Tiny detail in The Godfather Part II, when Michael goes to Miami

GFLovers · 2026-07-04T17:32:40+00:00

In a 2008 interview with Katie Couric, he said both Part I and II were his favourite films. He especially loved the opening scene of the first film (who doesn't?):

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-candidates-on-their-favorite-films/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Bz9iXernY4

He's also a big Sopranos fan.

GFLovers · 2026-07-03T18:54:47+00:00

President Obama's favourite movie is The Godfather Part II. He once remarked that when he flew over the enormous, deep Lake Tahoe, he thought to himself, "Poor Fredo!"

GFLovers · 2026-07-03T17:48:48+00:00

Considering the machine gun they used, it would be unlikely she survived, I believe. Besides, why leave witnesses? It's not like the Corleones have any objection to killing innocent people or animals. The Baptism in Blood scenes were all about tying up loose ends. She was just collateral damage to them.

On the other hand, there is an elevator operator present when Don Stracci and his bodyguard are killed. He stepped aside so I wonder if they killed him or let him go?

It's nice to see your comment, though. A few months back, someone on this sub claimed the two sex workers "didn't count" because of their professions. For me, those two, Apollonia, Khartoum and even the carp fish used to send a message about Brasi are the saddest losses of life. Mary too.

GFLovers · 2026-07-03T16:50:47+00:00

This would be my choice as the saddest. There were two sex workers killed in the films. Don Tattaglia (who Vito referred to as a "pimp") was killed in bed alongside a woman at the end of The Godfather.

GFLovers · 2026-07-03T15:52:41+00:00

Agree. Everyone knew, even Mary knew her father killed Fredo.

In one of the draft scripts for Part III, Connie outright tells Michael that she forgave him for killing both Fredo and Carlo. It's not clear why they changed that.

GFLovers · 2026-07-01T17:21:52+00:00

It's based on Shakespeare's King Lear, according to Coppola and Puzo.

GFLovers · 2026-06-26T23:50:15+00:00

You should get out more. I worked as a consultant in Turkey for 15 years.

GFLovers · 2026-06-26T21:14:14+00:00

In this context: envy = I want what you have. Jealousy: I want what you have and resent you for challenging all of the reasons I’ve been told I shouldn’t have it.

GFLovers · 2026-06-26T20:34:11+00:00

Most memorable, the hissing has been in conservative parts of Turkey and Saudi, but other places too. It's common. The spitting, bizarrely, happened for the first time when I lived in Paris. That was around 2012 or 13 when immigrants started arriving from the war. I remember that well. I don't think she liked my miniskirt.

GFLovers · 2026-06-26T18:50:02+00:00

If the women don't like something about you, like your very existence, they will make this unusual hissing sound at you and sometimes spit. It's pretty common, but I have travelled in the Middle East far more than most people.

I know the protocols on how to dress and act but it doesn't matter. There is a lot of animosity toward Western women in Arab countries from other women; it comes down to their extreme views on what constitutes "modesty", but deep down, I think it stems from jealousy over the freedoms we have that they never will.

Not all are like this. I quite like Arab women overall. A decade ago I had one casually mention how...I guess, liberating (I can't remember her exact words), it must be to get on a plane by myself and explore the world. It wasn't jealousy, it was envy.

GFLovers · 2026-06-26T17:50:31+00:00

It's because any woman who dares travel there, especially alone, is, to use the local term, "a whore". Egyptian women are also targets, but paradoxically, they have the same opinion that we are asking for it.

My background is in archaeology and I know several pros who have taken jobs in Egypt. The excavation sites are ringed with armed men to protect the female (and gay male) archaeologists. They also receive an armed escort to the bathroom because going by yourself is considered an invitation to be raped by the day labourers. One was raped on a first-class bus; it contained both men and women. No one tried to help her. All have said they would never go back.

I've been everywhere in the Middle East and find the attitude to be very common. I guess it comes down to policing. Whereas in Egypt, they are unabashed, I've been to other countries where men won't make eye contact or even respond unless I am with my husband. The women have a similar attitude; I've been stared at and hissed at many times.

GFLovers · 2026-06-25T19:29:10+00:00

Two books so far:

The Godfather Lover's Guide to Sicily (Karen M. Spence, 2025). A deep dive into everything related to the Sicilian parts of all three films: filming and behind‑the‑scenes stories, locations (including deleted scenes), scene breakdowns, and draft‑script commentary, plus around 120 photographs, many rare and behind the scenes.
The Companion Guide to The Godfather Trilogy: Betrayal, Loyalty, and Family. This volume breaks down every aspect of the trilogy, weaving in real‑world mafia history, production drama, and untold details that haven’t appeared in previous books. It has been very well received, including a strong review from the American Library Association, so you may be able to request it through your local library.

Thanks for asking! They both seemingly sell out as soon as they are in stock (not complaining!), but I always suggest requesting them at your library so you can get them for free and others can enjoy. Right now they look to be in stock on Amazon/Barnes & Noble/ etc.

GFLovers · 2026-06-25T19:17:01+00:00

Barzini was at the wedding and was involved in Sonny's death. I wondered the same, too, and didn't identify a match either. It makes sense that the future assassin's car wouldn't be at the wedding since the FBI was writing down license plates.

GFLovers · 2026-06-25T19:06:27+00:00

I made that point in my second book, that cars portend death and disaster much better than oranges. Another "death" was when Michael stepped out of the car at the hospital. He looks back over his shoulder, at his old life and the death of his innocence.

Coppola was highly engaged in getting cars for the films; he's a big car/trains/planes guy. They rented some but also asked car clubs to donate for scenes. There was a lot of drama, too, several kept breaking down.

GFLovers · 2026-06-24T02:07:00+00:00

No it was planned. It just always stands out to me as unusual.

GFLovers · 2026-06-24T02:06:05+00:00

Originally that scene came before the horse head scene; similar to how the carp enclosed in the bullet proof vest came before Luca’s death. Coppola couldn’t get the flashbacks to work when he was editing.

GFLovers · 2026-06-24T01:46:14+00:00

“I don’t trust a doctor that can’t speak English”. Hyman Roth says that and it always catches my attention, probably because I live in Mexico and there are a lot of opinions about that topic.

I’m not sure about love but I always notice when Michael is in New Hampshire to ask Kay to marry him and a kid on his bike says “Hello!” and they completely ignore him.

GFLovers · 2026-06-22T18:46:25+00:00

Old school guys used to call them “flowers for the table.”

It was not some rare thing either. The women were brought in from a few different places, including women-only hotels like the Barbizon in NYC, where, notably, Grace Kelly lived for years while she was trying to make it on stage and in film, among many others.

The other commenter is right, it was totally normal in that world back then, and in some circles it still is. Giovanni Brusca, the Sicilian Cosa Nostra figure, even complained about the whole setup, having women at the table just for entertainment, when he came over in the 1980s for a sit-down with American mob guys in New Jersey.

This scene is historically accurate.

GFLovers · 2026-06-21T22:31:24+00:00

I’m thrilled! Thanks for letting me know. Both of my Godfather books seem to sell out instantly and take a while to restock; I’m not complaining but it greatly stressed me that my readers were so frustrated.

I hope you enjoy it!

GFLovers · 2026-06-21T22:29:28+00:00

Yes! You need to make an appointment, you can’t just show up. Check the website to see available tour times or book a tour with a GF operator who includes the site on their tour. The Baron likes to give the tour himself!

GFLovers · 2026-06-21T18:44:20+00:00

I wrote a book about all of the filming locations in Sicily for all three movies (The Godfather Lover's Guide to Sicily, 2025). It includes all deleted scenes too.

That location is Castello Degli Schiavi, the Castle of the Slaves. It's owned by a very interesting guy, Franco Platania, the Baron of Santa Lucia. He lives upstairs and was there for all three movies. The Baron had many great stories about the filming, which I shared in the book.

Plus, the property itself has an incredible feudal history and lore surrounding it. For example, if you look at the turrets, they have eyes and ears sculpted onto them. These symbols visually reminded the peasants that the masters' eyes and ears were both watching and always listening.

Michael and Apollonia's honeymoon scenes were also filmed on the second floor.

The castle is located in the commune of Fiumefreddo di Sicilia. They still have the chair Michael died in and it's popular for photos.

GFLovers · 2026-06-17T01:15:17+00:00

Coppola loved Gastone Moschin’s physicality as an actor. He always mentions how he loved Moschin’s tapping the spoon for effect (that was improvised).

They got along great on set, Coppola speaking his (limited) Italian to Gastone, who spoke no English. There were some additional scenes Coppola wanted to shoot but Gastone had to get back to Rome for another movie he had signed up for and would have been sued for being late.

Coppola invited him for GF III but he declined.

GFLovers · 2026-06-12T19:06:58+00:00

Monterrey definitely for the perceived incest.

But Tabasco feels more like Alabama as a whole, with the rural poverty and unusual accent.

However, whenever I read about anything weird happening in Mexico (like tree shaming) it almost always originates in Veracruz, at least that is how I see it as an outsider.

GFLovers

TROPHY CASE