Louis Wolheim
Posted on 04/12/2012 10:21:04 PM PDT by nickcarraway
“The Godfather” was a good movie, I thought the second one was a bit better. Although I don’t care for Deniro, he is a good actor.
As everyone knows, the third one was the worst, tho after watching it the second time recently, I realized it wasn’t quite as bad as I first thought.
The one part of the second one which I thought was nonsense, was Senator Geary. Even U.S. Senators are not stupid enough to antagonize the Mafia for no reason at all.
The senator sure did a 180-degree turn after the "incident" was cleared up by Tom Hagen, didn't he?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but as I recall, the only time the F-word was used in either GFI or GFII was by Senator Geary when he refers to Michael's family during the meeting about the casino ownership.
“If you should stumble onto it on cable, you can’t stop watching it.”
This is true, and hubby and I did just this not too long ago.
{SIGH} I am IN LOVE with James Caan in that movie. Still, to this day, just head over heels in love with him.
I know that’s wrong, I know he’s bad.
AND I DON’T CARE!
After Sonny is killed....I lose interest.
The book is very good, it was such a bestseller when it first came out. I must have been in 6th or 7th grade. Now, our parents had all read it, and then, somehow it “trickled down” to us. And everyone passed it around...read page 75 (or whatever!)
Very racy and exciting. It’s a book I would read again.
And, as I said elsewhere recently, to get the full cultural experience you had to live in Brooklyn, years and years after the book and movie came out. Where Italian guys had special car horns that play “The Love Theme from The Godfather”
I spend my life trying not to be careless. Women and children can be careless, but not men.
Just different criminal organizations.
‘Leave the gun, take the cannoli.’
That was one of the great contrasts of the book and the movie. Vito was a ruthless killer but he somehow retained his humanity. Michael started off as a good decent guy at the beginning but had lost his humanity by end.
GF1 and GF2 are the best two movies ever made as far as I’m concerned.. add up the quality of the acting, writing and subject matter then the genius of the director putting it all of it together
Are you a guy or a gal? (now days, one has to ask)
A couple of useless (but hopefully interesting) bits of casting trivia:
Ernest Borgnine read for the part of Vito Corleone. Brando was great in the part, but I think Ernie would have been quite good, too. Borgnine is, IMHO, a far better actor than he often gets credit for.
When casting the part of that little weasel Carlo (Gianni Russo), one of the actors considered was none other than Alex Karras. I don’t think that would have worked too well. At least the fight seen between him and Caan wouldn’t have worked out. I mean, James Caan is tough, but *ain’t* whipping Mongo! :-)
Either your Signature or your Freedom will be on that contract.
BTW, one often wonders what John Cazale might have done had he not died at such a young age (bone cancer took him at just 42). He was every bit the acting equal of Pacino and DeNiro in Godfather/GF II, IMHO. He was also outstanding in the few other films he was able to complete before his death (Deer Hunter, Dog Day Afternoon, and the oft-overlooked The Conversation).
Supposedly, Sinatra was not happy about the movie and said some nasty words to the author Mario Puzo in some restaurant about the book defaming Italians. Funny coming from someone like Sinatra who associated with Mafiosi like Sam Giancana.
Bump
“I’m gonna loin the casino business!”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.