassins bodged the job earlier when Fredo had betrayed his brother.
this channel is a gold mine for any aspiring screenwriter do you think you can make a video on horror sometimes soon i would like to understand what makes them work, maybe scream would be a good idea
Philip Halpenny has a great tidbit I was unaware of. The great James Cagney was offered the role of Hyman Roth in GF2. That would have been casting at its finest. Although a song and dance man at heart, Cagney was forever typecast as a gangster. For good reason! As wonderful as Lee Strasburg was, he wouldn't have been able to match the riveting presence of Cagney. In fact if one movie figure could unseat the Corleones, it would have to be The Yankee Doodle Dandy. The only man who could "Outbad" Don Vito. Your analysis is brilliant. The reason why The Godfather is the greatest move of all time is obvious. There are more plot twists and subtexts than 10 soap operas! Engrossing screen writing, carried out by the finest cast of actors ever assembled in one film. Even the irony of Michael becoming the new Don is so compelling. The son who wants nothing to do with the family business is roped and tied. The shooting of his father assures that he will have to kill Solozzo and McCluskey. After leaving America, his new bride Appolonia is killed by a car bomb meant for him. Prior to the tragic death of Appolonia, Michael discovers that Sonny has been assassinated. This assures that Michael will have to be repatriated home. After marrying the estranged Kay Adams, Vito Corleone tutors Michael on the intricacies of power. Before things are airtight, Vito dies unexpectedly. Through the guiding hand of his father Michael assassinates the heads of New Yorks Five Families. Not finished, in one final resolution Michael executes his traitorous brother in law Carlo. The wife beating, lecherous punk that Sonny mistakingly introduces to Connie. The telling line "Aah that little farce you played with my sister. Did you think that could fool a Corleone?" This says it all. Now things are finished. Right? Not quite. Resentful older brother Fredo carries his irrational grudge against Michael into the sequel. This authors his betrayal that nearly undoes the Corleone empire. No movie ever had so many reasons to watch as the Godfather saga. Writing and filmmaking without peer in cinematic hjstory..
When mafia war began Michael "pushed " Kay away from him bc he didn't want her anywhere near his family. He didn't let her come with him to a hospital to see his father, bc he didn't want her involved.....there would be police there and paparazzis so she could end up in newspaper. He is worried about her parents reaction if that would to happen. He cared about what they thought about him. That week they were supposed to get married....he is warning her about marrying him at that moment. " Go home and think about everything " ... He never broke up with her, or called of the wedding or stopped loving her. When he was Sicily, months were passing by. Music Loneliness begins to play. Coppola is showing you mafia war brewing, dead bodies on the streets of NY, Michael ended up on the cover of the mag Police hunt cop killer. Michael us walking through the streets of Sicily. Love theme song begins to play. Michael is thinking about Kay and their nights together.... Don Tomassino pulls up. He wants to take him home where Michael has been staying.Michael asks " When can I come back home did Sonny say " Don Tomassino says "Sonny said your enemies know you are here". In otherwords you are not coming back anytime soon and....lay low. He is walking, he saw good looking chick filled in all the right places. He got thunderbolt which is biological manifestation of arousal sexual eraction. He spoke to her father from position of power, straight up freathen him, no respect...... moment when Michael mentioned marriage Coppola commented with words " This is NOT the case of a prince asking for a princess ". He came into her house to court her.....with presents. His intention was not to get to know her or for her to get to know him.He is messy disheveled. There is no sex before marriage so to get some love he has to marry her. He made her an offer which she. ....goldigging skank she was couldn't refuse. She agreed to go out with him and marriage was set up in two weeks bc she thought he was rich. The CATCH....most important thing about it is that he knew he was putting her in danger. He never told her about mafia war or the fact he was WARNED by Don Tomassino that everybody learned he was there. Everybody knew he was in Sicily noone knew where in Sicily he was. Spectacle of hypocrisy that was village circus of their wedding is how they found him. The wedding killed her. Goldigger who married an elderly man who she found ugly and who she knew was gangster after only two weeks of knowning him because she thought he was rich blew up in a car......the irony. Bitch died he came home and told Kay he loved her and cared about her. Kay left he got diabetes aged over night stopped smoking drinking killing, never took the ring of his finger or touched another woman for the rest of his life. I love how you call Kay estranged.....technically yes they were apart. The only reason he waited more that a year to bring her back into his life is bc he wanted to make sure it was safe for her. When the shooting stopped. He made something out of himself made a plan to legitimize the business. He is working for his father but he will do things differently. His fathers way of doing stuff is old and finished. He looks like serious man, business man as Coppola says. Coppola in an interview for Deadline " He loved Kay, that marriage ment a lot to him. She pulled the plug on it bc she didn't wanna be married to mafia. He promised her he was gonna legitimize the business somehow he couldn't pulled it off. Kay Adams represents his dream Being with a woman like that ment he would be out of that world ". Everything he did he did for his family and in the end he destroyed his family.....Coppolas words while commenting gf2
Goldigger who married a criminal for money blew up in a car..... the irony of life. Which is why Puzo never gave Michael a guilty conscience. In fact, in a book when speaking about what happened in Sicily with his father Michael used the words " got away "... Vito :" Why do you think Barzini tried that.Did he try to kill you before we made a deal or was it too late to stop " Michael:" Yeah but I got away ".. In a movie Coppola captured that perfectly.... Michael speaking to Vito after he came back from Sicily/ deleted scene/ Michael:" Pop, what about Sonny, what about Sicily. if we don't respond isn't family gonna be weak "... Not even mentioning her, not even saying her name let alone addressing her as his wife......what about Sicily? Well Barzini tried to kill him but he got away I wouldn't behave like that if a dog with flees died bc of me or instead of me.
I disagree with part of what you said about Reversals. The fact that the audience can see it coming is also satisfying. You KNOW the villain will be defeated, but the question is how. Hyman Roth's assassination was foiled, but it wasn't hinted at directly. In truth, we see how these attempts can succeed AND fail. The guards coming in was slightly unexpected as it was shown to be alone, (and even every other attempt was done when the victim was alone) but, its still within reason of the world itself. IT was hinted at when Hyman Roth diving Cuba as a force of power. You can catch the hint of his powerful friends as he's dividing up cuba's crime network. Keen audience members will pick up on that possibility, and be rewarded with the last minute save, while less keen members will be shocked by something that still fits within the world itself.
The failed hit on Roth is mirrored in the scene where the policeman disrupts the murder attempt on Pentangelli. Although whether that disruption is accidental or planned is unclear, they seemed to want to give the message that Michael was the one ordering the hit. That only makes sense if they wanted him to live, and their rushed leaving even though it was only one beat cop makes me think the objective was not murder, but to make Pentangelli turn against Michael. Which he did, and Michael had to go to some lengths to prevent his testimony in the Senate hearings.
Also, you recall Vito did not want to get messed up in drugs. As if to say, I don’t mind stealing from corporations but I don’t want to hurt regular everyday people. That’s another way the film made us sympathetic to his character.
I can't really decide which is my favourite movie of the trilogy because the Godfather trilogy is one great big story and I personally think all 3 films are just as good as one another but then again I am recently discovering the magic of the Godfather trilogy all over again in audiobooks and the audio books are bigger again then the films just as brilliant but also I think if you made the trilogy film just as long as the audio books all the books themselves that would be totally amazing and that is what makes the Godfather trilogy in whatever format it comes it's a master stroke of brilliance
I made this comment in another video. 1976 would have been the year to do Part 3 with De Niro as the main character in the 1930's. Then the 1990 film could have just been an epilogue for Michael.
Yes, but who ordered the hit on Frank Pentangeli, Michael Corleone or Hyman Roth? I contend that this was a script problem that was never solved, because the movie tries to have it both ways. If it was Roth, why does Tony Rosato say "Michael Corleone says hello"? If it was Roth, why does Roth get all uptight when Michael asks him about it and bring up Moe Greene? Why doesn't Roth just say, "Yeah, it was me. You told me YOU were going to do it. I just thought I'd save you the trouble. After all, an attempt was made on your life." And why, much later in the film, we hear Michael say, "Pentangeli alive" with disappointment in his voice, as if he DID order the hit?
I have enjoyed your analysis of some of my favorite films from a writer’s perspective. I would like to suggest an analysis of the the film, “Fallen”, written by Nicholas Kazan.
Okay, how did Vito Corleone become the neighborhood boss after killing his Black Hand predecessor? Vito went to some lengths to position himself in the darkened hallway. He climbed from roof to roof. He disassembled the murder weapon. All his subterfuge concealed his actions. So how did he make the jump to crime boss? When Vito and family went to visit Sicily, one of Vito's plans was to avenge his family by killing the now elderly Don. His friend Tommisino accompanied him to the don's villa. He introduced Vito to Ciccio. He defended their escape. He ended up with a crippling injury. So how did seemingly subservient Tommisino go on to become Don Ciccio's replacement? In both situations, the elimination of the former local boss led to a new "administration". What is the explanation for those new younger men taking charge?
@@cooper2270 of late, I've viewed a seeming myriad of videos devoted to dissecting the Godfather series of films. The videos take into account all manner of details. One might consider the following; What became of the bodies of Fredo and Carlo? How were the heads of the other four families unprotected by their own bodyguards? Yes, over thinking might be a factor. So much analysis of the series has become made with the anniversary of the original film.
When Michael told Fredo he knew it was him.... he escaped frighten. Later in the scene Michael offered help " Fredo come to me you are still my brother ".. Michael didn't wanna kill Fredo. He told you why he did wanna kill him " Where is my brother, find him I know he is scared, tell him I know he didn't think they were gonna try to kill me". That is true. Fredo didn't know they were gonna try to kill him which is why Michael didn't want to kill him. Michael was a fer Don much like Vito.He never killed anyone that didn't deserve to be killed except when it came to his family, Kay and his kids. After he found out about consequences of his actions he had him killed. - " Fredo come to me you are still my brother" - Michael found out about the baby, he is scared he is gonna lose his family/ wife - " You are not my brother, you are nothing to me " - " Don't touch him while mother is alive "
I always thought that Fredo sensed that he was a goner when Connie called Anthony away, and Fredo and Al Niri pushed off in the boat to fish --- alone.
I always thought when Fredo started talking about Johnny Ola and Roth with Michael right behind him, it was a little too convenient. I know Fredo was supposed to be stupid, but that's a first ballot hall of fame type of mistake.
it's an odd funny thing but not in the 2' puzo books and not even in the winegardner books or even the falco book in none of the books do they ever brooch upon how Vito & carmela met and courted
One more bit of dramatic irony at the very end of the movie: Coppola cuts away after Fredo says "Holy Mary, mother of God," but as any Catholic knows, the next and final line of the prayer is "pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death." Guess what happens to Fredo right after he would have said that?
Brilliant analysis; thanks for this. I love the first two Godfather films. Just one query: @34:50, Michael had not yet known that she had aborted (or yet to abort) the Baby; that came later no? Even before that dramatic meeting in the hotel it seems that these two had already grown apart to a certain degree ('seven year itch' etc) I often wonder why Michael had married Kay, a 'wasp' rather than one of his own, so to speak - especially after his time in Sicily! - I guess it was born out of true love but also another step in legitimising the Corleone family in society overall? Keep up the great work. Much respect from Ireland.
Michael married Kay bc she was love of his life. She was the only person that he loved with his heart, but on top of everything valued and respected She is his " dream". That's how it was described in a book, shown in a movie and explained in interviews. Every but every time Coppola or Pacino give an interview they address her as " dream". Michael LOVES WASPS..... that's is his type of woman. Educated WASPS That is specifically stated in a gf3 script and obvious from the book. Now.... interestingly your prejudice about ethnicity was broken by Puzo. Michael married sicilian woman/ child bc he had to.... since there was no sex before marriage but she turned out to be chick who doesn't clean, cook, has never made them breakfast, doesn't want to be wife or mother. Most importantly she doesn't want to be Italian wife she wanted to be American wife. She was also semiliteral manipulative profoundly stupid goldigger Kay was WASP but turned herself into a full blown sicilian woman. And in the end none of that is the point. Point of the story was not for Michael to have a chick by his side that will facilitate his mafia behavior. Michael wants out. Goddamm idiots watching a mafia movie and rooting for a man to be mafia.
@@dc6461 An interesting take on it indeed. Poor Aplollonia, she was quite beautiful, and her lovely breasts were quite a delightful distraction among the underworld dealings of men (We never get to see Kay's breasts for some reason. but lets not be prejudiced here) Don't forget also that this reflects the relationship of Coppola and his own 'WASP' wife in real life. I would add that this is an apt connection too, intentional or not. Coppola himself does touch upon this in interviews etc. It is reflective of the times also, that many immigrant groups did keep to their own generally, but there was marriage or affairs with others outside of race - even though this could be frowned upon. Remember that 'West Side Story' reflected this, and also notorious mafia bosses such as Sam Giancana had affairs with Hollywood women etc. Apollonia had a taste for the American way of life as did Fabrizio, who betrayed Michael and lead to the death of Apollonia - he was always bugging Michael about America etc. He met his just end of course. The Godfather is a great reflection of the Italian-American story overall and a delight to watch, and learn more, from. Thanks for your input.
@@lordsod69 Excuse me but this is not the " take" . It's what was stated in a book,movie and scripts. If you are interested in a topic of a gf you can find scripts of gf2/ final draft and gf3 / final draft online and read them for free. Also interviews given by people who made the movies Including interview of Mario Puzo who called Apollonia " good for one thing tramp ". He gave that interview long long time ago.. Now We haven't seen Kay's breasts bc we did not have to. She is a respected character that in a book Puzo placed on a " trone" and approached with nothing but upmost respect. She is a flawless perfection of a character,woman Michael himself valued and respected so much that at the end of the book and trilogy he called her his Don " You are my Don". Michael's feelings to Kay has nothing to do Coppolas WASP.wife. Entire trilogy made was made in such way that there was no straying away from the book, essence of the characters, who they are, what do they want, their aspirations.....all taken from the book. Michael LOVED Kay bc she was sweet ( had character) , smart ( had intelligence) and different ( black on white on a skin). He craved her sexually, thought about her beauty when he was fighting in a pacific. When he came from Sicily they made love that night free times, their sex was great as Michael stated gravely, she stayed pregnant immediately after marriage And after giving birth to their first child she stayed pregnant again. But that's not why he loved her. But to Puzo that's irrelevant. She was described as beautiful but we don't know details of that beauty. He elevated everything else Kay is everything ..... sweet, kind , is not interested in money, social, cares about her friends, educated smart , gave up on her career to became a stay at home mom, learned how to cook, intrigued, a good girl that would never cheat, has intellectual hight and emotional depth and most importantly moral compass. All opposite from apollonia
@@lordsod69 Regarding physical look... I must say I find people who judge others based on their physical look utterly disgusting. We notice physical look . We have an opinion about it...... I find Apollonia to be " not beautiful "..... Cute yes, but also small eyes, small lips and worst tits I have ever seen in my life if I may confess. In fact it's not a tit it's a nipple on a flat chest....excuse my vulgarity. But that's not the reason I or Puzo hate her as a character. Now judging character based on a physical look of a chick who played her is a unique kinda disgusting. Interestingly that aspect of the human nature was covered in the book. Let me explain... Apollonia was a scumbag who judged people for their physical looks. When Michael came into her house she LAUGHED in his face while looking at her brother, mocking him. Michael is ugly, his face was broken. Than he gave her a necklace so ugliness was no longer a problem . She agreed to go out with him and wedding was set up in two weeks bc she thought he was rich. So ..... scum Coppola captured this ferly well in a movie. When Michael reunited with Kay, when she saw his ugly face she cried. She ran into his arms, barried her face in his shoulders and cried. Michael is holding her until she finished. He is looking at her face, cleaning her tears, he grabbed her , put her in a car, took her home where they made love 3 times. Now, when they sat in a car Kay is fixing her make up and she says " I am sorry I didn't mean to react that way it's just that they didn't tell me how much they hurted you" Michael smiled and touched his face " This, this is nothing " They are at home making love. In between he is asking her to marry him.. Kay says..... what am I gonna be, locked up in a house, like a beautiful girl locked up with a moster. Michael smiled and pointed to his ugly face. Kay says " Stop it Michael, that's not what I ment I don't even notice that stupid thing". He smiled and said " I know " He knew .... that she was a kind woman who didn't care about his look while Apo did, she found him ugly and married him for money. He knew. Family is sitting around table Michael and Kay are married. Michael's family is nagging him to fix his face His mother said :" Fix your face you look like a gangster and you sniff like a drunken Irishman " Vito looks at Kay and asks :" Does it bother you " Kay says no They are in a hospital. Kay gave gave birth to their first child Michael asks :" Do you want me to fix my face. " He will do it for her. Kay says :" I don't care how you look like, it doesn't bother me honestly Michael. But I don't want our son to grow up and see it He will know something is wrong". He operated it when she came out of the hospital. Isn't it funny how Mario created two characters One, Apollonia......a scumbag who makes fun of people's look. Has no decency or integrity Other, Kay......who is sweetheart who doesn't care about physical look at all. Yet , when decision was made to bring these characters to life degenerates decided to shit on Kay mainly bc they saw tiny tits and have preferences towards physical look of the chick who played goldigging sicilian skank. Unreal.
This is one of those rare movies where the sequel is better ( or as good as ) the original ( 'aliens 2' being another example.. and 'empire strikes back' )
Imagine if this movie had been made in this current Hollywood era: there would have been terrible plot lines, zero subtexts since everything would have been on the nose, paper-thin character development, and horrendous script with nothing but shootouts and car chases every fifteen minutes . . . all directed with Michael Bay-style action.
@@ScriptSleuth Almost forgot! Yes, they would have CGI’ed old New York City, and the cinematography would have been horrendous. The Godfather Pt. 2 is movie I revere; I pray no dumb director ever decides to remake them.
To be honest, I didn´t like Michael Corleone in "The Godfather II". Vito Corleone would´ve never killed his own brother! Everything Michael does ,seems to be too obvious and calculated and this is getting boring somehow and reveals Michael as a rather weak and cowardly character.
I think that's the beauty of it: as the audience, we're constantly judging Michael's actions against those of his father. And they constantly remind us of the weight of that legacy that Michael never wanted in the first place.
But why are you comparing it ? Vito never found himself in that situation. Michael behaved exactly like Vito in all situations.....except when it came to his family. And how exactly was Michael more calculated than Vito? Vito in gf1 is an example of calculation...making piece deal with Turk even though he knew Barzini was behind attacks on his sons. He knew they were gonna try to kill Michael after his death, that someone in the family will betray Michael, set up the meeting during which they will kill him. Murders you see in the end were pre planned and Vito knew about it. Needless to say , Vito's " nice " behavior towards Carlo even though he knew Michael would kill him after his death is a true example of calculation. And Michael as a Don was a fer leader. In fact , first half of a movie you see a man running a family in such way that noone is afraid of him. He is determined to legitimize the business and get the family out. And every murder he committed was done for safety of his family or vengeance for what happened to family after the attack on the house. After he lost the family he got diabetes, aged over night, stopped smoking, drinking, killing.....he was a broken man sitting in a cardigan in the backyard of his house. Opposite from a serious man.in a suit sitting in his office surrounded by his buttonmen from the beginning of the movie.
@@dc6461 You might have good arguments but still I think, through the whole second part, Michael is tryin too hard to be like the son of his father. Nothing is more important to him. He has no true compassion except revenge, does he smile, has self-irony? Yes of course, but he has demons and he can´t get rid of them somehow: He´s too much...the son..of his father. You know where this is leading? It leads you throwing yourself into a garbage truck because you became a schizophrenic...
@@Rahoorkhuitable One more thing..... out of love for his father and loyalty to his family he took over that role. " It's not easy to be a son". In an interview Coppola gave recently for GQ mag he said " Father betrays the son, son never betrays the father ". Son offers himself to save the family. Father, exepts the offer and son ends up straying away, falling into a black hole out if which there is no way out. But Michael has clear intentions to legitimize the business and get the family out.. Michael led the family following the advice of his father hoping to achieve something both men truly wanted.....legitimacy and to get out.
quite disappointing in the end, just states the obvious on parts of little importance and taught me very little, other than when threat's are stated, the audience wants to see if it is carried out? If you feel you have to state that then this is not for me! 'Just an observation' does a much better job of breaking the movies down. I want to be taught something I didn't know about, not something I don't care about! Sorry about the comment but if you want people to commit 35 minutes of their life to you, you had better do a good job.
Nope, nope on Fredo “not knowing he was going to be killed.” He knew. Even before they took away Michael’s son. Those Hail Marys weren’t just for catching fish. Or maybe they were-but in a darkly ironic way. Fredo didn’t just catch fish. He slept with them. I figured it was common knowledge for Godfather fans.
I don't take into account for something to be good, critics think Godfather is the best movie in the world, and Godfather is rubbish. Sexist and racist movie 
Fantastic video. Deserves more views. Earned you a subscriber. Brilliant intelligent analysis, no bullshit.
Hey, thanks for the great comment! Glad you found it useful.
There's movies that completely fall apart when you try to deconstruct them and then there's movies like The Godfather I & II that only seem to get better when you look at them closely
Definitely! 😎
True!
I need to know more of these type of movies, they make you think about them when your not even watching them. Please give me your recommendations
@@haseebirshad imdb top of mafia genre Casino, Goodfellas and by hod Sopranos. And for genre change Park Chan Wook Vengeance trilogy is quite fascinating
@@civotamuaz5781 ive never heard of the vengence trilogy im defo gonna give those a watch! Thanks!
7:54 it's something I really didn't picked on but Michael's amazing reaction time to fire, from why are the drapes open to him turning his head to see and just milliseconds in dropping his head before the bulllets fly in, for any other character it would be little unrealistic or plot armour but Michale being a war hero and probably have seen alot of enemy fire and keeping his guard up all the time in the war and in built reaction timing from real combat experience really paid off here
You can watch the most detailed analysis of the Godfather trilogy on my channel!
@@_unforgiventhanks looks good! Subbed.
This breakdown is excellent 👌🏾. I’m about to watch the film again for the first time in years because you’ve pointed out so many things I’ve never noticed before. Thank you!
You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.
It would have been so easy for a sequel of the Godfather to fail and it didn't. This is largely due to the story structure and the principal actors.
Cinema is literature.
It was also because there was so much still in the book they didn't get to tell in the first movie.
It amazes me that John Cazale didn't get an Oscar nomination for GF II? He was fantastic in the role.
Agreed. He was amazing.
Such an incredible actor. 5 great movies. Only actor without a flop
In all fairness, Best Actor, Best Actress, and three Supporting Actor nominations is more than generous.
Something I've always wondered is, when Michael and Fredo are in Havana talking outside, Fredo talks about wanting, "for once in [his] life, to be more like Pop", I always see Michael's reply transcribed as "It's not easy to be a son, Fredo", but what I've always heard is, "It's not easy to be HIS son, Fredo." That seems more appropriate to me, as they're both Vito Corleone's sons and are the only two men alive who feel the pressure to live up to Vito's legacy. As the head of the family, Michael knows (and bears) this pressure far better than Fredo, but to me "not easy to be his son" makes far more sense as Michael understandably sympathizes with Fredo here.
I think you are looking into it to it too much.
Michael, offerd himself to save the family. He was the only one that could do it. He did out of love for his father.
That was not easy thing, in fact it was hell. He never wanted that for himself or his family. Sacrifice that a son does for a father ...
In a GQ mag Coppola gave an interview during which he said " Father betrays the son, son never betrays the father "...
He was speaking about gf2
Also, notice that Fredo tries to copy Vito's physical appearance, with the slicked-back hairstyle and thin mustache, but it only makes him look even less threatening than he already does. I don't know if that was Coppola's idea or John Cazale's, but either way it’s a nice touch.
@@gelchert To be honest, I never really noticed that. Michael clearly doesn't attempt to physically imitate Vito at all except in the way he handles himself for meetings. (Sitting in a chair, letting them come to him, standard power moves he learned, etc). But Fredo actually changed his appearance.
It really just makes him look skinnier and weaker. Poor guy.
Part 2, as brilliant as Part 1! Start to finish.
This and the first Godfather are perfect films. I can’t fin’d anything wrong in them. I’d like seeing something about The Wire in the channel. For my money there’s never been better TV than that.
The Wire is definitely on the list. I'm rewatching it right now. So good.
Oddly enough as near perfect as the screenplays for the Godfather I and II are, you probably couldn't sell those screenplays today nor get them greenlit. There are very few screenwriters, or rather there are very few films being made by Hollywood today that show any care about making films that not only hold up to critical analysis, but also have something to say beyond being disposable popcorn entertainment for audiences to turn off their brains and not think too hard.
This isn’t all that true though
Bro, this video is a reversal in and of itself, i expected you to talk about juxtaposition, but this is better.
Ha! Your comment is a reversal of my video 😆
Many people see TG Pt 2 as better, but I feel both are equally magnificent filmmaking. Recently I watched all 3 in 3 nites. Wow. I want to watch it again. I remember where I was when I read the book. I stayed up all night. I just couldn't put it down. The films did not disappoint.
I agree, and I've read the book twice now. You really can't put it down! (Mario Puzo does an excellent job of always pushing the narrative into the future, and it makes us constantly want to know what's going to happen next. Luckily, he translated this into the screenplays with Coppola.)
I've always had a couple of problems with GF II's storyline. The most troublesome for me is the appearance of the colorful Frankie Pentangeli. Here's a character who keeps talking about the "old days" when he doesn't appear in the original film. It rings hollow. Obviously, he is a stand-in for Clemenza (Richard Castellano backed out of Part II over script disagreements with Coppola), but it would have been far better to explain Pentangeli's absence from the original film by saying he had he been in jail during the 5 Families War. His popping up out of nowhere in the sequel would be more naturally integrated into the story, and it would make a better throughline, that he kept his mouth shut while in prison, and his loyalty is rewarded by handing him Clemenza's regime and gifting him the Don's Long Beach house. Then his later betrayal of the Corleones would hold more juice ("I went to prison for the Corleones once. I'm not doing it a second time"). The other lesser problem is Sen. Pat Geary. He makes a powerful opening appearance, and the next time we see him, he is compromised in the motel room. He should have been developed as a strong adversary against Michael by showing him set up the organized crime hearings in his Washington office, urging respected bankers to not do business with Michael, working with the FBI, holding press briefings railing against the mob, etc., and only then being brought to his knees in the most humiliating situation imaginable. If we see him as a serious threat, his downfall would have a "wow" effect. As it is, he makes a strong entrance, disappears from the plot (and is forgotten about), then shows up naked in bed a half hour later (it usually takes two screenings for a viewer to grasp what is going on in that motel scene).
These are really excellent points you make, especially about creating a stronger adversary. Are you a writer yourself?
@@ScriptSleuth Thank you. I'm a longtime Indy filmmaker. And your analyses are excellent!
You articulated that very precisely, I felt the same about those two characters (only the first time though)
I would have loved to have seen the peerless James Cagney in the Hyman Roth part as requested by Coppola...they made him an offer he DID refuse!. Yoda-like Lee Strasberg is wonderful, of course, but from a film buff's point of view, it would have been a kick to see Cagney share those scenes with the young Pacino...
Oh man Cagney yes would have been fabulous! He has a good sneaky bad guy persona!
Cagney was just too Irish looking to play a Jewish gangster. Strasberg's casting was brilliant. Pacino asked Coppola to give his former acting teacher the role of Roth.
@@tonym994 "All's well that ends well..."...funny story though...Cagney's bosses at Warner Bros. in the '30s were Jewish & would converse among themselves in Yiddish thinking the mostly Irish Cagney wouldn't understand...but he spoke fluent Yiddish (albeit in a strong Yorkville accent, apparently)...
@@philiphalpenny3783 what a fox. thanx for that great story.
Do I think The Godfather Part II is better than the first? My answer is entirely subjective.
I prefer the first film because it has Marlon Brando and James Caan, and I just find it more memorable and ultimately more entertaining.
It took 3 viewings for me to actually appreciate The Godfather, where as I still can’t rate Part II on par with the first film. I do really enjoy it, but not as much as it’s predecessor.
Your video has given me an urge to rewatch The Godfather Part II. A viewing or two could open my eyes a little wider, and obviously the screenplay is worth paying close attention to.
I forgot about the subtext lines with the hidden meanings that you pointed out here. Seriously clever writing!
Another great analysis yet again, Script Sleuth! :)
I'm kind of with you on the first one. Brando and Clemenza really make the movie for me!
Vito, Sonny, and Clemenza make GF1 better. GF2 has De Niro as young Vito. The cast for the first film was stronger and the action in the first film is more satisfying.
I wish the whole several hour 'saga' would come out on DVD.
I really enjoy Part 1 more than Part 2, but for me Part 2 is definitely better, managing to connect two different eras and several other storylines together seamlessly
@@tonym994 it is on DVD I have it from many many years ago. Look online, it’s a box set of movies 1,2,3
Great analysis for a great film. Along with The Dark Knight; best sequel of all time.
It might be time to add Dark Knight to the list!
@@ScriptSleuth Please do. It’s in Steven Spielberg’s list of favourite films and he knows his stuff!
@@ScriptSleuth one of the things you might talk about is creating a strong villain
And another thing, you deserve at least 10 million subs, not 10 thousand
@@HistorywithHannibal Thank you, my friend. If I reached 10 million subs, I'd be so incredibly grateful.
@@ScriptSleuth You're welcome, dude
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Hi Daniel with the new list of the 101 screenplays of this century
Which script to you think should have made the cut?
Do you mean which script was omitted? That's a great question. SEARCHING immediately comes to mind, but there are so many more.
I'm so glad you addressed how vito would've actually been a pos person. He would've taken advantage of others and caused pain and misery in the world. There's no other way he could've obtained the power he had. Even if he didn't do it himself, his organization did it under his leadership and direction.
Vito and Michael are both very good at justifying what they do, but the more I watch the movies, the less I think Coppola or Puzo meant for us to take their excuses at face value.
What's pos?
This is probably your best analysis yet - The Godfather is brilliant, and the more rewatchable movie, but Part II is objectively the BETTER movie. Your analysis gives rise to what I call the Beatles paradox - when you break a piece of art down, it really doesn't seem that complicated and makes it seem like anyone could have done it. This movie has no special effects, no shocking twists, no flashy directorial or editorial flares - it doesn't have any of the "tricks" Hollywood often throws into movies to keep audiences entertained, and the screenplay, as you point out, has a number of very basic tools that good screenplays have. Hence, the paradox - if the reasons for something being great are so simple and well known....why doesn't everyone make something that great, every time?
Great question! Because it honestly takes a lot of work. It's not easy to keep all these things in mind and yet tell a good, honest story. I think that screenwriting is more like constructing a building: build a good foundation first, otherwise it doesn't matter what curtains you dress the windows with.
In my six decades as a writer, nothing on Earth separates “simple” from “easy” as surgically as screenwriting. It’s very simple - and anything but easy if you’re trying to make a real contribution.
Really really enjoying these. Movies I grew up with.
it took me awhile to like this of the 3 films. But I do see all the various elements now. Thanks for posting.
amazing video. I recently saw both the movies , i like the first part more but both are amazing..
I agree. I lean just a tad more to the first one, but the second one is so damn good, too!
Whenever I'm asked which film, I like better, I simply see both films
as one.
@@LATVERIAN1 and part 3 never existed!
@@bacardibum As many flaws as part three does have, still, it does have some memorable
moments. Andy Garcia does shine in this.
As someone who saw the Godfather many times as a teenager (and being too young to appreciate it for the masterpiece that it was- preferring the more rudimentary yet “cooler” violent titles such as Scarface and Goodfellas) I never bothered to see part 2. Mainly because my older brother owned a DVD of The Godfather and didn’t own The Godfather 2. But also due to the popular belief that sequels are _always_ inferior to their originals. I simply lacked any interest in it.
But as I grew up, and as my taste became more refined, I found myself watching The Godfather and appreciating it far more than I did as a teen.
I became so impressed with it that I _finallllly_ got around to watching part 2. And wow. I was blown away. I instantly understood why it was rated so highly. How could a sequel be so good? Is it- dare I say - even superior to the original? Yes. Yes it was. In fact I adamantly believed it to be and would argue this point against anybody I knew.
And it was due to one thing. And one thing alone… Robert Deniro as the young Vito Corleone. Just _everything_ about this dude was the epitome of cool. His demeanor, his soft spoken yet intimidating voice, his perfectly spoken (to my ears) Italian, that cool hat, his rise to power, knowing he becomes who he is. I’ve always been a sucker for origin stories and young Vito’s was _the_ best of all time. Around this time I also fell in love with Deniro as an actor. All of a sudden my favorite movies were Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, Deer Hunter, and of course Godfather 2.
However, as I’ve continued to age and mature out of my late twenties, I have a newfound appreciation of the OG. Maybe it’s the “happier” vibe of the movie. Maybe it’s James Caan. Or Marlin Brando. Or the ultimate transformation of Michael, from a meek character to a cutthroat badass. Maybe it’s because of the more likable antagonists (Sollozzo, Tattaglia/Barzini vs Roth, Senator Geary). Maybe it’s because I read the book and appreciate that it’s based on all of Puzo work as opposed to just the young Vito portions (which I honestly think are the best parts of the sequel). Maybe it’s because the baptize scene is so insanely satisfying and climatic.
I don’t know what it is exactly or why, but The Godfather is, in my eyes, superior to The Godfather 2.
**However they’re both still excellent and 2 of the greatest movies of all time.
The police officer didn't thwart the murder of Frank in the bar, in my humble opinion. Roth played both sides by getting the brothers to attempt the murder, only for him to arrange for the officer to intervene and save Frank. As Hagen said, Roth played this one beautifully and also shows the manipulation tRoth employs, playing the Rissotto Brothers, Frank and a crooked officer all against each other, knowing that his tip would keep him clean and at the worst incriminate the Rissotto Brothers who were in his own opinion, small potatoes and push Frank towards cooperating with the authorities against Michael and take him out that way, since the assassins bodged the job earlier when Fredo had betrayed his brother.
That's some great insight! Thanks for the comment.
this channel is a gold mine for any aspiring screenwriter do you think you can make a video on horror sometimes soon i would like to understand what makes them work, maybe scream would be a good idea
Scream is a great screenplay. It's been added to the list! 😎
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays! Wish you and your family well wishes! Hope 2022 is a better year! Stay safe!
Same to you, Orest!
My friend, another excellent video! It's great to see this channel grow!
Thanks so much, Elliott! That means a lot.
Philip Halpenny has a great tidbit I was unaware of. The great James Cagney was offered the role of Hyman Roth in GF2. That would have been casting at its finest. Although a song and dance man at heart, Cagney was forever typecast as a gangster. For good reason! As wonderful as Lee Strasburg was, he wouldn't have been able to match the riveting presence of Cagney. In fact if one movie figure could unseat the Corleones, it would have to be The Yankee Doodle Dandy. The only man who could "Outbad" Don Vito. Your analysis is brilliant. The reason why The Godfather is the greatest move of all time is obvious. There are more plot twists and subtexts than 10 soap operas! Engrossing screen writing, carried out by the finest cast of actors ever assembled in one film. Even the irony of Michael becoming the new Don is so compelling. The son who wants nothing to do with the family business is roped and tied. The shooting of his father assures that he will have to kill Solozzo and McCluskey. After leaving America, his new bride Appolonia is killed by a car bomb meant for him. Prior to the tragic death of Appolonia, Michael discovers that Sonny has been assassinated. This assures that Michael will have to be repatriated home. After marrying the estranged Kay Adams, Vito Corleone tutors Michael on the intricacies of power. Before things are airtight, Vito dies unexpectedly. Through the guiding hand of his father Michael assassinates the heads of New Yorks Five Families. Not finished, in one final resolution Michael executes his traitorous brother in law Carlo. The wife beating, lecherous punk that Sonny mistakingly introduces to Connie. The telling line "Aah that little farce you played with my sister. Did you think that could fool a Corleone?" This says it all. Now things are finished. Right? Not quite. Resentful older brother Fredo carries his irrational grudge against Michael into the sequel. This authors his betrayal that nearly undoes the Corleone empire. No movie ever had so many reasons to watch as the Godfather saga. Writing and filmmaking without peer in cinematic hjstory..
Apollonias death was not tragic but ironic !!!
When mafia war began Michael "pushed " Kay away from him bc he didn't want her anywhere near his family. He didn't let her come with him to a hospital to see his father, bc he didn't want her involved.....there would be police there and paparazzis so she could end up in newspaper. He is worried about her parents reaction if that would to happen. He cared about what they thought about him.
That week they were supposed to get married....he is warning her about marrying him at that moment. " Go home and think about everything " ...
He never broke up with her, or called of the wedding or stopped loving her.
When he was Sicily, months were passing by. Music Loneliness begins to play. Coppola is showing you mafia war brewing, dead bodies on the streets of NY, Michael ended up on the cover of the mag Police hunt cop killer.
Michael us walking through the streets of Sicily. Love theme song begins to play. Michael is thinking about Kay and their nights together.... Don Tomassino pulls up. He wants to take him home where Michael has been staying.Michael asks " When can I come back home did Sonny say "
Don Tomassino says "Sonny said your enemies know you are here".
In otherwords you are not coming back anytime soon and....lay low.
He is walking, he saw good looking chick filled in all the right places. He got thunderbolt which is biological manifestation of arousal sexual eraction.
He spoke to her father from position of power, straight up freathen him, no respect...... moment when Michael mentioned marriage Coppola commented with words " This is NOT the case of a prince asking for a princess ".
He came into her house to court her.....with presents. His intention was not to get to know her or for her to get to know him.He is messy disheveled. There is no sex before marriage so to get some love he has to marry her.
He made her an offer which she. ....goldigging skank she was couldn't refuse.
She agreed to go out with him and marriage was set up in two weeks bc she thought he was rich.
The CATCH....most important thing about it is that he knew he was putting her in danger. He never told her about mafia war or the fact he was WARNED by Don Tomassino that everybody learned he was there. Everybody knew he was in Sicily noone knew where in Sicily he was.
Spectacle of hypocrisy that was village circus of their wedding is how they found him.
The wedding killed her.
Goldigger who married an elderly man who she found ugly and who she knew was gangster after only two weeks of knowning him because she thought he was rich blew up in a car......the irony.
Bitch died he came home and told Kay he loved her and cared about her.
Kay left he got diabetes aged over night stopped smoking drinking killing, never took the ring of his finger or touched another woman for the rest of his life.
I love how you call Kay estranged.....technically yes they were apart. The only reason he waited more that a year to bring her back into his life is bc he wanted to make sure it was safe for her. When the shooting stopped.
He made something out of himself made a plan to legitimize the business. He is working for his father but he will do things differently. His fathers way of doing stuff is old and finished.
He looks like serious man, business man as Coppola says.
Coppola in an interview for Deadline " He loved Kay, that marriage ment a lot to him. She pulled the plug on it bc she didn't wanna be married to mafia. He promised her he was gonna legitimize the business somehow he couldn't pulled it off. Kay Adams represents his dream Being with a woman like that ment he would be out of that world ".
Everything he did he did for his family and in the end he destroyed his family.....Coppolas words while commenting gf2
Goldigger who married a criminal for money blew up in a car..... the irony of life.
Which is why Puzo never gave Michael a guilty conscience. In fact, in a book when speaking about what happened in Sicily with his father Michael used the words " got away "...
Vito :" Why do you think Barzini tried that.Did he try to kill you before we made a deal or was it too late to stop "
Michael:" Yeah but I got away "..
In a movie Coppola captured that perfectly....
Michael speaking to Vito after he came back from Sicily/ deleted scene/
Michael:" Pop, what about Sonny, what about Sicily. if we don't respond isn't family gonna be weak "...
Not even mentioning her, not even saying her name let alone addressing her as his wife......what about Sicily? Well Barzini tried to kill him but he got away
I wouldn't behave like that if a dog with flees died bc of me or instead of me.
I disagree with part of what you said about Reversals. The fact that the audience can see it coming is also satisfying. You KNOW the villain will be defeated, but the question is how. Hyman Roth's assassination was foiled, but it wasn't hinted at directly. In truth, we see how these attempts can succeed AND fail. The guards coming in was slightly unexpected as it was shown to be alone, (and even every other attempt was done when the victim was alone) but, its still within reason of the world itself. IT was hinted at when Hyman Roth diving Cuba as a force of power. You can catch the hint of his powerful friends as he's dividing up cuba's crime network. Keen audience members will pick up on that possibility, and be rewarded with the last minute save, while less keen members will be shocked by something that still fits within the world itself.
The failed hit on Roth is mirrored in the scene where the policeman disrupts the murder attempt on Pentangelli. Although whether that disruption is accidental or planned is unclear, they seemed to want to give the message that Michael was the one ordering the hit. That only makes sense if they wanted him to live, and their rushed leaving even though it was only one beat cop makes me think the objective was not murder, but to make Pentangelli turn against Michael. Which he did, and Michael had to go to some lengths to prevent his testimony in the Senate hearings.
Amazing alalysis brother🙏🙏
Thanks, Harsh!
You should've mentioned k saying it's been 7 years since the 1st one as ammunition for telling Michael nothing he's promised is coming true.
I can watch the godfather infinite amount of times and still be mesmerized
Me, too!
This is such a brilliant masterclass.
Cheers! I hope you found it useful.
great essays, keep it up, your making art here
Thanks for the nice words!
Also, you recall Vito did not want to get messed up in drugs. As if to say, I don’t mind stealing from corporations but I don’t want to hurt regular everyday people. That’s another way the film made us sympathetic to his character.
I can't really decide which is my favourite movie of the trilogy because the Godfather trilogy is one great big story and I personally think all 3 films are just as good as one another but then again I am recently discovering the magic of the Godfather trilogy all over again in audiobooks and the audio books are bigger again then the films just as brilliant but also I think if you made the trilogy film just as long as the audio books all the books themselves that would be totally amazing and that is what makes the Godfather trilogy in whatever format it comes it's a master stroke of brilliance
Fantastic analysis. Many thanks. Subbed.
Cheers, Bill!
It would have been incredible if Coppola had made Godfather 3 around 1976 to tie off the series and franchise while Mario Puzo was still alive.
Agreed. It just doesn't hold up to the standard of the first two.
Mario Puzo co-write Godfather 3. He died in 1999.
I made this comment in another video. 1976 would have been the year to do Part 3 with De Niro as the main character in the 1930's. Then the 1990 film could have just been an epilogue for Michael.
Great breakdown. Excellent channel. How about that score too, everything in this film was perfect.✌️🇺🇲
Thanks for tuning in!
The pear and the kiss with his wife is just beautiful, that has always stuck with me about young vito
Al Pacino is perfect !!!
35:12 he he,I like your funny subtext
Ha! That one made me giggle as I did it 😅
Amazing! Hope the channel continues growing up.
Thanks, David!
"This is the BUSINESS we have CHOSEN!"
The godfather I & II best movies ever made
Really can't argue with that!
Amazing video, i love this film.
I hope a new video
Great analysis
Yes, but who ordered the hit on Frank Pentangeli, Michael Corleone or Hyman Roth? I contend that this was a script problem that was never solved, because the movie tries to have it both ways. If it was Roth, why does Tony Rosato say "Michael Corleone says hello"? If it was Roth, why does Roth get all uptight when Michael asks him about it and bring up Moe Greene? Why doesn't Roth just say, "Yeah, it was me. You told me YOU were going to do it. I just thought I'd save you the trouble. After all, an attempt was made on your life." And why, much later in the film, we hear Michael say, "Pentangeli alive" with disappointment in his voice, as if he DID order the hit?
I love these videos. Can you make news ones?
Working on it 🙂
@@ScriptSleuth a lot of great new movies this year. What did you have planned?
Very informative
Thanks for watching, Bibhu!
I have enjoyed your analysis of some of my favorite films from a writer’s perspective. I would like to suggest an analysis of the the film, “Fallen”, written by Nicholas Kazan.
Glad you've enjoyed it! Thanks for the recommendation.
Also, something else needs explained: did Clemenza and Tessio, ever find out that Don Vito killed Don Fanucci?
I'm sure that, by that point, the whole town knew about it!
Okay, how did Vito Corleone become the neighborhood boss after killing his Black Hand predecessor? Vito went to some lengths to position himself in the darkened hallway. He climbed from roof to roof. He disassembled the murder weapon. All his subterfuge concealed his actions. So how did he make the jump to crime boss?
When Vito and family went to visit Sicily, one of Vito's plans was to avenge his family by killing the now elderly Don. His friend Tommisino accompanied him to the don's villa. He introduced Vito to Ciccio. He defended their escape. He ended up with a crippling injury. So how did seemingly subservient Tommisino go on to become Don Ciccio's replacement?
In both situations, the elimination of the former local boss led to a new "administration". What is the explanation for those new younger men taking charge?
You’re overthinking it
@@cooper2270 of late, I've viewed a seeming myriad of videos devoted to dissecting the Godfather series of films. The videos take into account all manner of details. One might consider the following;
What became of the bodies of Fredo and Carlo?
How were the heads of the other four families unprotected by their own bodyguards?
Yes, over thinking might be a factor. So much analysis of the series has become made with the anniversary of the original film.
Yes The Godfather too was definitely better than the Godfather one the only thing that was missing in The Godfather too was Marlon Brando
Great vid.
Fredo knew Michael was going to have him killed for his betrayal.
I'm sure he knew it, but just didn't want to believe it!
When Michael told Fredo he knew it was him.... he escaped frighten.
Later in the scene Michael offered help
" Fredo come to me you are still my brother "..
Michael didn't wanna kill Fredo.
He told you why he did wanna kill him
" Where is my brother, find him I know he is scared, tell him I know he didn't think they were gonna try to kill me".
That is true. Fredo didn't know they were gonna try to kill him which is why Michael didn't want to kill him.
Michael was a fer Don much like Vito.He never killed anyone that didn't deserve to be killed except when it came to his family, Kay and his kids.
After he found out about consequences of his actions he had him killed.
- " Fredo come to me you are still my brother"
- Michael found out about the baby, he is scared he is gonna lose his family/ wife
- " You are not my brother, you are nothing to me "
- " Don't touch him while mother is alive "
GF2 is the greatest film ever made.
Hi, I really enjoy your channel. Can you please consider making a video on There Will Be Blood? Thanks!
I always thought that Fredo sensed that he was a goner when Connie called Anthony away, and Fredo and Al Niri pushed off in the boat to fish --- alone.
@@shuroom57 Yeah I'm sure he pretty much knew at that point 😅
A bit unrelated to the video, but are you covering Schindler's List anytime soon?
Edit: it's my favourite movie
Eventually
Oh wow. This didn't even appear in my notifications.
Sometimes I hate TH-cam. 🤭
@@ScriptSleuth yeah, it sucks a lot sometimes
@@TomEyeTheSFMguy I mean, just kidding, Google! Please don't listen to my conversations.
@@ScriptSleuth Too late now,
Mr Anderson
OK, I did the math, 10 of the 31 videos on this channel cover dramatic irony
Wow! Shows us how important it is in good writing, and how often the pros use it.
@@ScriptSleuth is the next video going to deal with rising stakes because that's what I'm most having trouble with
@@HistorywithHannibal It will involve stakes, but manifested as stakes characters.
My only real issue with this films screen play is the convince of mother Corleone's death
Is there anything in the books and films identifying the black-suited bodyguard/assassin?
Bussetta?
@@jaidendeprez1842 Got it. Thanks!
I always thought when Fredo started talking about Johnny Ola and Roth with Michael right behind him, it was a little too convenient. I know Fredo was supposed to be stupid, but that's a first ballot hall of fame type of mistake.
Definitely. It's a little bit of a reach, but at least it's still consistent with his character.
it's an odd funny thing but not in the 2' puzo books and not even in the winegardner books or even the falco book in none of the books do they ever brooch upon how Vito & carmela met and courted
Yes, that would have been great to see!
This video made me an offer that I couldn't refuse 👍
Subscribed😊
Thank you, and welcome to the gang!
One more bit of dramatic irony at the very end of the movie: Coppola cuts away after Fredo says "Holy Mary, mother of God," but as any Catholic knows, the next and final line of the prayer is "pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death." Guess what happens to Fredo right after he would have said that?
Brilliant analysis; thanks for this. I love the first two Godfather films. Just one query: @34:50, Michael had not yet known that she had aborted (or yet to abort) the Baby; that came later no? Even before that dramatic meeting in the hotel it seems that these two had already grown apart to a certain degree ('seven year itch' etc) I often wonder why Michael had married Kay, a 'wasp' rather than one of his own, so to speak - especially after his time in Sicily! - I guess it was born out of true love but also another step in legitimising the Corleone family in society overall?
Keep up the great work. Much respect from Ireland.
Michael married Kay bc she was love of his life.
She was the only person that he loved with his heart, but on top of everything valued and respected
She is his " dream".
That's how it was described in a book, shown in a movie and explained in interviews.
Every but every time Coppola or Pacino give an interview they address her as " dream".
Michael LOVES WASPS..... that's is his type of woman. Educated WASPS
That is specifically stated in a gf3 script and obvious from the book.
Now.... interestingly your prejudice about ethnicity was broken by Puzo.
Michael married sicilian woman/ child bc he had to.... since there was no sex before marriage but she turned out to be chick who doesn't clean, cook, has never made them breakfast, doesn't want to be wife or mother.
Most importantly she doesn't want to be Italian wife she wanted to be American wife.
She was also semiliteral manipulative profoundly stupid goldigger
Kay was WASP but turned herself into a full blown sicilian woman.
And in the end none of that is the point.
Point of the story was not for Michael to have a chick by his side that will facilitate his mafia behavior. Michael wants out.
Goddamm idiots watching a mafia movie and rooting for a man to be mafia.
@@dc6461 An interesting take on it indeed. Poor Aplollonia, she was quite beautiful, and her lovely breasts were quite a delightful distraction among the underworld dealings of men (We never get to see Kay's breasts for some reason. but lets not be prejudiced here) Don't forget also that this reflects the relationship of Coppola and his own 'WASP' wife in real life. I would add that this is an apt connection too, intentional or not. Coppola himself does touch upon this in interviews etc. It is reflective of the times also, that many immigrant groups did keep to their own generally, but there was marriage or affairs with others outside of race - even though this could be frowned upon. Remember that 'West Side Story' reflected this, and also notorious mafia bosses such as Sam Giancana had affairs with Hollywood women etc. Apollonia had a taste for the American way of life as did Fabrizio, who betrayed Michael and lead to the death of Apollonia - he was always bugging Michael about America etc. He met his just end of course. The Godfather is a great reflection of the Italian-American story overall and a delight to watch, and learn more, from. Thanks for your input.
@@lordsod69
Excuse me but this is not the " take" .
It's what was stated in a book,movie and scripts. If you are interested in a topic of a gf you can find scripts of gf2/ final draft and gf3 / final draft online and read them for free.
Also interviews given by people who made the movies
Including interview of Mario Puzo who called Apollonia " good for one thing tramp ".
He gave that interview long long time ago..
Now We haven't seen Kay's breasts bc we did not have to.
She is a respected character that in a book Puzo placed on a " trone" and approached with nothing but upmost respect.
She is a flawless perfection of a character,woman Michael himself valued and respected so much that at the end of the book and trilogy he called her his Don
" You are my Don".
Michael's feelings to Kay has nothing to do Coppolas WASP.wife.
Entire trilogy made was made in such way that there was no straying away from the book, essence of the characters, who they are, what do they want, their aspirations.....all taken from the book.
Michael LOVED Kay bc she was sweet ( had character) , smart ( had intelligence) and different ( black on white on a skin).
He craved her sexually, thought about her beauty when he was fighting in a pacific.
When he came from Sicily they made love that night free times, their sex was great as Michael stated gravely, she stayed pregnant immediately after marriage
And after giving birth to their first child she stayed pregnant again.
But that's not why he loved her.
But to Puzo that's irrelevant.
She was described as beautiful but we don't know details of that beauty.
He elevated everything else
Kay is everything ..... sweet, kind , is not interested in money, social, cares about her friends, educated smart , gave up on her career to became a stay at home mom, learned how to cook, intrigued, a good girl that would never cheat, has intellectual hight and emotional depth and most importantly moral compass.
All opposite from apollonia
@@lordsod69
Regarding physical look...
I must say I find people who judge others based on their physical look utterly disgusting.
We notice physical look . We have an opinion about it...... I find Apollonia to be " not beautiful ".....
Cute yes, but also small eyes, small lips and worst tits I have ever seen in my life if I may confess. In fact it's not a tit it's a nipple on a flat chest....excuse my vulgarity.
But that's not the reason I or Puzo hate her as a character.
Now judging character based on a physical look of a chick who played her is a unique kinda disgusting.
Interestingly that aspect of the human nature was covered in the book.
Let me explain...
Apollonia was a scumbag who judged people for their physical looks.
When Michael came into her house she LAUGHED in his face while looking at her brother, mocking him.
Michael is ugly, his face was broken.
Than he gave her a necklace so ugliness was no longer a problem .
She agreed to go out with him and wedding was set up in two weeks bc she thought he was rich.
So ..... scum
Coppola captured this ferly well in a movie.
When Michael reunited with Kay, when she saw his ugly face she cried.
She ran into his arms, barried her face in his shoulders and cried.
Michael is holding her until she finished.
He is looking at her face, cleaning her tears, he grabbed her , put her in a car, took her home where they made love 3 times.
Now, when they sat in a car Kay is fixing her make up and she says " I am sorry I didn't mean to react that way it's just that they didn't tell me how much they hurted you"
Michael smiled and touched his face " This, this is nothing "
They are at home making love. In between he is asking her to marry him..
Kay says..... what am I gonna be, locked up in a house, like a beautiful girl locked up with a moster. Michael smiled and pointed to his ugly face.
Kay says " Stop it Michael, that's not what I ment I don't even notice that stupid thing".
He smiled and said " I know "
He knew .... that she was a kind woman who didn't care about his look while Apo did, she found him ugly and married him for money.
He knew.
Family is sitting around table
Michael and Kay are married.
Michael's family is nagging him to fix his face
His mother said :" Fix your face you look like a gangster and you sniff like a drunken Irishman "
Vito looks at Kay and asks :" Does it bother you "
Kay says no
They are in a hospital.
Kay gave gave birth to their first child
Michael asks :" Do you want me to fix my face. "
He will do it for her.
Kay says :" I don't care how you look like, it doesn't bother me honestly Michael. But I don't want our son to grow up and see it He will know something is wrong".
He operated it when she came out of the hospital.
Isn't it funny how Mario created two characters
One, Apollonia......a scumbag who makes fun of people's look. Has no decency or integrity
Other, Kay......who is sweetheart who doesn't care about physical look at all.
Yet , when decision was made to bring these characters to life degenerates decided to shit on Kay mainly bc they saw tiny tits and have preferences towards physical look of the chick who played goldigging sicilian skank.
Unreal.
The Godfather 2 is a great movie, but not as good as the first one. I did enjoy this breakdown, though.
I agree, I like the first one more!
Part II was better than Part I in my opinion.
It's hard to argue that statement! 🙂
I also appreciate your awesome support, Walter! 👊
@@ScriptSleuth No problem, keep continuing to make great content.
@@ScriptSleuth hi script Sleuth, what do you think about the Godfather 3?
@@HistorywithHannibal It certainly had some merit to it, but it's hard to hold up to the level of the first two films.
Sick
Honestly, all this talk about gangsters makes me want to see a video from you on Miller's Crossing.
2 is the best of the three...
I can't argue with that statement!
This is one of those rare movies where the sequel is better ( or as good as ) the original
( 'aliens 2' being another example.. and 'empire strikes back' )
At least he regretted it later. He shouldn't have killed his brother.
Let’s go brandon 🍦🍦🍦
I'll leave another comment that no one can deny.
Gazzo and Cazale made Godfather 2.
Will someone explain: did Connie ever marry Merle? It was never explained in the movie. You see him and then no more.
In the scrip yes
Merle Johnson was Troy Donahue's real name.
The Black Hand alone, no gang???Pas Fort!!!!
SPEWEY and Me
Imagine if this movie had been made in this current Hollywood era: there would have been terrible plot lines, zero subtexts since everything would have been on the nose, paper-thin character development, and horrendous script with nothing but shootouts and car chases every fifteen minutes . . . all directed with Michael Bay-style action.
@@damiendsoul360 Don't forget about the CGI!
@@ScriptSleuth Almost forgot! Yes, they would have CGI’ed old New York City, and the cinematography would have been horrendous. The Godfather Pt. 2 is movie I revere; I pray no dumb director ever decides to remake them.
Great movie, but I don't think it's better than the original
I'd have to agree with you!
To be honest, I didn´t like Michael Corleone in "The Godfather II". Vito Corleone would´ve never killed his own brother! Everything Michael does ,seems to be too obvious and calculated and this is getting boring somehow and reveals Michael as a rather weak and cowardly character.
I think that's the beauty of it: as the audience, we're constantly judging Michael's actions against those of his father. And they constantly remind us of the weight of that legacy that Michael never wanted in the first place.
But why are you comparing it ?
Vito never found himself in that situation.
Michael behaved exactly like Vito in all situations.....except when it came to his family.
And how exactly was Michael more calculated than Vito?
Vito in gf1 is an example of calculation...making piece deal with Turk even though he knew Barzini was behind attacks on his sons. He knew they were gonna try to kill Michael after his death, that someone in the family will betray Michael, set up the meeting during which they will kill him.
Murders you see in the end were pre planned and Vito knew about it.
Needless to say , Vito's " nice " behavior towards Carlo even though he knew Michael would kill him after his death is a true example of calculation.
And Michael as a Don was a fer leader.
In fact , first half of a movie you see a man running a family in such way that noone is afraid of him.
He is determined to legitimize the business and get the family out.
And every murder he committed was done for safety of his family or vengeance for what happened to family after the attack on the house.
After he lost the family he got diabetes, aged over night, stopped smoking, drinking, killing.....he was a broken man sitting in a cardigan in the backyard of his house. Opposite from a serious man.in a suit sitting in his office surrounded by his buttonmen from the beginning of the movie.
@@dc6461 You might have good arguments but still I think, through the whole second part, Michael is tryin too hard to be like the son of his father. Nothing is more important to him. He has no true compassion except revenge, does he smile, has self-irony? Yes of course, but he has demons and he can´t get rid of them somehow: He´s too much...the son..of his father. You know where this is leading? It leads you throwing yourself into a garbage truck because you became a schizophrenic...
@@Rahoorkhuitable
One more thing..... out of love for his father and loyalty to his family he took over that role.
" It's not easy to be a son".
In an interview Coppola gave recently for GQ mag he said " Father betrays the son, son never betrays the father ".
Son offers himself to save the family.
Father, exepts the offer and son ends up straying away, falling into a black hole out if which there is no way out.
But Michael has clear intentions to legitimize the business and get the family out..
Michael led the family following the advice of his father hoping to achieve something both men truly wanted.....legitimacy and to get out.
quite disappointing in the end, just states the obvious on parts of little importance and taught me very little, other than when threat's are stated, the audience wants to see if it is carried out? If you feel you have to state that then this is not for me! 'Just an observation' does a much better job of breaking the movies down. I want to be taught something I didn't know about, not something I don't care about! Sorry about the comment but if you want people to commit 35 minutes of their life to you, you had better do a good job.
Nope, nope on Fredo “not knowing he was going to be killed.”
He knew. Even before they took away Michael’s son. Those Hail Marys weren’t just for catching fish. Or maybe they were-but in a darkly ironic way. Fredo didn’t just catch fish. He slept with them.
I figured it was common knowledge for Godfather fans.
This is the worst video on the godfather I’ve ever seen.
I don't take into account for something to be good, critics think Godfather is the best movie in the world, and Godfather is rubbish. Sexist and racist movie

The Mafia are not renowned for their political correctness.