Question: There are three filming locations that I haven't been able to identify. All three have been falsely identified on numerous sites. I'm heading to Sicily next month, and would like to shoot some images of them, if I can find them. All three are from The Godfather Part II. 1. Don Ciccio's villa. As seen early in the film, when Vito's mother is killed, and he escapes. Then seen later, when Vito returns as an adult to kill Don Ciccio. No, it is not Castello degli Schiavi, as commonly believed. 2. The Corleone train station. Also used twice in the film. First, for Vito's arrival, as an adult, and later, for his departure. It is obviously a small country train station, with the signs changed. 3. The olive oil mill/facility of Don Tommasino. This is where young Michael, in his fathers arms, makes such a cute face when he tastes an olive. I'm a teacher, using the trilogy in my classes, and would love to present some photos to my students, so any help would be appreciated.
Question: In the flashback of Vito Corleone's return to Corleone, Sicily with his young family, his wife is shown holding a baby in a bonnet in several scenes. On the train he is talking to an older child and calling him Michael. Who is the baby?
Question: Maybe its my maths or I misheard something but the figures don't seem to add up for me. In Godfather 2, Vito Corleone is about 7 yrs old in 1901 and moves to New York after his family is killed. In Godfather 1, it is said the year was "almost 1942" (I think). So that makes Don Corleone about 50 ish when he died of a heart attack. Is this correct? He looked a lot older, plus head of a crime family in his early 40s doesn't seem right to me either. Am I missing something? I'm not listing this as a mistake as I'm unsure of the timings etc. so if anyone can shed any light on this for me it would be appreciated.
Chosen answer: Vito was born December 7, 1891, so he was 9 when he moved (Godfather II states: "In 1901, the family of nine-year-old Vito Andolini is killed"). However, it was by the early 1930's that Vito had established his criminal organization as the Corleone crime family, with him at the head. He died in July of 1955, making him 63 when he died. In real life, Marlon Brando, who played Don Corleone, was 47 at the time of filming.
Question: When Michael says to Tom, "if history has taught us anything, it's that you can kill anyone." Who is he referring to?
Answer: No one in particular. He was simply meaning that many historical figures who were extremely powerful (Julius Cesar for example) were assassinated. He means that no one is untouchable.
I disagree. I think he was referring to when he assassinated that police captain and the Turk and everyone in the room told him it was impossible.
Question: When Vito Corleone visits Sicily with his family, he is received by an old woman and a man. These people are the ones who helped Vito to escape when he was a child. However, when they are having lunch together, Vito refers to her as "grandmother". Are the old woman and the man members of the family? What are their names?
Question: In Godfather II, during the attempted murder of Pentagelli in the bar. One of the hit men tells Pentagelli "Michael Corleone says hello" as they begin to strangle him. Why? Mike didn't OK the hit on Pentagelli, did he? Roth and Mike's other enemies could not have known or timed the cop coming into the closed bar, resulting in Pentagelli surviving the attack and thinking Mike wanted him dead. So turning to the FBI and testifying and against Michael.
Answer: That hit was ordered by Roth, purposely designed to fail, and to leave Pentangelli believing that Michael double-crossed him. That way, Pentangelli would testify against Michael. The nerdy cop that "accidentally" interrupted the hit was part of the plot.
Chosen answer: The Rosato brothers hated Pentagelli, so why NOT lie to him? The revenge becomes all the sweeter if he dies thinking he's been betrayed.
Question: After Fredo gives away that he already knows Johnny, Michael gives the nod to his bodyguard to assassinate Roth. But he earlier told Fredo that he was going to kill Roth before the New Year, so he must have known that Fredo would warn Roth. So why make the attempt?
Chosen answer: Michael knows that Fredo will not warn Roth. Fredo is now running for his life, both terrified and horrified by what he'd done. He wants to hide from Michael's retribution. He had naively believed that there would never be an assassination attempt on Michael's life, and thought what he'd done was relatively minor and would only result in him earning a lot of money.
Question: Whatever happened to Sonny's wife and children?
Answer: There is a deleted scene from the movie (I'll put a link for you in the end!), where Theresa and Sonny's daughter, Francesca, attend the party for Anthony's communion and ask Michael's blessing for Francesca's future wedding with a man. At some point Michael says that "My brother Sonny died many years ago. And I guess I've been sort of a father to her, rather than an uncle." I would assume this means the children were raised close to him, because as we see when Connie discusses with him, even her own children stay with Michael's family; or close. (Connie's son was caught in Reno, Nevada for some petty theft). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15Ucj4YFosk.
Question: When Vito Corleone visits Sicily with his family, he is received by an old woman and a man. This people are the ones, I suppose, who helped Vito to escape when he was a child. However, when they are having lunch together, Don Vito refers to her as "grandmother" when telling his son to give her a gift. So, are the old woman and the man members of the family? And, what are their names?
Chosen answer: They helped him escape Don Ciccio's death warrant. He likely loves them like parents, and this would make them the childrens' grandparents.
Question: After Vito kills the black hand he goes back up to the roof and smashes the gun into about 6 pieces. He puts the parts down spouts sticking out from the roof. What were these spouts and where did they go? He also put one piece down what looked like a chimney. Wouldn't that land in someones fireplace and be discovered?
Chosen answer: They are vents from furnaces and ovens. They wouldn't fall into the tenements because of things like filters and flues blocking the way.
Question: Anthony's first communion - I can see why it might be seen as a big deal, but enough to warrant such a grandiose celebration? Do other wealthy Italian families have such elaborate ceremonies for such occasions?
Answer: First communions, especially in countries/cultures that are deeply Catholic (like Sicilians), often come with big parties; the wealthier the family, the bigger the party. There's no reason why a family as wealthy and powerful as the Corleones couldn't throw an elaborate party, for whatever reason they want, if the mood strikes them. It's also a "front" of sorts; similar to Connie's wedding in the first film, the Don (Michael) invites people he wants to have meetings with (his capos, politicians he has bought/wants to buy/needs to speak to), so his son's first communion is as good a cover as any.
Question: What was the purpose of the flashback at the end?
Answer: It was done as a way of showing Michael reflect on the past. To show the kind of person Michael was before the events of the two movies and how much he has changed since then. We also get to see the Corleone family at a much happier place before things started getting complicated. By this point in the story, Fredo has been killed and his wife has left him, and this flashback scene serves as a reminder of how much he has lost despite having everything.
Question: Is there a reason why Tom Hagen "can't give a straight answer anymore," in all of his conversations with Michael?
Answer: Michael only wants people to tell him what he wants to hear, rather than giving truthful advice, which sometimes makes him angry. Tom often has to skirt around issues to get his point across, otherwise Michael will react negatively, or even retaliate in some way. Michael expects Tom's complete loyalty even though he had demoted Tom from being Consigliori. An element of trust and understanding was lost between them.
Question: Correct me if I'm wrong, but the plot of this film is to show Michael's consolidation to power. My question is, what's with the thing with Hyman Roth and Cuba? Like what are they trying to invest in? Why did Roth want Michael killed?
Answer: They were investing in hotels and gambling in pre-Castro Cuba, trying to extend their empire to what was then a lucrative market for rich Americans. Michael, however, saw the revolution coming, and started to pull back from the deal as he realised that the Communists would win and nationalize all those businesses. Roth, oblivious to this, tried to have Michael killed because he was worried that Michael's reticence would influence the others involved in the deal and ruin the investment for him.
Answer: Roth wanted Michael killed because he had Moe Green killed.
Question: At the start of the movie, Connie hates Michael. Was it just the death of their mother that made her change her feelings towards Michael? Or were there other factors?
Answer: Connie always hated Michael for ordering the death of Carlo (unaware that he was responsible for Sonny's murder) however she puts away her hatred to get Michael and Fredo to make up.
Connie didn't hate Michael. In the book, she was initially upset and angry that he had Carlo killed and confronted him, but within a few days, she apologized, telling Kay, Michael's wife, that it was all a mistake. Carlo was a physically abusive husband who never loved Connie and only married her because she was Don Corleone's daughter. Connie quickly realised she was far happier and much better off without Carlo.
Answer: Connie never hated Michael. Their relationship became strained because he disapproved of her jet-set, life-style, she was neglecting her children, and he dislikes the men she has relationships with. She is dependent on her brother for money and resents having to beg for more. She changes somewhat towards the end of the movie, partially because of her mother's death and Fredo being killed, and after Michael so cruelly cut Kay out of his life. Gradually, Connie starts to become more like Michael and by the third film, takes a more active role in the family business.
Answer: In the movie Connie says to Michael when she wants to come back that she hated him when Carlo died, and she did things to hurt Michael and herself, but she had come to realise that Michael is only doing what he has to do for the family, being strong for the family. She wanted to come back and take care of Michael and the children.
Question: What exactly did Fredo do to help Roth (that led to the assassination attempt at Lake Tahoe)? Fredo says ‘I never knew they would try to kill you'. Ok, but what was going on exactly then? What did he think was going on? What *was* going on? All we know is Michael's room got shot up and Fredo betrayed him, leading to the event.
Question: Why are Connie and the other woman wearing black and teary-eyed when Kay visits the children before her encounter with Michael? I believe the woman by the fish tank may be Kay's mother but Connie also seems tearful and upset and dressed as if in mourning. (03:05:30)
Answer: As I recall, this scene was shortly after Mama Corleone died. Connie would still be mourning and wearing black. The other woman is not Kay's mother, but probably a random Corleone relative. Connie is grieving her mother, but also is saddened by Michael's cruelty toward Kay and at seeing Kay's emotional secret visit with her children. Michael had prevented Kay from seeing them.
Answer: The baby would be Connie Corleone, sister to Sonny, Fredo, and Michael. She was the youngest child, though Michael was the youngest of the brothers.
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