For someone with no experience surrounded by heavyweights like Brando, Pacino, Duvall, Caan, etc., Russo does a great job. You're supposed to despise the Carlo character and that's exactly what happens.
He's amazing for a guy who never acted. Just goes to show you what balls and determination can do. Believe in yourself. The guy did. He's as good as any of them in Godfather. I was stunned to hear that.
James Kennedy heavyweights? Pacino was a noname prior to the movie lol brando was the real star and duvall from his westerns if anything Pacino is and surely the real mvp but yea gianni did good but he was not surrounded by ‘heavyweights’
You're right, back then Pacino was virtually unknown, and Caan and Duvall were only moderately successful...Even Brando wouldn't be considered "heavyweight" at that time, as he had reached the lowest point in his career, trying to bring back his glory days...
@@LeviAckerman-cb5ji I don't get it. Most of Scorsese's scenes are gold, but sometimes Very amateur stuff slips in. I thought some of the death scenes were over dramatic. Still great, just some scenes.
@@xboxmoonpartingty104 whoopsie, got my mob movie directors mixed up. I meant Coppola but Scorsese has a few too. Even so, the movies with the bad scenes in question are still excellent movies
At least 15 times... And he even broke his rips! And they both had to bring the same intensity to it every single time again. Incredible professionals!
Vic ..I agree ...the editor should've cut to the people staring and then cut back to Carlo getting a good punch ...that one punch was so bad (in a fight u will miss ) but damn ....the movie is still # 1
Cool story. I love it when someone just using their own tenacity to get into a movie that ends up being a classic all time great. He never did any other movies, but it's like that didn't matter to him. He already had a viable career.
Was James aiming for Russo for real when he threw that bat? If he was, the combination of that and breaking his ribs with real kicks is taking "Method Acting" a bit too far I think.
@Kris B: I've heard stories about Caan not liking people who got into films with no experience. He didn't care much for lesser-experienced people either; he once made some negative comments about Arnold Schwarzenegger, because the kind of films Arnold made were not serious acting challenges. A few years later he made a movie with "Ah-nold."
Injuries sometimes happen and the real Pros just keep in character. Frank Sinatra, for example, had a famous fight scene with Henry Silva (a friend of Sinatra's in real life) and Frank takes a Karate chop at Henry, but misses him and strikes a wooden table. The pain in the final cut of The Manchurian Candidate is real, as Frank fractured some bones his hand. I could mention many other injuries that actors suffer in the line of duty, but you get the picture.
Getting garroted tends to change everything about your life. lol. He matched up pretty closely to the description of Carlo in the book. Blonde, hulking, Northern Italian.
I think he meant that he got 'deals' ...go to casino and meet and greet ....endorsements ....I think he wrote a book ....food deal ..etc. but his acting career was over ..lol
He didn't like the fact that Russo got the part despite having no acting experience whatsoever. But I think he injured him in the beating scene by accident .... I don't know, maybe it was on purpose.
Russo had thought so. But what he didn't know was that before shooting, Coppola had the Corleone Cast all spend a few days together, away from all the other cast members. He wanted the actors to bond so that the characters came off like a family. He intentionally created a division between the Corleone cast and the others. I think Russo, being so new and unaware of the process, didn't realize what was going on. He talked about being left out - but I think that was intentional from Coppola. I've never heard James Caan say anything about Russo.
They had rehearsed the beat down scene for a couple hours, but once the camera had actually started rolling Caan started improvising like when he threw the bat at Russo’s head, that kick where we see Russo actually catch some air that actually broke a couple of his ribs, and the hand biting. Russo suspects Caan was mad because Caan wanted to play Carlo but the role was given to Russo, which is odd as Sonny Corleone was a bigger role than Carlo Rizzi,have because Carlo wasn’t off’d until part II but Sonny was gunned down in part I.
@@lufsolitaire5351 Caan didn't want to play Carlo. HAHAH. That's literally made up 100%. Also Carlo was killed in Part I just like Sonny. If you've never seen the movie, they why are you commenting?
Well, when I was at Paramount studios, they claim Carlo’s beat down by Sonny was done on the lot there. The Rheingold truck was placed there to block off the view of the adjacent set which was not dressed for a NY street.
Sly Stallone auditioned for the role but didn't get it. Imagine if he got it. A Rocky-Adrian marriage, 180 degrees. Rocky (mumbling while holding his boxing championship belt, ready to whip Adrian): "NOW CLEAN IT UP!!!!" Adrian (crying, running away): "AH BAFANGOOL YOU!"
godfather was a great movie but sorry that's the sloppiest executed fight scene ever...Sonny doesn't throw Carlo over the rail he throws himself over, the punches missed by 3-feet. and that unlocked-kneed kick wouldn't pop a pinata. always wondered how that scene stayed off the cutting-room floor.
"I never thought the movie would be that successful." Understatement of the century.
Hello Carlo
carlorocky *Strangles him
Who gets in a car with Clemenza in the back? He wanted to die
*Goodbye Carlo
mynd yf l seat yn the back?
For someone with no experience surrounded by heavyweights like Brando, Pacino, Duvall, Caan, etc., Russo does a great job. You're supposed to despise the Carlo character and that's exactly what happens.
He's amazing for a guy who never acted. Just goes to show you what balls and determination can do. Believe in yourself. The guy did. He's as good as any of them in Godfather. I was stunned to hear that.
Very true. He decided to do it and did it.
James Kennedy heavyweights? Pacino was a noname prior to the movie lol brando was the real star and duvall from his westerns if anything Pacino is and surely the real mvp but yea gianni did good but he was not surrounded by ‘heavyweights’
You're right, back then Pacino was virtually unknown, and Caan and Duvall were only moderately successful...Even Brando wouldn't be considered "heavyweight" at that time, as he had reached the lowest point in his career, trying to bring back his glory days...
James Kennedy no way when I seen this movie I knew he was amateur by the sound of his voice the reflection of his body and mannerisms
I'll never forget some of those air punches Sonny threw. lol
Must have felt nice in that Summertime heat.
@@LeviAckerman-cb5ji I don't get it. Most of Scorsese's scenes are gold, but sometimes Very amateur stuff slips in. I thought some of the death scenes were over dramatic. Still great, just some scenes.
@@Ralph-ny1ey Scorsese didn't direct the Godfather, Coppola did
@@xboxmoonpartingty104 whoopsie, got my mob movie directors mixed up. I meant Coppola but Scorsese has a few too. Even so, the movies with the bad scenes in question are still excellent movies
Never share an Uber if Clemenza is sitting directly behind you.
LOL!! "Hello Frank C."
Duel - great movie,one of my all time favorites
He still looks the part.
This guy has got such an interesting life story too.
i will never ever understand how that air punch made it through the final cuts
Yes! And they had so many takes? It could have been a missed punch, which could happen, but they dubbed in a “punch” sound effect! Unbelievable.
most people don't notice it. People aren't overanalyzing movies like internet types when they watch a film
How much money would he have, if he had $20 every time someone said to him. “You have to answer for Santino, Carlo.”
Underrated comment
It's been so long since I've seen the movie... Why was Carlo killed? I'm assuming it was for something more serious than just beating his wife?
oldies geek he aligned himself with, Barzini and set Sonny up to be killed.
@@oldmansilas559 Ok, I see now. Do they actually show Carlo talking to Barzini about setting up Sonny?
@@oldiesgeek454 no
Much like Hyman Roth, who was dying of the same heart attack for twenty years, he parlayed his role into a lifetime achievement
😂😂😂
2:44
he does like 5 different emotions during his last scene with pacino. great actor in that movie!
''it was Barzini"
don't tell me you're innocent, admit what you did, Carlo
Don't insult my intelligence
It was Barzini
@@beardtrick I’m leaving New York tomorrow. Think about the price
@@michelea.w.9697 I made my bones while you were going out with cheer leaders!
@@beardtrick you never talk to a man like moe greene like that
I can't believe they did this scene many times but left the punch that misses Carlo by 8 inches in.
Incredible that he didn't cut away for a split second to show the crowd reaction or something.
because in real life talia shire was mistreated by russo and as a favor james caan threw in real punches.
Natural born actor. Sad his ribs got broken. People underestimate how real these scenes can be!
0:09 not very real
I've heard that too. Russo was on Howard Stern and said that about Caan.
+Kris...you mean Russo
@@terrybono5995 Haha I've always noticed that!
Peter Clemenza whacked him. LOL
He was a real Mafioso , acting was natural to him , a Legend
You’re out of the family business Carlo that’s your punishment ... lol 😂
His death scene was pretty graphic and realistic looking.
At least 15 times... And he even broke his rips! And they both had to bring the same intensity to it every single time again. Incredible professionals!
Young Clemenza was played by Bruno Kirby in GFII, and Kirby played his son on the TV show The Super.
0:10 why didn't they edit out the "phantom punch" Sonny missed the "right" by a foot?
Vic ..I agree ...the editor should've cut to the people staring and then cut back to Carlo getting a good punch ...that one punch was so bad (in a fight u will miss ) but damn ....the movie is still # 1
Well put
vic vega Sonny missed but, Carlo gave a great response!
It's true sonny simply punched the air carlo exhaled. But i guess Carlo 'sold' the punch eitherways :p.
Or film it from behind Sonny. One of the most glaring camera gaffes, because of the reputation of the movie.
Cool story. I love it when someone just using their own tenacity to get into a movie that ends up being a classic all time great. He never did any other movies, but it's like that didn't matter to him. He already had a viable career.
He played Dave Steelgrave,mobter Sonny Steelgrave's older brother, in the pilot episode of the CBS series WISEGUY.
"I'm giving you a role in the Godfather, i want you to play it, only don't tell me you've never acted before! Because it insults my intelligence!"
Don Vito is cast.
So is Phillip Tattaglia.
Moe Greene. Sonny.
Fredo.
Today I cast all other parts so don't tell me that you're not in with us.
You have to pay for Santino, Carlo
Greedy D Why say the quote wrong?
Was James aiming for Russo for real when he threw that bat? If he was, the combination of that and breaking his ribs with real kicks is taking "Method Acting" a bit too far I think.
Yes, I heard that Caan improvised the bat-throwing thing. It wasn't in the script, Caan just did it on his own.
@Kris B: I've heard stories about Caan not liking people who got into films with no experience. He didn't care much for lesser-experienced people either; he once made some negative comments about Arnold Schwarzenegger, because the kind of films Arnold made were not serious acting challenges. A few years later he made a movie with "Ah-nold."
@Michael Moore I think Caan was jealous of Russo, because he grew up around wiseguys.
@Michael Moore That's true. Brilliant book though.
Injuries sometimes happen and the real Pros just keep in character. Frank Sinatra, for example, had a famous fight scene with Henry Silva (a friend of Sinatra's in real life) and Frank takes a Karate chop at Henry, but misses him and strikes a wooden table. The pain in the final cut of The Manchurian Candidate is real, as Frank fractured some bones his hand. I could mention many other injuries that actors suffer in the line of duty, but you get the picture.
wow, great story, you don't have to be number one to be among the best, Russo's story is awesome!!!!
Wow... I had no idea Russo was not an actor. Great performance!
especially for Carlo's death, it really broke my soul while watching this film. Being savagely strangled to death by Clemenza, it's really terrible
Carlo insulted Michael's intelligence and made him very angry.
Carlo cheating on Connie.."Whatever happened there"
awesome!!! I'm going check it out!
Hello Carlo...
Famous last words.😏
fascinating story
Great scene, but Russo was also doubled by stunt coordinator Paul Baxley (who is the one thrown over the railing).
Getting garroted tends to change everything about your life. lol. He matched up pretty closely to the description of Carlo in the book. Blonde, hulking, Northern Italian.
those little anecdotes made the film even greater!
no acting experience a broken ribbs on stage
wow!
Wow, very interesting. Good for you.
Now that he's an actor we all have to be very interested in his political opinions.
Please MAGA
Great actor. I can't imagine anyone else in that role.
"I directed that entire scene and won the first Oscar of Best Entire Scene Director. Can you believe that"?
Kelly's deep satin voice ought to be in demand ... Somewhere !!
He was real handsome, but time catches us all.
As Carlo rolls over....”you’re not Italian!”
Awesome
"Hello Carlo" : *Peter Clemenza*
Carlo- guy who, while visiting his father,would set up him up for a burglary a week before Christmas.
He had a great autobiography. Had a Vegas night club. Problems with P Escobar. Check it out if you get a chance
Where's the rest of the interview
I think you mean Pleasant Ave, not Mt. Pleasant Ave. It was formerly an Italian neighborhood in East Harlem, my mother grew up there.
He says he capitalised on it .. well i never saw him in any other movie ...full stop
he didn't mean in the movie business, he meant in other lines of work, stonato
I think he meant that he got 'deals' ...go to casino and meet and greet ....endorsements ....I think he wrote a book ....food deal ..etc. but his acting career was over ..lol
He did play Dave Steelgrave, mobster Sonny Steelgrave's older brother, in the pilot episode of the CBS series WISEGUY.
He was on'' Growing up Gotti''
colintraveller but we have Lionel Richie performing here tonight
I put you on a plane to Vegas. Did he get a plane ticket refund?
back then no change fees i bet lol
@Layne AIC - 1. Not your money. 2. Why the need to know about a refund.
Sonny beat his ass for wearing that god awful two tone orange suit.
That "touch my sister" jazz was just cover.
1:20 Is that part 2's Genco on the left?
Is it true Caan disliked Russo? He also hurt him for real.
He didn't like the fact that Russo got the part despite having no acting experience whatsoever. But I think he injured him in the beating scene by accident .... I don't know, maybe it was on purpose.
Russo had thought so. But what he didn't know was that before shooting, Coppola had the Corleone Cast all spend a few days together, away from all the other cast members. He wanted the actors to bond so that the characters came off like a family. He intentionally created a division between the Corleone cast and the others. I think Russo, being so new and unaware of the process, didn't realize what was going on. He talked about being left out - but I think that was intentional from Coppola. I've never heard James Caan say anything about Russo.
They had rehearsed the beat down scene for a couple hours, but once the camera had actually started rolling Caan started improvising like when he threw the bat at Russo’s head, that kick where we see Russo actually catch some air that actually broke a couple of his ribs, and the hand biting. Russo suspects Caan was mad because Caan wanted to play Carlo but the role was given to Russo, which is odd as Sonny Corleone was a bigger role than Carlo Rizzi,have because Carlo wasn’t off’d until part II but Sonny was gunned down in part I.
@@lufsolitaire5351 Caan didn't want to play Carlo. HAHAH. That's literally made up 100%. Also Carlo was killed in Part I just like Sonny. If you've never seen the movie, they why are you commenting?
@@tonyc8752 Tell me you’re 12 without telling me you’re 12....
I'm originally from 116 st and First avenue, a few block away. Apparently East Harlem is high end now.
JohnsRadios lol the reporter said "mount pleasant avenue"
Jeff Aholics your right it's pleasant avenue ! Oh well, can't expect accurate reporting .
Me too. 115th...visit Patsy's every now and again.
Another NYC neighborhood falling to gentrification? That's terrible.
He had good aim with that stick lol
Thats soo cool woooow
jesus such a smooth voice
@JJRJ 85 - re: "jesus" = Do you often write to Jesus via RUclips? Ever get a response?
One of the extras in the background at 1:18 is the guy who played Frankie Carbone in Goodfellas, who wound up in the meat locker.
Tom Van Riper you mean the guy who played Genco Abbadando in Pt 2
Was Clemeza killed or did he have a heart attack? I know Richard Castellano bailed on the sequel - but was his character killed? Anybody?
Saw a very, vert similar beating when I was a kid in Brooklyn. The similarities were uncanny.
How many people saw Carbone standing in the crowd?
yes thats carbone at 1:15
He went to go warm up the car while Carlo took a beating!
I got chills. Brrrrrr.
Now who approached you Coppola or Evans?
He looks different xD
"Thank you Papa".
....You think you could fool a Corleone?
yeah well he fooled Sonny, didn't he?
Is that Frank Sivero in 1:18 touching his hair who played the younger version of Genco Abbandando in Godfather II?
Yep indeed it is, also in goodfellas.
Yes. I noticed that years ago. Obviously no one noticed it when they made GF2. Genco aged very well though....
Wow, I never noticed it
Think he mentioned it before somewhere.
Greg Kelly was a normal reporter once
Saw this guy at Del Mar race track with the finest, most spectacular looking woman I have ever seen.
Nice.
Well, when I was at Paramount studios, they claim Carlo’s beat down by Sonny was done on the lot there. The Rheingold truck was placed there to block off the view of the adjacent set which was not dressed for a NY street.
Sly Stallone auditioned for the role but didn't get it. Imagine if he got it. A Rocky-Adrian marriage, 180 degrees. Rocky (mumbling while holding his boxing championship belt, ready to whip Adrian): "NOW CLEAN IT UP!!!!" Adrian (crying, running away): "AH BAFANGOOL YOU!"
Sonny would have been alive if he had EZpass
Pleasant Ave., not Mount Pleasant Ave.
You should've never got into that car. You couldn't bullshit your way outta that, carlo.
!He was a "walk on"? He wasn't "vetted"?
Amazing isn`t it?
he had connections with the mob who made an offer to the producers for which they could not refuse.
And I guess he had to "kick up" to the guys who got him made?
Pleasant Avenue, not Mount Pleasant Avenue.
In Manhattan?
There is no "Mount Pleasant" avenue in east Harlem. It's Pleasant avenue. Period.
chris melvin ..carlitos ways area
@@CRINCON1977 East Harlem Genovese crew
And this is the spot where Jimmy Caan missed me by three feet. IDK what he was swinging at.
Jeez, that guys got some white teeth even at that age
idclolidk Veneers
White? How's about False?
Ok, where is Greg Kelly these days? He was on NYC Channel 5 mornings for years, then vanished. I never watch that show anymore.
Not many people can say we’re on the same set as Pacino , Brado and Duval, ain’t that something g to tell to your kids
@PlainBagel - Kids today would not give a half rat's ass !!
Look at Gianni Flair styling and profiling, *WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO*
Wasn’t Carlos actor also in Sopranos
From a fake right hook missed by a good 10 inches, to a real kick in the ribs, breaking them. After those many takes, they left the air-punch in???
I never thought it was him... @@
I thought it was a stuntman when he jumped over that railing.
Yes, a stuntman jumped over the railing. If not, what difference does it make.
@@warriormanmaxx8991 It means he does his own stunts. Most actors don’t.
Hello Carlo...GOODBYE CARLO...
Carlo: You could have played a real Gotti,I believe.My respects.
What street is this?
Same dude that got knocked out by Steven Segal in the bar in Out for Justice and got turned into a monkey by Koopa in super Mario bros movie
Gianni dont lie too me it insults my intelligence
This guy got beat up by Steven Seagal in Out For Justice. He was in the bar. Said he was with Don Vitorrio and Seagal couldn’t touch him.
U have to answer for sonny Carlo
Carlo was a natural!....
Did Clemenza let him live or what ?
How can a fake-ass air kick break your ribs…
Give him a Fox News interview. But never discuss the family business with him.
godfather was a great movie but sorry that's the sloppiest executed fight scene ever...Sonny doesn't throw Carlo over the rail he throws himself over, the punches missed by 3-feet. and that unlocked-kneed kick wouldn't pop a pinata. always wondered how that scene stayed off the cutting-room floor.
Gianna was perfection
Now clean that up!
Wouldn't Michael also have the delayed bodyguards executed?