Random Thoughts After Finally Watching The Godfather Part 2.

Random thoughts after finally watching The Godfather Part 2.

I finally watched part 2 last week and I really enjoyed it but ultimately I prefer the first movie. That isn't to say that I didn't love it but as a whole I feel that the first part works better for me but that 2 has so many of my favourite moments from the movies.

The casting was impeccable again and I don't think there was a single actor who felt wrong for their role but I prefer the villains in the first movie. I find Sollozzo for example, more interesting and enjoyable than Hyman Roth and Johnny Ola. That's no reflection on the actors, just a personal preference.

The scenes with young Vito were beautifully done and I love how close to the book they were. Robert de Niro was perfect in the role as were young Genco/Tessio and Clemenza. I also really enjoyed the very old school Fanucci as a villain. Overall though as much as I enjoyed them and I'm glad they were included and it was important that they were, but if I had my choice, I'd rather spend more time with the remaining Corleone siblings.

What a loss to cinema John Cazale was. He was truly incredible here and had some of the most powerful scenes.

Al Pacino was brilliant again. My favourite scene of his was when he overhears Fredo saying that he knows Johnny Ola.

Robert Duvall was excellent again. He has great chemistry with Pacino and was never less than utterly convincing as an aging and battle weary Tom who is becoming increasingly alienated from Michael and the business yet retains his loyalty in spite of his growing discomfort with Michael's ruthlessness.

I loved the ever developing relationship between Michael and Tom with all its twists and turns. It physically pains me that we didn't get to see it continue in part 3 because their relationship was such an important part of the whole story.

I loved Frank Pentangeli. What a great character he was. I enjoyed him so much that I didn't even miss Clemenza. His final scene with Tom was one of my favourite moments from either of the movies.

The flashback scene was the perfect way to end it. I have so many feelings about that scene but I'll save that for another post.

So Tom Hagen personally arranged a hit.

He(Johnny Fontane) was surprised when the executive producer came to him and told him the union rep had to be taken care of to the tune of fifty thousand dollars. There were a lot of problems dealing with overtime and hiring and the fifty thousand dollars would be well spent. Johnny debated whether the executive producer was hustling him and then said, “Send the union guy to me.”

The union guy was Billy Goff. Johnny said to him, “I thought the union stuff was fixed by my friends. I was told not to worry about it. At all. Goff said, “Who told you that?” Johnny said, “You know goddamn well who told me. I won’t say his name but if he tells me something that’s it.” Goff said, “Things have changed. Your friend is in trouble and his word don’t go this far west anymore.” Johnny shrugged. “See me in a couple of days. OK?” Goff smiled. “Sure, Johnny,” he said. “But calling in New York ain’t going to help you.”

But calling New York did help. Johnny spoke to Hagen at his office. Hagen told him bluntly not to pay. “Your Godfather will be sore as hell if you pay that bastard a dime,” he told Johnny. “It will make the Don lose respect and right now he can’t afford that.”

“Can I talk to the Don?” Johnny asked. “Will you talk to him? I gotta get the picture rolling.” “Nobody can talk to the Don right now,” Hagen said. “He’s too sick. I’ll talk to Sonny about fixing things up. But I’ll make the decision on this. Don’t pay that smart bastard a dime. If anything changes, I’ll let you know.”

Annoyed, Johnny hung up. Union trouble could add a fortune to making the film and screw up the works generally. For a moment he debated slipping Goff the fifty grand on the quiet. After all, the Don telling him something and Hagen telling him something and giving him orders were two different things. But he decided to wait for a few days."

By waiting he saved fifty thousand dollars. Two nights later, Goff was found shot to death in his home in Glendale. There was no more talk of union trouble. Johnny was a little shaken by the killing. It was the first time the long arm of the Don had struck such a lethal blow so close to him.

From The Godfather novel by Mario Puzo.

I totally agree. There's a definite difference between Tom's attitude when he's sending Tessio to his death and when Carlo is about to be killed. He looks rather sad, reluctant and uncomfortable when he has to give the order to have Tessio taken away and killed.

When he joins Michael, Al and Rocco to confront Carlo, he seems almost eager. Tom's whole attitude here is much more aggressive and confrontational. The way he steps into the room and leans against the wall he's menacing here, very much the gangster. There's no reluctance or mercy in his expression. Plus he loosened his tie to give the signal immediately after Tessio is taken away. He didn't even wait to hear his confession. He wants' him dead ASAP and Tom looks at most, slightly discomfited, while watching Carlo being garrotted. He's certainly not sorry to see him die.

Usually I have a revelation during each rewatch of The Godfather. I watched part one tonight and didn’t have one up until Karl is killed and my takeaway is I think Tom was fine with him being killed because he helped Sonny’s murderers. As always I am deeply invested in the Sonny and Tom relationship.

Also, this movie and part II absolutely rules.

I have so many random dvds that I've still to watch and so many old favourites that I haven't seen for years. I might start another blog to encourage me to watch them, track what I'm watching and leave this for solely rambling about The Godfather.

The most famous orange in Hollywood 🍊

I like to think Sonny would have been the most fashionable if he had lived in Vegas