The Godfather Review (Revisited) "And then they will fear you..."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, as we are into September its time for another review on the blog and this could be a pretty big one as it will be on the crime epic, The Godfather, which I've recently re-watched along with the other films, so figured I might as well expand on my previous revisit back in 2021. 

So, after 52 years, how does The Godfather fair? Well, lets find out...

And the usual warning is coming..

PLOT SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

STORY 

So, the film begins back in 1945, the war has just ended, and the Don of the New York Corleone crime family, Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) holds a wedding reception for his daughter, Connie (Talia Shire).  On the wedding day, Vito's sons also attend, which include his youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino) along with his girlfriend, Kay Adams (Diane Keaton), as well as his eldest son, Santino "Sonny" (James Caan), and his adopted son and consigliere (Italian for counsellor), Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall).  

During this day, Vito also deals with requests from his associates and people who are friends of the family.  One of the requests comes from Vito's godson, Johnny Fontane (Al Martino) who asks that Vito help get a star role in a new picture that is being filmed, but the head of the studio won't let get the part.  After the wedding, Vito sends Tom to Hollywood where he speaks with the head of the studio, Waltz (John Marley), who is quite abrasive and refuses to accept Tom's request to give Fontane the lead role.  However the next day, in a now infamous scene, Waltz wakes up in his bed to find he has blood over his hands, and on pulling back the sheets he finds to his horror, his prize Stallion's severed head in the bed.

Near Christmas time, Vito sets up a meeting with a drug baron, Virgil Sollozzo "The Turk" (Al Littieri), who is backed by one of the rival families, the Tittaglias, and asks for Vito's consent to make an investment with him, for which he will offer his protection.  However, despite the potential to make alot of money, Vito refuses Sollozzo's request as he doesn't want to get mixed up in the drugs business, which later leads him to send one of his men, Luca Brasi (Lenny Montana) to spy on Sollozzo.  But at a meeting between Brasi and Sollozzo, Brasi is garotted by Tittaglia's men, and soon after Sollozzo's makes an attempt on Vito, as he sends his men to gun him down in public.  

Sollozzo intercepts Tom Hagen and insists that he speak to Sonny, and his capos, Clemenza (Peter S. Castellano) and Tessio (Abe Vigoda) to make a deal with him, but it is soon revealed Vito survived the attempt on his life.  On hearing on his father's attempted murder, Michael goes to the hosptial where Vito is being treated, and he moves him to another room, and then goes out front and stands waiting poised for Sollozzo's men (pretending he has a gun in his pocket), who drive past.  Soon after this a police Captain, McCluskey (Sterling Hayden) arrives on the scene, who is working with Sollozzo, and Michael confronts him about Sollozzo, but before he can be arrested, Tom arrives on the scene and takes Michael away. 

By this time, Sonny has taken charge of the Corleone family, and they arrange another meeting between Sollozzo, but this time they want to speak with Michael, as they refuse to deal with Sonny, due to his hotheaded nature.  The meeting is set up at a restaurant, and Michael says that if Clemenza can arrange to have a gun planted at the restaurant, then he will kill Sollozzo and McCluskey.  At the meeting, Sollozzo insists he wants a truce, Michael then excuses himself to the bathroom, where he finds the planted gun behind an old toilet, and goes back and shoots both men dead. After this Michael is forced to leave the country and travels to Sicily, where he meets and falls in love with a beautiful local girl Appollina Vitelli (Simmone Stefanelli), and they both marry.  

In the meantime back in New York, Vito is brought home from hospital as he slowly starts to recover from him wounds.  Sonny however is set on making war between the families and kills the son of the head of the Tattaglia family, Philip (the son being Bruno).  While this is going, Connie is having domestic trouble with her abusive husband, Carlo (Gianni Russo), who has been hitting her, this provokes Sonny into beating up Carlo, and threatening to kill him if he touches again.  However Carlo has yet another fight with Connie, and this pre-empts Sonny into confronting Carlo again, however on his way over, he is ambushed at a toolbooth and riddled with bullets by several gunman, who take off.  

On hearing on the news of his son's death, Vito arranges a meeting with the heads of the other crime families to make peace and stop the war, especially with Tittaglia, who lost his son as well (at the order of Sonny).  Although one of the other crime bosses, Don Barzini (Richard Conte) does show some resentment over the fact that Vito has had so much power and has not been willing to share it, as he clearly wanted to get into the drug business.  Regardless of this, the heads of the families agree to make a peace for now, but Vito also realises that it was Barzini that was behind the hit on himself and on Sonny. 

Michael meanwhile in Sicily is still living happily with his new wife, Appollina, but this turns sour very badly when one of his bodyguards, betrays him, and plants a bomb in his car, with his wife at the wheel, she is killed instantly.  Michael travels back to New York and rejoins his union with Kay, who intially is reluctant and hurt that she hasn't heard from him all this time, but they soon marry.  By this time, Michael takes over as head of the family, with Vito acting as his consigliere, with Tom being temporarily ousted from the job as Michael tells him he is not a "war time consigliere". 

Michael travels to Las Vegas and meets up with his older brother, Fredo (John Cazale), who is the weaker and less brighter son of the family, who has set up a meeting with Moe Greene (Alex Rocco).  Michael says he wants to buy out Moe's casino to take over the families stakes, however Moe refuses as he says he has spoken to Barzini and he can make a deal to keep his casino.  Michael refuses to back down and insists that Moe make a price, which angers Fredo who says to Michael he can't talk to Moe like that, but Michael calmly says to him to never take sides with anyone against the family again. 

Not long after this however, Vito dies from a heart attack in his garden, and at the funeral, Michael is set to meet with the heads of the five families, but at the meeting he will be assassinated.  Michael however has other ideas of course as he attends the christening of Connie and Carlo's baby (as he is godfather to the baby also played by Coppolla's infant daughter, Sophia) he sets his own plan in action against his rivals...

THOUGHTS 

There is no doubt that the Godfather stands as one of the greatest American films ever made, and it is one of the greatest crime dramas in history. Director, Francis Ford Coppola who at the time of making the film met with tremendous resistance from the Paramount pictures studio, who were continually on his back about not meeting their time schedule, as he overran and they were never happy with what he showed them in rough cut footage.  But like all great films from the 1970s, the Godfather really was made under the most difficult of circumstances, and despite it all, Coppola still managed to create one of the all time great films.  

The crime family themes are so brilliantly developed in the Godather as are the characters, as in previous crime films it was never really done from the point of view of the family, it was morely just gangsters in their gangs, guns and bullets, and molls and business.  The fact that Coppola also included quite a few of his family members in the cast (his mother, young daughter Sofia, his sister Talia Shire, and even his father, Carmine, feature in the Godfather series) makes it even more like a genuine family affair. 

PERFORMANCES AND NOTABLE SCENES (Warning: this section may contain spoilers!) 

In terms of the performances, well there is little to fault here as the stellar cast are all on the top of their games here.

Starting with Marlon Brando, you could however say his performance does remain somewhat hammy, but it also shows great creativity, as Brando at the screen test had already worked how Vito should have been played, by putting tissue paper into his cheeks and speaking like Vito had been shot in the throat, hence his raspy voice.  

Brando also has several highlights in the film even if you can't always make out what he says, due to having a raspy voice and his cheeks stuffed with cotton balls!

And Brando has his share of great scenes that include his first one where an undertaker, Bonasera seeks revenge for his daughter, who was badly beaten up and comes to Vito for help.

So, in the scene, Bonasera whispers to Vito that "I want them dead" and Vito takes a moment and shakes his head and says "That I cannot do". However Bonasera then begs "I will do anything you ask!" and Vito says to him " We have known each other many years, but this is the first time you've come to me for counsel or for help. I can't remember the last time you invited me to your house for a cup of coffee, even though my wife is godmother to your only child. But let's be frank here. You never wanted my friendship. And you feared to be in my debt". Bonaseria then says "I didn't want to get into trouble" and Vito says "I understand. But now you come and say "Don Corleone, give me justice." But you don't ask with respect. You don't offer friendship. You don't even think to call me "Godfather." You come into my house on the day my daughter is to be married and you ask me to do murder - for money. 

Bonasera then asks Vito "How much shall I pay you?" and Vito gets up and heads over to the window of his office and shakes his head and says to him "Bonasera, Bonasera, what have I ever done to make you treat me so disrespectfully? If you'd come to me in friendship, this scum who ruined your daughter would be suffering this very day. And if by some chance an honest man like yourself made enemies they would become my enemies. And then, they would fear you". 

Then there is of course the scene where Johnny Fontane shows up at the day of Connie's wedding and meets with Vito and tells him how he wants to be cast in an upcoming movie but the studio director won't give it to him. So, in the scene Johnny says to Vito "Oh, Godfather! I don't know what to do! I don't know what to do!". And at this point, Vito springs out his seat and grabs Johnny and shouts at him "YOU CAN ACT LIKE A MAN!!" and he slaps him in the face and shouts "What's the matter with you?!". Vito then asks Johnny "What's the matter with you? Is this what you've become, a Hollywood finocchio who cries like a woman?" and he mockingly cries in a woman's voice "Oh, what can I do? What can I do?!!" What is that nonsense? Ridiculous!". Vito then asks Johnny "Do you spend time with your family?" and Johnny says "Sure I do" and Vito says "Good, because a man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man". 

Vito then looks at Johnny and says to him "You look terrible. Why don't you rest and go and get something to eat. And a month from now, this Hollywood big shot is gonna give you what you want". Johnny however tells Vito "Too late. They start shooting in a week" so Vito says reassuringly "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse".

Another good scene is when Vito meets with Sollozo and turns down his offer to work with him, so he says "I said that I would see you because I had heard that you were a serious man, to be treated with respect. But I must say no to you and let me give you my reasons. It's true I have a lot of friends in politics, but they wouldn't be so friendly if they knew my business was drugs instead of gambling which they consider a harmless vice. But drugs, that's a dirty business".  Sollozo tries to interrupt "Don Corleone..." and Vito continues "It makes no difference, it don't make any difference to me what a man does for a living, you understand. But your business is a little dangerous". 

Sollozo however tells Vito "If you're worried about security for your million, the Tattaglias will guarantee it" and Sonny then interrupts and asks "You mean the Tattaglias will guarantee our investment..." but Vito stops him and says "Wait a minute!" which stops Sonny dead in his tracks. After an awkward pause, Vito says to Sollozo "I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them, as you can see. They talk when they should listen. Anyway, Signor Sollozzo, my no to you is final. I want to congratulate you on your new business and I'm sure you'll do very well and good luck to you. Especially since your interests don't conflict with mine". So, after Sollozo leaves, Vito angrily says to Sonny "What's the matter with you?! I think your brain is going soft with all that comedy you are playing with that young girl. Never tell anyone outside the Family what you are thinking again!".

Then there is the scene where Vito meets with the other heads of the five families to end the gang war after Sonny is killed. So, in the scene Vito says to Tattaglia, who is bitter over the death of his son (at the hands of Sonny's orders) "You talk about vengeance. Is vengeance going to bring your son back to you, or my boy to me? I forgo the vengeance of my son. But I have selfish reasons. My youngest son was forced to leave this country because of this Sollozzo business. All right, now I have to make arrangements to bring him back here safely cleared of all these false charges. But I'm a superstitious man, and if some unlucky accident should befall him... if he should be shot in the head by a police officer, or if he should hang himself in his jail cell, or if he's struck by a bolt of lightning, then I'm going to blame some of the people in this room, and that I do not forgive!". 

And lastly there is the scene where Vito talks with Michael as they go over their plans regarding the meeting the heads of the five families and Vito laments over how things have turned out for Michael. So, in the scene Michael asks Vito "What's bothering you?" and Vito looks anxiously and says to him "I knew Santino was going to have to go through all this and Fredo... well, Fredo was... But I, I never wanted this for you. I work my whole life, I don't apologize, to take care of my family. And I refused to be a fool dancing on the strings held by all of those big shots. That's my life, I don't apologize for that. But I always thought that when it was your time, that you would be the one to hold the strings. Senator Corleone, Governor Corleone, something" and Michael says "Another pezzonovante!". Vito then finishes by saying "Well, there wasn't enough time, Michael. There just wasn't enough time" and Michael reassures him "We'll get there, pop" and Vito kisses him on the forehead and walks off. 

Al Pacino is superb as Michael, despite at the time of filming, the heads of Paramount where very unhappy with Coppola's decision to cast Pacino, they almost fired both of them off he picture.  But Pacino plays Michael as perfectly as you could ever hope for, with a sense of icy cool, and at times he even appears completely emotionless but early on there is also a genuine sense of care in him.  However towards the end of the film, he turns from being a good clean cut war hero into an evil man, when he takes control of the Corleone family.

And Pacino has numerous highlights that include the scene where Michael arrives with his girlfriend, Kay at his sister Connie's wedding where Michael tells Kay a story about his father. 

So, in the scene we see Johnny Fontane sing at Connie's wedding and Kay, surprised says "I didn't know you knew Johnny Fontane!" and Michael says "Sure, you want to meet him?" and Kay amazed asks "Sure!". Michael then says "My father helped him with his career" and Kay asks "How? Tell me, Michael" but Michael stalls on telling her as he wants to listen to Johnny's song. 

So after the song, Michael tells Kay "Well, when Johnny was first starting out, he was signed to a personal services contract with this big-band leader. And as his career got better and better, he wanted to get out of it. But the band leader wouldn't let him. Now, Johnny is my father's godson. So my father went to see this bandleader and offered him $10,000 to let Johnny go, but the bandleader said no. So the next day, my father went back, only this time with Luca Brasi. Within an hour, he had a signed release for a certified check of $1000". Kay asks "How did he do that?" and Michael tells her "My father made him an offer he couldn't refuse" and Kay asks "What was that?" and Michael "Luca Brasi held a gun to his head, and my father assured him that either his brains or his signature would be on the contract". Kay looks stunned at the story and Michael tells her "Its a true story. That's my family, Kay, that's not me".

Another great scene is the one where Michael tells Sonny and Tom his plan to meet with Sollozo and the corrupt police Captain, McCluskey at a restaurant where he will kill them both if a gun is planted there. 

So, Michael says to Sonny and Tom "They want to have a meeting with me, right? It will be me, McClusky and Sollozzo. Let's set the meeting. Get our informants to find out where it's going to be held. Now we insist it's a public place - a bar or a restaurant, some place where there's people there so I'll feel safe. They're going to search me when I first meet them, right? So I can't have a weapon on me then. But if Clemenza can figure a way to have a weapon planted there for me, then I'll kill them both". 

After a pause all the men laugh at Michael's plan and Sonny teases him and gives him a kiss and says to Michael "You're taking this very personally! Tom, this is business and he's taking it very personally!". Michael however insists "Where is it said you can't kill a cop?" but Tom smiles and says "Mikey..." but Michael insists "Tom, wait a minute. I'm talking about a cop that's mixed up in drugs. I'm talking about a - a - a dishonest cop - a crooked cop who got mixed up in the rackets and got what was coming to him. That's a terrific story!". Michael asks Tom "And we have newspaper people on the payroll, don't we, Tom? I mean they might like a story like that" and Tom smiles and says "They might, they just might" and Michael looks calmly at Sonny and tells him "Its not personal, Sonny. Its strictly business".

Then there is the scene where Michael meets with Moe Greene in Las Vegas at Greene's casino and the two of them argue as Michael plans to buy out Greene's casinos. So, in the scene Michael asks Moe "My credit good enough to buy you out?" and the men all laugh and Michael continues "The hotel, the casino. The Corleone family wants to buy you out" and Moe says "No, I buy YOU out, you don't buy ME out!". Michael then says to Moe "Your casino loses money. Maybe we can do better" and Moe asks "You think I'm skimmin off the top, Mike?" and Michael shakes his head and says "You're unlucky". 

So, as Moe get's angry at Michael for giving him a hard time despite taking in Michael's older brother, Fredo, under his wing. However, Michael becomes angry and tells Moe "You took Freddie in because the Corleone Family bankrolled your casino, and the Molinari Family on the Coast guaranteed his safety! Now we're talking business, let's talk business!". Moe then rants back at Michael how the Corleone family is all done and the other families have chased them out and that he could deal with Don Barzini and still keep his hotel. So, Michael then asks "Is that why you slapped my brother around in public?" and Fredo nervously tries to cover for Moe but Moe tells Michael "He was banging cocktail waitresses! Two at a time! Players couldn't get a drink at the table". Michael then says to Moe "I leave for New York tomorrow. Think about a price" and he get's up as does Moe who smashes a glass and angrily tells Michael "You know who I am???!! I'm MOE GREENE! I was making my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders!". 

So, as Fredo tries to reason with Moe and he speaks to Tom to try and consult with Vito, Tom interrupts and says that the Don is semi retired and Michael is in charge of the family business now and if he has anything to say "Say it to Michael!" and this prompts Moe to storm out. This leaves, Fredo very angry at Michael and he tells him "Mike! You don't come to Las Vegas and talk to a man like Moe Greene LIKE THAT!". Michael calmly but firmly tells Fredo "Fredo, you're my older brother, and I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the Family again. Ever". 

WARNING: BIG SPOILER COMING UP! (ALTHOUGH MOST PEOPLE KNOW IT ANYWAY!)

And last of all is the scene where after Michael has the other heads of the five families murdered, he confronts Carlo at his home (Carlo's that is) who betrayed Sonny to Barzini, which ended up getting Sonny killed. 

So, Michael enters Carlo's house just as Carlo is making a call and he tells him "You have to answer for Santino, Carlo. You fingered Sonny for the Barzini people". Carlo nervously then says "Mike, you got it all wrong..." and Michael says "Ah, that little farce you played with my sister. You really think that would fool a Corleone?". Carlo pleads with Mike "Mike, I'm innocent. I swear on my kids..." and Michael tells him to sit down, so both men sit down. And Michael tells Carlo "Barzini is dead. So is Phillip Tattaglia. Moe Greene. Stracci. Cuneo. Today I settled all family business so don't tell me that you're innocent. Admit what you did" and at this point Carlo begins to sob fearfully. Michael then reasures Carlo "Come on, don't be afraid, Carlo. You think I'd make my sister a widow?". 

And after Carlo is given a drink to steady his nerves, Michael tells him "No, you're out of the family business, that's your punishment. You're finished. I'm putting you on a plane back to Vegas and I want you to wait for my call. Only DON'T tell me your innocent because it insults my intelligence and it makes me very angry. Admit what you did. Now, who approached you? Was it Tattaglia or Barzini?" and after a pause, Carlo admits "It was Barzini" and Michael looks at him and says "Good". Michael then stands up and tells Carlo "There's a car outside waiting to take you to the airport. I'll your wife what flight you'll be on". Carlo then tries to apologise to Michael and "Michael, I..." and Michael angrily tells him "Get out of my sight!" letting him leave before you know what happens!

Then lastly there is the final scene where a hysterical Connie races in and accuses him of having Carlo murdered and she is eventually taken away. This leaves Kay looking worried and Michael tries not so convincigly to allay her fears and says "She's hysterical". Kay asks "Is it true, Michael?" and Michael warns her "Don't ask me about my business, Kay" and she asks again and he firmly says "DON'T ask me about my business..." but Kay presses him "Michael..." and he finally snaps and shouts "ENOUGH!!!". Michael then takes a moment and says "Alright, this one time I will let ask me about my affairs". Kay then looks worriedly at him and asks "Is it true?" and after a long pause, Michael looks at her and says "No" and the two of them hug. But then this is followed by the image of Clemenza taking Michael's hand and kissing it as he calls Michael "Don Corleone" and one of Michael's men, Al Neri (Richard Bright) goes over and closes the door on an anxious looking Kay.  

James Caan is also great in his role as Sonny, Vito's eldest and hotheaded son, who temporarily becomes the Don while Vito is in hospital but he soon suffers his own fate. Despite Sonny's temper, he does show his care and support for his family and it stands out as one of the best aspects of Caan's performance. Caan himself was also initially set to be cast to play Michael but Coppolla insisted that Pacino was the better choice for that role. Caan himself also had the most squibs (small explosives charges that double as the bullet wounds) attached to him by any actor in Hollywood for Sonny's death scene, as he was given 150 squibs to wear under his suit. 

And Caan's great scenes include the one where just after Vito is hospitalised, Sonny with his capos, Clemenza and Tessio work out what to do next and Sonny tells Clemenza to kill one of his men, Paulie, who sold out Vito to Sollozo. 

So, in the scene, Sonny says to Clemenza " I want you to take care of that sonofabitch right away. Paulie sold out the old man, that stronz. I don't want to see him no more. I want you to make that first thing on your list, understand?". Sonny then asks Michael "Michael, why don't you just hang around the house, take calls. Go ahead and try Luca again. Go on" as Luca Brasi has been missing, so Michael picks up the phone. However, at this point, Tessio brings in a package and Sonny opens it to find Luca's bullet proof vest with a fish in it and Sonny asks "What the hell is this?!" and Clemenza explains "Its a Sicilian message. It means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes" and Michael decisively puts the phone down.

Another great scene is when Sonny tells Tom and Michael that Sollozo wants to meet with Michael to negotiate a truce but Sonny grows impatient with Tom's strategising. So, Sonny says "Hey, listen to this. The Turk, he wants to talk. You imagine the nerve on this son of a bitch, hey? Craps out last night he wants a meetin' today". Tom then asks "What did he say?" and Sonny says "What did he say? Badda-beep, badda-bap, badda-boop, badda-beep, he wants us to send Michael to hear the proposition, and the promise is the deal is so good we can't refuse!". 

Tom however suggests they should hear what he has to say but Sonny angrily refuses "No, no, no! No more! Not this time, Consigliere! No more meetin's! No more discussions! No more Sollozzo tricks! You give 'em one message - I want Sollozzo. If not, it's all-out war, we go to the mattresses!". Tom however insists "Your father would want to hear this! This is business, not personal!" but Sonny angrily says "They shot my father?! Its business, your ass!" and Tom tells him "Even shooting your father was business not personal, Sonny!". Sonny then says to Tom "Well then, business will have to suffer, all right? And listen, do me a favor, Tom. No more advice on how to patch things up, just help me win, please. All right?!".

Michael however then suggests at his meeting with Sollozo and McCluskey, that they plant a gun at the restaurant before hand, so he can kill them both, which prompts laughter from the others. Sonny also laughs and says "Hey. What are you gonna do? Nice college boy, huh? Didn't want to get mixed up in the family business? Now you want to gun down a police captain, what, 'cause he slapped you in the face a little bit, huh? What do you think, this the Army where you shoot 'em a mile away? No, you gotta get up close like this - badda-bing! - you blow their brains all over your nice Ivy League suit. C'mere" and he grabs Michael's head and kisses him and says "You're taking this very personal" and he says to Tom "Tom, this is business and this man is taking it very, very personal!".

And last of all is the scene where Sonny goes over to Connie's apartment and sees that she has a black eye and he angrily puts his fist in his mouth. Connie however tries to appease him and shouts "It was my fault! Sonny, it was my fault! I started a fight and I hit him!" and Sonny quietens her down and gives her a hug and kiss on the head. Sonny then says "OK, I'm just gonna go and get a doctor to come down and look at you". Connie however pleads "Sonny, please don't do anything! Please don't do anything" and Sonny reassures her "What's the matter with you, huh? What am I going to do? Am I going to make that baby an orphan before he's born?" and he chuckles and Connie lightens up a little.

And we then cut to Carlo on the street talking to some kids and we see Sonny's car pull up and he angrily get's out and calls on Carlo "Come here! Come here!!" and he throws a stick at him as Carlo runs away. Sonny however soon catches up with Carlo and beats the crap out of him as Carlo holds onto a railing, Sonny bites Carlo's hand and he grabs a rubbish bin lid and hits Carlo with it and proceeds to kick him a few more times and he warns Carlo "If you touch my sister again, I'll kill you!" and gives Carlo one last kick, which knocks him into the flow of water from a leaked fire hydrant. 

Robert Duvall is also terrific as Tom Hagen, who is the Corleone family's lawyer or "consigliere" who advises for Vito, Sonny and later Michael. 

And Duvall's best scenes for starters include the one where Tom meets with the movie producer, Woltz, who refuses to give Johnny Fontane a star role in an upcoming film.  

So, Tom on meeting Woltz says to him "I come from a personal friend of Mr Johnny Fontane. That friend promises his undying friendship if you would do him a small favour" and Woltz asks "What's that?" and Tom says "Give Johnny a part in that war movie you're starting next week". And on hearing this Woltz leads Tom away after giving out signatures and he asks "And what favours does this friend promise in exchange for giving Johnny the part?". So, Tom says "You've got some labour trouble coming up. My client promises to make that trouble disappear. You have a top star who makes a lot of money, but he just graduated from marijuana to heroin...". 

Woltz then grows angry and tells Tom that Johnny will never get that part and doesn't care how many goombahs crawl out of the woodwork and Tom tells him "I'm German, Irish" and Woltz insults him by calling him a "Kraut-Mick friend!" and he will cause alot of trouble for him. Tom however tries to reassure him "Mr Woltz, I'm a lawyer, I have not threatened you..." and Woltz asks "I know almost every big lawyer in New York, who the hell are you?!" and Tom tells him "I have a special practice. I handle one client. Now you have my number, I'll wait for your call. By the way, I admire your pictures very much" and he leaves.

And this is followed by the scene where Woltz on hearing that Tom is Vito's lawyer, he invites him back for dinner and is more friendly to him this time round. However, as they both have dinner and Tom makes the request for Johnny to get the picture, Woltz again turns him down and explains the reason why is because Johnny ruined one of his female proteges for his studio as Johnny ran off with her, so he intends to run him out of the business. And Woltz yells at Tom "Now you get the hell out of here! And if that goombah tries any rought stuff, tell him I ain't no band leader! Yeah, I heard that story". So, Tom calmly get's up from the table and tells Woltz "Thank you for the dinner and a very pleasant evening. Have your car take me to the airport. Mr Corleone is a man who insists on hearing bad news immediately" and he leaves. 

Another great scene and arguably Duvall's best scene in the film, is where Tom argues with Sonny over the consequences of going after Sollozo and McCluskey as killing a cop would make them outcasts. So, Tom says to Sonny "Now, he's definitely on Sollozzo's payroll and for big money. McClusky has agreed to be the Turk's bodyguard. What you have to understand, Sonny, is that while Sollozzo's being guarded like this he is invulnerable. Now, nobody has ever gunned down a New York police captain. Never. It would be disastrous! All the five families would come after you, Sonny. The Corleone Family would be OUTCAST! Even the old man's political protection would run for cover! So, do me a favor, take this into consideration!". 

Then there is the scene where just after Sonny had been killed, we see Tom sit quietly at home and Vito enters the room. So, as Vito sits down, he says to Tom "My wife is crying upstairs. I hear cars coming to the house. Consigliore of mine, I think it's time you told your Don what everyone seems to know". Tom trying to keep his emotions in check says to Vito "I didn't tell Mama anything. I was just about to come up and wake you so that I could tell you". Vito then says "But you need a drink first" and Tom nods and Vito says "And now you've had your drink" so Tom emotionally tells Vito "They should Sonny on the causeway. He's dead" and Vito takes a moment for this to sink and and shuts his eye and he quietly get's up and asks for enquiries to be made and set a meeting with the heads of the families to end the family war.

And last of all is the scene where Tessio is lead away by Michael's men after Michael has the heads of the five families murdered. So, Tessio is told by one of Michael's men, Cici (Joe Spinell) that he is to go in separate cars and Tessio complains "He can't do that, that screws up all my arrangements!". However, Tom suddenly says "I can't go either, Sal" and he steps back as Tessio is suddenly surrounded by Michael's men as he realises his fate and he tells Tom "Tell Mike it was only business, I always liked him" and Tom says "He appreciates that". Tessio then makes a final plea to Tom "Tom, can you get me off the hook, for old times sake?" and Tom says "I can't do it, Sal" and he nods to the others to take Tession away to meet his fate. 

Talia Shire is excellent as Connie, who suffers at the hands of her abusive husband, Carlo and things later come to ahead as a result. Talia is actually the younger sister of the director, Francis Coppola. Coppola himself was initially reluctant to cast Talia in the role, as he felt she was too pretty but he ultimately felt that would lend to the tragedy of her marriage.

And Talia has a couple of standout scenes with the first being when Carlo effectively stages a fight with Connie in order to rile up Sonny as he has a girl call her at home. Coppola himself said this scene was born out of the studio criticising the lack of action in the film and they intended to send a violence director on set. So, Coppola staged this domestic confrontation between Connie and Carlo to make up for the lack of action.

So, after taking the call, Connie angrily walks up to Carlo, who is getting dressed to go out and she tells him "Dinner is on the table" and Carlo says "I'm not hungry yet" and Connie says "Your food is on the table. Its getting cold" but Carlo insists "I'll eat out later". Connie however frustrated shouts "But you just told me to make you dinner!" and Carlo angrily says to her "Hey, vaffanculo, hey?!" and Connie, distraught yells back "VAFFAUNCULO YOU!!" and she runs out and we soon hear some smashing sounds and Carlo sighs and says to him "What is she up to? Guinea brat!". 

So, Carlo walks into the dining room to see Connie angrily smashing things up and throwing pasta in the air and knocking vases off a table. So, Carlo goads "That's it! Break it all, you guinea brat! Break it all!" and Connie in tears says "Why don't bring your whore home for dinner???!!!" and Carlo tells her "Maybe I will! Now clean it up!" and Connie yells "LIKE HELL I WILL!!". Carlo then takes off his belt begins to whip her with it and she runs away and yells "I HATE YOU!!" and Carlo follows her and says "Good! Now I'll kill you! You guinea brat you!" and as Connie retreats to the bathroom, Carlo follows her in and we hear him whip her outside! Nasty bugger eh?! 

And last of all is the scene near the end where Connie, distraught, runs up to confront Michael over Carlo's murder. So, Connie bursts in on him at his home and shouts "Michael! You lousy bastard! You killed my husband! You waited until our father died so nobody could stop you and you killed him! You killed him! You blamed him for Sonny, you always did, everybody did. But you never thought about me. You never gave a damn about me. What am I going to do now?!". Kay then tries to calm Connie, who tells her "Why do you think he kept Carlo at the mall? All the time he knew he was going to kill him. And then he stood Godfather to our baby. You lousy cold hearted bastard! You think you know your husband? You know how many men he had killed! Read the papers. Read the papers! That's your husband!". Connie throws the newspaper in the air and she sobs uncontrollably as Michael tries to comfort her but she resists him and screams "NO!! NO!!" and she is lead away.

Diane Keaton is also excellent in her role as Kay, Michael's girlfriend and future wife even if her role is a bit more brief than some of the others. 

And I will only mention two of Diane's scenes starting with the one where Michael having returned from his exile in Sicily, meets up with Kay again and the two of them walk together.

So, as they walk Michael tells Kay "I'm working for my father now, he's been sick, very sick..." and Kay says "But you are not like him, Michael. I thought you weren't going to become a man like your father. That's what you told me". Michael tells her "My father's no different than any other powerful man - any man who's responsible for other people, like a senator or a president..." but Kay says "You know how naive you sound? Senators and Presidents don't have men killed!" and Michael says "Who's been naive, Kay? Kay, my father's way of doing things is finished, over. In 5 years, the Corleone family will completely legitimate". Kay however becomes a bit emotional as she asks Michael "Michael, why did you come here after all this time?" and Michael tells her that he needs her and loves her and he soon takes her away in a car to begin their life together, whether she likes or not lol!

John Cazale is also excellent as Fredo, Vito's middle son, who is weaker willed and less capable than his siblings but he is eventually sent out to Las Vegas to aid Moe Greene in his hotel/casino business. 

And Cazale has one really good scene worth mentioning, which is where Michael goes to Las Vegas to meet with Moe Greene and on arriving, he is taken to a room by Fredo, which has some showgirls in it and a band. 

So, after the band play "For he's jolly good fellow" for Michael, Fredo walks up to him and says quietly "Anything you want, kid! Anything at all" and Michael asks him "Who are the girls?" and Fredo suggestively tells him "That's for YOU to find out!". Michael however is not interested and says "Get rid of them, Fredo"and Fredo a bit taken aback asks "What?" and Michael says to him "Fredo, I'm here on business now get rid of them. I'm tired, get rid of the band too". So, Fredo then tells the girls to take off and the band and he shouts out them "Hey! Come on! Scram!" and he says quietly to Johnny Fontane who is there "I don't know what the hell's wrong with him".  Michael then asks "Where is Moe?" and Fredo says "He said to give him a call when the party started" and Michael smiles and pats him on the back and says "Then give him a call". 

And as Michael argues with Moe, Michael challenges Moe on slapping Fredo in public and Fredo tries to defend Moe and says "Oh, that was nothing, Mike! Sure, Moe flies off the handle once in a while but we're good friends right, Moe?!" and he pats Moe on the book. Moe then tries to defend himself by saying "I got a business to run, sometimes I gotta kick asses to make it run right. So, we had a little argument Fredo and I, but we straightened it out!". Michael however looks vindictively at Moe and asks "You straightened my brother out?" and Moe explains "He was banging cocktail waitresses! Two at a time! Players couldn't get a drink at the table!" and Fredo looks down awkwardly on hearing this.

However, as things seem to be going wrong for Moe in negotations with Michael, Fredo tries to consult with Tom. So, Fredo goes up to Tom and says to him "Tom, you're the consigliere. Now, you can talk to the Don..." but Tom interrupts and says "Just a minute! The Don is semi retired and Michael is in charge of the family business now. If you have anything to say, say it to Michael!". Moe however storms out, leaving Fredo very angry and frustrated at Michael and he tells him "Mike, you don't come to Las Vegas and talk to a man like Moe Green LIKE THAT!" and Michael tells him never to take sides with anyone against the family ever again. 

Richard Castellano is great as the colourful capo, Clemenza, who proves invaluable in the time of crisis during the family war.  

Castellano he has several great scenes, the main one where he drives around with Paulie, whom is murdered at Sonny's order by a gunman. So, in the scene, Clemenza says to Paulie "Pull over, I gotta take a leak" and he get's out and does his businees and then we see the man in the back of the car shoot Paulie in the head twice. So, after Clemenza zips up his fly, he goes back to the car and we see Paulie dead at the wheel. So, Clemenza says to the gunman "Leave the gun, take the cannolli".  

Then there is the scene where Michael is called in by Clemenza to take a phone call from Kay but he becomes embarrassed when she asks him to say "I love you" and he refuses to much to the amusement of Clemenza. So, after Michael comes off the phone, Clemenza teases him "Hey, Mike, why don't you tell that nice girl you love her?" and he says in a mock Italian accent "I love you with all my heart, if I don't see you again I'm gonna die!".

And last of all is the scene when Clemenza gives Michael the gun he will use to kill Sollozo and McCluskey at their meeting. So, in the scene Clemenza shows Michael the gun, which is taped around the trigger and the butt. So, Clemenza tells Mike "It's as cold as they come, impossible to trace. So you don't have to worry about prints, Mike. I put a special tape on the trigger and the butt. Here, try it...". Michael takes the gun and tries to press the trigger but can't seem to fire it and Clemenza asks "What's the matter? The trigger too tight?" and Michael finally manages to fire the gun, producing a very loud shot and Michael says "Madonn! My ears!". Clemenza then laughs and says "Yeah, I left it noisy. That way it scares any innocent pain in the ass bystanders away". 

Clemenza then asks Michael "All right, you shot them both. Now what do you do?" ad Michael dryly says "Sit down and finish my dinner". Clemenza then says "Come on, kid, don't fool around. Just let your hand drop to your side and the gun slip out. Everyone will still think you've got it. They're gonna be staring at your face, Mike. So walk out of the place real fast, but you don't run. Don't look nobody directly in the eye, but don't look away either. They're gonna be scared of you, believe me, so don't worry about nothing! You know, Mike, you're gonna turn out all right. You take a long vacation, nobody knows where, and we'll catch the hell".

Michael then asks Clemenza "How bad do you think its going to be?" and Clemenza tells him "Pretty goddam bad. Probably all the other Families will line up against us. That's all right. These things gotta happen every five years or so, ten years. Helps to get rid of the bad blood. Been ten years since the last one. You know, you gotta stop them at the beginning. Like they should have stopped Hitler at Munich, they should never let him get away with that, they was just asking for trouble". Clemenza then finishes working on the gun trigger and he hands it back to Michael and tells him "You know, Mike, we was all proud of you being a hero and all. Your father too". 

WARNING: PLOT SPOILER IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH!

Abe Vegoda next up is also very good as the other family capo, Tessio, who ends up betraying Michael to Barzini near the end of the film and he pays the price for it.

So, I will mention just that scene near the end where Tessio is lead away by Michael's men to be killed. And in the scene, as Tessio and Tom are leaving the Corleone compound, one of the button men, Willi Cici comes up and says "Sal... Tom... the boss says he'll come in a separate car. He says for you two to go on ahead". Tessio however is annoyed and says "He can't do that. That screws up all my arrangements!" and at this point Tom steps back and says "Yeah, I can't go with you either, Tessio" and Michael's men suddenly surround Tessio. Tessio then looks resigned to his fate and says to Tom "Tell Michael it was only business, I always liked him" and Tom says "He understands that". Tessio then looks at Tom and pleads "Tom, can you get me off the hook, for old time's sake?" but Tom says "Can't do it, Sally" and he indicates for the men lead Tessio away. 

And last of all is Al Litteri who is great as the drug baron, Virgil Sollozzo, who tries to do business with Vito but when he is turned down, he tries to assassinate Vito and starts a conflict with the Corleone family. In fact its funny that Litteri actually resembles imo Harrison Ford quite a bit in this film. Litteri himself however would die only a few years after the release of the film, as he suffered a heart attack in October 1975, aged 47.

And I will mention a few of Al's scenes starting with the one where Sollozzo intercepts Tom outside a store not long after Vito's assassination attempt. So, Sollozzo says to Tom "Hey Tom. I want to talk to you" and Tom tries to side step him and says "I haven't got time" but Sollozzo insists "Make time, Consigliere!" and Tom is suddenly tapped between Sollozzo and one of his men. So, Sollozzo tells Tom "What are you worried about? If I wanted you to kill you, you'd be dead already. Get in" and Tom gets into Sollozzo's car. 

And this is followed by the scene where Sollozzo takes Tom to a location where he tells he must negotiate with Sonny and the capos to take his deal. So, in the scene Sollozzo says to Tom "Sonny was hot for my deal, wasn't he?" and Tom tells him "Sonny will come after you with eveything he's got" and Sollozzo says "Yeah, that will be his first reaction sure. That's why I want you to talk to him and his caporegimes, that Tessio and that fat Clemenza". Tom under duress, says "I'll try but not even Sonny can call off Luca Brasi" and Sollozzo then says "Well...you let me worry about Luca. Now you can go". So, Tom get's up and Sollozzo leads him out "I don't like violence, Tom. Blood is a big expense!". However, outside he receives the news from one of his men that Vito survived the attempt on his life. So, Sollozzo irritated says "He's still alive! They hit him with five shots and he's still alive! Well, that's bad luck for me and bad luck for you if you don't make that deal!".    

And last of all is the scene where Michael meets with Sollozzo and McCluskey at the restaurant to discuss a truce with him. So, as the two men talk in Italian, Michael breaks out of it into English clearly as his Italian is bit limited and he says angrily "What I want, what is most important to me, is that I have a guarantee: no more attempts on my father's life". Sollozzo then tries to reassure Michael "What guarantees could I give you, Mike? I'm the hunted one. I've missed my chance. You think too much of me, kid. I am not that clever. All I want is a truce". Michael then asks "I have to go to the bathroom. Is that all right?" and McCluskey eating his dinner says "You gotta go, you gotta go" and Michael gets up to go but Sollozzo stops to frisk him and McCluskey insists that he did already and he's clean. So, on frisking Michael, Sollozzo tells him "Don't take too long". 

DIRECTOR 

Finally moving onto the direction, Francis Ford Coppola does a terrific job here Coppola hardly ever puts a foot wrong here, and he deserves much credit for what he has achieved with this film, and the saga in general, especially given the pressures he was under in filming from the studio.  In fact it got so bad that the studio were intent on replacing him, as the film got longer and they were disatisfied with his casting of Brando and especially Pacino, as they were very unhappy with the dailies (i.e. the raw footage shot on a particular day) they shot of his performance and it was only after the Sollozzo scene, the studio relented to keep him on. 

Regardless of this, Coppola went on and deservedly won the oscars for Best Picture, Director and adapted screenplay (along with Mario Puzo).  Technically the film also looks superb, and the moody, dark photography from Gordon Willis is also stunning, from the darkly lit scenes at the start to the gorgeous bright scenes in Sicily. So, overall this is easily one of Coppola's towering achievements in his long career. 

MUSIC 

As for the music score, it was by Nino Rota, which is both great and memorable, especially the way it begins the film, with that sombre trumpet playing the unforgettable opening moments. Ironically however, the studio head of Paramount, Robert Evans, did not want to use the score as he felt it was too highbrow but Coppola eventually persuaded him to do so. The score also features some additional pieces by Coppola's dad, Carmine Coppola who has a brief cameo in the film as he is seen playing piano during the montage sequence after Michael kills Sollozo.  

FLAWS 

As for flaws...well, I have to say that I'd be hard picked to choose any for once given that the film is so great but there are still one or two slight niggles.

First off, I have to say that Kay at the end of the film is a bit blind and naive to the fact that Michael had Carlo killed when Connie tearfully accuses him of it but in the scene when Kay asks Michael if its true and he becomes very defensive and shouts "ENOUGH" at her, that would be enough to confirm it. However, Michael simply tells her it isn't true and she automatically accepts it! For more that scene never really sat right, especially as we see Michael called "Don Corleone" by Clemenza right at the end and she looks dismayed by it. 

You could also argue that the wedding sequence at the start of the film maybe drags on a bit too long as it goes between Vito's business meetings and Connie's wedding sequences with the family all having a dance and Johnny Fontane showing up. Its fine as a sequence overall but just maybe it could have trimmed back a little. 

I also thought there was some poor continuity in the scene where Sonny is gunned down at the toll booth as he is riddled with bullets and we see as he lies dead, one of the gunman shoot him more. However, after they drive off, you can see Sonny has noticably less bullet wounds on him than before, which is a bit strange in itself. 

I also felt that Michael's power to marry however he wished came to him a bit too easily as he decides to almost marry Appolonia in Sicily as soon as he meets her given that he apparently fell in love at first sight and she all appears to be the same! The same also applies to Kay when they reunite, even though they were in a relationship prior to his exile, Kay is clearly conflicted about Michael's return and why he came back to her after all that time. Yet inspite that, Michael simply tells her "I care for you, I need and I love you" and he leads her toward a car so they can start their relationship again, even if Kay is uncertain of it, they do it anyway!  

And lastly I also felt that the Sicily sequences in the film with Michael in exile after killing Sollozzo and McCluskey also dragged the pace of the film down a bit. I do however realise these moments are necessary to show that Michael had to flee from America but again the sequence does go on just a bit too long for me personally. 

Anyway that's it for the flaws (pretty quick for a change!).

SUM UP

So to sum it all up, The Godfather still remains one of the greatest films of all time as its a perfect combination of great writing, acting and direction, which was made by Coppolla under tremedous pressure by Paramount pictures. The story is totally compelling and engrossing and the characters are all well drawn out and given enough screen time each to work well. And the film warrants repeated viewing time and time again, which is clearly why its one of the greats in modern cinema and to this day its still essential viewing. 

So, I will easily give The Godfather a rating of:

10 out of 10

So, that's it for now and I will be back soon with another post.

Till then its ciao for now!