The man at the hospital was Enzo, the baker. He was an Italian POW who was supposed to be repatriated back to Italy at the end of World War 2. The Don arranged for him to stay in the US at the end of the war so he could marry the baker's daughter. That night at the hospital, Enzo paid his debt to the Don.
@@davidmontgomery4696True, but only because she was the only woman he had access to. Fat and unattractive, and wasn't the baker mad! He never liked Enzo. But his fat daughter was pregnant, so he went to the Don.
I always imagined that Michael never ever forgot Enzo’s act of bravery that night. He would have had the respect and thanks of the Corleone Family for life.
I see too many reactors giving Bonasera flak for saying that his daughter 'was' the light of his life, and that she 'will never be beautiful again.' The man is grieving for the misfortune that befell his little girl, fearing that she will never again be the bright, happy young lady that she was. He will always love her, and how she looks doesn't matter to him, at all. He is devastated over the effect that the attack will have on the quality of her life, and how other people will treat her.
How can you say all that from that dialogue alone? " He dosent care how he looks" i mean how a woman looks is something that higly affects their socoetal position in 40s america, and also godfathee characters are not usuaaly good to woman
@@timbeatty8411the problem is that you two imagined all of that from an dialogue thay dosen show nothing of it, the godfather shows an american society thats harsh on woman, sure that guy still loves his daughter but that dosent mean those comments are meant to be interpreted on the chariest way possible
@@bernardoblanco4286 Re-read carefully. He doesn't care how SHE looks, because he loves her. But he knows that the way other people react and respond to her will be negatively affected for the rest of her life.
It always cracks me up these types of comments, because you probably don’t even actually remember what you thought about that scene or any others the first time you watched this, then you give flack to people watching it the first time when you’ve had years of digesting every scene on rewatches and through watching other reactors. You see this stuff in the comments with every big franchise where people that have watched a scene 50 times criticize someone for not grasping every nuance despite them probably not getting it their first viewing either.
Vito asking Johnny Fontane if he spends time with his family seems like such a random change of subject until you realise Sonny just walked in and Vito looks at him as he says "a man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man". Vito didn't approve of a lot of Sonny's behavior but he was always careful not to air the dirty laundry too openly in front of non-family. In private though, he made his feelings clear.
Donna Evie-leone....I am honored and grateful that you have invited me to your channel's...reaction...on the day of your channel's reaction...and I hope that your first reaction, be a masculine reaction.
The man playing Luca Brasi was a real gangster who was one of several who had been sent to keep an eye on the production. Among other things, the mob insisted that the word "Mafia" could not be spoken in the film. Coppolla cast him as Luca because of his obviously imposing presence. But the man was actually intimidated by working with Brando, and he couldn't perform his speech properly. So Coppolla decided to make that nervousness part of his character, and he filmed the sequence in which we see Brasi rehearsing. BTW...the guy was actually a Mafia arsonist, and his method was to tie a tampon to the tail of a mouse, set the tampon on fire, and then release the mouse into the building to run around wildly and spread the flame. Also BTW...the Mafia loved the finished film, and they decided to allow the word "Mafia" in Godfather II.
i must say that you are one of the sharpest reactors i've seen for this movie: you remember faces and names. You're the first person to recognize that Paulie was the guy at the beginning who wanted to steal the bridal money. ANd you did that by recognizing his face alone, as we didnt even know his name at that point. Same thing with recognizing Barzini by face, when he showed up at the funeral. Well done! Subscribed.
She's okay. She also thought the Don was wearing a bullet proof vest when it was Luca, doesn't know the term stud, and thought Enzo the baker was trouble.
It was actually not very good. When they want to take the family picture at the wedding, she says, Fcn Michael, you're holding up the wedding or something like that. She should not be reacting to a movie of this caliber. She couldn't figure out at first why Michael told Carlo that he has to answer for Santino. But, at least she reacted.
This story is complex, and your ability to discern the little side stories and motivations is impressive, to say the least. Your insights on this film are spot on. I especially enjoyed your ruthlessness as the movie went on. I think if the horse seen had happened at the end, your reaction may have well been, "What do you expect when you do not show the Don the respect he deserves?". Very good work, indeed.
@@jamesalexander5623 Rocco was an ex-cop so he had the gear to effectively pass as one, he died at the end of part 2 when he killed Hymen Roth at the airport. Willie Cicci was the one to kill the guy in the revolving door, he later was the one to testify in front of Congress.
@@Joe-hh8gd That millenial is smarter than you. Guess you missed Luca Brasi's bulletproof vest, huh? Indeed, it is 1945. Gangsters like Luca Brasi were wearing them as far back as the early 1900s. The first modern bulletproof vest was created In 1893. Older ones were created as far back as the mid 16th century. SMH, indeed.
The murder of Apollonia is significant for a couple of reasons. 1) It shows he isn't safe from his enemies even in Sicily and 2) her murder hardens Michael and obliterates his ability to trust anyone. It also further distances him from his humanity and moral compass. He becomes significantly more ruthless and cunning after that event which is necessary for the role he is about to assume as head of the family. As you said every scene is well laid out and written with dialogue delivered perfectly...and every scene has a purpose. Apollonia and her fate is not a side role she is actually integral to Michael's growth into becoming the Don.
I watch a few reaction channels but I have say Evie you are just awesome. I love how you not only love movies as an artform, but also deconstruct movie narratives and characters. This movie indeed has an intricate plot. More can be found with every watch but you're ability to catch so many details is just impressive.
Johnny Fontaine represents Frank Sinatra and Moe Green represents Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel. Bugsy Siegel started casinos in Las Vegas and was murdered when he didn't pay back what he borrowed from the mob.
Moe Green was Moe Dalitz who to this day, even though he was in organized crime...a statue as far as I know is still standing in Las Vegas, and he lived an old age. Fontaine was Frank Sinatra from the movie From Here To Eternity, and Sinatra played the Italian American soldier Maggio. The bandleader referenced was Tommy James, and for years the story was just as portrayed in the movie.
@@leephoenix4041Paul Castellano??????? Carlo Gambino was the boss when this movie was being made. Castellano didn’t become boss until ‘76 when Gambino died of natural causes. There is zero chance what you were told was true.
@@leephoenix4041 Impossible. Paul Castellano became boss when Carlo Gambino checked out in 1976. The Godfather was '72 and the book was '69. Don Corleone was based on Gambino, Lucky Luciano, Frank Costello, Tommy Lucasasee(I can't spell) and Pope Alexander VI(Roderigo Borgia)
You’ve misunderstood. Michael’s request for Fabrizio to translate during his conversation with Apollonia’s father is not primarily because he is more comfortable speaking English. It is intended as a mark of respect. Here's why: • Cultural Respect and Formality: In Sicilian culture, traditional courtship required a formal approach. By having Fabrizio translate, Michael adheres to this formality and ensures his intentions are conveyed clearly and with the proper etiquette. It elevates the seriousness of his proposal. • Emphasis on Diplomacy: Michael's use of a translator emphasises the importance of Apollonia’s father in the conversation. It shows that he does not wish to risk misunderstandings due to linguistic or cultural nuances, underlining his respect for the man as the head of the family. • Demonstration of Intentions: Asking for Fabrizio’s help allows Michael to underscore that he is not taking casual liberties. Speaking indirectly (through a translator) avoids potential over-familiarity or impropriety when addressing Apollonia's father, fitting the expectations of Sicilian custom. • Michael’s Calculated Persona: Michael is highly strategic and respectful in his approach. By using Fabrizio as an intermediary, he subtly communicates that this is not an impulsive or casual move, but a deliberate and honourable step in building a connection with the family. IN CONCLUSION Michael's decision to use Fabrizio as a translator is a deliberate gesture rooted in cultural respect and formality, aligned with the traditions of Sicilian courtship. It helps to establish a tone of deference and sincerity in his proposal.
Love your information on Sicilian diplomacy. The novel adds that Michael apologized for what HE said about how attractive Apollonia is even though Fabrizio said it. By doing so, Michael is showing that he is the leader of the three men and therefore takes responsibility for what the two men under him do and say.
@@ednicholson7839 ... Michael was not fluent in Sicilian, which is why he had to switch to English when talking to Sollozzo. He had Fabrizio speak to Vitelli for that reason and because he was being diplomatic.
@@Stogie2112 Yeah, when I said Italian I meant Sicilian, though when he's meeting with Sollozzo and McClusky I think Sollozzo says to the captain that he's going to speak to Michael in Italian -- though maybe they were actually speaking Sicilian. I'm guessing back then most Sicilians didn't even speak proper mainland Italian much -- and that may even be true today for some or much of Sicily. I'm no expert there, but I agree that the main issue here is that Michael is more comfortable speaking English in most situations. It's part of the Americanness of his character, stronger in him than everyone around him -- except Kay. And I think his Americanness is what drives him back to Kay after he comes home. She represents an alternative to the Corleone way that he desires for himself and his family but can't achieve.
"Making a list, checking it twice. We're going to f***ing kill everybody." The Godfather Christmas Special. This was so much fun, Evie. And the edit was exceptional! The classics are always in great hands with you. Thank you, and Happy New Year!
Props for paying attention to the entire film. Catching so many things that many reactors don't . Its nice to see fresh eyes enjoy a piece of art like this film.
I often read a lot of comments that talk about how accurate Michael's shots were in the restaurant. Michael was not involved in mafia affairs at that time, but he was a hero of World War II. He probably shot better than anyone in his family.
Remember when Saul Goodman surprised Walter by walking into the classroom? Saul asked,"What did Tom Hagen do for Vito Corleone?" Walter says, "I'm no Vito Corleone". "No shit," replies Saul. "Right now you're Fredo" ... now you understand what they were talking about 😊😊
My grandfather was fully Italian and he refused to watch this film. We respected his reasons. He was not Sicilian, but his family did come from southern Italy. Sicilians and Southern Italians were darker-skinned, so they suffered discrimination in the USA as well as from Northern Italians.
Yeah, my family came from Sicily. Although they speak Italian the dialect is different. I loaned a Scilian movie to my friend whose family was from Northern Italy. She was snooty saying she could barely understand it. Smh
@@jamesalexander5623 Part 3 was muddied because of Sofias roll. Had she not been in it, part 3 would have been almost as good as the first two. Part 3 is still wickedly underrated.That Opera scene compared with any scene of the first two parts.
26:03 Always thought it funny that Sonny says to Michael dismissively “this isn’t like the Army, you gotta get up close and bada bing”. Michael was a Marine. He fought in the Pacific where combat was often “up close” & incredibly brutal. Also while serving, Michael was awarded the Navy Cross (2nd highest military decoration) & a Silver Star (3rd highest military decoration). Maybe Sonny just saw him as his little bro, but Michael was very experienced in close up violence.
In Godfather 2, he says he was awarded the Navy Cross at the Senate hearing. But it’s not on his uniform. What we see is the Silver Star. Maybe it got upgraded.
For Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), Francis Ford Coppola put a jaw prosthesis in his mouth and a gauze, to give him that particular face. Brando was relatively young in this film, and Coppola pretended to age him and also look more threatening.
The "Bonasera opening speech" is a MASTERPIECE of acting, especially for an opening scene of a movie.... .and so hard to believe that the actor who did it is only created for THREE roles his entire career.
The only traitor in Apollonia's death was Fabrizio, the other bodyguard was innocent. The bomb was meant for Michael. Fabrizio didn't think that Apollonia was going to drive the car to Michael.
In part 2 ,they cut out the part when Michael finds Fabrizio working in a pizzeria somewhere in chicago. Kills him the same way, with a car bomb as he started up the car. I'm confused why Copella cut that scene out in part 2.
@@BobBenson-qz8lp If you can get hold of the "Godfather Saga" (the "Godfather" and the "Godfather II" combined, with all the scenes in chronological order), the scene with Fabrizio's demise is included. As far as I know, it has not been released on DVD (unless "pirated"), but it was released in a VHS boxed set). 📼📀📼📀📼📀📼📀📼
Better is never a word I use for part 2. It's bigger in story and grander in locations and budget. Just stop at Part 2 though and walk away a winner. I hate when reactors last memory is part 3.
Evie, I've watched dozens of reactions to this movie and you are probably the sharpest one. Very perceptive. I think there are two key moments in Michael's transformation. His father getting shot was the first, of course. (In the hospital he tells his father, "I'm with you now, Pop", which has more than one meaning!) And then when Appolonia is murdered, it really turns Michael to darkness. He decides he must me more ruthless than his enemies. You will see how this plays out in GF II, which i really hope you react to soon. I really enjoy your reactions. Happy new year to you and your family.
Part 2 is mandatory...it continues the saga. Part 3 is not as good, but still worth watching for closure. Many people, including me, think the original is the best film of all time, followed closely by Part 2.
Barzini runs the meeting of the five families and lectures Don Corleone, "A refusal is not the act of a friend." And yet people wonder how Don Corleone knew that "Barzini was behind it all along."
This has got to be included amongst the top three greatest Hollywood motion pictures of all time. Always have loved this one. First time I caught this picture I was just a youngster in the 1970's. I have screened this film hundreds of times. Know each and every line by heart. So cool seeing younger people such as yourself discovering films from yesteryear. Thank you so much, Evie, for your thoughts and honest, candid reactions. Liking your style a lot. Your very witty and so funny. Big shoutout from the mountains of East Tennessee. Be seeing you on the next. Happy New Year to you and yours. Much peace and loads of love everyone. Later, y'all
Very perceptive you caught alot of the ' inside' workings of the family - alot of this filmed in NY ,( that was my H.S music teacher playin flute in wedding scene😊)
Whoever thought that 53 years ago sitting in a theater that i would be watching young people reaction on something called UA-cam i like when young people discover the classics
You did a great job reviewing this film. I’ve watched a lot young people react to this film and they usually miss a lot. You got most everything, and quickly. Bravo!
Check out the scene outside of the hospital after moving his father’s bed. When the first car passes, Enzo is shaking like a leaf getting a cigarette. Michael is calm and unnerved when he takes the lighter and holds it. Michael realizes that he has the fortitude required for the job.
Poor Apollonia, she and Kay were the true victims of Michael's ambition. But he was a family man first and that is why he did what he did more than anything else. He just morphed into a different person to become the new Godfather. The scene where Vito sees Santino lying dead after the assassination - look how they massacred my boy - I don't want his mother to see him this way. Truly heartbreaking.
It's so cute when Appollonia pretends to trip. Like a Sicilian girl who has lived in those hills her whole life would lose her balance. That was adorable.
When Vito was shot, That was the moment when Michael decided that this "business" was not just business and attacks on the family are quite personal, whether or not it's good business. And that murder is good business is not personal is not true at all for the victims.
This is in the weeds but telling: The first Godfather movie was originally budgeted for something like 2 million dollars but its budget swelled to more than 6 million. The studio gave the filmmakers a very hard time because they did not believe that the movie would make back such an investment. (6 million was more in 1972 than it is now.) After the movie made more than 250 million in its first year, the studio allowed the director a budget of 11 million for the second Godfather film.
The montage of newspaper headlines after the restaurant shooting was directed by George Lucas, long before he directed "Star Wars." There are several uncredited contributions to this movie. For example, although the script is credited to Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, one key scene late in the movie was written by Robert Towne, who was later celebrated as the screenwriter of "Chinatown."
IMHO the best movie ever made! A Cinematic Masterpiece. The cinematography, lighting, set design, score, screenplay, casting! Directing, acting, and costumes are all fantastic. If each is not the best ever, when you combine all of it together you have the best movie ever made 🤩
True or not, a story goes that after they rehearsed the scene where Michael goes to the restroom to retrieve the handgun, the director asked the prop man to move the gun and retape it a little bit to the left. That way, when Al Pacino reached for it he genuinely panicked a little because the gun wasn't where he expected it to be. The genuine panic made Pacino's performance look that much better.
You nailed it. Don Corleone does not do "jobs" for people. He simply helps them out. and should an opportunity present itself where someone you helped, can help you back, in the name of friendship, then that is all well and good for the Godfather
Excellent reaction and outro, Evie! 👍👍 We can always count on you for top-level reactions to great films. After the big meeting of the Five Families, Vito told Tom, "But I never knew until this day that it was Barzini all along." During the meeting, Don Barzini sat at the head of the table and was clearly in charge. Philip Tattaglia sat across the table from Vito Corleone, but he never spoke directly to Vito. He spoke only to Barzini. Vito watched all of this very closely. He saw that Tattaglia kept talking to Barzini for guidance and assurances. Vito knew right then that Barzini was behind all the attacks on his family. Tattaglia was nothing.
Great reaction. One of Evie's greatest strengths as a reactor is that she is a mom. The look on her face after the Don's funeral home speech was both beautiful and priceless. Keep on keep'en on Evie!!!
Appollonia was killed by the car bomb which was meant for Micheal. One of his 2 Italian guards betrayed him. He assumed that Michael would only be in the car. So she was collateral damage. Thus Micheal returned to the US to take over.
You have a good eye for faces. A lot of people say "who's that?" but you recognize characters who haven't been on screen since the beginning of the movie.
At the beginning of the film when they meet to discuss drugs and Corleone refuses, where the son answers and the Godfather interrupts him, Santino was a hothead and showed his cards and this was understood by the families and they exploited this character trait of his to make him fall into a trap. In fact they corrupted Carlo by offering him something, staging the fight with his sister, the first time it was probably a test to see Santino's reaction, the second time it was to kill Santino…but Mike understand this trick, after he asks Carlo, who was behind this thing, Barzini or Tartaglia? and Carlo answers Barzini. Michael changed after his father was almost killed, he wanted to stay out of the family and have a different life, but he loved his family and to protect them he became like them. Apollonia was probably the right woman for Michael, Kay was not good and was chosen later as a replacement after the accident. The second part is good too
That's right. Michael hasn't been around much. The movie begins shortly before December 1945. The Second World War has only been over for 3 or 4 months. Michael has been fighting in the Pacific. He is in the Marines which is a sub-branch of the Navy (don't tell the Marines that, though), and he won the Navy Cross for bravery. He has not been back in the States very long, but also he keeps his distance from the family.
17:15 "we have Tom Hagen." In the book, Sonny brought home an orphaned Tom Hagen with an eye infection and basically demanded he stay. Sonny and Tom had a special bond
Nice one, Evie! So glad you got a chance to see this. It's a keeper, isn't it? I enjoyed rewatching this with you. The second one is very good too. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Great reaction. Others have surely mentioned it, but Part II is a must-see, to a greater extent than most sequels. In fact, it’s both sequel and prequel, and it’s a masterpiece. All the vibe from the original is maintained.
29:30 The scene in the diner works without subtitles b/c you can feel the tension build regardless. But what they say is basically: SOLLOZZO: “I’m sorry…” MICHAEL: “Leave it alone.” ( or ) “Forget about it.” SOLLOZZO: “What happened to your father was business. I have much respect for your father. But your father, his thinking is old-fashioned. You must understand why I had to do that.” MICHAEL: “I understand those things…” [Waiter brings McCluskey's veal, then exits.] SOLLOZZO: “Now let’s work through where we go from here.” MICHAEL: “How do you say… ?” [Then Michael returns to speaking English.] [After Michael returns from the bathroom] SOLLOZZO: “Everything all right? I respect myself, understand, and cannot allow another man to hold me back. What happened was unavoidable. I had the unspoken support of the other Family dons. If your father were in better health, without his eldest son running things, no disrespect intended, we wouldn’t have this nonsense. We will stop fighting until your father is well and can resume bargaining. No vengeance will be taken. We will have peace, but your Family should interfere no longer.”
Great reaction once again, l im glad you enjoy this masterpiece of cinema its one of my favourites its because of this movie that Coppola and Pacino got their careers famous in some Hollywood. Some fun-facts about this movie, What is funny about the cat is it was just a stray that happened to wander on set. Marlon Brando picked up the cat and told director Francis Ford Coppola it would add to his character. And it became iconic. Lenny Montana, who played Luca Brasi, was a professional wrestler before becoming an actor. He was so nervous delivering his lines to a legend like Brando during the scene in in this movie study that he didn’t give one good take during an entire day’s shoot. Because he didn’t have time to reshoot the scene, Coppola added a new scene of Luca Brasi rehearsing his lines before seeing the Godfather to make Montana’s bad takes seem like Brasi was simply nervous to talk to the Godfather. Johnny Fontaine is based on Frank Sinatra for the part in the movie From here to Eternity. Based on real stories from across the five families from the 40s and 50s Frank Sinatra tried to stop the Godfather from being made, there is a movie based on that story The horse head in the movie producer’s bed wasn’t a prop. The production got a real horse’s head from a local dog food company. The line in the script only had actor Richard Castellano as Clemenza say “Leave the gun” after the hit on the mobster who ratted on the Corleones. He was inspired to make the addition after Coppola inserted a line in which the character’s wife asks him to buy cannoli for dessert. The baby in the baptism at the end is director Copolla’s daughter Sophia, now an Oscar winning writer and director. Keep up the good work.
Johnny Fontane character was based on Frank Sinatra, who in real life also was let go from his contract with a big band to star in a war movie (From Here to Eternity), with the support of the mafia.
One the greatest movies of all time, a chess ♟️ game in the criminal underworld….that sense of mike at the restaurant and his mind and heartbeat racing willing asking if he’ll do it or not. Yup feels just like that…..that last scene clamenza is saying in his mind“ what a go kid”.
Carlo was unhappy because he was being frozen out of the family business, and wanted revenge on Sonny after the beating. He knew if he hit Connie again that Sonny would come after him. He made a deal with Barzini to draw Sonny out of hiding so he could be murdered at the toll plaza. Even the phone call from the woman that set off the fight with Connie was part of the set-up. Sonny's bad judgement and hot head was the source of most of the trouble. He let Solozzo see he was interested in the deal even when Vito turned it down. Because of this, Solozzo thought he could make a deal with Sonny if Vito were out of the way. That's why they shot Vito.
Thanks for this intelligent and perceptive review. Many reviewers don't catch the nuances of the plot and the motivations of the lead characters as well as you have. Great job. I look forward to watching your reaction to Godfather II, another cinematic masterpiece that many people consider even better than The Godfather.
Michael Corleone was a modern-day classical Greek tragedy. He was doomed from the start. At Connie's wedding, he told Kay, "That's my family, Kay. That's not me." He was looking downward when he said it. He couldn't look Kay in the eye. He knew deep down that he was a Corleone all the way. The two assassination attempts on his father and McClusky breaking his jaw quickly turned him to the Dark Side, so to speak. At the hospital, he said to his father, "I'm with you now, Pop." He was all about joining the Family Business then. In Sicily, he found his "proper Sicilian wife" and planned on returning to NYC to take over the Family......but then....
When Michael confronted Enzo at the hospital, it was a very dangerous, tense, underrated moment... if he was instead a hit man, and made any kind of move, being a skilled ex-marine, Michael was prepared to kill him with his bare hands.
13:05 Santino caused the attack on his father when he showed that if he was making the decisions, he would be interested in the business. That's why his father reprimands him. Showing dissention inside the family shows to the outside who favors their business. I think Carlo's elimination was the only one that was personal. He had no power and he could just have been thrown out to the street, but instead he was given a slow end, when he kicked the window I could taste his desperation. I hope you watch the three movies. In my opinion the first one is the best, but the second one is the one that won the Oscar, so who can say what you will like best.
I have friends who ask me about charisma. I tell others just watch Al Pacino in the Godfather to learn it. Every time he's on screen, you can see him thinking and can't read it. You just can't take your eyes off him. If I have any sense of mystery, it's just me watching this film over and over again.
I'm always up for watching a reaction video of the Godfather 🏆 🎥 Just remember , a man that doesn't decapitate a horse's head , can never be a real man . 😂 LOL
Also, Michael never lied to Kate when she asked him "is it true". He was answering the question truthfully, as his sister claimed "YOU killed my husband". MIchael did no such thing. he had others do it. so when Kate askid him "is it true" he could truthfully say, "no" as he never killed her husband. others did.
The five families of New York were originally started by Charlie Luciano in Myers lansky which was called the commission, everything had to be approved by the commission
If people tell you to not watch part 3 ignore them. Its not on par with the first 2, but there is still value in it despite certain things being rushed and changed because one actor refused to come back, another actor fell out in the middle of the first weeks of production and got replaced with his daughter. Who is a great director but didn't have much experience being more than a tiny supporting actor at 19. It wasn't meant to be called part 3, it was meant to have Coda at the end marking it as an epilogue. If you go in with the mindset of it being a coda you will likely enjoy it more.
The director's original cut was almost three hours, so for the theatrical release they had to cut out a lot. One of the scenes that was cut was one of Michael's Sicilian bodyguards being killed in revenge for him helping to blow up Michael's car in Sicily.
Evie, you did a great job. I've seen reactors that can't grasp everything going on, but you did 😊 except for Carlo beating Connie to draw Sonny out, which very few people get.😊 And it was Sonny that introduced Carlo to Connie 😢😢
I remember thinking that the shot of the aftermath of Sollozzo and McCluskey’s shooting looked really realistic, then I head that the montage that followed it used press photographs of real mafia assassinations. These were familiar as there had been a few outbreaks of violence between organised crime gang, that had been reported, even here in Scotland, at the beginning of the 70s before I saw The Godfather - I was only 12 when it came out so I couldn’t see it in the cinema and there was a much longer delay before films were shown on TV in these pre-home video days
Great reaction and instincts Evie. Great job. I forget the part but you where right on the money on predicting something during it. You have great instincts and attention to detail!
53:20 "Wouldn't they know that he would suspect that they were up to something?" Excellent question. It seems to me that Michael, being a very patient and shrewd man, played everything cool and calm. He didn't start any new fights with Barzini and the other Families. He made sure that they were relaxed and feeling like they were in charge. Barzini underestimated Michael's cunning. He thought that he could manipulate Michael, but he was the one being manipulated.
Some people have interpreted The Godfather like a Greek play of a family tragedy story, which that does make sense in a way. Your reaction to this 1972 classic film of The Godfather by Francis Ford Coppola was one of the best. I was 16 years old when I first saw it in the theater, and have watched it many times over throughout the years since then. Including The Godfather Part II. Part III was not the favorite by many (including myself) but still interesting. I did not care for Francis Ford Coppola's Coda version because the ending of the original was edited out.
This is based on a True story >>> Johnny Fontaine is supposed to portray Frank Sinatra. The “war” movie that Sinatra could not get was “ From Here to Eternity”. The studio would not give him the role of Magio. Sinatra at the time was down on his luck big time. At the time he was coa has-been. Due to health reasons with his throat he could not sing. Eventually, Sinatra got the role even winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. The movie was a big hit. Costars were Montgomery Clift, Donna Reed, & Ernest Borgnine.
Hello Evie. Having not read the book(s), there are many in the comments that know more than I do abt "The Godfather" (like that Enzo was an Italian POW in WW2 or that Tesio was Sonny's Godfather). That said, I've watched both parts 1 & 2 for many yrs. There's SO much happening, so much subtility & so many interconnections, anyone watching for 1st time will miss a lot. W/o spoilers, there's more to learn abt Tesio & Clemenza. To me, they're more important characters than many pick up on in 1st watch. So, just stay tuned & enjoy.
I think at the end Michael tells Carlo he’s going to Vegas and his wife and child will meet him there in a few days. So for Carlo, hes under the impression that his punishment is being ‘out’ and banished to Vegas, where his family will join him later. I don’t think he was under impression he alone was being cast out without wife & kid. Rather that he was to leave and his family would come out there a few days later. In that way, Michael sells the “b/c youre family, I won’t kill you for your betrayal, but you need to leave here” ruse to Carlo.
Family and respect is EVERYTHING to the old school Sicilians. If you pay attention in the next movie Vito never accepts a gift offered out of pity or charity, but would never refuse a gift offered out of respect. Because it would be disrespectful to do so.
The man at the hospital was Enzo, the baker. He was an Italian POW who was supposed to be repatriated back to Italy at the end of World War 2. The Don arranged for him to stay in the US at the end of the war so he could marry the baker's daughter. That night at the hospital, Enzo paid his debt to the Don.
You understand everything! Wait till you see the wedding cake.
@@DavidStewart-v5eEnzo was playing comedy with the bakers daughter.
@@davidmontgomery4696True, but only because she was the only woman he had access to. Fat and unattractive, and wasn't the baker mad! He never liked Enzo. But his fat daughter was pregnant, so he went to the Don.
Enzo was brave like every Italian soldier in WW2 😀
I always imagined that Michael never ever forgot Enzo’s act of bravery that night. He would have had the respect and thanks of the Corleone Family for life.
I see too many reactors giving Bonasera flak for saying that his daughter 'was' the light of his life, and that she 'will never be beautiful again.' The man is grieving for the misfortune that befell his little girl, fearing that she will never again be the bright, happy young lady that she was. He will always love her, and how she looks doesn't matter to him, at all. He is devastated over the effect that the attack will have on the quality of her life, and how other people will treat her.
The problem is nobody thinks with common sense and empathy.
How can you say all that from that dialogue alone?
" He dosent care how he looks" i mean how a woman looks is something that higly affects their socoetal position in 40s america, and also godfathee characters are not usuaaly good to woman
@@timbeatty8411the problem is that you two imagined all of that from an dialogue thay dosen show nothing of it, the godfather shows an american society thats harsh on woman, sure that guy still loves his daughter but that dosent mean those comments are meant to be interpreted on the chariest way possible
@@bernardoblanco4286 Re-read carefully. He doesn't care how SHE looks, because he loves her. But he knows that the way other people react and respond to her will be negatively affected for the rest of her life.
It always cracks me up these types of comments, because you probably don’t even actually remember what you thought about that scene or any others the first time you watched this, then you give flack to people watching it the first time when you’ve had years of digesting every scene on rewatches and through watching other reactors. You see this stuff in the comments with every big franchise where people that have watched a scene 50 times criticize someone for not grasping every nuance despite them probably not getting it their first viewing either.
Vito asking Johnny Fontane if he spends time with his family seems like such a random change of subject until you realise Sonny just walked in and Vito looks at him as he says "a man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man". Vito didn't approve of a lot of Sonny's behavior but he was always careful not to air the dirty laundry too openly in front of non-family. In private though, he made his feelings clear.
Donna Evie-leone....I am honored and grateful that you have invited me to your channel's...reaction...on the day of your channel's reaction...and I hope that your first reaction, be a masculine reaction.
Do you pledge your EVER-ENDING(?) loyalty to Evie?
Well, this reaction was indeed a very STRONG reaction. She's as smart as Michael figuring out what's going on. Good stuff
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If this is her first time seeing "Godfather,' I stay here to listen for her reaction, for her reaction.
@@montauk6 Wait for her outside.
The man playing Luca Brasi was a real gangster who was one of several who had been sent to keep an eye on the production. Among other things, the mob insisted that the word "Mafia" could not be spoken in the film. Coppolla cast him as Luca because of his obviously imposing presence. But the man was actually intimidated by working with Brando, and he couldn't perform his speech properly. So Coppolla decided to make that nervousness part of his character, and he filmed the sequence in which we see Brasi rehearsing. BTW...the guy was actually a Mafia arsonist, and his method was to tie a tampon to the tail of a mouse, set the tampon on fire, and then release the mouse into the building to run around wildly and spread the flame. Also BTW...the Mafia loved the finished film, and they decided to allow the word "Mafia" in Godfather II.
Luca's backstory in the book is pretty horrifying. He was truly a monster in every sense of the word.
With every retelling, the actor playing Luca Brasi gets a bump upwards in rank in organized crime.
@@billolsen4360 As I recall, the only legend ever confirmed was that he was a professional wrestler.
@@bwilliams463 That's what I understand as well.
i must say that you are one of the sharpest reactors i've seen for this movie: you remember faces and names. You're the first person to recognize that Paulie was the guy at the beginning who wanted to steal the bridal money. ANd you did that by recognizing his face alone, as we didnt even know his name at that point. Same thing with recognizing Barzini by face, when he showed up at the funeral. Well done! Subscribed.
She's okay. She also thought the Don was wearing a bullet proof vest when it was Luca, doesn't know the term stud, and thought Enzo the baker was trouble.
It was actually not very good. When they want to take the family picture at the wedding, she says, Fcn Michael, you're holding up the wedding or something like that. She should not be reacting to a movie of this caliber. She couldn't figure out at first why Michael told Carlo that he has to answer for Santino. But, at least she reacted.
If you truly believe that, go back and finish high school. Sorry, but you asked for it. Her reaction was way below par.
@@cristianhcm1914 that is a good point. i didnt notice that
This story is complex, and your ability to discern the little side stories and motivations is impressive, to say the least. Your insights on this film are spot on. I especially enjoyed your ruthlessness as the movie went on. I think if the horse seen had happened at the end, your reaction may have well been, "What do you expect when you do not show the Don the respect he deserves?". Very good work, indeed.
I agree. Evie would have been a better partner for Michael than Kay. Much more enthusiastic about the family business.
She saw it before, IMO.
Evie- In case you didn’t catch it: Michael’s sister Connie - was Rocky’s wife Adrian.
...and in real life, Talia Shire (Connie) is Francis Ford Coppola's sister.
@@moosesmobile7085 And the baptized baby is Sofia Coppola.
Word is the cat wasnt scripted to be in the scene but was just a cat hanging around and Brando decided to pick it up and hold it will doing the scene.
Coppola said he saw the cat and put it in Brando's hands before filming the scene.
"Why doesn't he have a bulletproof vest?" Millenials...smh. It's 1945.
@@Joe-hh8gd They had them! Luca wore one and the guy pretending to be a Cop had one!
@@jamesalexander5623 Rocco was an ex-cop so he had the gear to effectively pass as one, he died at the end of part 2 when he killed Hymen Roth at the airport. Willie Cicci was the one to kill the guy in the revolving door, he later was the one to testify in front of Congress.
@@Joe-hh8gd
That millenial is smarter than you.
Guess you missed Luca Brasi's bulletproof vest, huh? Indeed, it is 1945. Gangsters like Luca Brasi were wearing them as far back as the early 1900s.
The first modern bulletproof vest was created In 1893. Older ones were created as far back as the mid 16th century.
SMH, indeed.
The murder of Apollonia is significant for a couple of reasons. 1) It shows he isn't safe from his enemies even in Sicily and 2) her murder hardens Michael and obliterates his ability to trust anyone. It also further distances him from his humanity and moral compass. He becomes significantly more ruthless and cunning after that event which is necessary for the role he is about to assume as head of the family. As you said every scene is well laid out and written with dialogue delivered perfectly...and every scene has a purpose. Apollonia and her fate is not a side role she is actually integral to Michael's growth into becoming the Don.
I watch a few reaction channels but I have say Evie you are just awesome. I love how you not only love movies as an artform, but also deconstruct movie narratives and characters. This movie indeed has an intricate plot. More can be found with every watch but you're ability to catch so many details is just impressive.
Yes, it's great to see "reaction people" smile when people get killed in a film.
@@Vinterfrid Are you talking about Carlo? I also smile everytime I see that scene.
" Leave the gun, take the cannolis" great line.
Italian priorities, food first.
Johnny Fontaine represents Frank Sinatra and Moe Green represents Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel. Bugsy Siegel started casinos in Las Vegas and was murdered when he didn't pay back what he borrowed from the mob.
Moe Green was Moe Dalitz who to this day, even though he was in organized crime...a statue as far as I know is still standing in Las Vegas, and he lived an old age. Fontaine was Frank Sinatra from the movie From Here To Eternity, and Sinatra played the Italian American soldier Maggio. The bandleader referenced was Tommy James, and for years the story was just as portrayed in the movie.
I also heard that The Don was based on an idealized version of Paul Castellano.
@@leephoenix4041Paul Castellano??????? Carlo Gambino was the boss when this movie was being made. Castellano didn’t become boss until ‘76 when Gambino died of natural causes. There is zero chance what you were told was true.
@@leephoenix4041 Impossible. Paul Castellano became boss when Carlo Gambino checked out in 1976. The Godfather was '72 and the book was '69. Don Corleone was based on Gambino, Lucky Luciano, Frank Costello, Tommy Lucasasee(I can't spell) and Pope Alexander VI(Roderigo Borgia)
You’ve misunderstood. Michael’s request for Fabrizio to translate during his conversation with Apollonia’s father is not primarily because he is more comfortable speaking English. It is intended as a mark of respect. Here's why:
• Cultural Respect and Formality:
In Sicilian culture, traditional courtship required a formal approach. By having Fabrizio translate, Michael adheres to this formality and ensures his intentions are conveyed clearly and with the proper etiquette. It elevates the seriousness of his proposal.
• Emphasis on Diplomacy:
Michael's use of a translator emphasises the importance of Apollonia’s father in the conversation. It shows that he does not wish to risk misunderstandings due to linguistic or cultural nuances, underlining his respect for the man as the head of the family.
• Demonstration of Intentions:
Asking for Fabrizio’s help allows Michael to underscore that he is not taking casual liberties. Speaking indirectly (through a translator) avoids potential over-familiarity or impropriety when addressing Apollonia's father, fitting the expectations of Sicilian custom.
• Michael’s Calculated Persona:
Michael is highly strategic and respectful in his approach. By using Fabrizio as an intermediary, he subtly communicates that this is not an impulsive or casual move, but a deliberate and honourable step in building a connection with the family.
IN CONCLUSION
Michael's decision to use Fabrizio as a translator is a deliberate gesture rooted in cultural respect and formality, aligned with the traditions of Sicilian courtship. It helps to establish a tone of deference and sincerity in his proposal.
Love your information on Sicilian diplomacy. The novel adds that Michael apologized for what HE said about how attractive Apollonia is even though Fabrizio said it. By doing so, Michael is showing that he is the leader of the three men and therefore takes responsibility for what the two men under him do and say.
Or maybe Michael used a translator because his Italian was shitty and the old man couldn’t speak English
well said
@@ednicholson7839 ... Michael was not fluent in Sicilian, which is why he had to switch to English when talking to Sollozzo. He had Fabrizio speak to Vitelli for that reason and because he was being diplomatic.
@@Stogie2112 Yeah, when I said Italian I meant Sicilian, though when he's meeting with Sollozzo and McClusky I think Sollozzo says to the captain that he's going to speak to Michael in Italian -- though maybe they were actually speaking Sicilian. I'm guessing back then most Sicilians didn't even speak proper mainland Italian much -- and that may even be true today for some or much of Sicily. I'm no expert there, but I agree that the main issue here is that Michael is more comfortable speaking English in most situations. It's part of the Americanness of his character, stronger in him than everyone around him -- except Kay. And I think his Americanness is what drives him back to Kay after he comes home. She represents an alternative to the Corleone way that he desires for himself and his family but can't achieve.
Al Pacino, immortal actor, he is so good it is like watching a documentary. Godfather II and Scarface are also acting masterclasses.
"Making a list, checking it twice. We're going to f***ing kill everybody." The Godfather Christmas Special.
This was so much fun, Evie. And the edit was exceptional! The classics are always in great hands with you. Thank you, and Happy New Year!
Props for paying attention to the entire film.
Catching so many things that many reactors don't .
Its nice to see fresh eyes enjoy a piece of art like this film.
8:17 Fun fact: That slap was not in the script. Brando improvised the smack and Al Martino's reaction was real.
I often read a lot of comments that talk about how accurate Michael's shots were in the restaurant. Michael was not involved in mafia affairs at that time, but he was a hero of World War II. He probably shot better than anyone in his family.
Remember when Saul Goodman surprised Walter by walking into the classroom? Saul asked,"What did Tom Hagen do for Vito Corleone?"
Walter says, "I'm no Vito Corleone".
"No shit," replies Saul. "Right now you're Fredo"
... now you understand what they were talking about 😊😊
...and the "Fredo-ness" becomes SSSOOO much more apparent in the Godfather II.
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I like how Evie is shocked by all the violence at the beginning, but is a Mafia don who wants to rub out all the enemies by the end.
My grandfather was fully Italian and he refused to watch this film. We respected his reasons. He was not Sicilian, but his family did come from southern Italy. Sicilians and Southern Italians were darker-skinned, so they suffered discrimination in the USA as well as from Northern Italians.
Yeah, my family came from Sicily. Although they speak Italian the dialect is different. I loaned a Scilian movie to my friend whose family was from Northern Italy. She was snooty saying she could barely understand it. Smh
The funny thing is, mob guys love the movie. In fact, some of the customs that Mario Puzo made up got adopted by real mobsters!
This is one of only 8 Perfect Movies ever made 💯
Fact: The baby who got baptized is Sophia Coppola ..the director's daughter
The Best Acting she Ever Did!
@@jamesalexander5623 Part 3 was muddied because of Sofias roll. Had she not been in it, part 3 would have been almost as good as the first two. Part 3 is still wickedly underrated.That Opera scene compared with any scene of the first two parts.
They wanted Winona Ryder but she couldn't make it. She did Bram Stoker's Dracula.s@@BobBenson-qz8lp
she also appears in part 2 her pacino and keaton are the only "actors" to be in all 3
26:03 Always thought it funny that Sonny says to Michael dismissively “this isn’t like the Army, you gotta get up close and bada bing”.
Michael was a Marine. He fought in the Pacific where combat was often “up close” & incredibly brutal. Also while serving, Michael was awarded the Navy Cross (2nd highest military decoration) & a Silver Star (3rd highest military decoration).
Maybe Sonny just saw him as his little bro, but Michael was very experienced in close up violence.
In Godfather 2, he says he was awarded the Navy Cross at the Senate hearing. But it’s not on his uniform. What we see is the Silver Star. Maybe it got upgraded.
For Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), Francis Ford Coppola put a jaw prosthesis in his mouth and a gauze, to give him that particular face. Brando was relatively young in this film, and Coppola pretended to age him and also look more threatening.
The "Bonasera opening speech" is a MASTERPIECE of acting, especially for an opening scene of a movie.... .and so hard to believe that the actor who did it is only created for THREE roles his entire career.
The only traitor in Apollonia's death was Fabrizio, the other bodyguard was innocent. The bomb was meant for Michael. Fabrizio didn't think that Apollonia was going to drive the car to Michael.
In the book, Fabrizio hid in the US but they found him.
@@martymar1964 ..and Michael Corleone's men killed Fabrizio with a car bomb... just like how Apollonia died.
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In part 2 ,they cut out the part when Michael finds Fabrizio working in a pizzeria somewhere in chicago. Kills him the same way, with a car bomb as he started up the car. I'm confused why Copella cut that scene out in part 2.
Lots of the Corleone's enemies were about as sharp as Imperial Storm Troopers.
@@BobBenson-qz8lp If you can get hold of the "Godfather Saga" (the "Godfather" and the "Godfather II" combined, with all the scenes in chronological order), the scene with Fabrizio's demise is included.
As far as I know, it has not been released on DVD (unless "pirated"), but it was released in a VHS boxed set).
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Also consider reacting on the part 2 of the godfather.It's an absolute masterpiece.And most of the people think it is better than part 1
Not me.
@kunserndsittizen2655 okk
Better is never a word I use for part 2. It's bigger in story and grander in locations and budget. Just stop at Part 2 though and walk away a winner. I hate when reactors last memory is part 3.
@@MrAitrainingI am that rare person who thinks 2 is overrated and 3 is underrated. But 1 is the best.
Evie, I've watched dozens of reactions to this movie and you are probably the sharpest one. Very perceptive.
I think there are two key moments in Michael's transformation. His father getting shot was the first, of course. (In the hospital he tells his father, "I'm with you now, Pop", which has more than one meaning!)
And then when Appolonia is murdered, it really turns Michael to darkness. He decides he must me more ruthless than his enemies. You will see how this plays out in GF II, which i really hope you react to soon.
I really enjoy your reactions. Happy new year to you and your family.
You used some exact words I was thinking ,she was very sharp
@@joecarr5412 like, otherworldly sharp. My gosh, that was fun to watch
I lovee italians ❤
Italians so tradition religioun and powerful people 🇮🇹💪
Part 2 is mandatory...it continues the saga. Part 3 is not as good, but still worth watching for closure. Many people, including me, think the original is the best film of all time, followed closely by Part 2.
Glad you noticed that Michael began to look like his father when his jaw was broken. All these little touches add to the whole!
Barzini runs the meeting of the five families and lectures Don Corleone, "A refusal is not the act of a friend." And yet people wonder how Don Corleone knew that "Barzini was behind it all along."
This has got to be included amongst the top three greatest Hollywood motion pictures of all time. Always have loved this one. First time I caught this picture I was just a youngster in the 1970's. I have screened this film hundreds of times. Know each and every line by heart. So cool seeing younger people such as yourself discovering films from yesteryear. Thank you so much, Evie, for your thoughts and honest, candid reactions. Liking your style a lot. Your very witty and so funny. Big shoutout from the mountains of East Tennessee. Be seeing you on the next. Happy New Year to you and yours. Much peace and loads of love everyone. Later, y'all
Part II please 😍🔥🔥
Very perceptive you caught alot of the ' inside' workings of the family - alot of this filmed in NY ,( that was my H.S
music teacher playin flute in wedding scene😊)
Whoever thought that 53 years ago sitting in a theater that i would be watching young people reaction on something called UA-cam i like when young people discover the classics
You did a great job reviewing this film. I’ve watched a lot young people react to this film and they usually miss a lot. You got most everything, and quickly. Bravo!
Check out the scene outside of the hospital after moving his father’s bed. When the first car passes, Enzo is shaking like a leaf getting a cigarette. Michael is calm and unnerved when he takes the lighter and holds it. Michael realizes that he has the fortitude required for the job.
He's a combat vet. Of course he wasn't phased by a car. Sometimes people just overthink things.
8:45 "From what I understood, he's not getting a role, but unless it's personal from the studio...."
Oh....YEAH!! 👍 It can't get any more personal!
Poor Apollonia, she and Kay were the true victims of Michael's ambition. But he was a family man first and that is why he did what he did more than anything else. He just morphed into a different person to become the new Godfather. The scene where Vito sees Santino lying dead after the assassination - look how they massacred my boy - I don't want his mother to see him this way. Truly heartbreaking.
It's so cute when Appollonia pretends to trip. Like a Sicilian girl who has lived in those hills her whole life would lose her balance. That was adorable.
Your narration was hysterical! I loved it! 😆❤
Johnny Fontaine is
Frank Sinatra
And the Movie was "From Here to Eternity", Sinatra won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar!
When Vito was shot, That was the moment when Michael decided that this "business" was not just business and attacks on the family are quite personal, whether or not it's good business. And that murder is good business is not personal is not true at all for the victims.
This is in the weeds but telling: The first Godfather movie was originally budgeted for something like 2 million dollars but its budget swelled to more than 6 million. The studio gave the filmmakers a very hard time because they did not believe that the movie would make back such an investment. (6 million was more in 1972 than it is now.) After the movie made more than 250 million in its first year, the studio allowed the director a budget of 11 million for the second Godfather film.
The montage of newspaper headlines after the restaurant shooting was directed by George Lucas, long before he directed "Star Wars." There are several uncredited contributions to this movie. For example, although the script is credited to Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, one key scene late in the movie was written by Robert Towne, who was later celebrated as the screenwriter of "Chinatown."
IMHO the best movie ever made! A Cinematic Masterpiece. The cinematography, lighting, set design, score, screenplay, casting! Directing, acting, and costumes are all fantastic. If each is not the best ever, when you combine all of it together you have the best movie ever made 🤩
Great reaction. Loved the fact you kept track of all the characters and events , names and everything.
Can't wait for your part 2 reaction 👍
True or not, a story goes that after they rehearsed the scene where Michael goes to the restroom to retrieve the handgun, the director asked the prop man to move the gun and retape it a little bit to the left. That way, when Al Pacino reached for it he genuinely panicked a little because the gun wasn't where he expected it to be. The genuine panic made Pacino's performance look that much better.
Fun fact, Carlo's girlfriend on the phone was voiced by Talia Shire who plays Connie his wife.
...and in real life, Talia Shire (Connie) is Francis Ford Coppola's sister.
You nailed it. Don Corleone does not do "jobs" for people. He simply helps them out. and should an opportunity present itself where someone you helped, can help you back, in the name of friendship, then that is all well and good for the Godfather
no don c aquires assets in the sense of now people owe him
When Woltz said the horse was going to "stand studd" you are correct, it means he will be used to breed new generations of racing horses.
Excellent reaction and outro, Evie! 👍👍 We can always count on you for top-level reactions to great films.
After the big meeting of the Five Families, Vito told Tom, "But I never knew until this day that it was Barzini all along."
During the meeting, Don Barzini sat at the head of the table and was clearly in charge.
Philip Tattaglia sat across the table from Vito Corleone, but he never spoke directly to Vito. He spoke only to Barzini.
Vito watched all of this very closely. He saw that Tattaglia kept talking to Barzini for guidance and assurances.
Vito knew right then that Barzini was behind all the attacks on his family. Tattaglia was nothing.
what a gift for the last day of the year ,very thoughtful of you,thanks a happy new year to all🎉
Great reaction. One of Evie's greatest strengths as a reactor is that she is a mom. The look on her face after the Don's funeral home speech was both beautiful and priceless. Keep on keep'en on Evie!!!
57:40 Clemenza VERY PERSONALLY attended to settling with Carlo because Sonny Corleone was Clemenza's godson.
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Appollonia was killed by the car bomb which was meant for Micheal. One of his 2 Italian guards betrayed him. He assumed that Michael would only be in the car. So she was collateral damage. Thus Micheal returned to the US to take over.
You have a good eye for faces. A lot of people say "who's that?" but you recognize characters who haven't been on screen since the beginning of the movie.
At the beginning of the film when they meet to discuss drugs and Corleone refuses, where the son answers and the Godfather interrupts him, Santino was a hothead and showed his cards and this was understood by the families and they exploited this character trait of his to make him fall into a trap.
In fact they corrupted Carlo by offering him something, staging the fight with his sister, the first time it was probably a test to see Santino's reaction, the second time it was to kill Santino…but Mike understand this trick, after he asks Carlo, who was behind this thing, Barzini or Tartaglia? and Carlo answers Barzini.
Michael changed after his father was almost killed, he wanted to stay out of the family and have a different life, but he loved his family and to protect them he became like them.
Apollonia was probably the right woman for Michael, Kay was not good and was chosen later as a replacement after the accident.
The second part is good too
That's right. Michael hasn't been around much. The movie begins shortly before December 1945. The Second World War has only been over for 3 or 4 months. Michael has been fighting in the Pacific. He is in the Marines which is a sub-branch of the Navy (don't tell the Marines that, though), and he won the Navy Cross for bravery. He has not been back in the States very long, but also he keeps his distance from the family.
17:15 "we have Tom Hagen."
In the book, Sonny brought home an orphaned Tom Hagen with an eye infection and basically demanded he stay. Sonny and Tom had a special bond
Nice one, Evie! So glad you got a chance to see this. It's a keeper, isn't it? I enjoyed rewatching this with you. The second one is very good too. Thanks for sharing this with us.
The directing and the acting are so fantastic, you could easily imagine this is a documentary while you're watching it.
Great reaction. Others have surely mentioned it, but Part II is a must-see, to a greater extent than most sequels. In fact, it’s both sequel and prequel, and it’s a masterpiece. All the vibe from the original is maintained.
29:30 The scene in the diner works without subtitles b/c you can feel the tension build regardless.
But what they say is basically:
SOLLOZZO: “I’m sorry…”
MICHAEL: “Leave it alone.” ( or ) “Forget about it.”
SOLLOZZO: “What happened to your father was business. I have much respect for your father. But your father, his thinking is old-fashioned. You must understand why I had to do that.”
MICHAEL: “I understand those things…”
[Waiter brings McCluskey's veal, then exits.]
SOLLOZZO: “Now let’s work through where we go from here.”
MICHAEL: “How do you say… ?” [Then Michael returns to speaking English.]
[After Michael returns from the bathroom]
SOLLOZZO: “Everything all right? I respect myself, understand, and cannot allow another man to hold me back. What happened was unavoidable. I had the unspoken support of the other Family dons. If your father were in better health, without his eldest son running things, no disrespect intended, we wouldn’t have this nonsense. We will stop fighting until your father is well and can resume bargaining. No vengeance will be taken. We will have peace, but your Family should interfere no longer.”
Great reaction once again, l im glad you enjoy this masterpiece of cinema its one of my favourites its because of this movie that Coppola and Pacino got their careers famous in some Hollywood. Some fun-facts about this movie,
What is funny about the cat is it was just a stray that happened to wander on set. Marlon Brando picked up the cat and told director Francis Ford Coppola it would add to his character. And it became iconic.
Lenny Montana, who played Luca Brasi, was a professional wrestler before becoming an actor. He was so nervous delivering his lines to a legend like Brando during the scene in in this movie study that he didn’t give one good take during an entire day’s shoot. Because he didn’t have time to reshoot the scene, Coppola added a new scene of Luca Brasi rehearsing his lines before seeing the Godfather to make Montana’s bad takes seem like Brasi was simply nervous to talk to the Godfather. Johnny Fontaine is based on Frank Sinatra for the part in the movie From here to Eternity. Based on real stories from across the five families from the 40s and 50s
Frank Sinatra tried to stop the Godfather from being made, there is a movie based on that story
The horse head in the movie producer’s bed wasn’t a prop. The production got a real horse’s head from a local dog food company. The line in the script only had actor Richard Castellano as Clemenza say “Leave the gun” after the hit on the mobster who ratted on the Corleones. He was inspired to make the addition after Coppola inserted a line in which the character’s wife asks him to buy cannoli for dessert. The baby in the baptism at the end is director Copolla’s daughter Sophia, now an Oscar winning writer and director. Keep up the good work.
Johnny Fontane character was based on Frank Sinatra, who in real life also was let go from his contract with a big band to star in a war movie (From Here to Eternity), with the support of the mafia.
One the greatest movies of all time, a chess ♟️ game in the criminal underworld….that sense of mike at the restaurant and his mind and heartbeat racing willing asking if he’ll do it or not. Yup feels just like that…..that last scene clamenza is saying in his mind“ what a go kid”.
I wonder if she noticed Sonny was in Elf and in Misery. Some day someone will give a reaction to him in Rollerball.
Don Vito just fell into the life for survival as a young man
Carlo was unhappy because he was being frozen out of the family business, and wanted revenge on Sonny after the beating. He knew if he hit Connie again that Sonny would come after him. He made a deal with Barzini to draw Sonny out of hiding so he could be murdered at the toll plaza. Even the phone call from the woman that set off the fight with Connie was part of the set-up.
Sonny's bad judgement and hot head was the source of most of the trouble. He let Solozzo see he was interested in the deal even when Vito turned it down. Because of this, Solozzo thought he could make a deal with Sonny if Vito were out of the way. That's why they shot Vito.
Thanks for this intelligent and perceptive review. Many reviewers don't catch the nuances of the plot and the motivations of the lead characters as well as you have. Great job. I look forward to watching your reaction to Godfather II, another cinematic masterpiece that many people consider even better than The Godfather.
Michael Corleone was a modern-day classical Greek tragedy. He was doomed from the start.
At Connie's wedding, he told Kay, "That's my family, Kay. That's not me."
He was looking downward when he said it. He couldn't look Kay in the eye.
He knew deep down that he was a Corleone all the way.
The two assassination attempts on his father and McClusky breaking his jaw quickly turned him to the Dark Side, so to speak.
At the hospital, he said to his father, "I'm with you now, Pop." He was all about joining the Family Business then.
In Sicily, he found his "proper Sicilian wife" and planned on returning to NYC to take over the Family......but then....
I really enjoyed your reaction to this classic movie! I always liked Appollonia and her dying always made me sad!
When Michael confronted Enzo at the hospital, it was a very dangerous, tense, underrated moment... if he was instead a hit man, and made any kind of move, being a skilled ex-marine, Michael was prepared to kill him with his bare hands.
the part Johnny Fontane wanted was Sgt Maggio in From Here to Eternity which Frank Sinatra got but it was in the early 1950s
13:05 Santino caused the attack on his father when he showed that if he was making the decisions, he would be interested in the business. That's why his father reprimands him. Showing dissention inside the family shows to the outside who favors their business.
I think Carlo's elimination was the only one that was personal. He had no power and he could just have been thrown out to the street, but instead he was given a slow end, when he kicked the window I could taste his desperation.
I hope you watch the three movies. In my opinion the first one is the best, but the second one is the one that won the Oscar, so who can say what you will like best.
I have friends who ask me about charisma. I tell others just watch Al Pacino in the Godfather to learn it. Every time he's on screen, you can see him thinking and can't read it. You just can't take your eyes off him. If I have any sense of mystery, it's just me watching this film over and over again.
I'm always up for watching a reaction video of the Godfather 🏆 🎥 Just remember , a man that doesn't decapitate a horse's head , can never be a real man . 😂 LOL
Talia Shire, who played Connie Corleone, is the sister of Francis Ford Copola, director of the Godfather, and she is also the aunt of Nicholas Cage.
Also, Michael never lied to Kate when she asked him "is it true". He was answering the question truthfully, as his sister claimed "YOU killed my husband".
MIchael did no such thing. he had others do it. so when Kate askid him "is it true" he could truthfully say, "no" as he never killed her husband. others did.
Great job, Evie! The baby in the Baptism is great director Sofia Coppola daughter of Francis Ford Coppola
The five families of New York were originally started by Charlie Luciano in Myers lansky which was called the commission, everything had to be approved by the commission
If people tell you to not watch part 3 ignore them. Its not on par with the first 2, but there is still value in it despite certain things being rushed and changed because one actor refused to come back, another actor fell out in the middle of the first weeks of production and got replaced with his daughter. Who is a great director but didn't have much experience being more than a tiny supporting actor at 19. It wasn't meant to be called part 3, it was meant to have Coda at the end marking it as an epilogue. If you go in with the mindset of it being a coda you will likely enjoy it more.
The director's original cut was almost three hours, so for the theatrical release they had to cut out a lot. One of the scenes that was cut was one of Michael's Sicilian bodyguards being killed in revenge for him helping to blow up Michael's car in Sicily.
I wish they’d release the longer cut!
19:42 glad that Chekhov's gun wasn't lost in this reaction.
Evie, you did a great job. I've seen reactors that can't grasp everything going on, but you did 😊 except for Carlo beating Connie to draw Sonny out, which very few people get.😊 And it was Sonny that introduced Carlo to Connie 😢😢
I remember thinking that the shot of the aftermath of Sollozzo and McCluskey’s shooting looked really realistic, then I head that the montage that followed it used press photographs of real mafia assassinations. These were familiar as there had been a few outbreaks of violence between organised crime gang, that had been reported, even here in Scotland, at the beginning of the 70s before I saw The Godfather - I was only 12 when it came out so I couldn’t see it in the cinema and there was a much longer delay before films were shown on TV in these pre-home video days
Great reaction and instincts Evie. Great job. I forget the part but you where right on the money on predicting something during it. You have great instincts and attention to detail!
53:20 "Wouldn't they know that he would suspect that they were up to something?"
Excellent question. It seems to me that Michael, being a very patient and shrewd man, played everything cool and calm. He didn't start any new fights with Barzini and the other Families. He made sure that they were relaxed and feeling like they were in charge.
Barzini underestimated Michael's cunning. He thought that he could manipulate Michael, but he was the one being manipulated.
Some people have interpreted The Godfather like a Greek play of a family tragedy story, which that does make sense in a way. Your reaction to this 1972 classic film of The Godfather by Francis Ford Coppola was one of the best. I was 16 years old when I first saw it in the theater, and have watched it many times over throughout the years since then. Including The Godfather Part II. Part III was not the favorite by many (including myself) but still interesting. I did not care for Francis Ford Coppola's Coda version because the ending of the original was edited out.
This is based on a True story >>> Johnny Fontaine is supposed to portray Frank Sinatra. The “war” movie that Sinatra could not get was “ From Here to Eternity”.
The studio would not give him the role of Magio. Sinatra at the time was down on his luck big time. At the time he was coa has-been. Due to health reasons with his throat he could not sing.
Eventually, Sinatra got the role even winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. The movie was a big hit. Costars were Montgomery Clift, Donna Reed, & Ernest Borgnine.
Hello Evie. Having not read the book(s), there are many in the comments that know more than I do abt "The Godfather" (like that Enzo was an Italian POW in WW2 or that Tesio was Sonny's Godfather). That said, I've watched both parts 1 & 2 for many yrs. There's SO much happening, so much subtility & so many interconnections, anyone watching for 1st time will miss a lot. W/o spoilers, there's more to learn abt Tesio & Clemenza. To me, they're more important characters than many pick up on in 1st watch. So, just stay tuned & enjoy.
Great reaction. I think you will enjoy Godfather 2.
"If he's struck by a bolt of lightning, then i'm going to blame some of the people in this room." Now **that** is a threat.
I think at the end Michael tells Carlo he’s going to Vegas and his wife and child will meet him there in a few days.
So for Carlo, hes under the impression that his punishment is being ‘out’ and banished to Vegas, where his family will join him later.
I don’t think he was under impression he alone was being cast out without wife & kid. Rather that he was to leave and his family would come out there a few days later.
In that way, Michael sells the “b/c youre family, I won’t kill you for your betrayal, but you need to leave here” ruse to Carlo.
Acting while petting a cat is next level.
Family and respect is EVERYTHING to the old school Sicilians.
If you pay attention in the next movie Vito never accepts a gift offered out of pity or charity, but would never refuse a gift offered out of respect. Because it would be disrespectful to do so.