The pause between michael sitting back down and before he takes action is pure cinematic mastery. The anxiety and stress of knowing and build up is perfect.
@@digger5521 He was definitely doing that, but he was also feeling the emotions OP mentioned. The train getting louder and louder as it got closer was perfect with regard to the suspense and buildup of the scene. Brilliant.
What really makes the scene so special is that he went back to the table instead of just coming out blazing like he was instructed. The tension at the table never gets old to watch
@@TheGrrson no he wasn't.. the train sound is just an effect which is to convey that he is so cluttered with thoughts at that time that he is not listening to what the other guys are saying. That's why they didn't provide subtitles to that part because Michael wasn't listening at that point. He was anxious about choosing the right moment to pull the trigger.
@@SK008 uhhhh they weren’t talking by the time the train passed overhead… and yes they talked prior about the train being able to mask the sound of the gun being fired… not quite that deep hahaha
I love that short look and scuttle of genuine panic when Michael doesn’t initially find the gun. You can tell how badly he doesn’t necessarily want to do this but it’s already too late, he’s already made his decision once his father was attacked.
In the novel, it describes Michael's decision (to take out Sollozzo and McClusky) as a pure necessity because Sollozzo was only lining things up for another attempt on the Don's life. Knowing Sollozzo, he'd of added a few key players on his list - Michael and Sonny for beginners.
One time I rewatched the movie and Michael didn’t find the gun! He had to head back to the table without it, and then the rest of the movie was at that table, mostly in Italian.
I love how he seems zoned out from the conversation. His eyes darting from side to side as he wrestles with the idea of what he's about to do. What he's about to become.
And I love the choice to not add subtitles over the Italian. Since the story is mostly from Micheal’s POV, it drives home how little attention he’s paying it. It’s a simple choice but it’s small choices like that which compound to make great films.
@@TheShahofIrann The sub titles arent added because the content doesnt matter, Michael is there to kill them not eat dinner what they say is meaningless to the plot.
Actually, it is possible to be shot through the forehead and live. I recall an episode of some reality show, Miracles and Mysteries or the like, which featured a young boy of around 10 years old who wrecked his bicycle and flew headfirst into the large tine of a farm machine. It pierced him through the forehead and exited the back. He not only pulled his head free, but made it home by himself. He survived with no brain damage.
He knows that once he decides to kill there is no going back. That's what makes this scene so great. He doesn't immediately kill, he has to consider it all first, which is unbelievably realistic.
Actually, one might conclude that Michael is so tense in this scene because he is trying to decide whether to go through with the hit. Conceivably, if Sollozzo had given a real promise not to kill Don Correleone, maybe Michael would’ve relented at the last moment. But here, Sollozzo is trying to make it sound like he’s giving Michael a guarantee but instead gives nothing. The latter is too intelligent to be taken in by such an empty answer. So Michael carries out the hit.
@@johngannon9954 Seriously? There's no way Michael would believe anything Solozzo said at this point. He's a lying scumbag, Michael knows it and knows what he has to do.
Paramount executives wanted to fire Mr. Pacino because they felt he did not embody Michael early in the making of film. Copolla shot this scene and showed it to them- most of their doubts were erased.
This is honestly my all-time favorite scene in the entire, not only film, trilogy. It’s the moment when Michael really transforms from young wide-eyed Marine veteran to ‘The Godfather’, it’s Michael’s rite of passage. Once he pulled the trigger, there was no going back from there.
It’s weird because in the novel, if I remember correctly, he was a combat veteran, wounded in combat and discharged because of his father. I would imagine a Pacific War veteran to be anything but wide-eyed. Perhaps wide-eyed from PTSD perhaps. Then again, shell shock wasn’t much publicised in 1969.
I like how he drops the gun just before exiting the restaurant despite everyone repeatedly telling to drop it right away when he was going through preparation. It's a nice touch showing that Michael is not by nature a killer.
Always wondered why he was told to drop the gun ... during this time period, fingerprints were often used to identify a murder weapon. You'd think he'd have less chance of getting caught with the gun on him than leaving it with his prints. Especially given that a cop was killed, it would be harder for the police to look the other way.
@@smartbot1899not to mention comparing prints at that time was not nearly as easy as it is now, would've taken weeks if not months and that's if anyone could even identify him. At best they could probably only describe him
One of the greatest scenes in cinematic history. When I was a kid my dad took me to the Stadium Drive In in Orange, CA to see the Godfather I and II back to back. To this day it’s still seems like the same movie. At one point I told my dad I needed to go to the bathroom and he told me to just stand outside the door. He was nice enough to turn out the dome light, but there was no way he was going to miss a single frame of that movie. He was a wonderful man and I loved him and miss him to this day.
Its out of topic but I must say that he could had been with you even today if the word would be ruled by just and wise statemen and not by stupid monsters.
I lived in NYC for many years. That sound is the train making a turn on the elevated tracks. That sound IS NYC. Once you live there a part of you stays there.
Its so wild how a movie from 50 years ago can still garner 2.2 million views in 2 weeks, for a scene most of us have already watched and memorized. Yet, there is always something new to discuss or get excited about. Al Pacino and Coppola, you beauties.
to be fair, I've only ever seen this movie once YEAAAARS ago. maybe getting these in my recommended is the universe telling me I'm due for a re-watch 😅
It’s not your average movie, it’s considered by many to be the greatest movie ever made. Did you ever stop and wonder maybe that could be the reason why it garnered so many views in such a less amount of time.
@@cactuss33ds This is definitely your sign! I watched it first a few years ago in high school and loved it. Recently went to watch it in theatres with the 50th anniversary release and noticed so much more. The rewatch value is so freakin high with this gem
The sound is so great. The ambient noise of the restaurant, the slow quieting to silence, the train rumble louder and louder until he gets up and shoots, the quiet again in the shock and aftermath, and then finally the score when he drops the gun and it’s all over. Incredible.
I can only remember the anxiety and feeling in my gut the first time I watched this. It felt so immersive and you could feel yourself in Michael’s shoes, the anger of being in front of the two men who failed to murder your father, but also understanding the consequences of what’s to come.
Such a recognizable emotion, when he’s hesitant to walk out of that bathroom. Obviously, few of us have actually killed someone but you *know* that feeling in your gut. Walking out onstage to make a speech, crossing the doorway into the dentist’s office, entering an audition where you’re there solely to be judged. It’s that feeling of “I could just walk out of here right now…what difference does it make in the greater cosmos”. Then you gather yourself and push past that point of no return…
@@Tourist-Q You guys are acting like dentist fear isn’t one of the oldest phobias in western society. Comedy routines, root canal metaphors, horror movies and heel wrestlers. You’d have to live under a rock to be unaware of that fear…
The movie tells us exactly how it's going to go down. We aren't to be taken by surprise by what is to unfold. And yet when the moment comes it is unbearably tense and suspenseful.
Imagine the shit running round and round his head while he is waiting to draw his pistol. Then his ears seem to clear, and his pulse slows a bit, and he feels the control over his body come back to him. The book said his head filled with ice-cold hatred for all the people who wanted to harm his family, and who tried to kill his father. At that moment, he was ready to fight. Question; and be honest with yourself- could you step up like this?
The only difference is he was supposed to shoot them as soon as he walked back from the bathroom but he sat down for a minute. I wonder what he was thinking.
it's mad to think that pacino was always on the verge of being fired when filming the godfather and he absolutely smashed it in his role as michael corleone.
The entire film and project was constantly on the verge of collapse, all through filming. Coppola was under threat of being fired by Paramount every day. It was a disaster in the making. One of the greatest films and series in history literally almost never was - on a daily basis while it was being made!!
@@abdulqudz89 Also, Pacino was deliberately holding back during the early scenes, because he understood that Michael’s turn in this scene (and the “strictly business” speech before it) would be more powerful if we didn’t yet know what Michael was made of. The producers mistook this for him just not giving a good performance, so Coppola brought this scene forward in the shooting schedule so Pacino could prove his chops.
Funny thing was this was the first scene they actually filmed for the movie and it was what convinced the producers that Pacino was right for the role.
The way Coppola slowed everything down - even to the point of Michael touching up his hair - to build the suspense in this sequence is absolutely brilliant. If you didn’t know the story, you’d even wonder if Michael was ever going to finally pull the trigger.
@dssd245 it's supposed to be blood spatter from neck shot. But it is in the exact spot of the next shot... perhaps it was necessary because of limited technology in the 1970s
This scene is one of the all time greats, the look on Michael's face when he can't find the gun is amazing. Your heart goes into your throat for a second! I need to watch this again....
The look of him not finding the gun is real Coppola changed where the gun was and didn't say anything to try and get an honest reaction. John McTiernan did the same thing in Die Hard. At the end he told the Grips to let go of Alan Rickman at a 2 count instead of 3 so he could film Rickmans face of being let go and not knowing it. It was said Rickman was extremely upset afterwards.
At 1:32 he sits down and looks nervously to his left. At 1:39 when Coppala begins the slow close-up of Michael's face, with Pacino's head completely still and his eyes darting about in nervousness is some of the best suspense building acting ever. At 1:57 the train comes by again further building suspense and signaling impending action. At 2:03 he acts. That 11 seconds is acting and directing perfection!
Oh! I never realized until just now that the noise was an elevated train passing. I just assumed the sound represented all of the mental interference inside Michael's head, interference that was drowning out the Italian dialogue between Michael and Solozzo (well, Michael was just listening at this point). One thing the movie didn't show that the book mentioned was that other diners tensed when they saw Michael return from the bathroom, but relaxed once he sat down at the table. More masterful mis-direction by Puzo. Everything's fine, just three guys having dinner. Everything's .. HOLY CRAP!!
One of the all time great movies. The stars aligned on this one. The right actors, director, writers, costume design, lighting, etc...it's all here at the peak of their powers.
Pacino nailed the restaurant scene with his pitch perfect body language. With Coppola having to put up a fight to get the studio to have Pacino as 'Michael', it still makes me cringe at the possibility that Burt Reynolds or Robert Redford could have been 'Michael'. Yes, the others are good actors, but important roles require the right actors.
This scene and the scene of the series of murders and the baptism are masterpieces of cinema. The way Michael calmly executes his plan to avenge his father, while the music and the editing create a contrast between the violence and the sacredness of the baptism, is brilliant. The acting, the cinematography, the direction, everything is flawless. This is one of the best scenes in film history and it shows why The Godfather is a timeless classic. And the moment when he was looking for the gun in the toilet was so tense and realistic. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
@@superbrownbrown I don’t think so.. watch it again.. the “blood splatter” is a perfect circle and it somehow got wiped off before the second bullet.. what a crap scene.
That’s why Michael volunteered to kill him - because everyone thought he was too weak to actually pull the trigger and because Sollozzo knew his reputation as someone who wanted no part of the mob life. So even if Michael looked nervous, it could have been easily dismissed as him just not wanting to be there and getting it over with as quickly as possible.
That slow zoom into Pacino’s eyes darting around is brilliant, subtle but we can see he is distracted and not focussed on the words leaving the mouth of the man he is about to murder.
@@Dimes607 Like Sonny said, this ain't the war where you shoot 'em a mile away. You gotta get right to 'em and bada bing you blow their brains all over your nice Ivy League suit.
One of the greatest minutes of film ever made. The audience can sense the turmoil in his head, contemplating what he is about to do. The sound of the passing train outside, him walking out with the gun still in his hand when he was told specifically to drop it from his side...... all without saying a word of dialogue. When I first saw this movie and scene years ago, I was SCREAMING for him to drop the gun. He held onto it for the exact amount of time to make the audience feel the tension. THIS is masterful storytelling.
There’s an editing mistake visible in this clip. At 2:08 Pacino shoots him in the throat, yet the blood from the head shot (which hasn’t occurred yet) is visible on his forehead.
I've often wondered why they had Sollozzo talk in Italian during this scene. I think it's because they wanted the audience to concentrate on Michael's face and to let the tension and anticipation build up for the audience. But if Sollozzo had been speaking in English then the audience would have been distracted by listening to Sollozzo talk.
What makes this scene great is the high concentration of adrenaline being acted out.. something that is usually nonexistent in action films. In most action scenes, people just kill with an expressionless face as a way to 'look cool', as if they know the audience is watching them. That's not how it works. The reality is that killing someone tests the deepest levels of your soul and adrenaline goes into overdrive. Pacino shows this masterfully.
"In most action scenes, people just kill with an expressionless face as a way to 'look cool'," If the killer is a pro with a lot of kills, it does become routine it some point. Also, people who become professional killers are often sociopaths. But for an average person driven to kill under extreme circumstances (and not in war, where you're being shot at), it is indeed never easy, and Pacino did a good job portraying it.
It doesn't make much sense for the character Michael Corleone though. He was a WW2 veteran who was was awarded the Silver Star and the Navy Cross for his bravery.
2:17 is truly genious. It is like Michael hesitates watching the fear in the wtnesses and gets shocked when he realizes that they are scared of him, that their fear is because they see in him a murderer, and then he stumbles to the exit realizing what he has done and what he has become.
Nice idea but the reason why he stands still is because that’s what he was told to do. You don’t commit a murder and then run out the restaurant, you have to let them see you and you exit with haste but not with irrationality and make sure to drop the gun before you leave.
The worst part is how his 2nd victim doesn't keel over instantly from the headshot, like his brain is still firing off for a few seconds. It's gruesome as hell.
Yeah I was going to say that but I suposse that many young viewers don't know who he was, but I know, The Asphalt Jungle, The Killing, Dr. Strangelove, all incredible movies with him.
The subtle details of him struggling to find it adds to the realism of the scene. If he would have went straight to the spot and pulled the gun the setup would have been off.
I've seen this scene a hundred times, and it still makes my heart beater faster with nerves. One of the great scenes in one of the greatest films ever made.
Same, especially when I wasn't sure if he would find a gun, and also his hesitation when sitting down vs firing right when he came out as he was supposed to.
Michael retrieving the gun from the bathroom and the hesitation in his body language and facial expressions during his talk with Sollozzo and McCluskey was just so intense and brilliant, it's almost as if he was beginning to have second thoughts about leaving town after going through with the plan or fearing that he will slip up since he only has one shot in killing Sollozzo and McCluskey and escaping before anyone can do anything to stop him but also knows that he is in too deep to back out now
He is not in too deep to back out. He could have backed out. Finished the dinner and left. Sollozzo would never have known it was a setup. And Sonny is not gonna come down on Michael for not going through with it. After all, Michael is not a mafia killer.
@@dr.loomis4221 - That is true, but I'm sure they saw the rushes and his prior work. I worked on a few movies and I can't even imagine seeing something like this being filmed live. People don't understand how insanely difficult it is to act in front of a camera and crew. Even the slightest nudge of an expression can ruin a whole scene especially a scene like this, but damn, Pacino is from another world. I saw him in that movie "Heat" last week, it's like he's able to morph into another world completely oblivious he's in a movie, nobody even comes close to Pacino, not Brando, DeNiro, Nicholson.
@@dr.loomis4221 For example just look at the sequence of him walking from the bathroom then sitting down and looking up as he does, that is genius. He is showing Michaels legs were weak from fear while walking then trying not to face what he was about to do. I can't even imagine how many times Pacino choreographed that step by step, that wasn't Coppola
This is probably my second most favorite scene in the trilogy. Just seeing Michael's eyes as he prepared himself for what he's about to do is some damn good acting from Al Pacino
@@Maya_k The entire assassination scene of Don Fanuchi in The Godfather Part 2. Just the parade,the music,Vito sneaking around the roof tops following Fanuchi. It's the best scene in the trilogy
@@samtheaqueductman7410 That scene, and especially as a sequence, is amazing. Not as great a scene but as the revenge goes, Vito goes to Corleone to kill the man who killed the rest of his family. "My father's name was Antonio Andolini... and this is for you."
When the Sopranos came out I wondered if the waiter Chris gypped on the tip because he was too pissed at Paulie for stiffing him with the bill was sort of influenced by that poor waiter lol
It really is a powerful scene. The first time I watched it I was left feeling like I had just witnessed an actual crime. For starting out as a pacifist Michael surely changed quickly.
Pacifist? He was a WWII infantry hero. He wanted to stay out of this side of his family, and likely still would have even after this restaurant scene which saves his father. It was the murder of his wife that turned him forever.
I love the look on Solozzos face. That whole, "This can't be" look. If he even had the ability to process any thoughts in that second, he must have wondered how Mike got the gun, if it's possible McCluskey set him up and more importantly, if McCluskey agreed that the restaurants Veal was indeed the best in the city. Of course, Solozzo couldn't rule out McCluskey as a turncoat since Solozzo was the first to get GOT.
I watched this movie last year for the first time. And it was frankly a breath of fresh air. Especially with the minimal use of music and sound effects. This scene shows exactly how you can convey tension and anxiety through just voice queues, bg noise, train's sound effects and excellent acting. You don't need to spoon feed your audience about what's going on with very loud tense music
Mickey Rourke in "Angel Heart" came pretty close though. When he realizes who he is and who he isn't. There was also a magic moment in the Sopranos in season 3... When Jennifer Melfi was about to confess to Tony what happened to her, but made the right choice in the end. When Robin Williams gets shot in "Jakob the Liar", that was pretty heavy too. The ending of "The Truman Show". At the end of "Blood in blood out" when Cruz makes Paco aware how much influence his demanding & aggressive behavior had on Miklo and that Paco was partially responsible how everything turned out. Probably a few more ... It's not like I watched all movies and all TV shows anyway lol
This was wonderfully described in the book. Michael was so nervous when he went to the bathroom and was so worried that the gun would not be there and he would have to comeout empty handed
A magnificent scene especially love the eye movement Al Pacino does when he sits down knowing he's about to kill them both. No dialogue needed to see the mental process he's going through
This particular scene is a masterpiece of how to build tension and suspense. Coppola toys with his audience, making them feel pleasurable relief from the cathartic double murder.
Coppola's homage to Kurosawa. Kurosawa would probably have played around with the lighting some more, but otherwise this is right out of his playbook -- the sounds, the jarring color of the neon sign, the shifts in focus, the single bullet hole in the cop's head, and finally the musical score after the deed is done.
Except when they had the forehead blood before the actual shot but yea it's OK. Its like pulp fiction when the holes where in the wall before the shootout
According to Al Pacino himself, this is the scene that saved his career. For weeks he was on the brink of being fired because the studio thought he was holding back too much in the early scenes that were shot, and Pacino reports how many of staff and crew started to feel uncomfortable in his presence because he was practically like dead man walking. The problem was that the Michael character didn‘t have much to do at the beginning of the story. Then, for coincidence or because Copolla wanted everybody to see what this young actor was capable of, this sequences was moved to the front on the shooting schedule. No one questioned Pacino ever again afterwards.
@@merccadoosis8847 no, when they show the side shot of him grabbing his Neck.. he has a bullet hole in his head.. then.. he doesn’t.. then he gets shot in the head.
Sterling Hayden is magnificent in this scene, clutching his throat at the immediate point of terror to observe the natural human instinct/reaction to preserve breathing. It is a true portrayal of death by assassination - total vulnerability and shock before, during and after the event
As tense as it was written in the book the way it was filmed makes it way better.. it is shot perfectly but its the train noise in the background that builds. You know it is coming but still never when you expect it. Absolute masterpiece
That roar in the background of the elevated train makes this scene so intense. We all know Michael is hearing a roar...but it's not that train. That's just genius film making.
God my heart was racing watching this for the first time. They keep you guessing on if he's actually gonna do it. Michael seems to not find a gun at first. He second guesses himself before leaving. He sits down when Clemenza tells him not to and to just shoot them. Then you get the close up of him contemplating it more He finally does it and does it in 3 bullets instead of 2 It's fantastic seeing a movie act out as if it were real, this wasn't just an acting job by Pacino, he literally made us believe that Michael was a real person.
This movie is now 50 years old, and it still is one of the very best mob movies out there, and I'm about to turn 29 this year. I also find crazy to think my Pops was 20 when it first came out in '72, the 70s were a crazy time he lived in.
Here you have a triumph of set design, sound editing, cinematography, acting and directing. Every moment of film, so very carefully crafted. This is why the movie is a masterpiece !
This scene was a clear example of why this movie is considered one of the best in cinema. Every action directed was intentional. The anxiety of not finding the gun initially, the train going by at the most anxious moments to draw you into that feeling. The delayed reactions during the shooting from both sides, then finally coming to and escaping. Absolutely perfect.
There is an editing error in this scene. The There is an editing error in this scene. Look carefully. The Peterson lookin guy already has blood on his forehead at 2:07 Although it was very satisfying to see Peterson die a violent death JBPeterson: "My message to the Hungarians Do not rebel against your PM Your leader is trying to restore the metaphysical foundation of the 1000 years old Hungarian empire I would like to tell you a secret about Jesus and a secret about your PM. Another name for Jesus is Viktor"
I still have The Godfather part 2. Wrap in plastic since then. With seal of paramount tape.. tented to open ! I used to work at a vcr rented video store..in 78..😃,
Yeah but what about the “It took months for things to calm down, finally my guys got out on bail and the bosses wanted to send my brother Dominic to Vegas. Dollars... always the fuckin dollars”
One of the greatest scenes in one of the greatest movies ever. "The Offer" illuminates this in a brilliant scene of its own. Coppola & Puzo are stuck, and all of a sudden, Francis has the light bulb go on... remember, Clemenza told Mikey to just bring his hand down to his side and drop the gun. Instead, Coppola has Mikey hold on to the gun, and he even raises his hand, THEN drops it, signifying Mike's last vestige of holding on and then letting go.
There is an editing error in this scene. The There is an editing error in this scene. Look carefully. The Peterson lookin guy already has blood on his forehead at 2:07 Although it was very satisfying to see Peterson die a violent death JBPeterson: "My message to the Hungarians Do not rebel against your PM Your leader is trying to restore the metaphysical foundation of the 1000 years old Hungarian empire I would like to tell you a secret about Jesus and a secret about your PM. Another name for Jesus is Viktor"
I always loved that they put the subway brakes in the forefront of the audio mix right before Michael kills them. It's as if his adrenaline is pumping so hard in his body before the kill that the rest of the world fades out and and all that's left is the deed that must be done. As soon as they are dead, the world returns to its cacophony of myriad sounds
The tension created by the increasingly loud sound of an approaching train, climaxing at the point where Michael fires his gun, gets me every time I watch this movie. The Godfather Part 1 is an absolute masterpiece.
@@pinkbeatle2012 yeah, I agree with that too. GF3 suffers from a few wooden performances, characters that are more characatures and scene rip offs buuuuuut..... I still love it.
2:22. If you look closely, you can see that Pacino actually bumps into the camera right after he drops the gun and walks passed it. I found that strangely hilarious 🤣
@@yesterdayproductions1019 Errrrr, he bumps into the camera *shooting* the scene. If you actually watch the linked clip, the image jiggles when he hits it.
I always loved the reaction of the background actors, it's just as impactful as the action. Saw an accident happen and the reaction is quite similar where people are first confused then afraid and get out of the scenario
This scene really puts you in the moment, what son wouldn't avenge somebody that attacked his father? I'd have been sweating bullets! But it had to be done
@@gator2813 Foolish? Pecker it's absolutely insane! But within that lifestyle, it's business as usual Being in a crew like that, to me,is like playing Russian Roulette with 1 bullet in the chamber at a million dollars a turn? Sooner or later your time is up and you'll wish you took a 9-5 job! Those guy's are a different breed altogether.
@@gator2813 That's always been done since the beginning of humanity, for as long as Parents birth Children who they will kill for, there will always be Children who will kill for their Parents.
There is an editing error in this scene. The There is an editing error in this scene. Look carefully. The Peterson lookin guy already has blood on his forehead at 2:07 Although it was very satisfying to see Peterson die a violent death JBPeterson: "My message to the Hungarians Do not rebel against your PM Your leader is trying to restore the metaphysical foundation of the 1000 years old Hungarian empire I would like to tell you a secret about Jesus and a secret about your PM. Another name for Jesus is Viktor"
I have never seen this movie trilogy, but this scene is perfect. The sporadic movement when at first he can't find the gun, the hair slick-back due to anxiety of "looking weird", the inner turmoil as he considers the good and bad of murdering, the train sound acting as almost a cerebral "times up" signal, the pure shock on the mobster's face.
He did this not to avenge his father but to eliminate the stem of the problem, as he later did with its roots. As he himself said, "it's not personal, it's just business".
@@joannapebbleworthy9343 Joanna, if you think avenging his father and Luigi was not at least a large part of Micheal's motivation for doing this, then you really don't understand the Italian mob. The Italian Mafia, especially back in those days, would never stand for someone (outside the family) killing one of their own without retaliation. That you think they would proves you're an idiot. Sure, Michael might have had other motivations as well, but don't kid yourself. Avenging his father and Luigi was a MAJOR factor into his actions in this scene.
@@james_ford86 No need for such strong words. Unless you are in your teens, but even then. And who is Luigi? Did you mean Sentino? Maybe he didn't hate having all those people killed but hate it or not, he had no other choice, they were dangerous to his family. He even had Fredo killed, the moment he realised Fredo was a liability to the family.
@@joannapebbleworthy9343 Doesn't matter if I got Luigi's name wrong or not. The point still stands. As I said, the Italian Mafia, especially back in those days, will not stand for someone (outside of the family) murdering one of their own without retaliating. I never said they won't kill one of their own in certain cases, like betrayal, when Michael had Fredo killed. That doesn't make what I said untrue. I know it's hard, but do try to read and comprehend what someone is saying before responding.
The pause between michael sitting back down and before he takes action is pure cinematic mastery. The anxiety and stress of knowing and build up is perfect.
Maybe he was waiting for the train to pass to cover up the shots from the outside ??
@@digger5521 He was definitely doing that, but he was also feeling the emotions OP mentioned. The train getting louder and louder as it got closer was perfect with regard to the suspense and buildup of the scene. Brilliant.
@@GardaOrban Good Call!! no hiding that.
I think that being shot in the throat would be the worst way to go. To get ultimate revenge he should have left it at that.
@@GardaOrban I think that can be looked over, especially considering a cool detail of the window breaking behind the guy when he gets headshotted
What really makes the scene so special is that he went back to the table instead of just coming out blazing like he was instructed. The tension at the table never gets old to watch
ORBANUS
He was waiting for the sound of the train, right?
@@TheGrrson no he wasn't.. the train sound is just an effect which is to convey that he is so cluttered with thoughts at that time that he is not listening to what the other guys are saying. That's why they didn't provide subtitles to that part because Michael wasn't listening at that point. He was anxious about choosing the right moment to pull the trigger.
@@SK008 uhhhh they weren’t talking by the time the train passed overhead… and yes they talked prior about the train being able to mask the sound of the gun being fired… not quite that deep hahaha
@@PGBbuckeye really? I must have missed that dialogue... Good for me, an excuse to watch the Godfather again 😂
He fixes his hair in the bathroom. He is calming himself and being in the moment. He walks slowly back to the table. Wonderful
He's definitely executed that whole scene .
wow, what a smart aleck you are 👏
@@FreeFlow__ Was that really necessary?
@@RylanStormYup, Siskel and Ebert would agree!
yes, wonderful
I love that short look and scuttle of genuine panic when Michael doesn’t initially find the gun. You can tell how badly he doesn’t necessarily want to do this but it’s already too late, he’s already made his decision once his father was attacked.
His father got what he deserved.
@@MarkHarrison733 yes he killed all other dons
@@dinoXAs2 He should have lost his life in the market.
@@MarkHarrison733 cope
In the novel, it describes Michael's decision (to take out Sollozzo and McClusky) as a pure necessity because Sollozzo was only lining things up for another attempt on the Don's life. Knowing Sollozzo, he'd of added a few key players on his list - Michael and Sonny for beginners.
fun fact: Coppola actually changed the gun's position behind the box without telling Pacino, so his reaction not finding it is real
Great detail.
Thnx for posting !!
I saw that in the offer jajaj
Did you know in the film The Godfather:
@@Meow_1992 lol
Yeah, I saw "The Offer" too
no matter how many times I watched this movie, Michael searching for the gun is still intense.
Bro same I was over here like “it’s not there they fucked him”😅
For a second he can't find it
The first time I watched the movie, I was afraid the gun wasn't there!
One time I rewatched the movie and Michael didn’t find the gun! He had to head back to the table without it, and then the rest of the movie was at that table, mostly in Italian.
It be like oh snap this time it is not going to be there
I love how he seems zoned out from the conversation. His eyes darting from side to side as he wrestles with the idea of what he's about to do. What he's about to become.
That's a dead giveaway for solosoito kill him.
Yeah, it describes that well in the book.
He was already a soldier who had killed people during the war
And I love the choice to not add subtitles over the Italian. Since the story is mostly from Micheal’s POV, it drives home how little attention he’s paying it. It’s a simple choice but it’s small choices like that which compound to make great films.
@@TheShahofIrann The sub titles arent added because the content doesnt matter, Michael is there to kill them not eat dinner what they say is meaningless to the plot.
McCluskey’s reaction to being shot has always stuck with me. It’s like you can see the light in his eyes go out. Chilling.
@@G.u74 it’s a movie, brainiac. go watch a nature documentary or something if you’re looking for total realism lmao
@@johnl6192admit it, only that part seems lame.
It's Looney toons level there.
The great actor, Sterling Hayden. He also played the part of General Jack D. Ripper in Dr. Strangelove.😊
@@johnl6192 It's a continuity error, When he first got shot in his throat, there's already a hole in his forehead.
Actually, it is possible to be shot through the forehead and live. I recall an episode of some reality show, Miracles and Mysteries or the like, which featured a young boy of around 10 years old who wrecked his bicycle and flew headfirst into the large tine of a farm machine. It pierced him through the forehead and exited the back. He not only pulled his head free, but made it home by himself. He survived with no brain damage.
When Michael is searching for the gun, it's hard to tell if he's more terrified of not finding it, or of actually finding it
Why not both? Both is good.
Haha I felt bad for him when he couldn't find it... Then I felt bad for The other guys when he found it.
Terrified of not finding it. He wanted to time it with the train going past.
That's an awesome observation
Projecting
He knows that once he decides to kill there is no going back.
That's what makes this scene so great.
He doesn't immediately kill, he has to consider it all first, which is unbelievably realistic.
hes a soldier he killed before
@@ididntmeantoshootthatvietn5012
Yeah but that was in a war situation, this scene introduced him to illegal gangster murder.
Actually, one might conclude that Michael is so tense in this scene because he is trying to decide whether to go through with the hit. Conceivably, if Sollozzo had given a real promise not to kill Don Correleone, maybe Michael would’ve relented at the last moment. But here, Sollozzo is trying to make it sound like he’s giving Michael a guarantee but instead gives nothing. The latter is too intelligent to be taken in by such an empty answer. So Michael carries out the hit.
@@johngannon9954 Seriously? There's no way Michael would believe anything Solozzo said at this point. He's a lying scumbag, Michael knows it and knows what he has to do.
He pauses to wait for the cover of the sound of a train
One of the most intense scenes in history. No silly gimmicks just pure steel
Movies capture the emotion better than real death clips do
Yet he left the gun right in the crime scene... Nice touch
@@zerocool-zerocool hes micheal corleone he can do what he thinks is right. He is right
Accept his death looked like a highschool play.
@@zyourzgrandzmaz did you mean, except?
Paramount executives wanted to fire Mr. Pacino because they felt he did not embody Michael early in the making of film. Copolla shot this scene and showed it to them- most of their doubts were erased.
they wanted to fire him because he was still a no name actor at the time
I don't know why they even have 'execs'. They always seem to make crappy decisions and screw up the creative process.
They wanted to fire him but then he made them an offer they couldn't refuse
They wanted to fire Coppola too
I thought I heard that this was the first scene Coppola shot
Half a century old and still one of the greatest films ever made
Not sure what makes it so great. It sucked to me
@@finishfirst4580 why?
@@thedarkknight5239 average Marvel fans I guess
@@finishfirst4580 Not as great as Avengers
honestly it looks like a 2010s movie.
Surreal
This is honestly my all-time favorite scene in the entire, not only film, trilogy. It’s the moment when Michael really transforms from young wide-eyed Marine veteran to ‘The Godfather’, it’s Michael’s rite of passage. Once he pulled the trigger, there was no going back from there.
Not only that, but the technical side of the blood spatter and "real" on screen as possible.
Michael _made his bones._
There was no trilogy. Godfather Parts I and II only. Sofia Coppola’s little crap was an abortion.
Hence the sound of the train when he does it. He’s on the rails from that point on
It’s weird because in the novel, if I remember correctly, he was a combat veteran, wounded in combat and discharged because of his father. I would imagine a Pacific War veteran to be anything but wide-eyed. Perhaps wide-eyed from PTSD perhaps. Then again, shell shock wasn’t much publicised in 1969.
I like how he drops the gun just before exiting the restaurant despite everyone repeatedly telling to drop it right away when he was going through preparation. It's a nice touch showing that Michael is not by nature a killer.
Always wondered why he was told to drop the gun ... during this time period, fingerprints were often used to identify a murder weapon. You'd think he'd have less chance of getting caught with the gun on him than leaving it with his prints. Especially given that a cop was killed, it would be harder for the police to look the other way.
Yeah the only place I would drop it is in the local river@@bluxe7372
@@bluxe7372the gunwas taped or something I remember them saying that you don't have to worry about prints
@@smartbot1899not to mention comparing prints at that time was not nearly as easy as it is now, would've taken weeks if not months and that's if anyone could even identify him. At best they could probably only describe him
@@bluxe7372 The number one thing in a mob hit is to drop the weapon. It wont be traceable.
One of the greatest scenes in cinematic history. When I was a kid my dad took me to the Stadium Drive In in Orange, CA to see the Godfather I and II back to back. To this day it’s still seems like the same movie. At one point I told my dad I needed to go to the bathroom and he told me to just stand outside the door. He was nice enough to turn out the dome light, but there was no way he was going to miss a single frame of that movie. He was a wonderful man and I loved him and miss him to this day.
Its out of topic but I must say that he could had been with you even today if the word would be ruled by just and wise statemen and not by stupid monsters.
It was either that or use a cup. A movie this long and this good you bring lunch and dinner with you.
Just go use the restroom, u can stream the other 10 hours of the movie when u get home
@@kevinreynaga6340 There was no streaming in 1973 so I had to stream right there.
@@zekelucente9702 no kidding, literally streaming right onto the ground next to the car apparently!
I love how the sound of an approaching train is used to create tension in the scene and to convey a sense of fatefulness or inevitability.
someone just got out of english class
Charles Schwab over here
My reaction was that he thought it was a good time to pull the trigger because it would hide the gunshot sound in the surrounding area.
"Cape Fox" Good description. I think it had been used in a movie before or since.
I lived in NYC for many years. That sound is the train making a turn on the elevated tracks. That sound IS NYC. Once you live there a part of you stays there.
Its so wild how a movie from 50 years ago can still garner 2.2 million views in 2 weeks, for a scene most of us have already watched and memorized. Yet, there is always something new to discuss or get excited about. Al Pacino and Coppola, you beauties.
to be fair, I've only ever seen this movie once YEAAAARS ago. maybe getting these in my recommended is the universe telling me I'm due for a re-watch 😅
It’s not your average movie, it’s considered by many to be the greatest movie ever made.
Did you ever stop and wonder maybe that could be the reason why it garnered so many views in such a less amount of time.
@@thedon2005 Damn, I didn't know people could make a problem out of a comment like that. But then again, its the internet.
@@cactuss33ds This is definitely your sign! I watched it first a few years ago in high school and loved it. Recently went to watch it in theatres with the 50th anniversary release and noticed so much more. The rewatch value is so freakin high with this gem
It’s The Godfather bro….they don’t make ‘em like they used to. Movies these days are trash.
The sound is so great. The ambient noise of the restaurant, the slow quieting to silence, the train rumble louder and louder until he gets up and shoots, the quiet again in the shock and aftermath, and then finally the score when he drops the gun and it’s all over. Incredible.
One of the best scenes in cinema, and it feels, and sounds, like watching a play of actors on a stage.
Movie making at its absolute best
Thats white noise, you get that when you are highly focused
I can only remember the anxiety and feeling in my gut the first time I watched this. It felt so immersive and you could feel yourself in Michael’s shoes, the anger of being in front of the two men who failed to murder your father, but also understanding the consequences of what’s to come.
Such a recognizable emotion, when he’s hesitant to walk out of that bathroom. Obviously, few of us have actually killed someone but you *know* that feeling in your gut. Walking out onstage to make a speech, crossing the doorway into the dentist’s office, entering an audition where you’re there solely to be judged. It’s that feeling of “I could just walk out of here right now…what difference does it make in the greater cosmos”. Then you gather yourself and push past that point of no return…
Agree with everything. Aside from the dentist... Never understood what's so frightening about it.
Or approaching a drop dead gorgeous beautiful lady
@@paddyb456 he should have said oncologist instead
@@Tourist-Q
You guys are acting like dentist fear isn’t one of the oldest phobias in western society. Comedy routines, root canal metaphors, horror movies and heel wrestlers. You’d have to live under a rock to be unaware of that fear…
I was so engaged with your comment until " the dentist" but alright
The movie tells us exactly how it's going to go down. We aren't to be taken by surprise by what is to unfold. And yet when the moment comes it is unbearably tense and suspenseful.
I really like the L train roaring as Michael is making the final decision to go through with it.
Imagine the shit running round and round his head while he is waiting to draw his pistol. Then his ears seem to clear, and his pulse slows a bit, and he feels the control over his body come back to him. The book said his head filled with ice-cold hatred for all the people who wanted to harm his family, and who tried to kill his father. At that moment, he was ready to fight. Question; and be honest with yourself- could you step up like this?
The only difference is he was supposed to shoot them as soon as he walked back from the bathroom but he sat down for a minute. I wonder what he was thinking.
@@gabrielamaya2964 also he doesn't drop the gun immediately
@@gabrielamaya2964 I could be wrong but perhaps he is thinking,"If I really go through with this then it will be the point of no return".
It's like watching a train wreck, you can't keep your eyes off the action
more like a train routinely passing by, amirite?
Movies these days have zero to give
I wouldn't compare one of the best movies ever made to a train wreck...
first there is a flesh wound
then there is no flesh wound
then there is....
I would've never expected to see you here, thank you for the hours of entertainment you gave 6 year old me nearly 10 years ago now.
Godfather 1&2 are simply the greatest films of all time I never get tired of watching them.
They're alright, good films at least
He head-butted the table and wasted all that lovely food and wine. Madness.
In an Italian restaurant! UNFORGIVABLE!
😂😂😂
yes, that's the real tragedy!
I know. My first thought was "all that great veal and wine is now wasted"
To be fair, he did have a bullet lodged in his brain by that point. He probably wasn’t thinking straight
Easily one of the best movies ever made. The fact that 40 years later and people still watch it tells you how great it is.
50 years actually.
Godfather 1 and 2. Must have watched them bout' 100 times . VCR , DVD , Television.......
50 years not 40.......1972...........
@@tylermcmanus4 And the money he made from the Godfather films, he used to make Apocalypse Now.....
It's masterpieces and not many movies has that status.
it's mad to think that pacino was always on the verge of being fired when filming the godfather and he absolutely smashed it in his role as michael corleone.
Why was he on the verge of being fired?
@@aaroncruden9220 from what i heard, the studio weren't too convinced on pacino and francis ford coppola fought to keep pacino on.
The entire film and project was constantly on the verge of collapse, all through filming. Coppola was under threat of being fired by Paramount every day. It was a disaster in the making. One of the greatest films and series in history literally almost never was - on a daily basis while it was being made!!
@@abdulqudz89 Also, Pacino was deliberately holding back during the early scenes, because he understood that Michael’s turn in this scene (and the “strictly business” speech before it) would be more powerful if we didn’t yet know what Michael was made of. The producers mistook this for him just not giving a good performance, so Coppola brought this scene forward in the shooting schedule so Pacino could prove his chops.
Funny thing was this was the first scene they actually filmed for the movie and it was what convinced the producers that Pacino was right for the role.
I find it hilarious how this movies depicts a gun shot wound more realistically than movies today
😂😂😂 I said the same exact thing about old movies
The way Coppola slowed everything down - even to the point of Michael touching up his hair - to build the suspense in this sequence is absolutely brilliant. If you didn’t know the story, you’d even wonder if Michael was ever going to finally pull the trigger.
This scene has an editing mistake. Look closely. The last guy already has blood on his forehead...
@@iliafigueroa4820 His buddy just had his brains blew out, ofcourse he has blood on his forehead lol
why does he have a bullet wound in his head before he gets shot in the head? what a piece of crap movie.
@dssd245 it's supposed to be blood spatter from neck shot. But it is in the exact spot of the next shot... perhaps it was necessary because of limited technology in the 1970s
@@joesandslv
Nope, stop writing without knowing.
It is an editing mistake.
I am an editor, so i know. An error in continuity.
1:01 - The way he fixes his hair is really just a way to comfort himself for knowing his life is about to change forever.
This scene is one of the all time greats, the look on Michael's face when he can't find the gun is amazing. Your heart goes into your throat for a second! I need to watch this again....
The look of him not finding the gun is real Coppola changed where the gun was and didn't say anything to try and get an honest reaction.
John McTiernan did the same thing in Die Hard. At the end he told the Grips to let go of Alan Rickman at a 2 count instead of 3 so he could film Rickmans face of being let go and not knowing it. It was said Rickman was extremely upset afterwards.
@bad74maverick1 and thats what makes a great director!!!!
@@eastendwideboy Oh I couldn't agree more. It's the little things like that, that can make a big impression on a movie.
Still gives me chills. I remember watching the 1st time thinking that the gun was not there and Michael was set up.
@@bad74maverick1 LOL that is some cool trivia --- how far did Rickman actually fall in that scene?
At 1:32 he sits down and looks nervously to his left. At 1:39 when Coppala begins the slow close-up of Michael's face, with Pacino's head completely still and his eyes darting about in nervousness is some of the best suspense building acting ever. At 1:57 the train comes by again further building suspense and signaling impending action. At 2:03 he acts. That 11 seconds is acting and directing perfection!
Oh! I never realized until just now that the noise was an elevated train passing. I just assumed the sound represented all of the mental interference inside Michael's head, interference that was drowning out the Italian dialogue between Michael and Solozzo (well, Michael was just listening at this point).
One thing the movie didn't show that the book mentioned was that other diners tensed when they saw Michael return from the bathroom, but relaxed once he sat down at the table. More masterful mis-direction by Puzo. Everything's fine, just three guys having dinner. Everything's .. HOLY CRAP!!
@@talexb Suppose it works both ways as a metaphor for the wheels in his mind turning realizing just what he's about to do
One of the all time great movies. The stars aligned on this one. The right actors, director, writers, costume design, lighting, etc...it's all here at the peak of their powers.
Pacino nailed the restaurant scene with his pitch perfect body language. With Coppola having to put up a fight to get the studio to have Pacino as 'Michael', it still makes me cringe at the possibility that Burt Reynolds or Robert Redford could have been 'Michael'. Yes, the others are good actors, but important roles require the right actors.
I swear to god,if they will ever only think to make a remake or some shit netflix TV series based on godfather... i will cry loudly
In the etc., are Coppola and Mario Puzo who co-wrote the screenplay for this gem. Puzo also wrote the novel that the screenplay is based on.
@@hlcepeda Especially Biurt Reynolds He is a good actor , but this was made for Al.
Yup! Shows the true art of movie making if done right.
This scene and the scene of the series of murders and the baptism are masterpieces of cinema. The way Michael calmly executes his plan to avenge his father, while the music and the editing create a contrast between the violence and the sacredness of the baptism, is brilliant. The acting, the cinematography, the direction, everything is flawless. This is one of the best scenes in film history and it shows why The Godfather is a timeless classic. And the moment when he was looking for the gun in the toilet was so tense and realistic. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
idk the goof of his head already being shot before it's shot, wouldnt call it flawless 2:07
why does he have a bullet wound in his head before he gets shot in the head? what a piece of crap movie.
@@dssd245Don’t see it then. Your loss.
@@dssd245 *Blood splatter from the first shooting.*
@@superbrownbrown I don’t think so.. watch it again.. the “blood splatter” is a perfect circle and it somehow got wiped off before the second bullet.. what a crap scene.
McCluskey still trying to eat after being shot in the head...Solozzo was right, it was the best veal in the city
They say the curried perogies were pretty good too. Also the Dim Sum.
@@lawrencelewis2592 Italian and DimSum really go well together, don't they!
Why waste the last morsel, already in mouth.😊
Why waste the last morsel a food already in mouth.
@@singhv2009 They go together better than lobster stuffed with tacos.
These guys live on their wits, Solozzo would have picked up on Michael's nervous behaviour in a second
He was slipping
That’s why Michael volunteered to kill him - because everyone thought he was too weak to actually pull the trigger and because Sollozzo knew his reputation as someone who wanted no part of the mob life. So even if Michael looked nervous, it could have been easily dismissed as him just not wanting to be there and getting it over with as quickly as possible.
I always wondered out that too.
That slow zoom into Pacino’s eyes darting around is brilliant, subtle but we can see he is distracted and not focussed on the words leaving the mouth of the man he is about to murder.
... and the sound of the train barreling through at the same time adds to his state of not listening to a single word.
Not to mention they dont translate anything. If you speak English, who the film was made for, you have no idea what's being said
war hero MICHAEL is not distracted. It's his straight life flashing before his eyes...
@@seanmetro3496 but he was. Killing in war and like he did in this part of the film are not the same. One is sanctioned, the other is not.
@@Dimes607 Like Sonny said, this ain't the war where you shoot 'em a mile away. You gotta get right to 'em and bada bing you blow their brains all over your nice Ivy League suit.
One of the greatest minutes of film ever made. The audience can sense the turmoil in his head, contemplating what he is about to do. The sound of the passing train outside, him walking out with the gun still in his hand when he was told specifically to drop it from his side...... all without saying a word of dialogue. When I first saw this movie and scene years ago, I was SCREAMING for him to drop the gun. He held onto it for the exact amount of time to make the audience feel the tension.
THIS is masterful storytelling.
why does he have a bullet wound in his head before he gets shot in the head? what a piece of crap movie.
@@dssd245 then make a better one
💗yes about toy.lets = washroom . scene like life, real life.
@@dssd245 Yes it is a fail but the movie is not bad because of that
@@dssd245dude was perfectly consciois 1fter a point plank headshot 😂😂😂
This scene felt so intense. This man is a PHENOMENAL actor.
Still can’t believe Pacino didn’t win an Oscar for this performance
@@kingchrisa4188
Who won that year?
@@patrickc3419Marlon Brando I believe
my heart raced for real when i was seeing this scene.
'this man' aahahah
There’s an editing mistake visible in this clip. At 2:08 Pacino shoots him in the throat, yet the blood from the head shot (which hasn’t occurred yet) is visible on his forehead.
I've often wondered why they had Sollozzo talk in Italian during this scene. I think it's because they wanted the audience to concentrate on Michael's face and to let the tension and anticipation build up for the audience. But if Sollozzo had been speaking in English then the audience would have been distracted by listening to Sollozzo talk.
Nothing important to the plot is ever said in Italian. Only in English.
The script followed the novel here.
I think he just didn’t want the officer to know what they were talking about.
@@williebori Not true. Banalities along the lines of "we are all Italians together.."
agreed
What makes this scene great is the high concentration of adrenaline being acted out.. something that is usually nonexistent in action films. In most action scenes, people just kill with an expressionless face as a way to 'look cool', as if they know the audience is watching them. That's not how it works. The reality is that killing someone tests the deepest levels of your soul and adrenaline goes into overdrive. Pacino shows this masterfully.
You sound like an expert 🤨📷
"In most action scenes, people just kill with an expressionless face as a way to 'look cool',"
If the killer is a pro with a lot of kills, it does become routine it some point. Also, people who become professional killers are often sociopaths. But for an average person driven to kill under extreme circumstances (and not in war, where you're being shot at), it is indeed never easy, and Pacino did a good job portraying it.
Sociopath doesnt care for human life
It doesn't make much sense for the character Michael Corleone though. He was a WW2 veteran who was was awarded the Silver Star and the Navy Cross for his bravery.
2:17 is truly genious. It is like Michael hesitates watching the fear in the wtnesses and gets shocked when he realizes that they are scared of him, that their fear is because they see in him a murderer, and then he stumbles to the exit realizing what he has done and what he has become.
Nice idea but the reason why he stands still is because that’s what he was told to do. You don’t commit a murder and then run out the restaurant, you have to let them see you and you exit with haste but not with irrationality and make sure to drop the gun before you leave.
@@harveyhodgson8782 Have to let them see you? Wtf?
“I’m just gonna fuck with this crime family to the point where they have no other options”
Greeeeaat idea
The worst part is how his 2nd victim doesn't keel over instantly from the headshot, like his brain is still firing off for a few seconds. It's gruesome as hell.
Actually, the worst part is that he has a bullet hole in his forehead before he's even shot there. Re-watch. :D
Boats a'rockin..
good as the scene is its honestly not very realistic, he would have dropped a split second after that headshot.
Not that it would make a difference, the first shot at mcklusky was on the throat then the second was in the head
@@ST19859 You can also see the forehead bullet hole when he's grasping at his neck ;)
Ive seen this scene over 10 times in the film but it still makes me nervous, the tension is just so extreme, one of the greatest scenes ever
only 10???? 🤣
This is how you set up a hit. Excellent planning 10 times later 😂
why does he have a bullet wound in his head before he gets shot in the head? what a piece of crap movie.
No it's not
I’ve seen it so many times too, and I still feel the tension.😮
This movie is the definition of a masterpiece.
I must admit The Godfather is one of the greatest movies of all time. The story, the acting, the camera work. Amazing.
People always talk about Al Pacino in this scene, but I thought Sterling Hayden's portrayal of Captain McCluskey being shot was outstanding.
Yeah I was going to say that but I suposse that many young viewers don't know who he was, but I know, The Asphalt Jungle, The Killing, Dr. Strangelove, all incredible movies with him.
It’s what keeps bringing me back honestly. So vivid. It’ll come into my head sometimes
Thanks I couldn't remember his name . Great actor
It looks like he watched the Zapruder film for research
Yes, It’s one of the most realistic deaths I’ve ever seen in a film
The subtle details of him struggling to find it adds to the realism of the scene. If he would have went straight to the spot and pulled the gun the setup would have been off.
I've seen this scene a hundred times, and it still makes my heart beater faster with nerves. One of the great scenes in one of the greatest films ever made.
Same, especially when I wasn't sure if he would find a gun, and also his hesitation when sitting down vs firing right when he came out as he was supposed to.
I'm glad I am not the only one who feels stressed
Stressed over that? 🤣😅
He actually avenges his father again when he takes out the heads of the Five Families.
It makes your heart beater faster?
Michael retrieving the gun from the bathroom and the hesitation in his body language and facial expressions during his talk with Sollozzo and McCluskey was just so intense and brilliant, it's almost as if he was beginning to have second thoughts about leaving town after going through with the plan or fearing that he will slip up since he only has one shot in killing Sollozzo and McCluskey and escaping before anyone can do anything to stop him but also knows that he is in too deep to back out now
He is not in too deep to back out. He could have backed out. Finished the dinner and left. Sollozzo would never have known it was a setup. And Sonny is not gonna come down on Michael for not going through with it. After all, Michael is not a mafia killer.
Al Pacino showing his acting genius here - look at his eyes - and incredibly the studio didn't want him playing Michael.
Well he was unproven and there was a lot riding on this film.
@@dr.loomis4221 - That is true, but I'm sure they saw the rushes and his prior work. I worked on a few movies and I can't even imagine seeing something like this being filmed live. People don't understand how insanely difficult it is to act in front of a camera and crew. Even the slightest nudge of an expression can ruin a whole scene especially a scene like this, but damn, Pacino is from another world. I saw him in that movie "Heat" last week, it's like he's able to morph into another world completely oblivious he's in a movie, nobody even comes close to Pacino, not Brando, DeNiro, Nicholson.
@@dr.loomis4221 For example just look at the sequence of him walking from the bathroom then sitting down and looking up as he does, that is genius. He is showing Michaels legs were weak from fear while walking then trying not to face what he was about to do. I can't even imagine how many times Pacino choreographed that step by step, that wasn't Coppola
True that the Studio didn't want Pacino for the role of Michael. Until he made this scene. After this scene the role of Michael belonged to Pacino .
I love Pacino's eyes, they're all over the place just before he does the deed. Amazing acting.
Btw. this movie is 50 years old.... wow.
This very scene made this movie immortal. So impressive.
Pacino's facial expressions as he waits for the right time to draw the gun and do the deed are what great acting is all about....
This is probably my second most favorite scene in the trilogy. Just seeing Michael's eyes as he prepared himself for what he's about to do is some damn good acting from Al Pacino
whats your first?
@@Maya_k The entire assassination scene of Don Fanuchi in The Godfather Part 2. Just the parade,the music,Vito sneaking around the roof tops following Fanuchi. It's the best scene in the trilogy
@@samtheaqueductman7410I just watched that scene. Such a masterpiece!
@@samtheaqueductman7410
That scene, and especially as a sequence, is amazing.
Not as great a scene but as the revenge goes, Vito goes to Corleone to kill the man who killed the rest of his family.
"My father's name was Antonio Andolini... and this is for you."
Love the waiter watching. It's like he's thinkin' "Should I bring more water"?
More like “my back was turned and I didn’t see nuthin.”
No, was going to ask was there a problem with the red sauce, and then hesitates wondering if they aren't going to tip him over this little problem.
When the Sopranos came out I wondered if the waiter Chris gypped on the tip because he was too pissed at Paulie for stiffing him with the bill was sort of influenced by that poor waiter lol
Al Pacino is a genius! Every time I see this man act, I'm blown away.
It really is a powerful scene. The first time I watched it I was left feeling like I had just witnessed an actual crime. For starting out as a pacifist Michael surely changed quickly.
For the FAMILY
Pacifist? He was a WWII infantry hero. He wanted to stay out of this side of his family, and likely still would have even after this restaurant scene which saves his father. It was the murder of his wife that turned him forever.
And Sonny’s too.
@@Nill757 Yup the dumbest scene was Sonny telling Michael, after he comes back from WW2, what shooting someone is like.
He killed people in the war!
50 years old and this masterpiece hasn’t aged one bit.
I love the look on Solozzos face. That whole, "This can't be" look. If he even had the ability to process any thoughts in that second, he must have wondered how Mike got the gun, if it's possible McCluskey set him up and more importantly, if McCluskey agreed that the restaurants Veal was indeed the best in the city. Of course, Solozzo couldn't rule out McCluskey as a turncoat since Solozzo was the first to get GOT.
How that Veal tasted will eat me up forever. If only we could get a sequel
I watched this movie last year for the first time. And it was frankly a breath of fresh air. Especially with the minimal use of music and sound effects. This scene shows exactly how you can convey tension and anxiety through just voice queues, bg noise, train's sound effects and excellent acting. You don't need to spoon feed your audience about what's going on with very loud tense music
I watched this as a teenager and no scene has ever put me on edge like this. Absolutelly nerve jangling stuff.
Mickey Rourke in "Angel Heart" came pretty close though. When he realizes who he is and who he isn't.
There was also a magic moment in the Sopranos in season 3... When Jennifer Melfi was about to confess to Tony what happened to her, but made the right choice in the end.
When Robin Williams gets shot in "Jakob the Liar", that was pretty heavy too.
The ending of "The Truman Show".
At the end of "Blood in blood out" when Cruz makes Paco aware how much influence his demanding & aggressive behavior had on Miklo and that Paco was partially responsible how everything turned out.
Probably a few more ... It's not like I watched all movies and all TV shows anyway lol
you obviously haven't seen back to the future the clocktower scene haha
@@imgood8514 still doesn't pars with Godfather
This was wonderfully described in the book. Michael was so nervous when he went to the bathroom and was so worried that the gun would not be there and he would have to comeout empty handed
Being a film noirista, I was happy to see Sterling Hayden in this film.
He was menacing in Dr. Strangelove
Love noir. Do you mind me asking what your favorites are? I'm always searching for something I may have missed.
@@Kwaj I'm going to have to see that
I keep seeing Hayden from a Gunsmoke episode
surely one of the most iconic scenes in the history of cinema
A magnificent scene especially love the eye movement Al Pacino does when he sits down knowing he's about to kill them both. No dialogue needed to see the mental process he's going through
He wasn't supposed to sit down. I wonder if he as thinking "I blew it".
This particular scene is a masterpiece of how to build tension and suspense. Coppola toys with his audience, making them feel pleasurable relief from the cathartic double murder.
Coppola's homage to Kurosawa. Kurosawa would probably have played around with the lighting some more, but otherwise this is right out of his playbook -- the sounds, the jarring color of the neon sign, the shifts in focus, the single bullet hole in the cop's head, and finally the musical score after the deed is done.
Except when they had the forehead blood before the actual shot but yea it's OK. Its like pulp fiction when the holes where in the wall before the shootout
Fifty years out, I still get sweaty fingertips watching this seen. Perfection in film making.
scene
According to Al Pacino himself, this is the scene that saved his career. For weeks he was on the brink of being fired because the studio thought he was holding back too much in the early scenes that were shot, and Pacino reports how many of staff and crew started to feel uncomfortable in his presence because he was practically like dead man walking. The problem was that the Michael character didn‘t have much to do at the beginning of the story. Then, for coincidence or because Copolla wanted everybody to see what this young actor was capable of, this sequences was moved to the front on the shooting schedule. No one questioned Pacino ever again afterwards.
One of the greatest scenes in Hollywood history. The lead up and the follow up to the shots are just beyond awesome.
why does he have a bullet wound in his head before he gets shot in the head? what a piece of crap movie.
@@dssd245
mebbe there's a delay in your audio/video
mine is just fine, thankfully
@@merccadoosis8847 no, when they show the side shot of him grabbing his
Neck.. he has a bullet hole in his head.. then.. he doesn’t.. then he gets shot in the head.
@@merccadoosis8847 2:07
@@dssd245 *Blood splatter from the first shooting.*
The camera work, the angles and perspective, the editing, and the music at the end, what fine, damn work-a masterpiece.
Sterling Hayden is magnificent in this scene, clutching his throat at the immediate point of terror to observe the natural human instinct/reaction to preserve breathing. It is a true portrayal of death by assassination - total vulnerability and shock before, during and after the event
Flash that is not how people react when shot in the head, they drop immediately .
@@anthonyeaton5153 Sometimes they don't.
@@Izaan2810 yes they do, when you get shot in the middle of ur forehead its lights out u drop like a ragdoll
@@zexedearth89 "Yes, they do" I agree, they do.... Just not always.
@@Izaan2810porque no siempre?
As tense as it was written in the book the way it was filmed makes it way better.. it is shot perfectly but its the train noise in the background that builds. You know it is coming but still never when you expect it. Absolute masterpiece
The subway train build up used by Coppola to create the intensity of the scene is genius. What a gifted filmaker.
This is the moment when Al Pacino became a movie legend.
That roar in the background of the elevated train makes this scene so intense. We all know Michael is hearing a roar...but it's not that train. That's just genius film making.
Everything's just perfect in this scene: acting, directing, framing, editing, sound. A little masterpiece within a masterpiece.
God my heart was racing watching this for the first time. They keep you guessing on if he's actually gonna do it.
Michael seems to not find a gun at first.
He second guesses himself before leaving.
He sits down when Clemenza tells him not to and to just shoot them.
Then you get the close up of him contemplating it more
He finally does it and does it in 3 bullets instead of 2
It's fantastic seeing a movie act out as if it were real, this wasn't just an acting job by Pacino, he literally made us believe that Michael was a real person.
It was supposed to be 4 bullets, two for each of them in the head.
My heart raced so hard too. This scene's truly eviscerating!
This movie is now 50 years old, and it still is one of the very best mob movies out there, and I'm about to turn 29 this year. I also find crazy to think my Pops was 20 when it first came out in '72, the 70s were a crazy time he lived in.
Fellow 1993 baby!
This movie came out the same year I was born.
Al's face is amazing in this scene.
Here you have a triumph of set design, sound editing, cinematography, acting and directing. Every moment of film, so very carefully crafted. This is why the movie is a masterpiece !
The ultimate moment comes with increasing speed and sound of railway ,is all saying the condition of Michael's mind ,without saying a word. Great !👍👌
This scene was a clear example of why this movie is considered one of the best in cinema. Every action directed was intentional. The anxiety of not finding the gun initially, the train going by at the most anxious moments to draw you into that feeling. The delayed reactions during the shooting from both sides, then finally coming to and escaping. Absolutely perfect.
This is exactly why I HATE when people say Casino was a great movie about the mob. Um, have you heard of the Godfather, you phillistine?
@@darkscienceyt so by your logic Casino cant be a great movie too just because this one is great?
Brilliant film making.
@@darkscienceyt screw you casino was great
There is an editing error in this scene. The There is an editing error in this scene. Look carefully. The Peterson lookin guy already has blood on his forehead at 2:07
Although it was very satisfying to see Peterson die a violent death
JBPeterson: "My message to the Hungarians
Do not rebel against your PM
Your leader is trying to restore the metaphysical foundation of the 1000 years old Hungarian empire
I would like to tell you a secret about Jesus and a secret about your PM. Another name for Jesus is Viktor"
One of the absolute best scenes in cinematic history.
I agree...from beginning to the end
It’s a guy shooting two guys. Nothing mind blowing here.
@@humantacos9800 ahhh we got a simple one.
I still have The Godfather part 2. Wrap in plastic since then. With seal of paramount tape.. tented to open ! I used to work at a vcr rented video store..in 78..😃,
Yeah but what about the “It took months for things to calm down, finally my guys got out on bail and the bosses wanted to send my brother Dominic to Vegas. Dollars... always the fuckin dollars”
Brilliant, one the best death scenes ever realized, choreographed and filmed.
One of the greatest scenes in one of the greatest movies ever.
"The Offer" illuminates this in a brilliant scene of its own.
Coppola & Puzo are stuck, and all of a sudden, Francis has the light bulb go on... remember, Clemenza told Mikey to just bring his hand down to his side and drop the gun.
Instead, Coppola has Mikey hold on to the gun, and he even raises his hand, THEN drops it, signifying Mike's last vestige of holding on and then letting go.
There is an editing error in this scene. The There is an editing error in this scene. Look carefully. The Peterson lookin guy already has blood on his forehead at 2:07
Although it was very satisfying to see Peterson die a violent death
JBPeterson: "My message to the Hungarians
Do not rebel against your PM
Your leader is trying to restore the metaphysical foundation of the 1000 years old Hungarian empire
I would like to tell you a secret about Jesus and a secret about your PM. Another name for Jesus is Viktor"
The scene is so intense it even felt like the music was in shock and started a few seconds after it was supposed to
I always loved that they put the subway brakes in the forefront of the audio mix right before Michael kills them. It's as if his adrenaline is pumping so hard in his body before the kill that the rest of the world fades out and and all that's left is the deed that must be done. As soon as they are dead, the world returns to its cacophony of myriad sounds
Coupled with Pacino acting through his eyeballs, it all builds to the inevitable crescendo. The only word for it is perfection.
@@briley2177 facts
@@briley2177 Brilliant direction. Brilliant editing.
Brilliant through and through.............
Major blooper - the wound can already be seen in McCluskey's forehead BEFORE Michael shoots him there!
Good find
The tension created by the increasingly loud sound of an approaching train, climaxing at the point where Michael fires his gun, gets me every time I watch this movie. The Godfather Part 1 is an absolute masterpiece.
Godfather 2 is a continuation of the masterpiece, in my opinion. You are correct though.
@@jeffreybaier5312 i agree completely. It is an amazing sequel to Part 1 yet stands on its own as another incredible masterpiece.
then there's godfather 3 not a masterpiece but I still think it's underrated.
@@pinkbeatle2012 yeah, I agree with that too. GF3 suffers from a few wooden performances, characters that are more characatures and scene rip offs buuuuuut..... I still love it.
2:22. If you look closely, you can see that Pacino actually bumps into the camera right after he drops the gun and walks passed it. I found that strangely hilarious 🤣
He doesn't bump into any camera. There is NO camera in the scene. LOL
@@yesterdayproductions1019 Errrrr, he bumps into the camera *shooting* the scene. If you actually watch the linked clip, the image jiggles when he hits it.
The cop is also bleeding on his forehead before Michael shoots him in the head.
@@wrongeyedjake That one was a joke
@@jjww30No He isn't. You're just making up shit now.
I always loved the reaction of the background actors, it's just as impactful as the action. Saw an accident happen and the reaction is quite similar where people are first confused then afraid and get out of the scenario
I wish someone would build an Italian restaurant like this !
Forget olive garden ! 😮😮😮😮😮
We had them I enjoyed them you are so right !
This scene really puts you in the moment, what son wouldn't avenge somebody that attacked his father? I'd have been sweating bullets! But it had to be done
Be kind of foolish to do it that way nowadays.
@@gator2813 Foolish? Pecker it's absolutely insane! But within that lifestyle, it's business as usual Being in a crew like that, to me,is like playing Russian Roulette with 1 bullet in the chamber at a million dollars a turn? Sooner or later your time is up and you'll wish you took a 9-5 job! Those guy's are a different breed altogether.
@@gator2813 That's always been done since the beginning of humanity, for as long as Parents birth Children who they will kill for, there will always be Children who will kill for their Parents.
@@maylabrown4584 He said foolish to do it *that* way.
There is an editing error in this scene. The There is an editing error in this scene. Look carefully. The Peterson lookin guy already has blood on his forehead at 2:07
Although it was very satisfying to see Peterson die a violent death
JBPeterson: "My message to the Hungarians
Do not rebel against your PM
Your leader is trying to restore the metaphysical foundation of the 1000 years old Hungarian empire
I would like to tell you a secret about Jesus and a secret about your PM. Another name for Jesus is Viktor"
I have never seen this movie trilogy, but this scene is perfect. The sporadic movement when at first he can't find the gun, the hair slick-back due to anxiety of "looking weird", the inner turmoil as he considers the good and bad of murdering, the train sound acting as almost a cerebral "times up" signal, the pure shock on the mobster's face.
Yes you have seen all three movies.
The food must have been really good. Even after getting shot, he still managed one last bite..
🤣🤣🤣
He looks pissed that he did not get to swallow.
Well, The Turk DID say it was the best veal in town! LOL.
@@JD0124 Beat me to it!
barked last burp !
This movie will never get old and will never not be great, not matter its age
He did this not to avenge his father but to eliminate the stem of the problem, as he later did with its roots. As he himself said, "it's not personal, it's just business".
@jskfhkshf Not in the slightest.
@@joannapebbleworthy9343 Joanna, if you think avenging his father and Luigi was not at least a large part of Micheal's motivation for doing this, then you really don't understand the Italian mob. The Italian Mafia, especially back in those days, would never stand for someone (outside the family) killing one of their own without retaliation. That you think they would proves you're an idiot. Sure, Michael might have had other motivations as well, but don't kid yourself. Avenging his father and Luigi was a MAJOR factor into his actions in this scene.
@@james_ford86 No need for such strong words. Unless you are in your teens, but even then.
And who is Luigi? Did you mean Sentino?
Maybe he didn't hate having all those people killed but hate it or not, he had no other choice, they were dangerous to his family. He even had Fredo killed, the moment he realised Fredo was a liability to the family.
@@joannapebbleworthy9343 Doesn't matter if I got Luigi's name wrong or not. The point still stands. As I said, the Italian Mafia, especially back in those days, will not stand for someone (outside of the family) murdering one of their own without retaliating. I never said they won't kill one of their own in certain cases, like betrayal, when Michael had Fredo killed. That doesn't make what I said untrue. I know it's hard, but do try to read and comprehend what someone is saying before responding.
@@james_ford86 Being rude does not prove your point.