The Godfather trilogy is as perfect as three-part big screen productions get. Revered as cinematic landmarks, the films have grossed approximately $517 million collectively and were nominated for 28 Oscars, winning nine. And there could have been a fourth film, had Mario Puzo not died in the late 1990s. Even so, the story feels complete, so there have never been widespread calls for this fictional universe to be expanded. Still, the saga might have looked a little different had some deleted scenes been left as they were.
As with many other major Hollywood pictures, some sequences were left on the editing table, especially while making the first two installments that are generally considered the best. These details came to light when the NBC miniseries, The Godfather Saga, aired in 1977. Some of the scenes are actually so good that it’s hard not to wonder why Francis Ford Coppola left them out.
7
Sonny Takes Charge After Vito Gets Shot
Sonny was next in the succession line. He was much older and had already made great strides in the New York underworld by taking over some territories. If he hadn’t been subjected to a gangland-style execution, he definitely would have become the boss. Still, The Godfather portrayed him as temperamental and unwise, prompting fans to yearn for someone different. That person came in the form of Michael.
Gathering an Army
A deleted scene from the movie shows Sonny taking over the business operations as soon as his father gets shot. He doesn’t overreact. He simply delivers the news to his mother before instructing Tessio to get “50 good me” to the house.
Deleting the scene was a great idea since it would have pushed the story down a different path. It would mean Sonny getting revenge instead of Michael. Consequently, that iconic scene with Captain McClusky and Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo wouldn’t exist. Michael would thus have appeared less qualified for the job when he finally took it.
6
Michael Kills Fabrizio
When Michael escapes to Sicily after shooting McClusky and Sollozzo, Fabrizio and Carlo are given the task of protecting him. Fabrizio later betrays Michael to the Barzini family, who then order him to kill the man. However, the bomb he places on Michael’s car ends up killing Apollonia instead.
Getting His Own Hands Dirty
In The Godfather Part II, Michael sends men to track down Fabrizio, who is now living in Buffalo, New York, under the name “Fred Vincent.” They kill him using a car bomb, underscoring the phrase “kill by the sword, die by the sword.” However, in a deleted scene, Michael, donning a fedora, confronts Fabrizio in typical Mafioso fashion and kills him using a shotgun.
An image of Michael with a shotgun would have been iconic, adding value to the film. In addition to that, it would have elevated his status when it comes to baddasery, making him something close to a Tony Montana, not just an ordinary mob boss.
Related
The Godfather Cast: Where They Are Today
The Godfather is credited as one of the greatest films of all time, largely due to the incredible cast. Here is where they are today.
5
Kay Prays for Michael
The best gangster movies and shows have shown us that only one person doesn’t fear a mob boss: his wife. Carmella gave Tony a hard time in The Sopranos and Kay does the same to Michael in The Godfather after realizing just how much he has changed. She goes as far as leaving him, but a deleted scene paints her as more of a persevering wife, more like Michael’s mother.
Focusing on Turning a Bad Man Good
The trend of women trying to change bad men is once again tapped into in The Godfather’s addendum. Though Michael’s inconstancy wreaks havoc on Kay’s already faint mental standing, she chooses to pray for him in a tender moment that was meant to play out as the closing credits rolled.
The reverberations of such a scene would have gone all the way to The Godfather Part III, where a brief reunion between the two happens. Marital chaos spices up stories like this, proving that as much as the mob bosses seem tough, they are still human and incapable of keeping all their affairs in order. A happy marriage between Michael and Kay would have made the saga boring, and Kay less of the powerful, feminist character that she is.
4
Clemenza Introduces a Young Hyman Roth to Vito
Hyman Roth shows up out of nowhere. He is revealed to be a major player in the underworld, who once had close business ties with Vito (the two smuggled alcohol together during the Prohibition Era). Feeling threatened by Michael, he tries to get the young boss whacked but his plan fails.
Roth’s Background isn’t Properly Laid Out in the Final Cut
Roth is an intimidating character. His words and mere physical presence add chills, even when the camera circles only his nape. Still, he could have been an even better villain if the cut scene detailing his background had been left.
In the chopped moment, a young Clemenza introduces Hyman to Vito and vouches for him. Vito then takes Hyman under his wing, allowing him to grow wings and eventually go solo. Given the fair treatment Hyman had been given by Vito, his betrayal of Michael would have made him more despicable, placing him in contention for a spot among the greatest movie villains.
3
Sonny’s Daughter Has a Chat With Michael
In The Godfather Part II, Francesca, Sonny’s daughter, approaches Michael Corleone to ask for his blessing before her big day. During the conversation, it becomes apparent that all of Sonny’s children have been kept away from the family business.
The Rise of Vincent
A major factor weakening The Godfather Part III is the lack of simple explanations. For example, why did Vincent rise to the top of the family instead of Sonny’s legitimate children? The answer lies in this particular deleted scene. If it had been left intact, audiences would have been prepared for the introduction of Vincent Mancini in the third chapter. Instead, Vincent also seems to come out of nowhere. He is then granted too much power.
Related
Every ‘Godfather’ Reference and Easter Egg in ‘The Sopranos’
‘The Sopranos’ might be different from the ‘Godfather’ trilogy, but the HBO show has numerous references to the three popular mob movies.
2
Vito Visits Genco in Hospital
Before Tom Hagen, Vito’s consigliere was Genco Abbandando, a man he had known since childhood. Genco helped Vito win the Olive Oil Wars and remained loyal to him when he became a major Don. The character doesn’t appear on the screen, but a cut segment from the early moments of The Godfather reveals that Genco is dying from cancer. Vito visits him on his deathbed right after his daughter’s wedding.
The First Right-Hand Man
Fans adore Vito for his “diversity” mindset. Despite Tom Hagen not being of Sicilian origin, he gives him more power than anyone else in the family. However, an explanation of how the transition from Genco to Tom happened would have made audiences understand Vito’s decision-making process much better. Consequently, everyone would have walked into The Godfather Part II with a little more understanding of the past. After seeing Genco on his deathbed, we wouldn’t have wondered what happened to him. Especially after seeing a younger version of him in Part II.
1
Don Fanucci Gets Attacked by Street Thugs
During Vito’s early days as a crook, Don Fanucci was the man everyone was supposed to fear. He bullied businesspeople in the neighborhood, claiming to have extensive mafia connections. Vito eventually got the nerve to take him out, but what gave him so much courage? Didn’t he fear retaliation? A crucial chopped moment has the answer.
Fake Don
In the scene, Vito spots a couple of group of thugs attacking Fanucci. He then realizes that the man isn’t as powerful as he claims to be. If Fanucci had the connections, all the thugs would know about it, and they’d stay away from him. The fact that ordinary hoodlums don’t fear him says a lot.
Additionally, the scene would also have contextualized one of the movie’s greatest scenes. The image of Vito killing Fanucci is iconic, and the choice would have made more sense if we had seen Vito’s realization of the extent of Fanucci’s power.
Source link
Add Comment