The Godfather (1972)
Actors:
Lou Martini Jr. (actor),
Robert Duvall (actor),
John Marley (actor),
Sonny Grosso (actor),
Angelo Infanti (actor),
Ron Gilbert (actor),
Sterling Hayden (actor),
Franco Citti (actor),
Richard Conte (actor),
Richard Bright (actor),
James Caan (actor),
Roman Coppola (actor),
Marlon Brando (actor),
Alex Rocco (actor),
Al Pacino (actor),
Plot: The story begins as "Don" Vito Corleone, the head of a New York Mafia "family", oversees his daughter's wedding with his wife Wendy. His beloved son Michael has just come home from the war, but does not intend to become part of his father's business. Through Michael's life the nature of the family business becomes clear. The business of the family is just like the head of the family, kind and benevolent to those who give respect, but given to ruthless violence whenever anything stands against the good of the family. Don Vito lives his life in the way of the old country, but times are changing and some don't want to follow the old ways and look out for community and "family". An up and coming rival of the Corleone family wants to start selling drugs in New York, and needs the Don's influence to further his plan. The clash of the Don's fading old world values and the new ways will demand a terrible price, especially from Michael, all for the sake of the family.
Keywords: 1940s, 1950s, adopted-son, ambush, assassin, assassination, assassination-attempt, attorney, baptism, bar
Genres:
Crime,
Drama,
Taglines: An offer you can't refuse.
Quotes:
Michael: My father is no different than any powerful man, any man with power, like a president or senator.::Kay Adams: Do you know how naive you sound, Michael? Presidents and senators don't have men killed.::Michael: Oh. Who's being naive, Kay?
[speaking to himself, practicing his speech]::Luca Brasi: Don Corleone, I am honored and grateful that you have invited me to your home on the wedding day of your daughter. And may their first child be a masculine child. [then, starting over]
Michael: I have to see my father and his people so have dinner without me.::Kay Adams: Oh, Michael.::Michael: This weekend we'll go out. We'll go to the city, see a show and have dinner, I promise.::Kay Adams: Hmmmm. Michael. Michael, wait, your sister wants to ask you something.::Michael: Well, let her ask.::Kay Adams: No, she's afraid to. Connie and Carlo want you to be Godfather to their little boy.::Michael: We'll see.::Kay Adams: Will you?::Michael: Let me think about it. We'll see.
Michael: You have to answer for Santino, Carlo. You fingered Sonny for the Barzini people.::Carlo Rizzi: Mike, you got it all wrong.::Michael: Ah, that little farce you played with my sister. You think that would fool a Corleone?::Carlo Rizzi: Mike, I'm innocent. I swear on the kids.::Michael: Sit down.::Carlo Rizzi: Please don't do this to me, Mike. Please don't.::Michael: Barzini is dead. So is Phillip Tattaglia. Moe Greene. Stracci. Cuneo. Today I settled all family business so don't tell me that you're innocent. Admit what you did.::[Carlo starts sobbing]::Michael: Get him a drink. Don't be afraid, Carlo. Come on, you think I'd make my sister a widow? I'm Godfather to your son.::[Carlo get handed a drink]::Michael: Go ahead. Drink. Drink. No, you're out of the family business, that's your punishment. You're finished. I'm putting you on a plane to Vegas. Tom?::[Tom hands Michael an airplane ticket]::Michael: I want you to stay there, you understand?::[Carlo nods]::Michael: Only don't tell me that you're innocent. Because it insults my intelligence and it makes me very angry. Now, who approached you first? Barzini or Tattaglia?::Carlo Rizzi: It was Barzini.::Michael: Good. There's a car outside that will take you to the airport. I'll call your wife and tell her what flight you're on.::Carlo Rizzi: Listen, Mike...::Michael: Go on. Get out of my sight.
[last lines]::Michael: All right. This one time I'll let you ask me about my affairs.::Kay Adams: Is it true? Is it?::Michael: No. [Kay smiles and walks into his arms]::Kay Adams: I guess we both need a drink, huh? [Kay goes to the kitchen to fix a drink, but sees Peter Clemenza, Rocco Lampone and Al Neri enter Michael's office]::Clemenza: Don Corleone. [Clemenza kisses Michael's hand, and Neri shuts the door in her face... ]
Sollozzo: Bene, Don Corleone. I need a man who has powerful friends. I need a million dollars in cash. I need, Don Corleone, all of those politicians that you carry around in your pocket, like so many nickels and dimes.::Don Corleone: What is the interest for my family?::Sollozzo: Thirty percent. In the first year your end should be three, four million dollars. And then it would go up.::Don Corleone: And what is the interest for the Tattalgia family?::Sollozzo: [smiles at Tom] My compliments. [Hagen gives a formal nod]::Sollozzo: I'll take care of the Tattaglias, out of my share.::Don Corleone: So, I am to receive thirty percent for finance, for legal protection and political influence. Is that what you're telling me?::Sollozzo: That's right.::Don Corleone: Why come to me? What have I done to deserve such generosity?::Sollozzo: If you consider a million dollars in cash merely finance... [raises his glass]::Sollozzo: Te salut, Don Corleone. [the Don gets up to take a drink and sits closer to Sollozzo]::Don Corleone: I said that I would see you because I had heard that you were a serious man, to be treated with respect. But I must say no to you and let me give you my reasons. It's true I have a lot of friends in politics, but they wouldn't be so friendly if they knew my business was drugs instead of gambling which they consider a harmless vice. But drugs, that's a dirty business.::Sollozzo: No, Don Corleone...::Don Corleone: It makes no difference, it don't make any difference to me what a man does for a living, you understand. But your business is a little dangerous.::Sollozzo: If you're worried about security for your million, the Tattaglias will guarantee it.::Sonny: Whoa, now, you're telling me that the Tattaglias guarantee our investment without...?::Don Corleone: Wait a minute. [the Don gives his son a cold stare, freezing Santino into silence. The others fidget with embarrassment at this outbreak, but Sollozzo looks slyly satisfied... ]::Don Corleone: [dismissive] I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them, as you can see. They talk when they should listen. Anyway, Signor Sollozzo, my no to you is final. I want to congratulate you on your new business and I'm sure you'll do very well and good luck to you. Especially since your interests don't conflict with mine. Thank you. [Sollozzo leaves]::Don Corleone: Santino, come here.::Don Corleone: What's the matter with you? I think your brain is going soft with all that comedy you are playing with that young girl. Never tell anyone outside the Family what you are thinking again. Go on.
Michael: My credit good enough to buy you out?::Moe Greene: Buy me out?::[Fredo laughs nervously]::Michael: The hotel, the casino. The Corleone Family wants to buy you out.::Moe Greene: The Corleone Family wants to buy me out? No, I buy you out, you don't buy me out.::Michael: Your casino loses money, maybe we can do better.::Moe Greene: You think I'm skimmin off the top, Mike?::Michael: [Michael shakes his head] You're unlucky.::Moe Greene: You goddamn guineas you really make me laugh. I do you a favor and take Freddie in when you're having a bad time, and now you're gonna try and push me out!::Michael: You took Freddie in because the Corleone Family bankrolled your casino, and the Molinari Family on the Coast guaranteed his safety. Now we're talking business, let's talk business.::Moe Greene: Yeah, let's talk business, Mike. First of all, you're all done. The Corleone Family don't even have that kind of muscle anymore. The Godfather's sick, right? You're getting chased out of New York by Barzini and the other Families. What do you think is going on here? You think you can come to my hotel and take over? I talked to Barzini - I can make a deal with him, and still keep my hotel!::Michael: Is that why you slapped my brother around in public?::Fredo: Aw, now that, that was nothin', Mike. Moe didn't mean nothin' by that. Yeah, sure he flies off the handle every once in a while, but me and him, we're good friends, right Moe?::Moe Greene: I got a business to run. I gotta kick asses sometimes to make it run right. We had a little argument, Freddy and me, so I had to straighten him out.::Michael: You straightened my brother out?::Moe Greene: He was banging cocktail waitresses two at a time! Players couldn't get a drink at the table! What's the matter with you?::Michael: I leave for New York tomorrow, think about a price.::Moe Greene: Sonofabitch! Do you know who I am? I'm Moe Greene! I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders!::Fredo: Wait a minute, Moe, Moe, I got an idea. Tom, you're the Consiglieri and you can talk to the Don, you can explain...::Tom Hagen: Now hold it right there. The Don is semi-retired and Mike is in charge of the Family business now. If you have anything to say, say it to Michael.::Fredo: [Moe Greene leaves] Mike! You do not come to Las Vegas and talk to a man like Moe Greene like that!::Michael: Fredo, you're my older brother, and I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the Family again. Ever.
Tessio: Barzini's people chisle my territory and we do nothing about it. Pretty soon there won't be anyplace in Brooklyn that I can hang my hat.::Michael: Try and be patient.::Clemenza: I'm not asking for help, Mike, just take off the handcuffs.::Michael: Be patient.::Clemenza: We gotta protect ourselves. At least give me the chance to recruit some new men.::Michael: No. I don't want to give Barzini any excuse to start fighting.::Tessio: Mike, you're wrong.::Clemenza: Don Corleone, you once said the day would come when me and Tessio could form our own families. Until today I would never think of such a thing but now I must ask your permission.::Don Corleone: Well, Michael's head of the family now and if give his permission then you have my blessing.::Michael: After we make the move to Nevada you can break off from the Corleone Family and go off on your own. After we make the move to Nevada.::Clemenza: How long will that take?::Michael: Six months.::Tessio: Forgive me, Godfather, but with you gone me and Pete will come under Barzini's thumb sooner or later.::Clemenza: And I hate that Goddamn Barzini. In six months time there won't be nothin' left to build on.::Don Corleone: Do you have faith in my judgement?::Clemenza: Yes.::Don Corleone: Do I have your loyalty?::Clemenza: Yes, always Godfather.::Don Corleone: Then be a friend to Michael. Do as he says.::Michael: There are negotiations being made that are going to answer all of your questions and solve all of your problems. That's all I can tell you right now. Carlo, you grew up in Nevada. When we make our move there you're going to be my right hand man. Tom Hagen is no longer Consigliari. He's going to be our lawyer in Vegas. That's no reflection on Tom it's just the way I want it. Besides, if I ever help who's a better Consigliari than my father. That's it. [Everyone except Hagen leaves]::Tom Hagen: Mike, why am I out?::Michael: You're not a wartime Consigliari, Tom. Things could get rough with the move we're making.::Don Corleone: Tom, I advised Michael. I never thought you were a bad Consigliari. I thought Santino was a bad Don, rest in peace. Michael has all my confidence as do you. But there are reasons why you must have nothing to do with what's going to happen.::Tom Hagen: Maybe I could help.::Michael: You're out, Tom.
Michael: Fredo, who are the girls?::Fredo: That's for you to find out.::Michael: Get rid of them, Fredo.::Fredo: Hey, Mike, uh...::Michael: I'm here on business I leave tomorrow now get rid of them. Come on, I'm tired. Get rid of the band, too. [Fredo chases everyone out of the room] What happened to Moe Greene?::Fredo: He had business. He said give him a call. Once the party started.::Michael: Well, give him a call. Hello, Johnny.::Johnny Fontane: Mike, it's nice to see you again.::Michael: We're all proud of you. Sit down, Johnny, I want to talk to you. The Don's proud of you, too.::Johnny Fontane: Well, I owe it all to him.::Michael: He knows how grateful you are. That's why he'd like to ask a favor.::Johnny Fontane: Mike, what can I do?::Michael: The Corleone family is thinking of giving up all of its interest in the olive oil business, settling out here. Now Moe Greene will sell us his share of the hotel and the casino so that it can be completely owned by the family. Tom.::[Hagen hands Michael some papers]::Fredo: Hey, Mike, are you sure about that? I mean, Moe, loves the business. He never said anything to me about sellin'.::Michael: I'll make him an offer he can't refuse. You see, Johnny, we feel that entertainment is going to be a big factor in drawing gamblers into the casinos. We're hoping that you'll sign a contract agreeing to appear 5 times a year. Perhaps convince some of your friends in the movies to do the same. We're counting on you, Johnny.::Johnny Fontane: Sure, Mike, I'll do anything for my Godfather. You know that.::Michael: Good.::Moe Greene: Hey, Mike! Everybody's here. There's Tom. Freddie. Good to see you, Mike.::Michael: How are you, Moe?::Moe Greene: You got everything you need? The chef cooked for you special, the dancers will kick your tongue out and your credit is good. Draw chips for everyone in the room so they can play on the house.
[delivering his rehearsed speech]::Luca Brasi: Don Corleone, I am honored and grateful that you have invited me to your daughter... 's wedding... on the day of your daughter's wedding. And I hope their first child be a masculine child. I pledge my ever-ending loyalty.