Summary
- Iconic moments from The Godfather were often improvised on set, adding depth to the characters and enhancing the story.
- Some memorable scenes, such as Brasi practicing his speech, were added later to account for the actor’s nerves.
- Marlon Brando’s improvisation, as if using an orange peel, humanized Don Corleone and added depth to the character.
Although The Godfather Although it is often cited as one of the greatest films of all time, the original script for the project actually seemed very different from the final version that was brought to the screen. Director Francis Ford Coppola was very open to improvisation, allowing actors to get inside the minds of their characters and do things he hadn’t written. This resulted in some of the film’s most iconic and memorable moments, proving how deeply The GodfatherThe cast understood their characters.
Although the end of The Godfather Although Coppola largely wrote and fine-tuned the script, the rest of the story was very open to adaptation throughout the filming process. Although the film was based on Mario Puzo’s famous novel, Coppola wanted to allow himself some creative liberties that would make his film adaptation more accessible to general audiences, which is exactly what these improvised moments did. Without them, The Godfather It wouldn’t have felt as natural and fluid as it does.
Related How Much Screen Time Does Marlon Brando Really Have In The Godfather?
Even though Marlon Brando won the Oscar for Best Actor for The Godfather as Vito Corleone, he surprisingly has limited screen time in the classic film.
7 Luca Brasi practicing his speech before Don Corleone
The scene was added retroactively
However, not all additions to the set The Godfather They were the result of intentional improvisation. For example, the scene where Luca Brasi is seen practicing his speech to Don Corleone was included because actor Lenny Montana was too nervous to deliver his lines correctly; the editors did not have enough footage of Luca delivering his speech confidently, so they added this scene to retroactively explain that he was nervous and could not speak clearly. James Caan revealed this in an interview where he also admitted that Montana was very similar to Brasi’s character.
This scene is hugely effective at introducing Don Corleone as a character before he even appears on screen – the fact that Brasi seems so nervous and apprehensive about the meeting immediately gets the audience invested, raising questions about the dangerous character that is about to be introduced. The scene may have been an accident, but it actually contributes greatly to the many reasons why Vito is such a fascinating character – it introduces some of Vito Corleone’s most iconic traits before the character even enters the story.
6. “Put down the gun, take the cannolis”
The original line was much simpler
The Godfather won several Oscars, including ones for its screenplay, but many of the film’s most beloved lines were not actually written by Coppola. The scene where Richard Castellano delivers his iconic “Put down the gun, take the cannoli“The line was the result of the actor’s imagination; the line was written as”put down the gun,“but Castellano reportedly changed it after a suggestion from his wife. The result is one of the funniest moments in the film, adding some much-needed humor to a story that, up to that point, is incredibly dark and grim.
There aren’t many comedic moments in he Godfather trilogy, but this quick, throwaway line has definitely become one of them. It effectively breaks the tension of the scene, using humor to show just how terrible and morally devoid these characters can be. The Godfather It’s sometimes criticized for being too violent or supporting crime, but scenes like this prove exactly how damning Coppola’s script really is toward these characters.
5 Don Corleone holding a cat
The animal was there by accident
It’s one of the most iconic images of the entire Godfather trilogy, but the decision to have Don Corleone pet a cat when he’s first introduced wasn’t in the original script. Coppola admitted during an interview with TIME: “The cat in Marlon’s hands was not planned. I saw the cat running around the studio, picked it up and put it in his hands without saying a word..” From there, Brando was forced to perform the entire monologue with a cat on his lap, and it immediately gave the character so much depth and presence that Coppola decided to keep him.
The decision to keep this scene was one of Coppola’s best, and it’s little details like these that go a long way to…
The Godfather
Its status as one of the greatest films ever made.
This scene has become synonymous with Don Corleone as a character, as it works perfectly to contrast his cruelty and intimidation with a more sensitive side. It presents him as reasonable and human despite his willingness to kill and torture, which is exactly what makes him such a terrifying yet fascinating character. The decision to keep this scene was one of Coppola’s best, and it’s little details like these that go a long way to The GodfatherIts status as one of the greatest films ever made.
4. The opening scene of The Godfather’s wedding is very improvised
The actors received unique instructions
The Godfather The film opens during the wedding of Connie Corleone and Carlo Rizzi. The event serves as the backdrop for much of the film’s exposition and introductory sequences, but the wedding guests and staff weren’t given much direction. Coppola intended this to be an extremely chaotic and unpredictable introduction to the story, so many of the characters act erratically as they move from scene to scene. The director has even revealed that he used this setting as a vehicle in rehearsals for the actors to get into character by having dinner together. (Source)
The result of having such an improvised opening scene is that The Godfather It immediately feels real and natural; there is no forced exposition, no dumping of character backstories, and no overwriting of scenes. The whole scene flows incredibly well, and feels like a genuine wedding with people acting exactly as their characters would. Vito Corleone has surprisingly little screen time in The Godfatherbut his presence in this opening scene makes him seem incredibly important given the chaos and unforeseen behavior surrounding him.
3 Don Corleone uses orange peel as fangs
Brando wanted a playful scene for Corleone
Another scene that serves to humanise Don Corleone in one of his weakest moments – his interaction with Michael’s son amongst the orange trees – was also improvised by Marlon Brando. In the scene, Vito places the peel of an orange in his mouth to frighten his grandson as a joke, and is a brief glimpse into the character’s playful side and a reminder of how highly he regards his family. It comes just before the character’s death and is hugely effective in showing that Vito is not as ruthless as his enemies believe. Without it, it’s hard to feel any sympathy for the character in his final moments.
This scene is just one of many moments in The Godfather that Marlon Brando added to the script during the process, showing exactly how in touch he was with the character of Vito Corleone. The actor understood exactly what drove Vito, why he acted the way he did, and the best ways to portray him on screen. Despite the intense behind-the-scenes drama that would happen in Apocalypse NowBrando and Coppola clearly understood how to work together energetically. The Godfather.
2 Sonny smashes the camera
James Caan didn’t even have the action planned
Francis Ford Coppola and James Caan were close friends long before The Godfather It went into production and the director basically gave the actor free rein to improvise as much as he felt necessary. The result was a much more unpredictable and rash Sonny character, something that would never have been possible if he had followed a very strict script. An example of this is given early in the film, when Sonny smashes an FBI agent’s camera and throws money at him. The actor admitted that he didn’t know what he would do in that scene until it happened. (Source)
Sonny Corleone is supposed to be a brash, brazen character who represents the most dangerous type of criminal: someone who doesn’t care about the consequences of his actions and has no respect for authority. This little moment is a perfect encapsulation of that, showing exactly how self-centered and emotional he is. His decision to throw the money on the ground is also an effective way of showing how rich these characters are: they don’t mind stepping out of line with powerful figures because they believe that money can fix everything.
1 Sonny’s “Bada-Bing”
The phrase became synonymous with the film.
Another example of James Caan’s excellent improvisational skills can be seen through Sonny’s use of the phrase “Bada-bing” – which was completely made up on the spot. Coppola never included this line in her original script, but Caan decided it was appropriate for his character and used it in several scenes. It quickly became another of The GodfatherSonny’s iconic character quotes give this book even more depth and richness beyond what was written on the page. Like most improvised lines, this doesn’t necessarily add anything to the story, but it all comes together to make it more interesting. The Godfather Feel more authentic.
This little line is a great way to give Sonny Corleone more depth as a character: he’s arrogant, self-confident, and doesn’t really care what others think of him. This will ultimately prove to be the character’s fatal flaw, as his enemies are able to exploit that arrogance to lure him into a trap. This subtle line goes a long way to developing Sonny as a character, showing his playful side but also showing him to be somewhat inarticulate and brash. These are the qualities he’s remembered for throughout the trilogy, and Caan’s use of this line demonstrates how well he understands Sonny’s role in the film. The Godfather.
Sources: YouTube, DailyScript
The Godfather (1972) Drama Crime
Francis Ford Coppola directed this 1978 classic that would become one of the most iconic crime films in history. Starring Marlon Brando, James Caan, and Al Pacino, The Godfather offers a tense and introspective look at the Corleone crime family of New York City.
Director Francis Ford Coppola Release date March 24, 1972 Screenwriters Mario Puzo , Francis Ford Coppola Cast Marlon Brando , Diane Keaton , James Caan , Al Pacino , Robert Duvall Running time 175 minutes Budget $6 million Expand