And yet, he never got the respect he deserved, because he wasn't "really" part of the family. Later, when Michael sends him to Las Vegas & tells him "you're not really part of the family", you can see how much it hurts...
There are legitimate capitalistic economic model far more profitable than drugs you know.. wealthy marfia organisation understands it.. hmmm except that ragtag ones.. hmmm
The mistake that kicks off everything which follows, spanning three movies. If Sonny had kept his mouth shut in just that *one* instance, maybe Sollozzo would've left them alone. Maybe Sonny would've become Don and Michael would never have joined the family business. Fredo would never have been killed. Carlo and Connie would've attended marriage counseling and grown happier. Sal would not have been killed, having no need to double-cross anyone. Paulie would've eventually gotten a job as a dancing judge, working at competitions.
yeah, you cannot imagine how many people I have heard advice, "keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." just a line from a movie! anyone who did that ended up DEAD!
The Godfather was nearly three hours, and I wished that it had more scenes with Don Corleone. Michael's story was cool, but everyone know that the old man made this movie.
Everytime I watch this movie, I cannot get over the fact that Brando was only in his late 40s during filming. But he plays an elderly, wise senior Mafioso grandfather so well and convincingly. What an acting legend!
@@maloperverso8118 Yeah in the timeine he'd be in upper 60s. He was mid 20s when Sonny was born in the flashbacks. Even Michael should have been almost 30 by time he went to war if Godfather 2 was set in 40s.
@@maloperverso8118 Well in the Flashback he was born in the 1910s and shown as a baby, technically first film if he had returned from WWII it would be early 1940s so he would be almost 30.
@@tylerwedell3750 He still cared for Tom though. It also suggests that sometimes he forgets that Tom isn't his biological son and has to remind himself too.
Well Tom is his Consigliere. Also, it is a good business exercise. Not just advice, also to see how they think and strategize for that kind of situation.
Just realized Vito’s children are a representation of the emotions he felt growing up. Santino is the anger , Michael is the intelligence, and fredo is the fear .
@@greenfields1221 What I love about these movies. The debates! Francis Ford said Vincent was an amalgamation of alll the men. Just too bad part 3 was a rush job and Francis needed the money, otherwise we could’ve seen Vincent outshine his uncle AND grandfather in that respect
Sonny showed interest in a deal that the Godfather was rejecting. As the Godfather says, never tell anyone outside the family what you're thinking. If someone sees that people in the family have differing opinions then they might try and exploit that. You should always deal with differing opinions behind closed doors. Once Sollozo saw Sonny was interested in his deal he tried to kill the Godfather to get him out of the way so he could do business with Sonny.
Even before this meeting, when sonny, tom and vito were talking about it done asked both of them what they thought they both answered yes when sonny asked his dad what's your decision pop vito never let on it was no
Did anyone notice the looks on the faces of tom and everyone else in the room when sonny opened his mouth they were like oh fuck why do you shut up idiot
I don’t think sonny showed interest by rejecting the idea of the tattaglia’s guaranteeing their investment. When Sollozzo kidnaps tom he tells tom he knew sonny was hot for his deal, and that tom knew it was the right thing to do. I wondered how he knew that, and I think it’s because of Carlo. In The Godfather epic, before the three of them talk about narcotics, Connie and Carlo are having a fight in the house right near the room they are talking in. So it could only be that Carlo was listening in on the meeting between tom sonny and Don Corleone.
Notice when the meeting ends everyone gets up when the Don rises from his chair with the exception of Sonny. Could be that he was upset that he was upset with his dad for humiliating him but could also be that he is upset that the offer was declined. You can also see Sonny fidgeting with his glass while the Don is explaining why he is rejecting the deal indicating that he is unsettled by his fathers decision to reject the deal. As this preceded Sonny's interjection re security provided by Tataglia, lends more credence to the notion that there is division on whether to accept the proposal. In either case, Sonny demonstrates that he is lacking in the qualities necessary to successfully lead the family so can be manipulated by Solozo when he takes the reins. No doubt in my mind that how Sonny conducted himself in that meeting led to the Don being shot.
One also needs to keep in mind that every aspect of what is going on in the background of the scene is much more likely to have the intention of conveying a message to be interpreted by the audience than might be the case in real life. Wheras fidgeting with a glass could just be shrugged off as a tic or simply displaying a level of anxiousness or agitation with no real significance if it were to occur in real life, when it appears in a movie scene it is meant to be interpreted. The logical interpretation given by Solazo's reaction to the interjection by Sonny is that there is a division that can be exploited if the Don were out of the picture. Solazo even states that in the scene where they pick up Hagan off the street so I dont believe it is the case that there was some other source providing the motivation for Solazo to move against Don Corleone.
@@RADIUMGLASS i think a bunch of names were bandied about for a number of the lead characters, but Coppola clearly wanted Brando as the Don and would not have settled for anyone else.
For me it's the reaction after Sollozo says "salute". It's a cheap greasy attempt to ingratiate himself and The Don sees right through it as Sollozo can't keep the business quiet so there will be trouble.
These negotiations are all about impressions, mind games, psychology, and body language. Vito sees Solozzo as a bit of a suspicious kiss- ass.....he just wants to now whats what.
Vito was cunning as well as selective when it came to business. He suspected the long term damage that drugs could do. That's why he wanted nothing to do with the drugs business
And to think that the studio didn't want him in the film, so he made them an offer they couldn't refuse, I'll work for a percentage of the film's gross revenue and everybody knows how well that went.
It’s a show of respect for the man. The way he stands up and pour a drink to him while he’s sitting there… It’s a formal, respectful and elegant way to acknowledge he takes him seriously even if the final answer is NO.
Not only does Sonny show he disagrees with his Father, he also revealed to Sollozzo that he only needs to remove Vito to change the way the family thinks.
@@jorgelugo9473 Thats what makes these movies so great, every single line and every single action has an effect on the storyline. It really gives a sense of how volatile the situation is for all the characters.
Just one of the many examples of the Don's genius and I fucking love every second of it. He knows how to choose his words so carefully and yet effortlessly. Simple and effective. He knows how to keep an imposing presence, while showing respect, thus commanding respect with very few words. The fuckin man!
If you ever feel useless, just remember that Fredo was part of the meeting. Edit: To those saying Sonny is the one at fault here, YES its true and you're absolutely right. If Sonny kept quiet, then no trouble would have occurred and Sonny could have done something else to solve this matter which Fredo would never be able to do. There is a difference between being useless and irrational. Fredo being useless means he can't do anything that will benefit or save the family from Sollozzo's proposal. Sonny being irrational means he did something wrong that led to danger for the family but if Sonny was not irrational, he is still capable of doing something else that will not harm the family.
@@frostbite3413 im trying to make a point that just in any situation at all, Fredo just can't do anything that would benefit the family as he was part of the family business.
It's unfortunate that they didn't have the brains that Don Corleone had to get high officials to back up them up like Corleone. Why didn't the other mafia Dons have the know how to collect legal counselors so they wouldn't have to borrow from the others? That to me is confusing. A bunch of idiots!
@@ElBandito politicians can get away with gambling however drugs is something that not even the bribed cops can justify. It's mentioned in the book how cops may turn a blind eye to a bookmaker however they can't turn a blind eye to drugs and murder. Same goes for politicians, its easier on their conscience to make room for gambling but drugs destroys everything it touches
@@angelacarleton9575 the other mafia families were not as smart as Don Corleone. Don Corleone understood friendship and the philosophy of friendship that's why ever since he was in power he would do favours for people and not ask for money unlike the other dons. The favours consisted of paying for children's education and backing them financially. When these children grew up they would be very grateful to the Don and consult with him on what career path they should choose and he would advise judiciary or politics and they would now be indebted to the Don so they would do any favour he asked. This is how he got his political power it took decades to gain which the other dons had no idea could be done and even if they did have the idea they wouldn't have the patience
@Pez Domino you just said everyone knows the advice already, but now you said that not everyone is the world greatest mind, just stop talking you are silly little fool trying so hard to look smart
@@24xv555 Don is the patriarch of the family and the boss, when the boss talks, the underlings keep quiet. Sonny interrupting signals to Solozzo he is more interested in the deal than to stay in line, and with the outcome of the meeting - getting rejected, he figured that since Sonny is the underboss and thus logically will succeed his fathers throne, give Solozzo the idea to kill the Don.
Without Brando, this movie wouldn't have made this far as a classic. In every scene, his performance is just brilliant. He deserved more than an Oscar. he deserved respect which he never received. What an actor he was. Rip
I think this is my favorite scene of the whole trilogy. It shows how naturally intelligent Don Vito was. While he was not formally educated he was intelligent. He could read a person or a situation and strategize far into the future how it could help or hurt him.
The only thing wrong with this masterpiece is they made Luca Brasi appear like a bumbling oaf instead of the highly feared savage killer he is in the novel. In the movie, they show him as an oaf at Connie's wedding and then later he's killed easily by Solozzo and his associates.
Sits across from the man as he questions him to find out about what he would be getting into. Once he's made his decision, he gets up, offers him a bottle himself, sits beside him and calmly explains his well thought out reasons for rejecting the offer while genuinely wishing him the best of luck. This is why he had so many friends in high places.
In the book it goes into more detail but during the meeting with Michael, Solozzo tells him “even though he says he wishes well on me, the truth is that he’s saying I don’t have the right to operate my business. I am a man and as a man cannot allow myself to be under another man’s will” even if sonny hadn’t said anything Solozzo would’ve killed the Don anyway, the decision was made easier because of sonny.
I think the Don had already made the decision not to take the deal. His reasons were beyond just the arrangement. He spoke on his opinion of drugs and how it would affect his influence, this is reinforced in the meeting with the families. I think this meeting was simply to meet Sollozo, and see who he is working with (the tattaligas), which worked to an extent. When Sonny voiced his opposition that’s when Sollozo found an excuse to start trouble under the guise of business. The reality was that Barzini was just making a power move against the Corleone family, hence the line “it was barzini all along”
I love how the Godfather asks for Tom and Sonny's opinions behind closed doors. Shows that despite his wisdom, he understands that he doesn't know everything
The Turk got at least three things from Sonny's slip up: That he was hot for the deal and it was the Don decision to not make it, that Sonny despised Tataglia's family, and that he was hot-tempered and couldn't keep his emotions at bay even when doing business.
After pouring Solotzo the drink, he hands Sonny the bottle and proceeds to sit. It appears that he brushes lint away from Solotzo's pant leg with two swipes of his hand.
3:30 look how Santino gets nervous seeing a business opportunity thrown away. He opens his mouth, plays with his cup, he can’t stay cool. That’s classy acting from Jimmy Caan.
I never understood that Santino actually gave away his obvious interest in the drug business. I always thought his tone was deprecating and condescending, I never heard any enthusiasm in it.
I thought I was the only one who saw him twirling his Glass. He wanted that Deal so badly and Pop said "No!" he was furious. It kind of parallels Dallas when Jock told JR that he wanted to raise Cash asap because he didn't want any Oil Drilling done on Section 40 at Southfork. JR mortgaged Southfork to get the deal and although they came out of it Billionaires they were very lucky.
In the novel it has Tom and everyone in the room horrified at Sonny’s blunder, And Tom especially thinking that he would never want to be the Consileri of Santino Corleone.
Actually, the drug trade was almost unknown in the 1950's thru 1960's. There was **NO NEED FOR DRUGS** back then, because America was King of the World. Gas was 35Ȼ a gallon, employment was high (everyone who wanted a job had a job!), the marriage rate was through the roof & divorce was nearly unknown. Then...the 70's & '80's happened, and everything fell to pieces. Big Biz took over, jobs were outsourced, pensions were obliterated, "No Fault" divorces became commonplace, and...**HERE COME THE DRUG DEALERS!!**
@@CLASSICALFAN100 that's just false, there was drugs all the way back to the 1800s, it just wasn't as bad, but even before that when marriage was high and life was good, the US wasn't king of the world as Britain was and it was US and USSR that were too dogs
@@CLASSICALFAN100drugs don't need underlying social conditions to draw people. and the people in the era you're talking about were miserable, it's just they only had alcohol to drown their misery. the expansion of social decay was the product of technological achievement, in the shape of more effective drugs and distribution logistics. take the current opioid crisis: it's not exogenous - it's not that people are compensating for worse conditions now than they were ten years ago - it's that the logistics for distributing opioids (via pills instead of heroin) are so much more efficient.
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor absolutely right my friend the bonnano family was the only family involved in drugs the other families were not they were drug dealers
Drugs really made their presence felt in the 1940's. Remember on OZ there was a Guy named Whitey who while under the influence of Opium killed a Hooker. Also I remembered reading "Chances" by The Late Jackie Collins and Carrie had to push Drugs at her Bordello where Enzio Bonnatti got a cut for protection. I wonder what Marlon Brando would have thought if he had seen the Prescription Addiction Crisis in today's society.
I love this scene . Don Vito stresses that oftentimes his children talk out of line when they should be listening . Then he scolds Sonny for talking out of line. " Never reveal what you're thinking to those outside the family". And Sonny despite being a big hot head shows utmost respect to Vito, his father and head of the family .
The Don was spot on! He knew that drugs were a dirty, dangerous business and that it would only bring law enforcement sniffing into the family business. He was wise to turn Sollotzzo down.
Actually it wasn't law enforcement because with the money they make they could buy the police and buy other things. Vito's concern was the politicians not being able to back him because of drugs because drugs like heroin or cocaine would be hard for anyone to see has a harmless vice like gambling,alcohol and prostitution .
@@davidong9458 Gambino was probably the smartest of the Dons. He wasn't flashy and high-profile. He didn't hang out in night clubs with women. He dressed very conservatively and lived in a modest home. It's probably why he was one of the few who died in power, at home, of natural causes.
No The Don whiffed on this. There's a reason all the most powerful crime families deal with drugs and that's because that's where the money is. Political leaders/law enforcement/Judges don't care where their money comes from as long as they get paid. Once those other families started dealing drugs and making many times more money than the Corleone family did they would just buy out all those people out from underneath them.
@@mattthomas1442 and that's why all those mob bosses ended up in jail. Because the drug business has no family loyalty, they all turned on each other and made deals to testify against them.
i agree about Solozzo being a fascinating character. when the Godfather tell him "no," there's a great little moment where Solozzo drops his eyes, just a simple touch like that can convey so much meaning. no matter friendly his words are, there's always a air of menace about him also.
I cannot get tired of seeing this business meeting scene. The acting is superb, so natural the way all of them interact with each other, Thank you for posting
@@risavsahu4666 The Godfather is one of the top 5 greatest movies ever made. But personally, I love OUATIA slightly more. It was the most emotionally impactful movie I've ever seen. I also think its Robert De Niro' s best performance after Raging Bull
2:13 “My compliments”. The way Sollozzo credits Tom for what Vito knows establishes that he’s a distinguished consigliere. I love the way subleties are handled in this movie, it’s so great.
Like a true Sicilian, Vito straight up lied to Sollozzo's face in the most respectful manner possible, pretending he had already made up his mind and showed up just to politely say 'no' in person. Both Hagan and Sonny were on board prior, and based on Sonny's reaction, it seems that his father was at least considering the offer going in. Regardless of his trepidations towards the business, I bet he would've agreed if he felt he had the right guy to back. Problem was Sollozzo wanted two things, and he was completely wrong about which one Don Vito was concerned with. Notice how impressed he is by the indifference of a 1 million dollar buy in. That's like 10-15 million today. That's a lot of money gone if he makes a bad bet, but Don Vito doesn't even seem phased by it. It's not the million dollars, but the 'nickels and dimes' that Vito has a problem with. Notice how he calls those nickels and dimes his 'friends'. Even after that comment, Don Corleone STILL gives him a chance to show he understands what he's asking for. Don Corleone wants to be acknowledged as the only guy that can protect a drug kingpin, and he wants it to be acknowledged that doing so comes with a personal price that will be considered in the future by his would-be partner, because as rich as he is, he's definitely not the only guy with a million dollars to lend out, especially considering the returns. It shows that Sollozzo has no regard for the politicians, they're just people who need to be paid off by a guy with the right connections. If he showed Don Vito that he knew the political price he was asking for was bigger than the actual money he needed, I bet he would've accepted it. Instead, he completely misunderstood Don Vito's priorities, and Sonny tipped their hand of the true intent behind the meeting.
Vito knew something was off - the proposal was far too generous from someone whom he'd never even heard of before. He instinctively knew something bigger was at work. Tom had just part of the story right while Sonny was blinded by dollar signs. Vito knew this wasn't the end of it but it would buy him some time to figure out what was really going on. Of course Sonny blew the strategy to hell.
CastleBravo i think he might have cut it off earlier than he wanted to after Sonny Slip up. He might have been inclined to probe Sollozzo more otherwise.
The subtlety in this scene is absplutely amazing. I just noticed how Sonny is kinda waiting to leave the room last as he is expecting Vito to tell him off. But just when he thinks hes oit, he gets pulled back in 😂
"It doesn't make any difference to me what a man does for a living you understand" Love that line...the don casts no moral aspersions, you do what you gotta do.
Yes he said that, but also justified his decision right away. He labeled it "a little dangerous". Don was a master at work. He knew that drugs were not the right business for him. Too much money flying around, too many people affected, too much fuss for him.
Brando's acting is incredible. Literally every movement represents something and gives the scene more authenticity. It's amazing how Brando captures the fathers relationship with a son, by asking Sunny what he thought during the discussion with Tom. My father was very much like that, he would ask me in the middle of the discussion what I thought about a certain situation, in order to see where my mind was in order to assure himself that what he worked so hard to attain would not be lost by the hands of his own children. He would then later advise me if he felt I was approaching the situation from the wrong perspective. #BravoBrando! Spectacular!!!!
My dad does the same when we talk finance, particularly investments. We'll be discussing something and he'll just ask for more explanation of my point of view even though he's done well for himself, and throw out possible scenarios to get my perspective on it. Not so much because he's afraid he thinks I'll mess things up, but more to test my knowledge
Your Dad is a smart Man. He's proud of the fact that you stay on top of your business and he knows that what you know carries well into the Office when you deal with clients.
"Literally every movement represents something"?? You are giving Brando too much credit. He was often unprepared and didn't know lines so had to move around in order to read script while acting. LOL...
"I have a sentimental weakness for my children, and I've spoiled them as you can see." Classiest way to say "my son is a fucking hothead brat, sorry about that."
He was a connected guy, too. Was in-laws with the Ebolis of the Genovese family. Introduced Pacino to Pasquale so he could hang out with him and prepare for the role.
They did treat Fredo with disrespect. Everyone talks about Vito being old world and Tom didn’t catch on to things because he wasn’t Sicilian. But Fredo caught on and he was right. You’re breaking you’re own rules by passing me over as the oldest after Sonny is killed. What did they think Fredos reaction was gonna be? You send me to Vegas to keep me outta the way? Fredo reacted the way he should of.
To be fair, Fredo didn't really fall apart and become a useless idiot until he saw his dad get shot and failed to protect him. That pretty much broke him, as well as any faith anybody had in him at that point.
Fredo had cunning. Playing stupid..until the moment he freaked out when his dad is shot. As for that "Old World" "breaking down your own rules..." bullshit that A10 mentions...this is a Godfather invention. Don's didnt pass on their leadership to their sons. When a son did take charge, it usually came with resistance.
The little movements he makes in his acting like the small hand gesture he makes when he gets the drink. It make you realize that he is really the one in control and that everybody is beneath him.
Just look at the way he approaches to decline the offer. First, he hears him out. Second, understands why his family gets the offer. Third, he goes close to him, fill up his drink, sits near him, dusts of the couch and reasons out why he wants to decline. What a direction !!
Yeah, he was a poor choice for the role of Don. He rushed to Carlo's place with no protection allowing himself to be easily shot down. That was a really amateur move. He also should've kept his mouth shut during the Sollozzo meeting. Sonny didn't have a poker face and he was easy to read. His temper also made him easily manipulated.
3:50 The way Brando looks at Caan, that pause, is exactly what a father would do with a son who stepped out of line. My children never liked "the look" I would give them when they knew I was not happy with them. lol Brilliant acting.
It's amazing how many subtleties are in this movie! I just noticed that after Vito rejects the offer (3:12)- when the camera goes back to Salozzo, you can hear a crash in the background (almost like a faint bolt of lighting). The same thing happens when Vito says he has "a sentimental weakness for his children". When the camera pans back to Salozzo (4:00) you hear the faint bolt of lightning again. To me, this is punctuating Salozzo's thoughts (and his body language) during those two points in the scene that 1) Vito had to be killed and 2) that he may have a chance to do business with Sonny with Vito out of the way.
If you read the book of sound editor Walter Murch talking about editing with Michael Ondaatje, you'll be sure there are no accidents in the sound, however background it is. It always serves a purpose - highly recommended book.
Damn! Learn something about this movie every time I watch it. I got one for you. I noticed that most, if not all, of the murders are committed in BROAD DAYLIGHT. Usually at night time, that’s when we expect the boogie man to be around the corner and eminent (predictable) death shortly after. In the Godfather, it’s always a surprise and at unexpected times. Brilliant
I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I have spoiled them as you can see and they talk when they should listen! I'm gonna use these on one of my children's 😇
@@coldcartcold8633 It's none of those things. The facts are.....nobody has a clue what they are doing when they create another human being without said human beings consent. They could be giving a great gift or they could be inflicting the greatest curse. Both are what we all know as "life". No matter how it is viewed no parent knows what they are doing when they bring children into the world. Some even do it, simply because everyone else was doing it, although they will never admit that. Some view children as the ultimate fashion accessory (they will never admit that either!) Some parents are so arrogant that they actually believe they know what they are doing with regards to child rearing. Rudyard Kipling has a good poem about how many variables there are....it's called "IF". Many would-be parents would do well to read and at least try to understand it before taking on the greatest responsibility that another human being can inflict on themselves and upon someone else who has no choice in the matter. Unfortunately 99% will not.
Exactly! If you do, you`re giving The Associate some power over you. Also Sollozzo knew that Don Corleone`s Power was beginning to slip. He called Tom on it. Sonny gave Sollozzo some power when he shouldn`t have.
No it's the chair watch again could have drips some alcohol or he's brushing offdirt caues he's telling him he's in dirty business. Still showing his control over situation
This scene is so strong... first the Don meeting with his top man: the consigliere and his underboss, to hear their thoughs on narcotics... despite that the Don himself had his resolve on the matter all along. Then... the meeting between the Turk and the heads of the family: from the Don to the two family captains. Just beautiful...
Damn...that delivery of "I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them as you can see...they talk when they should listen" gives me goosebumps
I agree. Brando always did little things like that to add depth and interest. For example when he puts on Edie's gloves in "On the Waterfront." And I could give a bunch of other examples.
So many films do exposition so poorly, but Tom’s very brief exposition here (the Don doesn’t need to be told what their enemies will do with the drug money, that was for us) is so smooth and concise and fits the scene so well, it’s perfect. Great direction, great screenwriting.
In the Puzo novel the Don was even more irate with Sonny after the Sollozzo meeting, “Santino, never let anyone outside the family know what you are thinking. Never let them know what you have under your fingernails. I think your brain is going soft from all that comedy you play with that young girl. Stop it and pay attention to business. Now get out of my sight.” Hagen saw the surprise on Sonny’s face, then anger at his father’s reproach. Did he really think the Don would be ignorant of his conquest, Hagen wondered. And did he really not know what a dangerous mistake he had made this morning? If that were true, Hagen would never wish to be the Consigliori to the Don of Santino Corleone.” : The Godfather by Mario Puzo (1969)
Word! Another big business mistake that Sonny did was send Fredo to Las Vegas under the protection of Don Francesco where he would learn The Casino Business. He was Moe Greene's Whipping Boy, then betrayed The Family with Hyman Roth.
I love the leadership shown by to Don. He ensures he hears everybody's opinion before deciding. He ends up deciding against their opinion but only after he ensures every perspective is considered.
When Sollozzo says: "my compliments" to Hagen he is only pretending to compliment him. He wants to reinforce the bad intelligence that it is the Tataglia family alone who is backing him. The Tataglias may have been in on it, but The Turk at that moment was directing attention away from his main backer: Barzini. The real threat "all along" as Vito would later put it.
Yep. Not sticking up for Tom since as a consigliere it's his job to find out these things but I would've thought The Don would have been smart enough to know that it couldn't have just been Tataglia. I mean in his own words Tataglia was "just a pimp", he should have known that there was somebody with more power and money behind him.
Interesting and it makes sense. It reinforces the idea that this whole thing was an exploratory effort by Sollozzo - to find out what the Corleones are like, what info they had (or didn't have), etc. He did seem disappointed when Vito gave him the 'no' answer, but it begs the question whether he really thought there was a chance of this working out or if he was doing a bit of acting to cover a more subversive purpose. Gotta wonder what would have happened if Vito said yes.... Would Sollozzo actually try to balance the interests of all these families or would he still plot against Vito and buy extra-nice flowers for his funeral since he had his million bucks...?
Love how he illustrates the maxim to never let anyone know what you're really thinking when he tells Solozzo "since you're interests don't conflict with mine" when deep down Vito knows damn well that they do and that Solozzo may have a violent plan-b, which Vito was right about.
Nobody talks to Sonny that way except the old man. Sonny had to stand there and take it, nothing he could do about it. It shows you the power that Vito had, not only is he the only person that could control Sonny he was also the only person who could control Luca.
Best ever Brando scene turning down the deal and scolding Sonny by his proper name. Words to live by too; Never tell anyone outside the family what you're thinking. The through line of the story.
I spent my morning watching godfather clips, i regret nothing
Its an offer, you couldn't refuse.
Damn fine way to spend a morning.
What choice do you have son?
and you must've had great afternoon and night
I spent my life doing it,
REGRETS: none
Tom was so solid, does his homework on everything. Extremely vital to the family.
And yet, he never got the respect he deserved, because he wasn't "really" part of the family. Later, when Michael sends him to Las Vegas & tells him "you're not really part of the family", you can see how much it hurts...
and in first movie we see how wrong he was. that's why Turk mocked him with ''my compliments''
He actually missed that Barzini was behind this all!
@@OmShira Tbh, thats something only the Don would pick up on.
@@samuelumeadi5641 Well, even he did after years and almost losing 2 sons!
I love how they cut to Clemenza and Tom after Sonny interrupts. They know a big mistake was made.
yeah true
every cut have meaning in this movie
I imagine “Damnit Sonny” was said quite often
There are legitimate capitalistic economic model far more profitable than drugs you know.. wealthy marfia organisation understands it.. hmmm except that ragtag ones.. hmmm
The mistake that kicks off everything which follows, spanning three movies. If Sonny had kept his mouth shut in just that *one* instance, maybe Sollozzo would've left them alone. Maybe Sonny would've become Don and Michael would never have joined the family business. Fredo would never have been killed. Carlo and Connie would've attended marriage counseling and grown happier. Sal would not have been killed, having no need to double-cross anyone. Paulie would've eventually gotten a job as a dancing judge, working at competitions.
@@WhatAHorribleNight yeah Sonny running his mouth there is really the foundation of everything after
At least Fredo was smart enough to keep his mouth shut. Give him that.
Thank god fredo kept quiet , because hes "not smart"...hahhahhahahahh
Hahah 😀😃
He picked up Sollozzo at the airport.
***fredo was scared enough to keep his.......***
Fredo was the man!.... He was "banging two cocktail waitresses at a time"
Seriously when the acting is so good you think its real life.
yeah, you cannot imagine how many people I have heard advice, "keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." just a line from a movie! anyone who did that ended up DEAD!
And all the mobsters modeled themselves after Don Vito.
believe me, it doesn't get this good in real life either kek
Even the real mobsters kiss the boss' hand each time they meet
@@samuelmoulds1016 It is from Machiavelli.
The Godfather was nearly three hours, and I wished that it had more scenes with Don Corleone. Michael's story was cool, but everyone know that the old man made this movie.
I like more Michel as Godfather
That's what Godfather II is for.
I agree also I wish Sonny was in the movie longer. But he couldn't control that famous temper of his!..
LESS IS MORE
you can only pay marlon brando so much
Sonny thinks 2 months into the future, Tom thinks 10 years into the future, Don thinks 100 years into the future 😂
i think i am gonna take ashit.
And Fredo thinks 2 days into the future.
@@woolfyx I bet he only thinks of two cocktail waitresses into the future
@@woolfyx and tony Montana thinks two 8balls in the future
This is a hilarious thread.
Everytime I watch this movie, I cannot get over the fact that Brando was only in his late 40s during filming. But he plays an elderly, wise senior Mafioso grandfather so well and convincingly. What an acting legend!
FYI: Brando had make up Applied to make him look Older, about ~65!
@@maloperverso8118 Yeah in the timeine he'd be in upper 60s. He was mid 20s when Sonny was born in the flashbacks. Even Michael should have been almost 30 by time he went to war if Godfather 2 was set in 40s.
@@koDaffi How Old was Michael supposed to be in the First Godfather!?
Like ~25 I'd guess....
@@maloperverso8118 Well in the Flashback he was born in the 1910s and shown as a baby, technically first film if he had returned from WWII it would be early 1940s so he would be almost 30.
@@koDaffi Thanks!
And in two seconds of indiscretion Sonny seals everyone's fate, including his own.
Yup they were all dead man walking after that comment. It was all planned out. Sonny got himself killed after that comment.
All you gotta do is be a little late.. or a little early.. that's all it takes
How do you mean?
@@gstqcomics2017 Wire reference, nice!
@@darshin95 THAT FUCKIN ANIMAL!!!! I CANT EVEN SAY HIS NAME!!!!!!!!
Vito's foresight to see the dangers of getting involved in the drug business was spot on.
k m yes but whn u are flotig with other turds u must falow the flow r u get stuk behind
Vito is a visionary. He came from nothing, he built his empire from nothing. He refused to be a pawn.
@soid drone slayer it also signalled the demise of their thing.....people turned when looking at 30 to life.
k m they're so smart that's how come they're extinct
If I was the Don no drugs except juice loans to drug dealers or smuggling and I would share my wealth to keep my men happy!!!
I love how the godfather asks Sonny’s opinion but then asks Tom’s opinion as well, always love that he really cared for his adopted son
In the book the Don always told Tom to Never forget his parents
@@tylerwedell3750 He still cared for Tom though. It also suggests that sometimes he forgets that Tom isn't his biological son and has to remind himself too.
Or he’s just asking him for advice seeing as he’s the consigliere of the family
@@Widemboishe already knows what tom is going to say, has considered that viewpoint and rejected it. this is about showing respect.
Well Tom is his Consigliere. Also, it is a good business exercise. Not just advice, also to see how they think and strategize for that kind of situation.
Just realized Vito’s children are a representation of the emotions he felt growing up. Santino is the anger , Michael is the intelligence, and fredo is the fear .
Yep, but Fredo represents his loving side more than his fear. Sonny is his tough guy side, Michael is his smart side, Fredo is his gentle side.
And Vincent is ALL of them in one, including Vito
@@slide5039 I only like Vincent because he fell in love with his gorgeous cousin, she was so amazing
@@greenfields1221 What I love about these movies. The debates! Francis Ford said Vincent was an amalgamation of alll the men. Just too bad part 3 was a rush job and Francis needed the money, otherwise we could’ve seen Vincent outshine his uncle AND grandfather in that respect
Connie
Sonny showed interest in a deal that the Godfather was rejecting. As the Godfather says, never tell anyone outside the family what you're thinking. If someone sees that people in the family have differing opinions then they might try and exploit that. You should always deal with differing opinions behind closed doors. Once Sollozo saw Sonny was interested in his deal he tried to kill the Godfather to get him out of the way so he could do business with Sonny.
Even before this meeting, when sonny, tom and vito were talking about it done asked both of them what they thought they both answered yes when sonny asked his dad what's your decision pop vito never let on it was no
Did anyone notice the looks on the faces of tom and everyone else in the room when sonny opened his mouth they were like oh fuck why do you shut up idiot
I don’t think sonny showed interest by rejecting the idea of the tattaglia’s guaranteeing their investment. When Sollozzo kidnaps tom he tells tom he knew sonny was hot for his deal, and that tom knew it was the right thing to do. I wondered how he knew that, and I think it’s because of Carlo. In The Godfather epic, before the three of them talk about narcotics, Connie and Carlo are having a fight in the house right near the room they are talking in. So it could only be that Carlo was listening in on the meeting between tom sonny and Don Corleone.
Notice when the meeting ends everyone gets up when the Don rises from his chair with the exception of Sonny. Could be that he was upset that he was upset with his dad for humiliating him but could also be that he is upset that the offer was declined. You can also see Sonny fidgeting with his glass while the Don is explaining why he is rejecting the deal indicating that he is unsettled by his fathers decision to reject the deal. As this preceded Sonny's interjection re security provided by Tataglia, lends more credence to the notion that there is division on whether to accept the proposal. In either case, Sonny demonstrates that he is lacking in the qualities necessary to successfully lead the family so can be manipulated by Solozo when he takes the reins. No doubt in my mind that how Sonny conducted himself in that meeting led to the Don being shot.
One also needs to keep in mind that every aspect of what is going on in the background of the scene is much more likely to have the intention of conveying a message to be interpreted by the audience than might be the case in real life. Wheras fidgeting with a glass could just be shrugged off as a tic or simply displaying a level of anxiousness or agitation with no real significance if it were to occur in real life, when it appears in a movie scene it is meant to be interpreted. The logical interpretation given by Solazo's reaction to the interjection by Sonny is that there is a division that can be exploited if the Don were out of the picture. Solazo even states that in the scene where they pick up Hagan off the street so I dont believe it is the case that there was some other source providing the motivation for Solazo to move against Don Corleone.
Brando was born for this role.
Not a single man in Hollywood could have portrayed this character the we he did.
Pure legend!
They wanted Burt Reynolds.
This was not only the greatest role of Brando’s career, it might be the greatest role in movies, period. He was amazingly good in every scene.
Everyone was great in the movie, and to have Francis Ford Coppola write and direct. This was Al Pacino's 2nd movie.
@@RADIUMGLASS i think a bunch of names were bandied about for a number of the lead characters, but Coppola clearly wanted Brando as the Don and would not have settled for anyone else.
@@RADIUMGLASS The greatest role is Michael Corleone by Al Pacino
I love Brando's shrug and smirk at 2:34 when he says, "Why do you come to me? Why do I deserve this...generosity?" I've always loved that reaction!!
Can u explain detail to me abt that?
For me it's the reaction after Sollozo says "salute". It's a cheap greasy attempt to ingratiate himself and The Don sees right through it as Sollozo can't keep the business quiet so there will be trouble.
These negotiations are all about impressions, mind games, psychology, and body language. Vito sees Solozzo as a bit of a suspicious kiss- ass.....he just wants to now whats what.
Vito was cunning as well as selective when it came to business. He suspected the long term damage that drugs could do. That's why he wanted nothing to do with the drugs business
And to think that the studio didn't want him in the film, so he made them an offer they couldn't refuse, I'll work for a percentage of the film's gross revenue and everybody knows how well that went.
I like the way Don Vito walked over to Solozzo and poured him wine right before rejecting his proposal. Such class.
Vito, Tom, and Michael all exuded class.
It is not wine but an anise type drink like ouzo or raki.
The rejection is delivered with such authority, poise, elegance, assertiveness, and gentleness.
It’s a show of respect for the man. The way he stands up and pour a drink to him while he’s sitting there… It’s a formal, respectful and elegant way to acknowledge he takes him seriously even if the final answer is NO.
Not only does Sonny show he disagrees with his Father, he also revealed to Sollozzo that he only needs to remove Vito to change the way the family thinks.
100%
So inadvertently set of the chain of events in the film. Brilliant. A single moment of impatience led to years of history waiting to happen.
@@jorgelugo9473 Thats what makes these movies so great, every single line and every single action has an effect on the storyline. It really gives a sense of how volatile the situation is for all the characters.
Excellent observation
That's the same thing bud.
“Why do you come to me? Why do I deserve this... generosity?” Impeccable acting
Sollozzo: I believe in America! I brought my nice white powder but they told me it was illegal. So I decided, for justice, I must go to don Corleone.
@@u.v.s.5583 lmao
@@u.v.s.5583 Don: That's not justice, your drug business is still alive.
Just one of the many examples of the Don's genius and I fucking love every second of it. He knows how to choose his words so carefully and yet effortlessly. Simple and effective. He knows how to keep an imposing presence, while showing respect, thus commanding respect with very few words. The fuckin man!
Watch Brando when he pours Sollozzo a drink. He spills a little on Solozzo’s leg and very quietly and unassumingly brushes it off. Just perfect.
If you ever feel useless, just remember that Fredo was part of the meeting.
Edit: To those saying Sonny is the one at fault here, YES its true and you're absolutely right. If Sonny kept quiet, then no trouble would have occurred and Sonny could have done something else to solve this matter which Fredo would never be able to do. There is a difference between being useless and irrational. Fredo being useless means he can't do anything that will benefit or save the family from Sollozzo's proposal. Sonny being irrational means he did something wrong that led to danger for the family but if Sonny was not irrational, he is still capable of doing something else that will not harm the family.
oh wow I didn't even notice he was there lol
At least Fredo didn't disrespect his father right then and there
@@frostbite3413 He couldn't even protect his father from getting shot
@@thaneindranaidu8688 but that wasn't in the meeting tho
@@frostbite3413 im trying to make a point that just in any situation at all, Fredo just can't do anything that would benefit the family as he was part of the family business.
"It's true I have a lot of friends in politics" Is one of the most underrated lines.
i just love how he treats his son. not angry, just straight to the point
The Tattaglias treated him very different indeed.
@@u.v.s.5583 Santino was a Bad Don , rest in peace .
Oh he was angry alright
In the book the don was legit pissed.
@@alneri8327 He was an outstanding wartime don, his weaknesses became his strength.
"They talk when they should listen." - great golden business advise !
Absolutely......beautiful
Your profile pic looks like a demonic turtle peaking out of its shell.
But Pa, you are wasting OUR money!
@@anycolouryoulike8567 mafia hood face, isn't it ?
@@Ferruccio_Guicciardi new profile pic. Imao.
Sonny's reaction to his father's berating always gets me. The ONLY person that Sonny will always knuckle under to.
4:59 "Tom, what is this nonsense?"
I love this line. Godfather is always direct and on point.
Johnny is starring in that new film
I myself think that a gift of flowers is a bit of nonsense. Never mind the occasion.
Smart move. His politicians are worth more than the drug deal. He thought of the long run, not the moment.
Politicians never shy away from dirty money, even from drugs.
It's unfortunate that they didn't have the brains that Don Corleone had to get high officials to back up them up like Corleone. Why didn't the other mafia Dons have the know how to collect legal counselors so they wouldn't have to borrow from the others? That to me is confusing. A bunch of idiots!
@@ElBandito politicians can get away with gambling however drugs is something that not even the bribed cops can justify. It's mentioned in the book how cops may turn a blind eye to a bookmaker however they can't turn a blind eye to drugs and murder. Same goes for politicians, its easier on their conscience to make room for gambling but drugs destroys everything it touches
@@angelacarleton9575 the other mafia families were not as smart as Don Corleone. Don Corleone understood friendship and the philosophy of friendship that's why ever since he was in power he would do favours for people and not ask for money unlike the other dons. The favours consisted of paying for children's education and backing them financially. When these children grew up they would be very grateful to the Don and consult with him on what career path they should choose and he would advise judiciary or politics and they would now be indebted to the Don so they would do any favour he asked. This is how he got his political power it took decades to gain which the other dons had no idea could be done and even if they did have the idea they wouldn't have the patience
@@adxm2777 Spot On 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
“Never tell anyone outside the family what you’re thinking”... Been living by these very words ever since and it helped keeping things together.
@Pez Domino It’s good advice for negotiation. Never let anyone outside your circle know your motives or inclinations.
@Pez Domino apparently billions of people don't.
Exhibit A: Twitter and all of social media.
How did Sony's short talk there reveal his interest?
@Pez Domino you just said everyone knows the advice already, but now you said that not everyone is the world greatest mind, just stop talking you are silly little fool trying so hard to look smart
@@24xv555 Don is the patriarch of the family and the boss, when the boss talks, the underlings keep quiet. Sonny interrupting signals to Solozzo he is more interested in the deal than to stay in line, and with the outcome of the meeting - getting rejected, he figured that since Sonny is the underboss and thus logically will succeed his fathers throne, give Solozzo the idea to kill the Don.
Without Brando, this movie wouldn't have made this far as a classic. In every scene, his performance is just brilliant. He deserved more than an Oscar. he deserved respect which he never received. What an actor he was. Rip
I think this is my favorite scene of the whole trilogy. It shows how naturally intelligent Don Vito was. While he was not formally educated he was intelligent. He could read a person or a situation and strategize far into the future how it could help or hurt him.
"Tell Luca Brasi to come here." Not a phrase you ever want to hear.
"Luca, I am not asking you to show up again, but plese do send some fresh fish for my family party."
The only thing wrong with this masterpiece is they made Luca Brasi appear like a bumbling oaf instead of the highly feared savage killer he is in the novel. In the movie, they show him as an oaf at Connie's wedding and then later he's killed easily by Solozzo and his associates.
@Paul Mathew I have got to read the book. Damn.
In the book brasi makes a woman chuck her baby into a furnace at gunpoint.
@@chaoticdays Fun fact: The guy that played Brasi was a real mob guy, that is why he speaks weirdly when he met the don
Sits across from the man as he questions him to find out about what he would be getting into. Once he's made his decision, he gets up, offers him a bottle himself, sits beside him and calmly explains his well thought out reasons for rejecting the offer while genuinely wishing him the best of luck. This is why he had so many friends in high places.
In the book it goes into more detail but during the meeting with Michael, Solozzo tells him “even though he says he wishes well on me, the truth is that he’s saying I don’t have the right to operate my business. I am a man and as a man cannot allow myself to be under another man’s will” even if sonny hadn’t said anything Solozzo would’ve killed the Don anyway, the decision was made easier because of sonny.
I think the Don had already made the decision not to take the deal. His reasons were beyond just the arrangement. He spoke on his opinion of drugs and how it would affect his influence, this is reinforced in the meeting with the families. I think this meeting was simply to meet Sollozo, and see who he is working with (the tattaligas), which worked to an extent. When Sonny voiced his opposition that’s when Sollozo found an excuse to start trouble under the guise of business. The reality was that Barzini was just making a power move against the Corleone family, hence the line “it was barzini all along”
@@r2d2musk6 EXACTLY - he also sat close to him to get a better 'read' on him.
He also brushed the lint off his pant leg!
He nearly got killed 4 that
Man. Marlon truly is the greatest actor ever and by far. His gestures and everything are just so natural.
I love how the Godfather asks for Tom and Sonny's opinions behind closed doors. Shows that despite his wisdom, he understands that he doesn't know everything
Tom and Sonny thinks 10-20 yrs ahead but Don thinks 50 yrs ahead
Tom thinks 10 years ahead, Sonny thinks 0.10 seconds a head with his fucking temper.
And Fredo thinks cocktail waitresses two at a time.
IdontMind the anti drug capos lost out in the end. No resources.
Don’t worry about the cops when your peers only will put you in the ground.
Thats why he's the Don
Tom and sonny think about their own future, the don thinks about the future of the family
Damn the Don was SMART! "Hey Sonny, what's the matter with you? Never tell anybody outside the family what you're thinking again." Divino!
Cherry Lane Monroe like mike told sonny son lol
The Turk got at least three things from Sonny's slip up: That he was hot for the deal and it was the Don decision to not make it, that Sonny despised Tataglia's family, and that he was hot-tempered and couldn't keep his emotions at bay even when doing business.
If sonny kept his mouth shut it wouldn't have happend the don getting shot n himself getting killed
No it would still have happened just differently.
Remember that Barzini was already gunning for the Corleones through Tattaglia and Sollozo.
A Great dialogue among Family!😉
The moment at 2:52 the way he moves his hand and asks his son to get side. Wow! What power what authority what command. Brando the legend 🙏
parents in the old countries, even now, can command their children, and so they should, the west has cucked a lot of men
And then hands the bottle to Sonny.
Not just power & authority but also great respect.
After pouring Solotzo the drink, he hands Sonny the bottle and proceeds to sit. It appears that he brushes lint away from Solotzo's pant leg with two swipes of his hand.
“There’s a lot of money in that white powder”
Thanks son. Tom, give me a better explanation.
“Next time don’t take sides with anyone else other than the family you understand”, truly Michael Corleone is a reflection of his father Don Corleone
Nah. He didnt say "next time" lol he said "dont ever”
"Fredo, you're my older brother, and I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the Family again"
@@mikimiyazaki he did and got a bullet from Al Neri for it.
@@AlexanderDion my point is, dont quote a line unless you do it verbatim. Thats the whole point of a "quote"
3:30 look how Santino gets nervous seeing a business opportunity thrown away. He opens his mouth, plays with his cup, he can’t stay cool. That’s classy acting from Jimmy Caan.
Yes it was. The acting is superb.
I never understood that Santino actually gave away his obvious interest in the drug business. I always thought his tone was deprecating and condescending, I never heard any enthusiasm in it.
James Caan plays the exact opposite of tbe Sonny role in the epic amazing film The Way Of The Gun. Joe Sarno was much more like Vito.
Every move from every actor in this entire movie is a masterclass in filmaking.
I thought I was the only one who saw him twirling his Glass. He wanted that Deal so badly and Pop said "No!" he was furious. It kind of parallels Dallas when Jock told JR that he wanted to raise Cash asap because he didn't want any Oil Drilling done on Section 40 at Southfork. JR mortgaged Southfork to get the deal and although they came out of it Billionaires they were very lucky.
The way everyone in the room reacted to the deadly mistake Sonny made!! Only those who have read the book will get the gesture.
what's the difference between the book and the movie in that particular scene?
@@burekshakur5153 I want to know too
@@burekshakur5153 detail
In the novel it has Tom and everyone in the room horrified at Sonny’s blunder,
And Tom especially thinking that he would never want to be the Consileri of Santino Corleone.
@@cha5 Exactly! When Sonny opened his mouth, that's when their downfall began in a very slow way.
Tom's line at 1:25, saying "narcotics is the thing of the future". He was so right. Hard to imagine that there was a time when drugs weren't a thing.
Actually, the drug trade was almost unknown in the 1950's thru 1960's. There was **NO NEED FOR DRUGS** back then, because America was King of the World. Gas was 35Ȼ a gallon, employment was high (everyone who wanted a job had a job!), the marriage rate was through the roof & divorce was nearly unknown. Then...the 70's & '80's happened, and everything fell to pieces. Big Biz took over, jobs were outsourced, pensions were obliterated, "No Fault" divorces became commonplace, and...**HERE COME THE DRUG DEALERS!!**
Solozzo wanted all the judges and politicians in Vito's pocket. Now think about that compared to the severe narcotics problem in this country today.
@@CLASSICALFAN100 that's just false, there was drugs all the way back to the 1800s, it just wasn't as bad, but even before that when marriage was high and life was good, the US wasn't king of the world as Britain was and it was US and USSR that were too dogs
@@CLASSICALFAN100 If you think drugs weren't around in the 60s you need to read your history again.
@@CLASSICALFAN100drugs don't need underlying social conditions to draw people. and the people in the era you're talking about were miserable, it's just they only had alcohol to drown their misery. the expansion of social decay was the product of technological achievement, in the shape of more effective drugs and distribution logistics. take the current opioid crisis: it's not exogenous - it's not that people are compensating for worse conditions now than they were ten years ago - it's that the logistics for distributing opioids (via pills instead of heroin) are so much more efficient.
"Narcotics is a thing of the future"- Tom Hagen was right, and this movie was made in the early 1970s....
But the story is from the late 40s
The Bonnano crime family was already dealing with it
Don't matter when it was made it was set just after ww2 in 1946 a year after the war ended
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor absolutely right my friend the bonnano family was the only family involved in drugs the other families were not they were drug dealers
Drugs really made their presence felt in the 1940's. Remember on OZ there was a Guy named Whitey who while under the influence of Opium killed a Hooker. Also I remembered reading "Chances" by The Late Jackie Collins and Carrie had to push Drugs at her Bordello where Enzio Bonnatti got a cut for protection. I wonder what Marlon Brando would have thought if he had seen the Prescription Addiction Crisis in today's society.
I love how he cleans his pants before he tells him no
rdskn4eva not his pants but sofa
It was like he was "Cleaning" himself of Sollozzo's Filthy Deal.
@rita arruda very interesting! I didn't get that at first.
rdskn4eva I noticed that also. Im sure that was all Brando. It makes the scene.
Not cleaning he is flicking...
I love this scene . Don Vito stresses that oftentimes his children talk out of line when they should be listening . Then he scolds Sonny for talking out of line. " Never reveal what you're thinking to those outside the family". And Sonny despite being a big hot head shows utmost respect to Vito, his father and head of the family .
The facial expressions after Sonny speaks out of turn is serious dialogue without speaking. Brilliant!
The Don was spot on! He knew that drugs were a dirty, dangerous business and that it would only bring law enforcement sniffing into the family business. He was wise to turn Sollotzzo down.
Actually it wasn't law enforcement because with the money they make they could buy the police and buy other things. Vito's concern was the politicians not being able to back him because of drugs because drugs like heroin or cocaine would be hard for anyone to see has a harmless vice like gambling,alcohol and prostitution .
i wonder if don Corleone is based on Carlo Gambino who is known as a don who despised the drug business
@@davidong9458 Gambino was probably the smartest of the Dons. He wasn't flashy and high-profile. He didn't hang out in night clubs with women. He dressed very conservatively and lived in a modest home. It's probably why he was one of the few who died in power, at home, of natural causes.
No The Don whiffed on this. There's a reason all the most powerful crime families deal with drugs and that's because that's where the money is. Political leaders/law enforcement/Judges don't care where their money comes from as long as they get paid. Once those other families started dealing drugs and making many times more money than the Corleone family did they would just buy out all those people out from underneath them.
@@mattthomas1442 and that's why all those mob bosses ended up in jail. Because the drug business has no family loyalty, they all turned on each other and made deals to testify against them.
Marlon Brando was born to play this role and he did it perfect.
" I Could have been a Contender" remember that line and Movie? It was better than the Godfather Movie Pisan.
They had to fight Hollywood for Brando to get that part. Just like “ Johnny Fontaine”. And I’m not horsing around...
Everything Brando did in this movie was great. The little things he did . The way he would walk around later when playing with his grandson and dying.
Agree....agree
But for me personally, Brando IS Stanley Kowalski. That was his natural born part in my opinion.
There is only one Don
The way he sets his son straight with only a few sentences in the end... Vito was always in charge of every environment he was a part of.
Brandy’s Oscar was perhaps the best deserved in the history of that award….this was an absolute masterclass!
Solozzo was one of the most intriguing, charismatic bad guys ever. He came off as menacing and dangerous, yet interesting.
Unfortunately he didn't survive the Italian dish at the am-it restaurant.
He was terrific and Francis loved that he actually spoke Sicilian.
i agree about Solozzo being a fascinating character. when the Godfather tell him "no," there's a great little moment where Solozzo drops his eyes, just a simple
touch like that can convey so much meaning. no matter friendly his words are, there's always a air of menace about him also.
They could not have found a more perfect actor to portray Sollozo...the description of Sollozo in the book is that guy down to the last eyelash!
It’s a shame just like with John Cazale Al Lettieri died too soon such talented actors
48 years later in 2020: this scene and quality of acting is so dope
Considering the topic they are discussing, this comment is ironic
I will forever contend that this is the best American movie ever made. I like it more than the sequel, even though the sequel has a bigger scope.
If there’s another hundred years, it will Still be True...
No pun intended, I'm sure. :-)
2 years later and this comment still holds up.
I remember my dad took me to see this movie I was 6 years old! His favorite movie, years later it become my favorite movie, miss you dad
I cannot get tired of seeing this business meeting scene. The acting is superb, so natural the way all of them interact with each other, Thank you for posting
I don’t think this movie could ever be topped. Period!
Except by Once upon a time in America
@@amanms1999 You didn't just say that lmfao
@@risavsahu4666 The Godfather is one of the top 5 greatest movies ever made. But personally, I love OUATIA slightly more. It was the most emotionally impactful movie I've ever seen. I also think its Robert De Niro' s best performance after Raging Bull
Except for Joe Dirt.
@@amanms1999 We really acting like Britney Spears in Crossroads wasn't a thing?
2:13 “My compliments”. The way Sollozzo credits Tom for what Vito knows establishes that he’s a distinguished consigliere. I love the way subleties are handled in this movie, it’s so great.
Absolutley...almost a sign of arrogance, too, knowing that Tom did his homework on him
It wasn’t a real compliment as Sollozzo knew Tom hadn’t found out Barzini was really behind the deal.
@@buttonman6262 thats irrelevant because he was actually working FOR the tattaglias. Read the book
David Leonard I’ve read the book 4 times thank you.
I didn't know until this day that it was Barzini all along.
Like a true Sicilian, Vito straight up lied to Sollozzo's face in the most respectful manner possible, pretending he had already made up his mind and showed up just to politely say 'no' in person. Both Hagan and Sonny were on board prior, and based on Sonny's reaction, it seems that his father was at least considering the offer going in. Regardless of his trepidations towards the business, I bet he would've agreed if he felt he had the right guy to back. Problem was Sollozzo wanted two things, and he was completely wrong about which one Don Vito was concerned with.
Notice how impressed he is by the indifference of a 1 million dollar buy in. That's like 10-15 million today. That's a lot of money gone if he makes a bad bet, but Don Vito doesn't even seem phased by it. It's not the million dollars, but the 'nickels and dimes' that Vito has a problem with. Notice how he calls those nickels and dimes his 'friends'. Even after that comment, Don Corleone STILL gives him a chance to show he understands what he's asking for. Don Corleone wants to be acknowledged as the only guy that can protect a drug kingpin, and he wants it to be acknowledged that doing so comes with a personal price that will be considered in the future by his would-be partner, because as rich as he is, he's definitely not the only guy with a million dollars to lend out, especially considering the returns.
It shows that Sollozzo has no regard for the politicians, they're just people who need to be paid off by a guy with the right connections. If he showed Don Vito that he knew the political price he was asking for was bigger than the actual money he needed, I bet he would've accepted it. Instead, he completely misunderstood Don Vito's priorities, and Sonny tipped their hand of the true intent behind the meeting.
Intersecting, I could see this being what Vito was thinking
italian you mean. we're all italians
@@joederocco9321all Sicilians are Italian but not all Italians are Sicilian.
and@@shotty2164
we are all italians no matter the background or country we live in and we need to stick together@@shotty2164
Vito knew something was off - the proposal was far too generous from someone whom he'd never even heard of before. He instinctively knew something bigger was at work. Tom had just part of the story right while Sonny was blinded by dollar signs. Vito knew this wasn't the end of it but it would buy him some time to figure out what was really going on. Of course Sonny blew the strategy to hell.
" like so many nickels and dimes" seemed to be an insult to me.
@@martinbroverman7955 An insult to the politicians
PERFECT description of their characters
At least Sonny wasn’t banging cocktail waitresses two at a time.
Nothing wrong with that.
he was banging 1 at a time, at his wedding
@@fightttttt At his sister wedding not his
@@aboveusall22 o, his own would of made that scene better
@@fightttttt Sonny gave her the 'sauceege', up against the door.
That was a short meeting. Don Corleone cut to the chase real quick. No nonsense type of guy. My man!
CastleBravo i think he might have cut it off earlier than he wanted to after Sonny Slip up. He might have been inclined to probe Sollozzo more otherwise.
I wish the people at my company would follow his lead.
no getting drunk no getting high no driving around making a scene nothing. proper business meeting
Yeah, hope neither had to travel too far for that meeting, eh?
And he got shot for this strictness, stubbornness and lack of co-operation.
"you're not too tired, are you tom?" i always find the way he asks that so endearing
It is endearing. Sicilian or not, Tom's his boy too and he cares for him.
The subtlety in this scene is absplutely amazing. I just noticed how Sonny is kinda waiting to leave the room last as he is expecting Vito to tell him off. But just when he thinks hes oit, he gets pulled back in 😂
nice Godfather 3 reference 😂
"It doesn't make any difference to me what a man does for a living you understand"
Love that line...the don casts no moral aspersions, you do what you gotta do.
Never knock another man's hustle
It's a beautiful thing but it aint my thing.
It sounds beautiful but it isn't
Except in unusual sexual exploits, " infamnia"
Yes he said that, but also justified his decision right away. He labeled it "a little dangerous".
Don was a master at work. He knew that drugs were not the right business for him. Too much money flying around, too many people affected, too much fuss for him.
Brando's acting is incredible. Literally every movement represents something and gives the scene more authenticity. It's amazing how Brando captures the fathers relationship with a son, by asking Sunny what he thought during the discussion with Tom. My father was very much like that, he would ask me in the middle of the discussion what I thought about a certain situation, in order to see where my mind was in order to assure himself that what he worked so hard to attain would not be lost by the hands of his own children. He would then later advise me if he felt I was approaching the situation from the wrong perspective. #BravoBrando! Spectacular!!!!
My dad does the same when we talk finance, particularly investments. We'll be discussing something and he'll just ask for more explanation of my point of view even though he's done well for himself, and throw out possible scenarios to get my perspective on it. Not so much because he's afraid he thinks I'll mess things up, but more to test my knowledge
Your Dad is a smart Man. He's proud of the fact that you stay on top of your business and he knows that what you know carries well into the Office when you deal with clients.
Osama Munaser snore
So your father wouldn’t let you be your own man?
"Literally every movement represents something"?? You are giving Brando too much credit. He was often unprepared and didn't know lines so had to move around in order to read script while acting. LOL...
"I have a sentimental weakness for my children, and I've spoiled them as you can see." Classiest way to say "my son is a fucking hothead brat, sorry about that."
As ever, exceptional acting from Marlon Brando.
UA-cam made a recomendation I could not refuse.
Al Lettieri as Virgil Solozzo---absolutely brilliant. And completely overlooked.
agreed he played really well imo
He was great in "The Getaway" with Steve McQueen. Plays a really good villain.
One of the most charismatic bad guys ever. T
He was a connected guy, too. Was in-laws with the Ebolis of the Genovese family. Introduced Pacino to Pasquale so he could hang out with him and prepare for the role.
He was also good in Mr Majestyk, with Charles Bronson
What I like about Godfather 1 is the story was deep but also easy to follow. I had to watch GodFather 3 several times to fully understand it.
Marlon Brando is such a polarizing person...once he speaks, everyone listens.
Fredo that is being considered "Stupid" didn't behave stupidly in this clip. Sonny did.
-but the traitor is Tessio....ugh.
They did treat Fredo with disrespect. Everyone talks about Vito being old world and Tom didn’t catch on to things because he wasn’t Sicilian. But Fredo caught on and he was right. You’re breaking you’re own rules by passing me over as the oldest after Sonny is killed. What did they think Fredos reaction was gonna be? You send me to Vegas to keep me outta the way? Fredo reacted the way he should of.
too stupid to understand what the fuck was going on
To be fair, Fredo didn't really fall apart and become a useless idiot until he saw his dad get shot and failed to protect him. That pretty much broke him, as well as any faith anybody had in him at that point.
Fredo had cunning. Playing stupid..until the moment he freaked out when his dad is shot. As for that "Old World" "breaking down your own rules..." bullshit that A10 mentions...this is a Godfather invention. Don's didnt pass on their leadership to their sons. When a son did take charge, it usually came with resistance.
Marlon had it in his blood. That's the perfect acting for a Don. Polite, but agressive. Friendly, but threatening.
The little movements he makes in his acting like the small hand gesture he makes when he gets the drink. It make you realize that he is really the one in control and that everybody is beneath him.
Just look at the way he approaches to decline the offer. First, he hears him out. Second, understands why his family gets the offer. Third, he goes close to him, fill up his drink, sits near him, dusts of the couch and reasons out why he wants to decline. What a direction !!
Sonny could never have been Don due to his temper and lack of intellect in comparison with Vito and Tom.
Yeah, he was a poor choice for the role of Don. He rushed to Carlo's place with no protection allowing himself to be easily shot down. That was a really amateur move. He also should've kept his mouth shut during the Sollozzo meeting.
Sonny didn't have a poker face and he was easy to read. His temper also made him easily manipulated.
Mike's way better than sonny..
@Bo Zi knock knock
Tom Hagen is not a Good Consigliere, but he is a good lawyer.
@@tridadisaputra7948 Man, 😂, I thought it was the same damn thing.
"It's best as your interests don't conflict with mine" I.E., "keep the fuck away from me and my family"
I'm pretty sure he said "especially since your interests don't conflict with mine".
3:50 The way Brando looks at Caan, that pause, is exactly what a father would do with a son who stepped out of line. My children never liked "the look" I would give them when they knew I was not happy with them. lol Brilliant acting.
I swear to god thats the same i want to say. And the look that he gives him after call his name at the end pulling his eyebrows up.
My dad has “that look”. Could stop a train dead in its tracks
It's amazing how many subtleties are in this movie! I just noticed that after Vito rejects the offer (3:12)- when the camera goes back to Salozzo, you can hear a crash in the background (almost like a faint bolt of lighting). The same thing happens when Vito says he has "a sentimental weakness for his children". When the camera pans back to Salozzo (4:00) you hear the faint bolt of lightning again. To me, this is punctuating Salozzo's thoughts (and his body language) during those two points in the scene that 1) Vito had to be killed and 2) that he may have a chance to do business with Sonny with Vito out of the way.
The background noises are planned diegetic /ambient effects that suggest construction and sounds of the street bustle
If you read the book of sound editor Walter Murch talking about editing with Michael Ondaatje, you'll be sure there are no accidents in the sound, however background it is. It always serves a purpose - highly recommended book.
Damn! Learn something about this movie every time I watch it. I got one for you. I noticed that most, if not all, of the murders are committed in BROAD DAYLIGHT. Usually at night time, that’s when we expect the boogie man to be around the corner and eminent (predictable) death shortly after. In the Godfather, it’s always a surprise and at unexpected times. Brilliant
I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I have spoiled them as you can see and they talk when they should listen! I'm gonna use these on one of my children's 😇
@syed taher I did! My eldest recognized the line, was outraged... and shut up!
Vro vicario 5
Nyc
Why don't you want your kid talking to you? Are you afraid of opinions? Are you scared of them criticising you, can you not handle insults?
@@coldcartcold8633 It's none of those things. The facts are.....nobody has a clue what they are doing when they create another human being without said human beings consent. They could be giving a great gift or they could be inflicting the greatest curse. Both are what we all know as "life". No matter how it is viewed no parent knows what they are doing when they bring children into the world. Some even do it, simply because everyone else was doing it, although they will never admit that. Some view children as the ultimate fashion accessory (they will never admit that either!) Some parents are so arrogant that they actually believe they know what they are doing with regards to child rearing. Rudyard Kipling has a good poem about how many variables there are....it's called "IF". Many would-be parents would do well to read and at least try to understand it before taking on the greatest responsibility that another human being can inflict on themselves and upon someone else who has no choice in the matter. Unfortunately 99% will not.
You're not too tired, are you Tom?
Knowing his men are human beings not machines is what makes a great leader. Mafia or not.
never tell anyone outside the family what your thinking such a legendary statement
Exactly! If you do, you`re giving The Associate some power over you. Also Sollozzo knew that Don Corleone`s Power was beginning to slip. He called Tom on it. Sonny gave Sollozzo some power when he shouldn`t have.
10 people still talk when they should listen
brmillgr Sounds like my late Father.
A lot of people do
That happens alot lately
women are incredibly good at it
and they didn't sleep on the plane
I like when he pours a drink and dust the chair off show he's in complete control
@ thanks I've watched it 100x the movie never seen it that way
and adjusted his tie before he said no to Sollozzo
@@joncaju yeah that was cool as hell!
He neither dusts off the chair nor the arm of it as far as I can see, I believe he dusts off Tattaglia's pant leg.
No it's the chair watch again could have drips some alcohol or he's brushing offdirt caues he's telling him he's in dirty business.
Still showing his control over situation
This scene is so strong... first the Don meeting with his top man: the consigliere and his underboss, to hear their thoughs on narcotics... despite that the Don himself had his resolve on the matter all along. Then... the meeting between the Turk and the heads of the family: from the Don to the two family captains. Just beautiful...
You already know what scene came before this one
Damn...that delivery of "I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them as you can see...they talk when they should listen" gives me goosebumps
"Why do I deserve this generosity?"
When the Don comes over to sit next to Sollozzo and brushes the arm chair off ...it's just fantastic and I can't explain why.
I agree. Brando always did little things like that to add depth and interest. For example when he puts on Edie's gloves in "On the Waterfront." And I could give a bunch of other examples.
Because of this scene I choose to only speak when spoken to and I say you don’t want to know what I’m thinking.
A modern movie would have had a close up shot of solozzo's reaction to sonny's out of line remark, completely giving the game away
Eh.
And the blaring ass music
The way clemenza, Tom, and sollozo all look down with their eyes uncomfortably is just so good in the subtle way they do it
LIKE THE OFFICE LMAOOOOOO
And some suspenseful music
So many films do exposition so poorly, but Tom’s very brief exposition here (the Don doesn’t need to be told what their enemies will do with the drug money, that was for us) is so smooth and concise and fits the scene so well, it’s perfect. Great direction, great screenwriting.
exactly. it's exposition that's even justified because it's a matter of respect to ask tom his opinion.
Wow !
Holy god these men are perfect actors. I am astonished...bravo. Rest In Peace marlin brando.
My man, poor God doesn't deserve to be mentioned for such good but not perfect actors.
In the Puzo novel the Don was even more irate with Sonny after the Sollozzo meeting,
“Santino, never let anyone outside the family know what you are thinking. Never let them know what you have under your fingernails. I think your brain is going soft from all that comedy you play with that young girl. Stop it and pay attention to business. Now get out of my sight.”
Hagen saw the surprise on Sonny’s face, then anger at his father’s reproach. Did he really think the Don would be ignorant of his conquest, Hagen wondered. And did he really not know what a dangerous mistake he had made this morning? If that were true, Hagen would never wish to be the Consigliori to the Don of Santino Corleone.”
: The Godfather by Mario Puzo (1969)
Word! Another big business mistake that Sonny did was send Fredo to Las Vegas under the protection of Don Francesco where he would learn The Casino Business. He was Moe Greene's Whipping Boy, then betrayed The Family with Hyman Roth.
I love the leadership shown by to Don. He ensures he hears everybody's opinion before deciding. He ends up deciding against their opinion but only after he ensures every perspective is considered.
When Sollozzo says: "my compliments" to Hagen he is only pretending to compliment him. He wants to reinforce the bad intelligence that it is the Tataglia family alone who is backing him. The Tataglias may have been in on it, but The Turk at that moment was directing attention away from his main backer: Barzini. The real threat "all along" as Vito would later put it.
Yep. Not sticking up for Tom since as a consigliere it's his job to find out these things but I would've thought The Don would have been smart enough to know that it couldn't have just been Tataglia. I mean in his own words Tataglia was "just a pimp", he should have known that there was somebody with more power and money behind him.
@@mattthomas1442 Good insight.
TOP MARKS MATE 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
Interesting and it makes sense. It reinforces the idea that this whole thing was an exploratory effort by Sollozzo - to find out what the Corleones are like, what info they had (or didn't have), etc. He did seem disappointed when Vito gave him the 'no' answer, but it begs the question whether he really thought there was a chance of this working out or if he was doing a bit of acting to cover a more subversive purpose.
Gotta wonder what would have happened if Vito said yes.... Would Sollozzo actually try to balance the interests of all these families or would he still plot against Vito and buy extra-nice flowers for his funeral since he had his million bucks...?
Our true enemy has yet to reveal himself
I like how blunt Vito is with Silozzo. Something Michael inherited and mastered with expertise.
What a way to end the video, with Luca Brasi staring at us menacingly.
Love how he illustrates the maxim to never let anyone know what you're really thinking when he tells Solozzo "since you're interests don't conflict with mine" when deep down Vito knows damn well that they do and that Solozzo may have a violent plan-b, which Vito was right about.
3:50 Sonny is an absolutely bull, but his father can stop him with one raised hand and a quiet word.
Or just one raised eye brow.
I love the way you worded that👍
Nobody talks to Sonny that way except the old man. Sonny had to stand there and take it, nothing he could do about it. It shows you the power that Vito had, not only is he the only person that could control Sonny he was also the only person who could control Luca.
His mother too.
imagine parents having that kind of discipline over their kids today...i said imagine.
2:54 - How Don Vito brushes aside Sonny for the bottle is brilliant. A subtle great bit of acting that fits.
Best ever Brando scene turning down the deal and scolding Sonny by his proper name. Words to live by too; Never tell anyone outside the family what you're thinking. The through line of the story.
4:38
Santino was a hot head, but I just LOVE the way papa put him straight....
Love this film.