I love it that you immediately picked up on Don Fanucci being a fake - "he wouldn't be doing this stuff on his own if he really had power." So many people miss that and think Vito was taking out a rival, when the reason Vito despised Fanucci was because he perceived that Fanucci was a fake, a liar, a bully, and a parasite doing nothing for his "people," just abusing them.
I disagree. You forget the times… These are immigrants, who feared the reputation of “ The Black Hand” from their homeland Sicily. Enough people knew him or of him from home.. In the. same way Michael brought P’s brother to just look at him in the Senate hearing room. Custom and belief.
You are correct, in the uncut version Vito sees Fanucci getting jumped by two younger guys.. The scar on his face is from that encounter, he knows Fanucci is a fake ... Watch uncut version, Vito is delivering groceries in an alley where Fanucci gets jumped ...
The book basically says it. It doesn't accuse him of being fake but suggests he's not backed up like he says meaning if he kills him he could take over & the difference between him & Fannucci is vito had the people's respect & was liked unlike Fannucci which made the people happy he was killed
YES!! Jesus, finally someone besides me having to point that out... As someone else commented, the film gives you signs but honestly the rest is mob history 101... Fanucci was not "connected" let alone "made"...he was what you'd call a wannabe who excelled at hustling immigrants who didn't know any better that he WAS NOT a made guy... All they had to do was ask around and pay attention like Vito did to figure that out...2 bookies Vito knew didn't pay him tribute... If he was ABOVE the bookies in rank, it's 1+1, they lived in that neighborhood so they would've HAD to pay him a percentage... Vito seeing him get his throat sliced proved it to him personally that dude was a nobody, because no boss would EVER allow two street thugs to slice his throat, they wouldn't even have gotten close enough and they definitely would've died afterwards... You CANNOT touch a made man, that's death.... Unless, you were a nobody who wasn't as untouchable as he made himself out to be...a Don would not be the one threatening you to your face, MAYBE a made guy if you represented a profit, but an associate would've prolly been the one threatening, even made guys have crews that include lots of enforcers... This guy didn't threaten death, he threatened to call the police, then Vito tested him by standing up to him and giving him only $50... Everyone's seen or heard enough gangster movies and quotes to know you better have their money or.... He mentioned Maranzano, who came after the Black hand, so the Mafia was not yet at its most organized, but it was still REALLY well organized into 2 big groups in NY, until 1931 when those 2 became just 1 and dissiminating into what then became the 5 families... I have a degree in RUclips... Many hours at an old job just reading articles and books... And watching so much RUclips lol
Indeed. He tests him by lowballing him with the money and standing upto him. His response indicates that he's weak and not backed up by anyone worth caring about. I'm 100% sure I didn't get this on first watch, GF2 is more complex and confusing than GF1. "The Black Hand" was what preceded the mob, I believe.
4:25 A short but powerful scene: The young boy, Vito Andolini, sits in a little chair in his little quarantined room, in a strange country. He's all alone, his entire family murdered....and he starts to sing. Here we see the inner strength of Vito Corleone. Great strength of will and desire to live. 💪
Love it. Part II is my favourite of the two. John Cazale who played Fredo (who was in a relationship Meryl Streep), was only in 5 films, all of which were nominated at the Oscars for Best Picture - and he absolutely shines in Part II. Al Pacino once said: "I learned more about acting from John than anybody". I'd recommend watching the documentary: "I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale", an amazing but tragic story of John Cazale.
Michael’s character arc plays like a Shakespearean tragedy. And it’s the opposite of his father. Vito starts out as an orphan, gathers friends and family to him, spends his last years surrounded by family, and dies playing with his grandson. Michael starts with a large family and steadily rejects / destroys it until he spends his later years completely isolated and presumably dies alone.
It's great to watch the GF films with both of you. I've been a fan of the films since they were released when I was in my 20s. I've seen both films at least 50 times each, either in full or with internet reactors. I get a big kick from watching your reactions to the plot twists and turns. It's more enjoyable when my internet friends invest their mind and their emotions so much that they remember offhand (but poignant) utterances by characters, or minor characters' names. Both of you are very happy and willing to absorb the artistic experience, and I'm happy to join you.
Pacino, de Niro, and Brando were all students of his (though Brando insisted he learned nothing from Strasberg). Looking at his credits, it appears he actually wasn't in many movies, and most were after this one.
@@Guitcad1 Yeah, this is the first film I remember seeing him in. I am an actor, though I never claimed to be method, but I love a lot of method actors. I've heard of Strasberg long before this movie came out.
@@johnmaynardableHe had an uncredited role in a movie called 'Parnell' in 1937 and another role in a movie called 'China Venture' in 1953, but when this was made his reputation seems to have been much more as a teacher.
Unlike many others, I do not put one film above the other. Both are great, both are epic, but they are two different films. Together, they make one complete story, one of the greatest film sagas ever told.
People forget that like Star Wars it was one giant script that had to be chopped up. This is why they are so good and three feels clunky. It didn't come out of the same writing process and had to fit back into the story.
Sun Tzu is credited with the phrase “Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer.” He was a Chinese military general, strategist, philosopher, and writer who lived during the Eastern Zhou period of 771 to 256 BCE.
What's great is how relevant it is to both Godfather films. In GF1, Michael cuts Tom out and promotes Carlo. And in GF2, obviously, keeps Roth close. And the reason he can trust Tom so completely is because he cut him out in GF1. Tom wasn't in a position to betray Michael because he wasn't in the know about the important parts of Michael's business. It allows him to test his enemies (like Carlo) and potential enemies (like Fredo/his capos) by feeding them information. So if there's a leak or a betrayal, he can figure out if it's them. While the people he actually trusts he can trust even more absolutely because they aren't in a position to betray him or leak information. There's so much great continuity from GF1 to GF2. It's incredible and rare. They're almost one continuous film. Michael warns Fredo in GF1 about going against the family. I've also read the theory that Vito's story is being imagined by Michael, it's his imagined version of his Father's younger life, based on what he knows and the stories he's heard. This probably wasn't Coppola's intention, but I like it. It's so overly romanticised and Michael is in such deep contemplation throughout the film, and there several transitions (from Vito's story to Michael's) where this interpretation fits really nicely.
A small bit f trivia some people miss. The dinner scene at the end was on Vito's 50th birthday. His 50th birthday fell on Dec 7, 1941. Which means Michael enlisted in the Marines as a reaction to the Pearl Harbor attack.
Yes, at the end scene where Sonny tells Connie to "go show Carlo the tree," it was the family Christmas tree. It was the day of the Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) attack on December 7th, 1941. Sonny talking about the Japanese "dropping bombs in our own backyard," Sal Tessio talking about the thousands of men enlisting, people in the audience would've known that it was the Pearl Harbor attack in December and during the Christmas season.
When Michael told Rocco, "I don't want anything to happen to him while my mother is still alive," he was saying, "don't kill him until after my mother dies."
I love how both I and II weave in real historical events and people. Part II especially. The Castro revolution is the obvious one, but within organized crime in the US there are other things with name changes. Moe Greene is based on Bugsy Seagal who really was someone largely involved with the origins of Las Vegas and the organized crime connection. Hyman Roth is based on Meyer Lansky. In real life reported to be quite a mastermind, and yes he was heavily involved with casinos and crime in Cuba and had ties to the Cuban president before the revolution. The Senate committee hearings in the movie resemble the real Kefauver Committee hearings back in the 1950s. They focused on organized crime (especially the Mafia) and were televised. The first time Americans got to see on a national stage a lot of the real negative impacts of these operations on the country, and not just the simplistic portrayals of Hollywood movies.
I'm a Sicilian American from the Bronx, and I assure you that everything from Sicily to NYC is absolutely accurate. My mother was born in "Little Italy" just down the block from where the NYC locations were. Her father came from Sicily in 1908 and was involved shipping his family's olive oil to NY in the 1920's---his town in Sicily is a few miles from the town of Corleone. It's all very much like all that in the film, and that's where my family came from.
I don't speak the language, but I could tell that Signor Roberto (the landlord who was crapping himself trying to get out of Vito's office) was speaking a distinctly different dialect from the other characters' Sicilian. Much more "sing-songy" The fact he references Vito's "Sicilian ass" suggests to me that he's from Italy proper. Naples, maybe?
@@Guitcad1 I think he said he is from Calabria, which is the point of the "boot" and across the water from Sicily. Vito then said "We are almost paisanos", meaning they are almost from the same country.
@@Guitcad1 Calabrese (Calabria). What's remarkable, as you noticed, is the nearly perfect Sicilian dialect Vito has. DeNiro didn't know Italian, and he had a great dialect coach.
Well, Michael was actually betrayed not only by his own brother, who he was initially willing to forgive, and his wife, who purposely set out to hurt him. That's when he snapped and knew that he couldn't trust anyone - even Tom - ever again. That's when he knew that he'd forever be alone.
Very rare for reactors to follow along and catch everything like you guys did. You bounced off of each other and solved just about everything (it's genius that Scorsese made sure there will still 'shock moments' that no one could foresee) and made it a great reaction. Well done guys!
50:17 What ARE you talking about??? He has *not* ‘given' Al Neri to Fredo to be his personal bodyguard (i.e. to *protect* him) 👏🏻🤣…he’s telling Al Neri not to kill Fredo until after their mother dies. How can you possibly misunderstand that???
I try to tell reactors planning to watch GF2 to read up on the Cuban New Years Eve revolution and the Valachi hearings before Congress on the mafia. Love the way these historical events were woven into the fictional story of Michael's downfall.
If you watch it again, pay attention when Michael hugs Fredo (following their mother's death). Watch the exchange of glances between Michael and Al Neri.
Fredo was not portrayed as weak in the book. Fredo never dies in the book and is described by Sonny as the toughest of all of the sons. John Cazale portrayed Fredo as the weaker brother based upon stories of how Coppola was treated as a child. Coppola had polio as a child and was bedridden for about a year before he could walk again. Coppolas siblings showed their talents at a young age. Coppola didn't discover his talents until he was in college. Coppola admitted that he would pray the Hail Mary to catch fish as a child. Connie's development in Part 3 makes Michael think about how Fredo might have developed if he was allowed to live.
That's a good point you bring up regarding Connie. I won't say too much because as I said on the first video, I think they should watch the whole trilogy regardless of opinions on III. But I was definitely surprised by Connie in that one.
@@catherinelw9365 In the book, Vito is pissed at Fredo for getting him shot. Fredo never recovers from the trauma of letting Vito get shot. On the other hand, Vito isn't willing to kill Fredo for his incompetence when he needed him the most.
Hmm. It's a big change to kill Fredo in the movies if it never happens in the books. It's one of the major decisions that made me look at Michael differently.
@@RamblersInc The book ends before they move to Nevada. Coppola had the idea of Michael giving the order for Fredo's death. It plays into the theme of moral blindness from King Lear that Coppola developed into Parts 2 and 3. Michael is also developing diabetes in Part 2 when he is seen taking prescriptions, drinking a lot of water, and rubbing his eyes. Like King Lear, Coppola mirrors the development of moral blindness with physical blindness.
From a story POV, yeah. But not from a character POV, for me. Michael had forgiven him. For me, Michael starts out the film loving his family, believing his family love him and that he's doing what his Father did (as Connie says later in the film), and he'll be treated as his Father was by his family. But, as Michael says to his Mother, times are changing. The two key moments in the film, for Michael's character development, are Fredo's tirade at him and Kay's betrayal and tirade. Michael has a blindspot when it comes to his family, I don't believe he genuinely suspected Fredo at any point, I think he was in denial about that possibility. I don't think he's testing him at all during their little chat in Cuba. And he's genuinely shocked and taken aback by Fredo's outburst and resentment for him. And, likewise, Kay's. And the realisation that his family hates him, and his life of crime has been for nothing, is what, ultimately, swallows up his soul.
I contend that Kay telling Michael the truth is the best single scene in cinema history. Or at least, nobody has been able to show me a scene that beats it.
I think Diane Keaton's performance gets overlooked at times. Her performance in that scene - her facial expressions and tone of voice - was outstanding.
Baptism scene in the original is the best scene in movie history. Also, the Odessa Steps sequence in The Battleship Potemkin can make a claim as the most memorable of all time.
The scene on the lake cuts away to Michael while Fredo is finishing the Hail Mary. The gunshot comes right after he would have ended the prayer with "Now and at the hour of our death." When Neri stands up in the boat after killing Fredo, even he looks sad about it. And the cry from the gull adds to the scene, too.
No. Fredo had told his nephew Anthony that when he was young he always caught a fish when he prayed the Hail Mary. When Anthony was called away at the dock, Fredo told him he would catch one for him using "the secret"
@@seanspalding9296…I’m not so sure. Fredo knew he was going to be killed. Actually it makes sense that he was saying the Hail Mary for both reasons, but imo especially so because he knew his death was imminent. After all, one of Michael’s henchmen went fishing with him. And Michael was watching from the window, certainly Fredo may have or could have seen him and surmised what was going to happen … Michael didnt care and Fredo knew he didn’t care, so if Fredo had seen him Fredo was still resigned to his fate. I feel like Fredo knew Micheal was watching. I might be reading too much in it, but in this movie there is often more to a scene than meets the eye. You’ll also notice that Fredo stops before the last line of the prayer and a few seconds pass before you hear the shot. Why that pause? The last line being “now and at the time of our death”. Maybe it’s just the editing, but maybe purposeful.
@@teresas8173 I don't think he knew. He was planning on fishing with his nephew, and even when Anthony got called away, Fredo told him he would catch one for him using the "secret" (the Hail Mary). I think he was simply trying to catch a fish... but it's nice he at least got to pray before dying!
Great reaction, guys. Vito the child would have had help from Italian families during the voyage and he was taken in by the Abbandando family, who own a grocery store. His best friend is Genco Abbandondo, the son. Vito worked in the store but was reluctantly fired because Don Fanucci wants the job for his nephew.
Genco also wound up being consiglere to the Corleone Family. By the time of the first film Tom Hagen had already taken over this role, so Genco is mentioned but never appears as a character except as a child in the flashbacks. I can't remember if he was supposed to have died and that's why Tom took over, I believe the book covers this but it's been too long since I read it.
Like many others, I've found that these two films seep into you and call out to be revisited many times over the years. I enjoyed your reactions and interpretations! Thanks.
2:45 Notice that, just like Sonny, the eldest son Paolo is a hot head and swears revenge, only to get killed. Which leaves Vito, who is quiet and calculating, to survive with the help of the young Don Tomasso, who in the first film protected Michael.
I know ppl don't usually recommend Godfather part III, but I think you guys would actually appreciate it. I thought it tied things up nicely, and the ending, well let's just say Coppola went back to his roots. Interestingly, the Italian mafia series Gomorrah used a similar trope to great effect, I'd love to see your reaction to this series, one of the best I've seen in years.
I’ve always looked at it as Michael was simply protecting his father’s legacy. I also don’t think Michael was going to kill Fredo until they spoke privately. The moment Fredo said he wanted his and didn’t want it the way their dad wanted it to be. The way the siblings respect their father vs their brother was a huge factor
Do you think if Fredo had some sort of self realisation that he's not smart enough to take over, or humble enough that he didn't feel embarrassed that his little brother was basically his boss, he would have been more loyal?
There was a cut made for broadcast TV that edited the films together into chronological order. It was a complete disservice to Coppola's vision. The first movie is about Michael being forced into the mantle of Don out of love for his family. The second shows Michael's descent into evil and losing his family...the only thing that mattered to him. Intercutting the story of his fall with that of Vito's rise just underlines the ultimate futility of his life. The chronological version lacked the impact of that. I think the menace that Roth represented was that he was essentially another Vito in power and subtlety as an opponent. Michael was the imminent threat to Roth that the other Players weren't.
Totally agree. Putting the scenes in chronological order was an insult to those who understood and appreciated the parallel lives of Vito and Michael in Part II. It also disrespected the general audience's ability to understand the differences in the time frames.
Coppola was the one who wanted to make the "Saga" version and oversaw its editing. He was very much involved in it. But this was in the '70s and, apparently, there's been a few TV versions.
In one of the books about The Godfather, Tom’s father had a bad drinking problem and use to take out his ill’s on Tom by beating him severely, almost to the point of death! Vito intervened after one of Tom’s bad beating which put Tom into the hospital and adopted Tom into the Corleone Family as the fourth son! But because Tom wasn’t Sicilian, he couldn’t inherit any of the Corleone Family’s Holdings, Vito put Tom through Law School and made responsible for all of the Corleone Family’s assets as reparations without the ability to inherit…
They also change that story in the novel "The Family Corleone" where they say that Tom's family lived on the same block as the Corleones and that Tom's dad would get drunk and hurl racist insults at Vito's family. Vito tries to reason with Tom's dad, but he is belligerent. Vito eventually has Tom's dad kidnapped, beaten and killed by Tessio and Clemenza without Tom ever finding out who killed his dad.
@@rxtsec1 neither was The Godfather II or the Godfather III! Mario Puzo only wrote original Godfather book which the first movie is based on and the the book called The Sicilian, all the others were written by someone else and adapted to the Second and Third movie within the Godfather franchise saga…
Oh right, different authors same characters! Makes sense now! God forbid that these two guys don’t do the Jack Reacher series, which have three author’s writings the same characters in their respective books…
16:00 "Doing things by himself" Correct! In a deleted scene, Fanuci is assaulted and his throat cut (you can see the scar later) and hires a couple guys to exact revenge. Vito realizes that means he has no real connection to the Black Hand (like in Goodfellas, when they talk about made men being "untouchable,) So when Fanuci tries to extort money from Vito, Vito just kills him. I suppose the grateful Italian neighbors recognize him as their Godfather.
It's crazy that this film has De Niro & Pacino together and yet their first on-screen appearance together would not come until Michael Mann's 1995 film "Heat".
Мой самый любимый фильм, а Роберт Де Ниро и Аль Пачино любимые с юности актеры. Музыка, сюжет. Взгляд Майкла когда он обнимает Фредди, а сам смотрит на помощника..это просто на разрыв
As you see that while you were remarking about oranges in the flashback and how Vito was shot in Part 1, and then no one died. It’s been blow out of proportion by the internet and said so much that people believe the false.
Agreed! This ‘oranges’ thing has developed into some sort of myth. People have ran with it and developed it and promoted it so that now everyone seems to read a lot into something that’s just a falsity.
Tidbits: Johnny Orla is played by the same actor who played Uncle Junior in The Sopranos (Dominic Chianese). Funny that they show a still relatively slim young Clemenza chowing down on the spaghetti! Nice catch! The Black Hand wasn’t Don Fannuci’s nickname but an Italian nickname for the extortionist mobsters that preyed on immigrant Italians. Great call re: lying to Hyman. Hyman is played by Lee Strasberg the legendary method acting instructor / director of The Actors Studio in NYC. Speaking of acting - the slow boil and release of Michael’s rage in the abortion convo. So good by Pacino. Who takes over in Cuba? Oh my, lololol. You guys are very British. Fidel Castro. Who did not do business with the US mob. But he welcomed some arms business from Moscow! When Michael hugs Fredo at the wake, he gives a look to Al Neri to say now that momma’s gone, take him out. Neri nods. Earlier, Michael wasn’t giving Fredo a bodyguard he was indicating Fredo will be taken care of once his mom wasn’t around to mourn the loss of another son. Vito built the business to grow and nurture his family. Michael grew the business to the extent it tore apart the family. Godfather 3 is nowhere near the caliber of 1 and 2. Sophia Coppola’s acting hurt it (she’s a good director now though). But it has its moments for Pacino to chew the scenery.
Ahh ok. It's a nickname. Thanks for clearing that up. I was scared he was going to kill her in that room. The joke is we learnt about The Cuban Revolution as kids. We forgot everything 😭 Do you think if Fredo got in the car initially and talked, Michael may have spared him? Yep. The People's Don VS The Don who alienates everyone.
I heard the cop was owned by roth and sent there at the time they tried to kill pantangeli to stop it but it could just be a coincidence too. Also Robert De Niro & Marlon Brando were the first actors to win Oscar for the same role. It only happened one other time with Joaquin Phoenix & Heath Ledger for Joker
So glad you loved this and watched them both together. The thing that always struck me with these movies is the contrast between how Vito and Michael ran the Family and how they ended. Vito died laughing, playing with his grandson pretending to be a monster with the orange peel teeth! and Michael ended sitting all alone. Also... The Cuba scene "So who takes over from him"? Never heard of Fidel Castro? Part III personally I wouldn't bother with but at some point I suggest checking out Scarface. Pacino stars as an immigrant from Cuba who comes to America after Castro ejects many dissidents to set up a crime empire. Imltho that really is the true follow on to this story.
@@gnomescape Goodfellas is a movie about idiots for idiots. Even Scorsese didn't want to make Goodfellas because he knew that those gangsters were losers. The only reason he ended up making Goodfellas was for the money and because Michael Powell wanted him to do it. Part 3 is the only ending that makes sense because it completes the narrative thread to King Lear and the Kennedy family story.
Duh yeah. Goodfellas is a movie about idiots. Kind of my point. It was the downfall of 'Family' took the easy money and lost the respect. Didn't want to type any spoilers though. I guess some idiots don't get that?@@erwinquiachon8054
@@gnomescape Goodfellas was also made for idiots. That's why Scorsese often refers to it as a dumb "cowboy" movie. You obviously wouldn't know that, or you wouldn't rant about being a fan for a movie made for idiots. Part 3 was made for people who understand Shakespeare and enjoy thinking. Goodfellas was made for people who don't like to think.
Greatly enjoyed your reactions to G1 & G2, it's like seeing the films with fresh eyes. Thanks so much for sharing this with us-now I'm off to check out your reaction video to G3 (which, while not quite a worthy successor, is still interesting to watch for the sake of completion/closure).
The Godfather movies are absolutely fantastic. I've read the book and they did a great job adapting. The book's a long one , but they condensed it very well in this adaptation.
Connie came back after Mama died because Connie and Mama never got along. Watch their interactions throughout the movies. Mama never had any use for her, even when poor Connie was being abused by her husband.
Yep. Even when she witnesses Carlo talking to her crazy at the table, she tells Sonny not to interfere. My mother would have reacted just like Sonny, if not worse, LOL.
It's not as Mama Corleone thing. It's a old world thing. Once you're married, what goes on between you and your husband is private and not even other family members should get involved. It was like that during the ancient Roman era and apparently still existed until the mid 20th century.
The end IS similar to the first, though, with the difference being that by this time the killings, as well as Kay's leaving, represents that the power that Michael inherited and protected in the end destroyed everything he valued - his marriage, his family, his brother.
I think there is a version of this that is cut with it in chronological order, it doesn't jump backwards & forwards in time. I know it is not rated as highly, but it does help finish the story by watching Part 3
I recommend you watch part 3. It has a very different feel in most every way from the first two. It's not bad... it just doesn't live up to expectations considering the massive footsteps it follows. And it does complete the full trilogy.
Part 3 exceeded my expectations by being truly Shakespearean and operatic. Over time, Coppola was very smart to compare the Corleones to the Coppolas in Part 3.
No. Like Tom Hagen said it was planned well by Hyman Roth. If the Rosatto brothers succeeded in killing Frank then it would have been fine for Roth. The Rosatto brothers would get the blame and Roth would have his revenge for the killing of Moe Greene by Michael. But if for some unexpected reason the kill was botched then Roth wanted Frank to think it was his boss Michael who had okayed the hit, which is what happened.
Regarding the case of Frank Pentangeli and why his older brother, Vincenzo, came to the Hearing: This is an excerpt from an early draft of the script for "The Godfather, Part II" Kay: Tell me, Michael. What really happened with Pentangeli? Michael: His brother came to help him. Kay: I didn't even know he had a brother. And where is he now? Michael: On a plane back to Sicily. Kay: And that's all he had to do. Just show his face. Michael: That's all. You see, in Sicily, in the old days... there was only one legitimate reason to kill a blood relative... only one. If he was a traitor. Kay: You would have killed his brother? Michael: Kay, you've got it wrong. That kind of thing's all over, I promised you. This was between the two brothers. Years ago, Frankie had a young girlfriend; he called her his co-wife. That was his joke, but he meant it. He wouldn't divorce his wife because she was a great cook. He said his girlfriend made a spaghetti sauce once and it was so terrible he knew he could never marry her. He set her up in a house in Jersey. She had to be faithful, and she had to have kids. And she did: two, a boy and a girl. He had her checked out and watched so she couldn't cheat, but the girl couldn't stand that kind of life. She begged him to let her go. He did. He gave her money and made her give up the kids. Then Frankie took them to Italy, and had them brought up by his brother Vincenzo, where he knew they'd be safe. Michael: When he saw his brother in the hearing room, he knew what was at stake. I don't think Vincenzo would have done it. He loves the kids, too. Omerta, Kay. Honor, silence. It had nothing to do with me. It was between those brothers.
Gastone Moschin gives a fantastic performance as Don Fanucci. Bordering on scenery-chewing at times, he makes Fanooch look so slimy, so distasteful; an evil, petty bully. As for Frank Pentangeli, I've always thought that Roth, who ordered the attack, intended to leave Frank alive. Thus, the assassin saying "Michael Corleone says 'Hello!'" to convince Frank that Michael had tried to kill him.
52:10 WELLLLLLL… You’ve redeemed yourselves! Most (in fact all) others misunderstand and think the brother is there to tell Frank to be a good boy and don’t snitch. You’ve picked up beautifully precisely correct that they brought the brother over as a means of intimidation. i.e. snitch and we’ll ‘hurt’ your brother. Well done after the last misunderstanding you made. 👏🏻
“All others” misunderstood that scene? The overwhelming consensus on that scene agrees that Frank’s brother was flown in just to remind Frank of the Code of Silence. Frank’s older brother lives in Sicily, where the Code of Silence is absolute. Just one look from his older brother reminded Frank of the Code. He dare not break it and dishonor his family. His brother didn’t even have to say a word. Michael had the brother flown in just to remind Frank of his duty. It’s why Michael told Kay after the hearing, “It was between the brothers.”
@@catherinelw9365 Absolute rubbish. You’ve no idea how the mafia works. It works by INTIMIDATION, not by ‘reminding’ them of their oath and giving them another chance! 👏🏻🤣 There’s NO second chance with the mafia. You think it’s a game? Gimme a break!
@@Stogie2112 Don’t be RIDICULOUS! Absolute rubbish. You’ve no idea how the mafia works. It works by INTIMIDATION, not by ‘reminding’ them of their oath and giving them another chance! 👏🏻🤣 “Overwhelming consensus” 👏🏻🤣 Who says? Where’re the stats, where’s the evidence of a “consensus”? It’s in your head. Easiest way to try and belittle other opinions - just say it’s the “consensus”. Get real, for God’s sake!!! There’s NO second chance with the mafia. You think it’s a game? Gimme a break!
Oh, one thing that a lot of people miss is that the revolution in Cuba was the real Cuban revolution. You can hear/read the guy who blew himself up with the grenade and people in street yelling "Viva Fidel!" The Fidel is Fidel Castro, who took over Cuba and turned it into a Communist state and a big thorn in the side of the US for decades.
When I watch these reactions of Godfather Part II, nobody knows their history. Batista's government was overthrown here by Castro. Castro was in no way about to let capitalist American gangsters run crocked casinos in Cuba. He was gangster enough.
Thanks for the reminder 👍 The beauty of it is that we learnt about The Cuban Revolution waaaayy back in high school. Clearly some things don't stick 🤦♂️
Some older great films to watch Road to Perdition… Tom Hanks, daniel Craig, Paul Newman Cowboys and Aliens…. Daniel Craig and Hartison Ford Enemy of the State… Will Smith and Gene Hackman The Book of Eli… Denzel washington and
You guys should try to a reaction to Chinatown from 1974 starring Faye Dunaway and Jack Nicholson. The members of the Screenwriters Guild - that is , people who make their living writing screenplays - always vote it in the top 3 screenplays of all time with Casablanca and The Godfather. It's Roman Polanski's masterpiece and a film that will challenge you in every possible way. There are a lot of reactions to it on You Tube but we need a high caliber one.
You guys might not like Tessio because of his betrayal in the first film, but he was loyal to the family, at least up until the part where Michael became head of the family. He may have been loyal up until the Don died.
Tessio was loyal to Vito as a business partner. When you scheme with Barzini to assassinate Vito's favorite son, who you watched grow up from a baby to a grown man, you're not loyal to the Corleone Family. You're just Vito's business partner, and no business partner can ever be trusted fully.
I’ll have to watch this in bits- long reaction. But seeing GD Spradlin as Sen Geary in a Coppola film….. you’ve gotta react to Apocalypse Now. It’s so trippy. Once you’ve adjusted to a level of madness it’ll take you to another place Oh Frank Pantagelli was supposed to have been Clemenza but the actor’s girlfriend pissed off the writers by trying to rewrite his part
The fellow with the actress girlfriend is Salvatore "Sally" Tessio as a youth; the guns-in-a-bag neighbor is Peter "Fat" Clemenza. Folks just don't like to operate business on the BARTER SYSTEM, like Don Corleone does. Like that closing door on Kay motif, eh? Give some thought to reacting to the third installment of "The Godfather," sometimes called "Coda" or "The Death of Michael Corleone." You may see some reactors who say it's "terrible," "no way as good as the first two," etc.; agreed it's on a lower rung, but it does bring to closure several story lines, but may become a bit too convoluted for its own good. Did enjoy your reactions to #1 and #2 very much!
Part 3 makes more sense as time goes by. Coppola obviously compares the Corleones to the Coppolas in Part 3 to prove that Coppolas turned out to be the family VIto wanted in 1990, and even more so today as the younger generation continues to make positive contributions to society in the artistic disciplines. It was a brilliant way to separate the Coppolas from the racist stereotypes towards Italian Americans linked with mafia films.
@@TeddyKGB12 Sounds like you don't understand Shakespeare. That's what ignorant people always say about Shakespeare, too. You sound like a kid who flunked the Shakespeare class I passed in high school. I'll bet that you're a big Goodfellas fan.
@@erwinquiachon8054 How are things in Van? But never mind that (for now ;)) 1. Pacino forgot whom he was playing 2. Sofia Coppola is the WORST actress in the history of film. 3. No Tom and his replacement was garbage 4. Incest angle I could go on, but I've decided to focus on that other thing I mentioned. You just never know how close by someone might be! See you soon!
@@TeddyKGB12 Here's a friendly tip: I use my real name because I always get away with saying whatever I want, especially with ignorant people who flunked Shakespeare and don't know how the internet works and don't have backgrounds in engineering or hacking. Sounds like you also come from a family that gets easily upset by the topic of incest in movies like Part 3.
@@TeddyKGB12 Now that you've admitted that you don't use your real name because you're afraid of who you might be on here, where does this fear come from? Is it from your own family history of incest? Is that why Part 3 triggers you? It sounds like that's why you're so easily triggered and afraid, "Teddy". Not a coincidence that Teddy was the nickname for the dumbest Kennedy.
when michael was asking tom if it was a boy and you said does it matter? it did for a mob family bcuz the more boys the longer the family will live and be given down like it was for sonny and michael. freddo was to dumb.
I think both movies are brilliant and both are in my top 5 movies of all time. But Part 2 is darker and leaves you feeling sorry for what Michael has become. I also think the acting (and thus the direction) was outstanding in both, including all of the supporting cast.
Hyman Roth was based on Meyer Lansky who helped to start Las Vegas along with Ben Siegel (aka Bugsy) who got shot in the eye like Moe Green. Lansky had a sad life and he kept missing his chance to go legit and make more money. Also this murder montage is different than the first movie. In the first movie, Michael is killing all his rivals and taking over the mobs of New York. In this movie, he's killing people who aren't any threat to him but he feels like he has to kill them.
This was paranoid Michael. It was partly sad to see. I mean his family were almost killed, but still. Hmm. That name sounds familiar. I watched a show called Boardwalk Empire about organised crime in Atlantic City where there was a character called Meyer Lansky. I'm not sure if it was supposed to actually be him.
I always gelt that if Appolonia did not die things would have turned out differently for Michael. Unlike Kay she understood that world. Sort of like his mother guiding Vito in the beginning.
Fifty years old and the Godfather 1&2 still are better than anything made today. Truly epic.
Well said... absolutely true!
I guess you stopped watching movies 50 years ago. 🙄
@@TechnicallyTexan The stuff coming out in the last 30 years is mostly trash.
@@TechnicallyTexan… what is as good as these two films?
I love it that you immediately picked up on Don Fanucci being a fake - "he wouldn't be doing this stuff on his own if he really had power." So many people miss that and think Vito was taking out a rival, when the reason Vito despised Fanucci was because he perceived that Fanucci was a fake, a liar, a bully, and a parasite doing nothing for his "people," just abusing them.
I disagree. You forget the times… These are immigrants, who feared the reputation of “ The Black Hand” from their homeland Sicily. Enough people knew him or of him from home.. In the. same way Michael brought P’s brother to just look at him in the Senate hearing room. Custom and belief.
You are correct, in the uncut version Vito sees Fanucci getting jumped by two younger guys.. The scar on his face is from that encounter, he knows Fanucci is a fake ... Watch uncut version, Vito is delivering groceries in an alley where Fanucci gets jumped ...
The book basically says it. It doesn't accuse him of being fake but suggests he's not backed up like he says meaning if he kills him he could take over & the difference between him & Fannucci is vito had the people's respect & was liked unlike Fannucci which made the people happy he was killed
YES!! Jesus, finally someone besides me having to point that out... As someone else commented, the film gives you signs but honestly the rest is mob history 101... Fanucci was not "connected" let alone "made"...he was what you'd call a wannabe who excelled at hustling immigrants who didn't know any better that he WAS NOT a made guy... All they had to do was ask around and pay attention like Vito did to figure that out...2 bookies Vito knew didn't pay him tribute... If he was ABOVE the bookies in rank, it's 1+1, they lived in that neighborhood so they would've HAD to pay him a percentage... Vito seeing him get his throat sliced proved it to him personally that dude was a nobody, because no boss would EVER allow two street thugs to slice his throat, they wouldn't even have gotten close enough and they definitely would've died afterwards... You CANNOT touch a made man, that's death.... Unless, you were a nobody who wasn't as untouchable as he made himself out to be...a Don would not be the one threatening you to your face, MAYBE a made guy if you represented a profit, but an associate would've prolly been the one threatening, even made guys have crews that include lots of enforcers... This guy didn't threaten death, he threatened to call the police, then Vito tested him by standing up to him and giving him only $50... Everyone's seen or heard enough gangster movies and quotes to know you better have their money or....
He mentioned Maranzano, who came after the Black hand, so the Mafia was not yet at its most organized, but it was still REALLY well organized into 2 big groups in NY, until 1931 when those 2 became just 1 and dissiminating into what then became the 5 families... I have a degree in RUclips... Many hours at an old job just reading articles and books... And watching so much RUclips lol
Indeed. He tests him by lowballing him with the money and standing upto him. His response indicates that he's weak and not backed up by anyone worth caring about. I'm 100% sure I didn't get this on first watch, GF2 is more complex and confusing than GF1. "The Black Hand" was what preceded the mob, I believe.
4:25 A short but powerful scene: The young boy, Vito Andolini, sits in a little chair in his little quarantined room, in a strange country. He's all alone, his entire family murdered....and he starts to sing.
Here we see the inner strength of Vito Corleone. Great strength of will and desire to live. 💪
You know what??? I never thought about it like that. Thanks for your comment.
Brilliantly put.
It's also the first indication we get that he could speak, unlike what his mother said to Don Ciccio.
His mame was Anto(n)ini,babe
Love it. Part II is my favourite of the two.
John Cazale who played Fredo (who was in a relationship Meryl Streep), was only in 5 films, all of which were nominated at the Oscars for Best Picture - and he absolutely shines in Part II. Al Pacino once said: "I learned more about acting from John than anybody". I'd recommend watching the documentary: "I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale", an amazing but tragic story of John Cazale.
Michael’s character arc plays like a Shakespearean tragedy. And it’s the opposite of his father. Vito starts out as an orphan, gathers friends and family to him, spends his last years surrounded by family, and dies playing with his grandson. Michael starts with a large family and steadily rejects / destroys it until he spends his later years completely isolated and presumably dies alone.
Yep, you're right. Perfect example of a Shakespearean tragedy.
Perfectly said!
“The Adventures of Vito and Clemenza” needs to be a series😂
Facts 😂
It's great to watch the GF films with both of you. I've been a fan of the films since they were released when I was in my 20s. I've seen both films at least 50 times each, either in full or with internet reactors. I get a big kick from watching your reactions to the plot twists and turns. It's more enjoyable when my internet friends invest their mind and their emotions so much that they remember offhand (but poignant) utterances by characters, or minor characters' names. Both of you are very happy and willing to absorb the artistic experience, and I'm happy to join you.
Thanks for watching it with us 🙂
I love the fact that they interwove the Cuban Revolution specifically the battle of Santa Clara on New Years day 1959.
The man playing Hyman Roth is Lee Strasberg, a legendary acting teacher that specialized in Method Acting.
Pacino, de Niro, and Brando were all students of his (though Brando insisted he learned nothing from Strasberg). Looking at his credits, it appears he actually wasn't in many movies, and most were after this one.
@@Guitcad1 Yeah, this is the first film I remember seeing him in. I am an actor, though I never claimed to be method, but I love a lot of method actors. I've heard of Strasberg long before this movie came out.
@@johnmaynardableHe had an uncredited role in a movie called 'Parnell' in 1937 and another role in a movie called 'China Venture' in 1953, but when this was made his reputation seems to have been much more as a teacher.
@@Guitcad1 Thanks. I've never even heard of those films, and I love odd, old films.
@@Guitcad1 he mainly worked on and trained actors for the stage, and rarely took movie roles.
Unlike many others, I do not put one film above the other. Both are great, both are epic, but they are two different films.
Together, they make one complete story, one of the greatest film sagas ever told.
People forget that like Star Wars it was one giant script that had to be chopped up. This is why they are so good and three feels clunky. It didn't come out of the same writing process and had to fit back into the story.
@@kissmy_butt1302 Part 2 was not part of one writing process. The Nevada scenes weren't in the book. Coppola wrote the Nevada scenes for Part 2.
I agree 100% that I cannot say one is better than the other. Both are master classes in filmmaking. And the two together work perfectly.
I see them as a single great film. I can’t watch one without the other!
Agreed. It's a good continuation.
Sun Tzu is credited with the phrase “Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer.” He was a Chinese military general, strategist, philosopher, and writer who lived during the Eastern Zhou period of 771 to 256 BCE.
The Art of War.
What's great is how relevant it is to both Godfather films. In GF1, Michael cuts Tom out and promotes Carlo. And in GF2, obviously, keeps Roth close. And the reason he can trust Tom so completely is because he cut him out in GF1. Tom wasn't in a position to betray Michael because he wasn't in the know about the important parts of Michael's business.
It allows him to test his enemies (like Carlo) and potential enemies (like Fredo/his capos) by feeding them information. So if there's a leak or a betrayal, he can figure out if it's them. While the people he actually trusts he can trust even more absolutely because they aren't in a position to betray him or leak information.
There's so much great continuity from GF1 to GF2. It's incredible and rare. They're almost one continuous film. Michael warns Fredo in GF1 about going against the family.
I've also read the theory that Vito's story is being imagined by Michael, it's his imagined version of his Father's younger life, based on what he knows and the stories he's heard. This probably wasn't Coppola's intention, but I like it. It's so overly romanticised and Michael is in such deep contemplation throughout the film, and there several transitions (from Vito's story to Michael's) where this interpretation fits really nicely.
YES¡¡ frank pentangeli´s brother was there to remind Frank about the "Omerta", the law of silence in the sicilian mafia
A small bit f trivia some people miss. The dinner scene at the end was on Vito's 50th birthday. His 50th birthday fell on Dec 7, 1941. Which means Michael enlisted in the Marines as a reaction to the Pearl Harbor attack.
Yes, at the end scene where Sonny tells Connie to "go show Carlo the tree," it was the family Christmas tree. It was the day of the Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) attack on December 7th, 1941. Sonny talking about the Japanese "dropping bombs in our own backyard," Sal Tessio talking about the thousands of men enlisting, people in the audience would've known that it was the Pearl Harbor attack in December and during the Christmas season.
When Michael told Rocco, "I don't want anything to happen to him while my mother is still alive," he was saying, "don't kill him until after my mother dies."
I love how both I and II weave in real historical events and people. Part II especially. The Castro revolution is the obvious one, but within organized crime in the US there are other things with name changes. Moe Greene is based on Bugsy Seagal who really was someone largely involved with the origins of Las Vegas and the organized crime connection. Hyman Roth is based on Meyer Lansky. In real life reported to be quite a mastermind, and yes he was heavily involved with casinos and crime in Cuba and had ties to the Cuban president before the revolution.
The Senate committee hearings in the movie resemble the real Kefauver Committee hearings back in the 1950s. They focused on organized crime (especially the Mafia) and were televised. The first time Americans got to see on a national stage a lot of the real negative impacts of these operations on the country, and not just the simplistic portrayals of Hollywood movies.
I need to read up more on Vegas and Organised Crime. How they got away with it for so long is wild.
Without spoilers, I will say that even the III is inspired by a real historical event.
Can't wait to see you reaction
I'm a Sicilian American from the Bronx, and I assure you that everything from Sicily to NYC is absolutely accurate. My mother was born in "Little Italy" just down the block from where the NYC locations were. Her father came from Sicily in 1908 and was involved shipping his family's olive oil to NY in the 1920's---his town in Sicily is a few miles from the town of Corleone. It's all very much like all that in the film, and that's where my family came from.
Good to see that the movie was authentic in that respect.
I don't speak the language, but I could tell that Signor Roberto (the landlord who was crapping himself trying to get out of Vito's office) was speaking a distinctly different dialect from the other characters' Sicilian. Much more "sing-songy" The fact he references Vito's "Sicilian ass" suggests to me that he's from Italy proper. Naples, maybe?
@@Guitcad1 I think he said he is from Calabria, which is the point of the "boot" and across the water from Sicily. Vito then said "We are almost paisanos", meaning they are almost from the same country.
@@Guitcad1 Calabrese (Calabria). What's remarkable, as you noticed, is the nearly perfect Sicilian dialect Vito has. DeNiro didn't know Italian, and he had a great dialect coach.
@@johannesvalterdivizzini1523 DeNiro spent several months in Sicily to learn the language.
Great reaction, guys! Thanks for not waiting too long for the second movie. This is such a classic, both sequel and prequel.
Well, Michael was actually betrayed not only by his own brother, who he was initially willing to forgive, and his wife, who purposely set out to hurt him. That's when he snapped and knew that he couldn't trust anyone - even Tom - ever again. That's when he knew that he'd forever be alone.
Yeh that scene with Kay was REALLY messed up. I was in shock.
Very rare for reactors to follow along and catch everything like you guys did. You bounced off of each other and solved just about everything (it's genius that Scorsese made sure there will still 'shock moments' that no one could foresee) and made it a great reaction. Well done guys!
They actually got a LOT wrong, although they did - surprisingly - pick up on *a few* things that others misunderstood.
I hope you won't be offended, but Martin Scorsese didn't direct these movies, Francis Ford Coppola did.
50:17 What ARE you talking about??? He has *not* ‘given' Al Neri to Fredo to be his personal bodyguard (i.e. to *protect* him) 👏🏻🤣…he’s telling Al Neri not to kill Fredo until after their mother dies. How can you possibly misunderstand that???
I got that soooooooo wrong 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
This was New Year's eve 1959, so Castro & Che Guevara will come into Havana that night to start the Castro Revolution.
I try to tell reactors planning to watch GF2 to read up on the Cuban New Years Eve revolution and the Valachi hearings before Congress on the mafia. Love the way these historical events were woven into the fictional story of Michael's downfall.
@@flarrfan Yes! The First Cuban "Refugees" were the Corrupt Fascist Elite that had supported Juan Batista's Rule!
Everybody always has the same face palm reaction to Fredo spilling the beans on himself at the nightclub, and I have to laugh every time.
Oh Fredo 😂
You can't predict the stupidity sometimes.
Diane Keatons Friends and Woody Allen had an running Inside joke going were they would always shut the door on her face.
😂
If you watch it again, pay attention when Michael hugs Fredo (following their mother's death). Watch the exchange of glances between Michael and Al Neri.
Yeh I spotted that. Chilling.
Fredo was not portrayed as weak in the book. Fredo never dies in the book and is described by Sonny as the toughest of all of the sons. John Cazale portrayed Fredo as the weaker brother based upon stories of how Coppola was treated as a child. Coppola had polio as a child and was bedridden for about a year before he could walk again. Coppolas siblings showed their talents at a young age. Coppola didn't discover his talents until he was in college. Coppola admitted that he would pray the Hail Mary to catch fish as a child. Connie's development in Part 3 makes Michael think about how Fredo might have developed if he was allowed to live.
That's a good point you bring up regarding Connie. I won't say too much because as I said on the first video, I think they should watch the whole trilogy regardless of opinions on III. But I was definitely surprised by Connie in that one.
I have to re-read the book, because why would they skip Fredo as the next Don and give it to Michael?
@@catherinelw9365 In the book, Vito is pissed at Fredo for getting him shot. Fredo never recovers from the trauma of letting Vito get shot. On the other hand, Vito isn't willing to kill Fredo for his incompetence when he needed him the most.
Hmm. It's a big change to kill Fredo in the movies if it never happens in the books. It's one of the major decisions that made me look at Michael differently.
@@RamblersInc The book ends before they move to Nevada. Coppola had the idea of Michael giving the order for Fredo's death. It plays into the theme of moral blindness from King Lear that Coppola developed into Parts 2 and 3. Michael is also developing diabetes in Part 2 when he is seen taking prescriptions, drinking a lot of water, and rubbing his eyes. Like King Lear, Coppola mirrors the development of moral blindness with physical blindness.
Fredo was doomed from the beginning. When he confronted him that kiss in Italian is the kiss of death
Fredo was very Ill as a baby, with a High Fever which most likely effected his Brain. That's why he was slow!
From a story POV, yeah. But not from a character POV, for me. Michael had forgiven him. For me, Michael starts out the film loving his family, believing his family love him and that he's doing what his Father did (as Connie says later in the film), and he'll be treated as his Father was by his family. But, as Michael says to his Mother, times are changing.
The two key moments in the film, for Michael's character development, are Fredo's tirade at him and Kay's betrayal and tirade. Michael has a blindspot when it comes to his family, I don't believe he genuinely suspected Fredo at any point, I think he was in denial about that possibility. I don't think he's testing him at all during their little chat in Cuba. And he's genuinely shocked and taken aback by Fredo's outburst and resentment for him. And, likewise, Kay's.
And the realisation that his family hates him, and his life of crime has been for nothing, is what, ultimately, swallows up his soul.
So glad y'all decided to watch this sooner than later. Such a masterpiece.
I contend that Kay telling Michael the truth is the best single scene in cinema history. Or at least, nobody has been able to show me a scene that beats it.
I think Diane Keaton's performance gets overlooked at times. Her performance in that scene - her facial expressions and tone of voice - was outstanding.
Baptism scene in the original is the best scene in movie history.
Also, the Odessa Steps sequence in The Battleship Potemkin can make a claim as the most memorable of all time.
I watched that entire bit like this 😱🫣 Brilliant scene.
Godfather 1 and 2 are the only film and sequel to win Best Picture Oscar’s.
and have two separate actors win for playing and character
The scene on the lake cuts away to Michael while Fredo is finishing the Hail Mary. The gunshot comes right after he would have ended the prayer with "Now and at the hour of our death." When Neri stands up in the boat after killing Fredo, even he looks sad about it. And the cry from the gull adds to the scene, too.
Now that you've reminded me, Did Fredo know he was about to be killed in that instant ? Is that why he was saying that prayer ?
No. Fredo had told his nephew Anthony that when he was young he always caught a fish when he prayed the Hail Mary. When Anthony was called away at the dock, Fredo told him he would catch one for him using "the secret"
@@seanspalding9296…I’m not so sure. Fredo knew he was going to be killed. Actually it makes sense that he was saying the Hail Mary for both reasons, but imo especially so because he knew his death was imminent. After all, one of Michael’s henchmen went fishing with him. And Michael was watching from the window, certainly Fredo may have or could have seen him and surmised what was going to happen … Michael didnt care and Fredo knew he didn’t care, so if Fredo had seen him Fredo was still resigned to his fate. I feel like Fredo knew Micheal was watching. I might be reading too much in it, but in this movie there is often more to a scene than meets the eye. You’ll also notice that Fredo stops before the last line of the prayer and a few seconds pass before you hear the shot. Why that pause? The last line being “now and at the time of our death”. Maybe it’s just the editing, but maybe purposeful.
@@teresas8173 I don't think he knew. He was planning on fishing with his nephew, and even when Anthony got called away, Fredo told him he would catch one for him using the "secret" (the Hail Mary). I think he was simply trying to catch a fish... but it's nice he at least got to pray before dying!
The "Pacino scream" is unmatched...from 0 to 100 in a fraction of a second
It should have it's own IMDB page 😂
Connie is played by Talia Shire, Francis Coppola's sister. Both are Nicolas Cage's uncle and aunt.
Wow. Small world.
Great reaction, guys. Vito the child would have had help from Italian families during the voyage and he was taken in by the Abbandando family, who own a grocery store. His best friend is Genco Abbandondo, the son. Vito worked in the store but was reluctantly fired because Don Fanucci wants the job for his nephew.
Genco also wound up being consiglere to the Corleone Family. By the time of the first film Tom Hagen had already taken over this role, so Genco is mentioned but never appears as a character except as a child in the flashbacks. I can't remember if he was supposed to have died and that's why Tom took over, I believe the book covers this but it's been too long since I read it.
@@championskyeterrier Yes, Genco died on Connie’s wedding day. That evening, Vito brought his sons to Genco’s deathbed to pay their respects.
Ahh ok. Thanks for that info. It shows us why Vito was so grateful when he had to give his job up.
Like many others, I've found that these two films seep into you and call out to be revisited many times over the years. I enjoyed your reactions and interpretations! Thanks.
Great reaction again, fellas. Love your interaction. 👍
2:45 Notice that, just like Sonny, the eldest son Paolo is a hot head and swears revenge, only to get killed. Which leaves Vito, who is quiet and calculating, to survive with the help of the young Don Tomasso, who in the first film protected Michael.
Nice catch on the parallel
I know ppl don't usually recommend Godfather part III, but I think you guys would actually appreciate it. I thought it tied things up nicely, and the ending, well let's just say Coppola went back to his roots. Interestingly, the Italian mafia series Gomorrah used a similar trope to great effect, I'd love to see your reaction to this series, one of the best I've seen in years.
I’ve always looked at it as Michael was simply protecting his father’s legacy. I also don’t think Michael was going to kill Fredo until they spoke privately. The moment Fredo said he wanted his and didn’t want it the way their dad wanted it to be.
The way the siblings respect their father vs their brother was a huge factor
Do you think if Fredo had some sort of self realisation that he's not smart enough to take over, or humble enough that he didn't feel embarrassed that his little brother was basically his boss, he would have been more loyal?
There was a cut made for broadcast TV that edited the films together into chronological order. It was a complete disservice to Coppola's vision. The first movie is about Michael being forced into the mantle of Don out of love for his family. The second shows Michael's descent into evil and losing his family...the only thing that mattered to him. Intercutting the story of his fall with that of Vito's rise just underlines the ultimate futility of his life. The chronological version lacked the impact of that.
I think the menace that Roth represented was that he was essentially another Vito in power and subtlety as an opponent. Michael was the imminent threat to Roth that the other Players weren't.
Totally agree. Putting the scenes in chronological order was an insult to those who understood and appreciated the parallel lives of Vito and Michael in Part II. It also disrespected the general audience's ability to understand the differences in the time frames.
Yeah I liked the idea of that chronological cut but it just plain doesn't work. There's a reason GF 2 is structured the way that it is.
Coppola was the one who wanted to make the "Saga" version and oversaw its editing. He was very much involved in it. But this was in the '70s and, apparently, there's been a few TV versions.
Awesome you guys! A pleasure to watch with you!!
In one of the books about The Godfather, Tom’s father had a bad drinking problem and use to take out his ill’s on Tom by beating him severely, almost to the point of death! Vito intervened after one of Tom’s bad beating which put Tom into the hospital and adopted Tom into the Corleone Family as the fourth son! But because Tom wasn’t Sicilian, he couldn’t inherit any of the Corleone Family’s Holdings, Vito put Tom through Law School and made responsible for all of the Corleone Family’s assets as reparations without the ability to inherit…
They also change that story in the novel "The Family Corleone" where they say that Tom's family lived on the same block as the Corleones and that Tom's dad would get drunk and hurl racist insults at Vito's family. Vito tries to reason with Tom's dad, but he is belligerent. Vito eventually has Tom's dad kidnapped, beaten and killed by Tessio and Clemenza without Tom ever finding out who killed his dad.
None of those books were written by puzo though
@@rxtsec1 neither was The Godfather II or the Godfather III! Mario Puzo only wrote original Godfather book which the first movie is based on and the the book called The Sicilian, all the others were written by someone else and adapted to the Second and Third movie within the Godfather franchise saga…
@@michaelflower6172 he wrote the screenplays for all 3 movies. Also the backstory of vito is in the book.
Oh right, different authors same characters! Makes sense now! God forbid that these two guys don’t do the Jack Reacher series, which have three author’s writings the same characters in their respective books…
16:00 "Doing things by himself" Correct! In a deleted scene, Fanuci is assaulted and his throat cut (you can see the scar later) and hires a couple guys to exact revenge. Vito realizes that means he has no real connection to the Black Hand (like in Goodfellas, when they talk about made men being "untouchable,) So when Fanuci tries to extort money from Vito, Vito just kills him. I suppose the grateful Italian neighbors recognize him as their Godfather.
It's crazy that this film has De Niro & Pacino together and yet their first on-screen appearance together would not come until Michael Mann's 1995 film "Heat".
It's so surprising that no one tried to put them both in another movie so soon after this
TECHNICALLY, their first on-screen appearance together is in GF2, as there's a couple of fades where they're both in shot. 😊
Мой самый любимый фильм, а Роберт Де Ниро и Аль Пачино любимые с юности актеры. Музыка, сюжет. Взгляд Майкла когда он обнимает Фредди, а сам смотрит на помощника..это просто на разрыв
As you see that while you were remarking about oranges in the flashback and how Vito was shot in Part 1, and then no one died. It’s been blow out of proportion by the internet and said so much that people believe the false.
Agreed! This ‘oranges’ thing has developed into some sort of myth. People have ran with it and developed it and promoted it so that now everyone seems to read a lot into something that’s just a falsity.
Damn. Now I'm gonna expect a death whenever I see an orange. Damn you Internet.
Tidbits: Johnny Orla is played by the same actor who played Uncle Junior in The Sopranos (Dominic Chianese). Funny that they show a still relatively slim young Clemenza chowing down on the spaghetti! Nice catch!
The Black Hand wasn’t Don Fannuci’s nickname but an Italian nickname for the extortionist mobsters that preyed on immigrant Italians.
Great call re: lying to Hyman. Hyman is played by Lee Strasberg the legendary method acting instructor / director of The Actors Studio in NYC.
Speaking of acting - the slow boil and release of Michael’s rage in the abortion convo. So good by Pacino.
Who takes over in Cuba? Oh my, lololol. You guys are very British. Fidel Castro. Who did not do business with the US mob. But he welcomed some arms business from Moscow!
When Michael hugs Fredo at the wake, he gives a look to Al Neri to say now that momma’s gone, take him out. Neri nods. Earlier, Michael wasn’t giving Fredo a bodyguard he was indicating Fredo will be taken care of once his mom wasn’t around to mourn the loss of another son.
Vito built the business to grow and nurture his family. Michael grew the business to the extent it tore apart the family.
Godfather 3 is nowhere near the caliber of 1 and 2. Sophia Coppola’s acting hurt it (she’s a good director now though). But it has its moments for Pacino to chew the scenery.
Ahh ok. It's a nickname. Thanks for clearing that up.
I was scared he was going to kill her in that room.
The joke is we learnt about The Cuban Revolution as kids. We forgot everything 😭
Do you think if Fredo got in the car initially and talked, Michael may have spared him?
Yep. The People's Don VS The Don who alienates everyone.
I heard the cop was owned by roth and sent there at the time they tried to kill pantangeli to stop it but it could just be a coincidence too. Also Robert De Niro & Marlon Brando were the first actors to win Oscar for the same role. It only happened one other time with Joaquin Phoenix & Heath Ledger for Joker
Robert De Niro was amazing in this. I could almost see Brando leak through
Michael giving Fredo the kiss of death, is by far the best scene in the movie ....
Epic scene.
Brilliant insight by both of you
So glad you loved this and watched them both together. The thing that always struck me with these movies is the contrast between how Vito and Michael ran the Family and how they ended. Vito died laughing, playing with his grandson pretending to be a monster with the orange peel teeth! and Michael ended sitting all alone.
Also... The Cuba scene "So who takes over from him"? Never heard of Fidel Castro?
Part III personally I wouldn't bother with but at some point I suggest checking out Scarface.
Pacino stars as an immigrant from Cuba who comes to America after Castro ejects many dissidents to set up a crime empire.
Imltho that really is the true follow on to this story.
Actually Goodfellas is the real sequel to this as it shows how the mafia went from being "Respectable" to...
@@gnomescape Goodfellas is a movie about idiots for idiots. Even Scorsese didn't want to make Goodfellas because he knew that those gangsters were losers. The only reason he ended up making Goodfellas was for the money and because Michael Powell wanted him to do it. Part 3 is the only ending that makes sense because it completes the narrative thread to King Lear and the Kennedy family story.
Duh yeah. Goodfellas is a movie about idiots. Kind of my point. It was the downfall of 'Family' took the easy money and lost the respect. Didn't want to type any spoilers though. I guess some idiots don't get that?@@erwinquiachon8054
@@gnomescape Goodfellas was also made for idiots. That's why Scorsese often refers to it as a dumb "cowboy" movie. You obviously wouldn't know that, or you wouldn't rant about being a fan for a movie made for idiots. Part 3 was made for people who understand Shakespeare and enjoy thinking. Goodfellas was made for people who don't like to think.
Wow you're one of them aren't you. I heard about them. Hoped I'd never actually meat one.@@erwinquiachon8054
Greatly enjoyed your reactions to G1 & G2, it's like seeing the films with fresh eyes. Thanks so much for sharing this with us-now I'm off to check out your reaction video to G3 (which, while not quite a worthy successor, is still interesting to watch for the sake of completion/closure).
Roth's loyalty to Moe is actually pretty touching.
Roth is inspired from Mayer Lansky, you’re damn right he is powerful 😂
He was one of the few to die of old age, never spent any time in prison and was one of the richest men in America.
Played by the great Lee Strausberg. Acting teacher for Al Pacino, Marlon Brando & many other great actors & actresses
The Godfather movies are absolutely fantastic. I've read the book and they did a great job adapting. The book's a long one , but they condensed it very well in this adaptation.
50:30 - Oh no, guys. Come on! He means don’t hurt him WHILE MY MOM IS ALIVE.
Lol yep. We def got that wrong. Dammit.
There were the Mafia hearings in the early 60's on TV , I remember watching them/
Godfather 2 is my favorite- Dinero steals the show
Godfather I & II are as a single great film to me. I can’t watch one without the other!
"Reverse Uno"..... 😆 👍👍
🤣
Connie came back after Mama died because Connie and Mama never got along. Watch their interactions throughout the movies. Mama never had any use for her, even when poor Connie was being abused by her husband.
Yep. Even when she witnesses Carlo talking to her crazy at the table, she tells Sonny not to interfere. My mother would have reacted just like Sonny, if not worse, LOL.
Hmm. Now that I think about it, the only interaction they have is in the beginning of this movie and it's mainly Mama telling her off.
It's not as Mama Corleone thing. It's a old world thing. Once you're married, what goes on between you and your husband is private and not even other family members should get involved. It was like that during the ancient Roman era and apparently still existed until the mid 20th century.
The end IS similar to the first, though, with the difference being that by this time the killings, as well as Kay's leaving, represents that the power that Michael inherited and protected in the end destroyed everything he valued - his marriage, his family, his brother.
Really sad when you think about it.
Roth did not want Frank dead.- he wanted Frank to think Michael betrayed him so that he could get him to testify against Michael.
Well done.
Roth did, in all along, want Frank Pentangeli alive so that he would be able to testify against Michael. Best. Mike.
I think there is a version of this that is cut with it in chronological order, it doesn't jump backwards & forwards in time. I know it is not rated as highly, but it does help finish the story by watching Part 3
We'll be finishing Michael's story very soon.
I recommend you watch part 3. It has a very different feel in most every way from the first two. It's not bad... it just doesn't live up to expectations considering the massive footsteps it follows. And it does complete the full trilogy.
Part 3 exceeded my expectations by being truly Shakespearean and operatic. Over time, Coppola was very smart to compare the Corleones to the Coppolas in Part 3.
There is a verion out there that shows both 1 and 2 in chronological order
Young De Niro? Have you guys got "Mean Streets" on your list?
No but we'll add it. He looks SUPER young in that.
@@RamblersInc You might also be interested in "Scarecrow", also 1973, an American road drama film with young Gene Hackman and Al Pacino.
47:53 - No, man. They left him alive on purpose. Why else say “Micheal C says ‘hello’”?
So the police coming in was on purpose? It just felt like a lot had to be perfect timing for it to be planned.
No. Like Tom Hagen said it was planned well by Hyman Roth. If the Rosatto brothers succeeded in killing Frank then it would have been fine for Roth. The Rosatto brothers would get the blame and Roth would have his revenge for the killing of Moe Greene by Michael. But if for some unexpected reason the kill was botched then Roth wanted Frank to think it was his boss Michael who had okayed the hit, which is what happened.
Regarding the case of Frank Pentangeli and why his older brother, Vincenzo, came to the Hearing:
This is an excerpt from an early draft of the script for "The Godfather, Part II"
Kay: Tell me, Michael. What really happened with Pentangeli?
Michael: His brother came to help him.
Kay: I didn't even know he had a brother. And where is he now?
Michael: On a plane back to Sicily.
Kay: And that's all he had to do. Just show his face.
Michael: That's all. You see, in Sicily, in the old days... there was only one legitimate reason to kill a blood relative... only one. If he was a traitor.
Kay: You would have killed his brother?
Michael: Kay, you've got it wrong. That kind of thing's all over, I promised you. This was between the two brothers. Years ago, Frankie had a young girlfriend; he called her his co-wife. That was his joke, but he meant it. He wouldn't divorce his wife because she was a great cook. He said his girlfriend made a spaghetti sauce once and it was so terrible he knew he could never marry her. He set her up in a house in Jersey. She had to be faithful, and she had to have kids. And she did: two, a boy and a girl. He had her checked out and watched so she couldn't cheat, but the girl couldn't stand that kind of life. She begged him to let her go. He did. He gave her money and made her give up the kids. Then Frankie took them to Italy, and had them brought up by his brother Vincenzo, where he knew they'd be safe.
Michael: When he saw his brother in the hearing room, he knew what was at stake. I don't think Vincenzo would have done it. He loves the kids, too. Omerta, Kay. Honor, silence. It had nothing to do with me. It was between those brothers.
Wow. What an excerpt. Fleshes it out so much compared to the actual scene.
Gastone Moschin gives a fantastic performance as Don Fanucci. Bordering on scenery-chewing at times, he makes Fanooch look so slimy, so distasteful; an evil, petty bully.
As for Frank Pentangeli, I've always thought that Roth, who ordered the attack, intended to leave Frank alive. Thus, the assassin saying "Michael Corleone says 'Hello!'" to convince Frank that Michael had tried to kill him.
52:10 WELLLLLLL… You’ve redeemed yourselves! Most (in fact all) others misunderstand and think the brother is there to tell Frank to be a good boy and don’t snitch. You’ve picked up beautifully precisely correct that they brought the brother over as a means of intimidation. i.e. snitch and we’ll ‘hurt’ your brother. Well done after the last misunderstanding you made. 👏🏻
Phew. I'm not a total loss 🤣
“All others” misunderstood that scene?
The overwhelming consensus on that scene agrees that Frank’s brother was flown in just to remind Frank of the Code of Silence.
Frank’s older brother lives in Sicily, where the Code of Silence is absolute. Just one look from his older brother reminded Frank of the Code. He dare not break it and dishonor his family. His brother didn’t even have to say a word. Michael had the brother flown in just to remind Frank of his duty. It’s why Michael told Kay after the hearing, “It was between the brothers.”
I disagree. He was flown in to remind Frank of omertà - not to intimidate or kill him.
@@catherinelw9365
Absolute rubbish. You’ve no idea how the mafia works. It works by INTIMIDATION, not by ‘reminding’ them of their oath and giving them another chance! 👏🏻🤣
There’s NO second chance with the mafia. You think it’s a game? Gimme a break!
@@Stogie2112
Don’t be RIDICULOUS! Absolute rubbish. You’ve no idea how the mafia works. It works by INTIMIDATION, not by ‘reminding’ them of their oath and giving them another chance! 👏🏻🤣
“Overwhelming consensus” 👏🏻🤣 Who says? Where’re the stats, where’s the evidence of a “consensus”? It’s in your head. Easiest way to try and belittle other opinions - just say it’s the “consensus”. Get real, for God’s sake!!!
There’s NO second chance with the mafia. You think it’s a game? Gimme a break!
34:40 Who takes over after Batista?? His name is Fidel Castro. So you know
Oh, one thing that a lot of people miss is that the revolution in Cuba was the real Cuban revolution. You can hear/read the guy who blew himself up with the grenade and people in street yelling "Viva Fidel!" The Fidel is Fidel Castro, who took over Cuba and turned it into a Communist state and a big thorn in the side of the US for decades.
When I watch these reactions of Godfather Part II, nobody knows their history. Batista's government was overthrown here by Castro. Castro was in no way about to let capitalist American gangsters run crocked casinos in Cuba. He was gangster enough.
Thanks for the reminder 👍
The beauty of it is that we learnt about The Cuban Revolution waaaayy back in high school. Clearly some things don't stick 🤦♂️
Some older great films to watch
Road to Perdition… Tom Hanks, daniel Craig, Paul Newman
Cowboys and Aliens…. Daniel Craig and Hartison Ford
Enemy of the State… Will Smith and Gene Hackman
The Book of Eli… Denzel washington and
Thanks for the recommendations 🙂
Your commentary during both parts is brilliant and analytical. Other reactors are just plain and boring
You guys should try to a reaction to Chinatown from 1974 starring Faye Dunaway and Jack Nicholson. The members of the Screenwriters Guild - that is , people who make their living writing screenplays - always vote it in the top 3 screenplays of all time with Casablanca and The Godfather. It's Roman Polanski's masterpiece and a film that will challenge you in every possible way. There are a lot of reactions to it on You Tube but we need a high caliber one.
We've added Chinatown to our list along with Casablanca 👍
49:00 - No again. This was before they shot at him of course.
Yes it was. It was funny how "a little help" turned into that.
Did you guys just ask what happens now?!?!
Fidel Castro / Che Guevara!
The Cuban revolution.... other than that, great reaction fellas.
So obvious that we completely missed it 🙃
You guys might not like Tessio because of his betrayal in the first film, but he was loyal to the family, at least up until the part where Michael became head of the family. He may have been loyal up until the Don died.
You think he was just loyal to Vito? As in he didn't care about the family, just Vito.
Tessio was loyal to Vito as a business partner.
When you scheme with Barzini to assassinate Vito's favorite son, who you watched grow up from a baby to a grown man, you're not loyal to the Corleone Family. You're just Vito's business partner, and no business partner can ever be trusted fully.
you must watch part 3. its a good movie
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer originated from Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" from the 6th century BC.
I’ll have to watch this in bits- long reaction. But seeing GD Spradlin as Sen Geary in a Coppola film….. you’ve gotta react to Apocalypse Now. It’s so trippy. Once you’ve adjusted to a level of madness it’ll take you to another place
Oh Frank Pantagelli was supposed to have been Clemenza but the actor’s girlfriend pissed off the writers by trying to rewrite his part
As much as I loved Clemenza in Part I, it was a blessing in disguise. Frank is an amazing character and Michael Gazzo was brilliant.
Woah. Apocalypse Now has an all star cast. Added to the list 👍.
great reaction, but now i desperately wanna see a sopranos reaction from you guys. think thatd be a great fit
Hopefully one day. I've heard it's a masterpeice.
I loved part 3 aswell! I hope you will react to it! It's very different though.
Roth did not want Frank dead. Thats why they didn't just shoot him.
The fellow with the actress girlfriend is Salvatore "Sally" Tessio as a youth; the guns-in-a-bag neighbor is Peter "Fat" Clemenza. Folks just don't like to operate business on the BARTER SYSTEM, like Don Corleone does. Like that closing door on Kay motif, eh? Give some thought to reacting to the third installment of "The Godfather," sometimes called "Coda" or "The Death of Michael Corleone." You may see some reactors who say it's "terrible," "no way as good as the first two," etc.; agreed it's on a lower rung, but it does bring to closure several story lines, but may become a bit too convoluted for its own good. Did enjoy your reactions to #1 and #2 very much!
We reacted to Coda on our channel. Yeh I agree. In the very least...it's closes the chapter on Michael.
Part 3 makes more sense as time goes by. Coppola obviously compares the Corleones to the Coppolas in Part 3 to prove that Coppolas turned out to be the family VIto wanted in 1990, and even more so today as the younger generation continues to make positive contributions to society in the artistic disciplines. It was a brilliant way to separate the Coppolas from the racist stereotypes towards Italian Americans linked with mafia films.
@@TeddyKGB12 Sounds like you don't understand Shakespeare. That's what ignorant people always say about Shakespeare, too. You sound like a kid who flunked the Shakespeare class I passed in high school. I'll bet that you're a big Goodfellas fan.
@@erwinquiachon8054 How are things in Van? But never mind that (for now ;))
1. Pacino forgot whom he was playing
2. Sofia Coppola is the WORST actress in the history of film.
3. No Tom and his replacement was garbage
4. Incest angle
I could go on, but I've decided to focus on that other thing I mentioned. You just never know how close by someone might be! See you soon!
@@TeddyKGB12 Here's a friendly tip: I use my real name because I always get away with saying whatever I want, especially with ignorant people who flunked Shakespeare and don't know how the internet works and don't have backgrounds in engineering or hacking. Sounds like you also come from a family that gets easily upset by the topic of incest in movies like Part 3.
@@TeddyKGB12 Now that you've admitted that you don't use your real name because you're afraid of who you might be on here, where does this fear come from? Is it from your own family history of incest? Is that why Part 3 triggers you? It sounds like that's why you're so easily triggered and afraid, "Teddy". Not a coincidence that Teddy was the nickname for the dumbest Kennedy.
@@TeddyKGB12 You'll never know what's coming.
The scenes in Cuba were set during the Cuban Revolution. When Michael has to flee it is on the eve of Castro's rise to power
when michael was asking tom if it was a boy and you said does it matter?
it did for a mob family bcuz the more boys the longer the family will live and be given down like it was for sonny and michael. freddo was to dumb.
I think both movies are brilliant and both are in my top 5 movies of all time. But Part 2 is darker and leaves you feeling sorry for what Michael has become. I also think the acting (and thus the direction) was outstanding in both, including all of the supporting cast.
It's a sadder story than I thought it was going to be.
Jesus, guys! You didn’t clock the look from Micheal to Al?
When Michael hugged Fredo ? We did. It was obvious what was going to happen.
We shouldn't have cut that reaction out of the edited version.
Who takes over? CASTRO
Oh yeh good point
Hyman Roth was based on Meyer Lansky who helped to start Las Vegas along with Ben Siegel (aka Bugsy) who got shot in the eye like Moe Green. Lansky had a sad life and he kept missing his chance to go legit and make more money.
Also this murder montage is different than the first movie. In the first movie, Michael is killing all his rivals and taking over the mobs of New York. In this movie, he's killing people who aren't any threat to him but he feels like he has to kill them.
This was paranoid Michael. It was partly sad to see. I mean his family were almost killed, but still.
Hmm. That name sounds familiar. I watched a show called Boardwalk Empire about organised crime in Atlantic City where there was a character called Meyer Lansky. I'm not sure if it was supposed to actually be him.
@@RamblersInc probably he was famous. Lucky Luciano always respected him as the one jew who could influence the five families.
11:17 - He was wasted.
😂Yep. Really wasted.
I always gelt that if Appolonia did not die things would have turned out differently for Michael. Unlike Kay she understood that world. Sort of like his mother guiding Vito in the beginning.
I agree. It may have even made him colder and more untrusting.
Gotta watch Goodfellas, another classic Mob movie
Kay was a badass in this. It's just too bad that she didn't fully secure her legend status by whacking Michael.
😂 can you imagine?