Great, thoughtful essay that raised good points: Thanks! (One thing I've wondered, and the films never seemed to touch on much, was Michael's service in the Marines--when we first see him at the wedding, he's in uniform; before the shooting, Clemenza mentions his service--"we was all proud of you," I think he says; and in GF2, it's mentioned at Michael's testimony before the senators that he was awarded the Navy Cross. So although Michael is a babe in the woods regarding the violence of his father's business, it's not like he hasn't been involved in combat and the tactics needed for battle, like improvisation and/or blunt directness. I haven't read Puzo's novel, perhaps it's covered in that; although on the other hand, had Michael's military record been referenced too much in the film, it might have taken away from the whole "right of passage" vibe that is the Sollozzo/McCloskey killing. This is really just "food for thought;" I think The Godfather's script is near perfect.)
Thank you for your kind note. As you say,, the Godfather script is truly brilliant. The novel differs quite a lot, in certain respects, including a number of rather graphic sex scenes, as I recall, that somehow don’t feel very Godfather-esque. Still, it is also faithful to the film (or I guess vice-versa) in certain ways-some dialogue in the film is word for word from the novel, for example. The only part about the war that I recall is that Don Vito is really angry when a few of his men, as well as Michael, volunteer for service following Dec. 7th, 1941. When they say things like “America has been good to me,” the Don argues that he has been even better for them. During the murders of Sollozzo and Captain McCluskey, Michael is really calm and doesn’t make any reference to his marine training or the war. Afterward, he describes what transpired in the restaurant to Tessio. Since he shot both men in the forehead (Virgil Sollozzo from mindbogglingly close range), he says flatly: “I saw their brains.” For me, seeing the differences between the script and the novel is truly fascinating and makes the novel a little more interesting than it might be otherwise.
Very nicely done- thank you!
Thank you for your kind comment.
❤ @@obsessedwithcinema
Nice job!
❤
Great video. What’s your take on MOE green?
Great, thoughtful essay that raised good points: Thanks! (One thing I've wondered, and the films never seemed to touch on much, was Michael's service in the Marines--when we first see him at the wedding, he's in uniform; before the shooting, Clemenza mentions his service--"we was all proud of you," I think he says; and in GF2, it's mentioned at Michael's testimony before the senators that he was awarded the Navy Cross. So although Michael is a babe in the woods regarding the violence of his father's business, it's not like he hasn't been involved in combat and the tactics needed for battle, like improvisation and/or blunt directness. I haven't read Puzo's novel, perhaps it's covered in that; although on the other hand, had Michael's military record been referenced too much in the film, it might have taken away from the whole "right of passage" vibe that is the Sollozzo/McCloskey killing. This is really just "food for thought;" I think The Godfather's script is near perfect.)
Thank you for your kind note. As you say,, the Godfather script is truly brilliant. The novel differs quite a lot, in certain respects, including a number of rather graphic sex scenes, as I recall, that somehow don’t feel very Godfather-esque. Still, it is also faithful to the film (or I guess vice-versa) in certain ways-some dialogue in the film is word for word from the novel, for example. The only part about the war that I recall is that Don Vito is really angry when a few of his men, as well as Michael, volunteer for service following Dec. 7th, 1941. When they say things like “America has been good to me,” the Don argues that he has been even better for them. During the murders of Sollozzo and Captain McCluskey, Michael is really calm and doesn’t make any reference to his marine training or the war. Afterward, he describes what transpired in the restaurant to Tessio. Since he shot both men in the forehead (Virgil Sollozzo from mindbogglingly close range), he says flatly: “I saw their brains.” For me, seeing the differences between the script and the novel is truly fascinating and makes the novel a little more interesting than it might be otherwise.