1. The Cat
As Don Corleone calmly explains his idea of “friendship” to the undertaker Bonasera, the first nearly full-body shot of the don reveals an unexpected guest: a gray and white cat sitting in Marlon Brando’s lap. “The cat in Marlon’s hands was not planned for,” director Francis Ford Coppola said later. “I saw the cat running around the studio, and took it and put it in his hands without a word.” Brando apparently loved children and animals, and it became part of the scene. But it also nearly ruined the shot. When the sound crew listened to Brando’s dialogue, they couldn’t understand a word he was saying and feared they would have to use subtitles. The problem wasn’t Brando but the cat, whose purring wrecked the sound. You can still hear it on the sound track.
2.That Opening Shot
Before helming The Godfather, Francis Ford Coppola wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for Patton, which featured one of the iconic opening scenes in 20th century cinema. As Coppola was writing The Godfather‘s screenplay, a friend suggested he try for an equally striking opening. Coppola said the part of the book he found most significant was that people call on the don on his daughter’s wedding day because on that day, the don cannot refuse a favor. The undertaker’s story introduced that concept, and also the idea that the laws of the country don’t always protect the citizens, so they call upon the don like clients in the oldest sense, asking for help. Using a “high technology” computerized zoom lens, Coppola started with a tight shot of the undertaker’s face, and then pulled back slowly for 2 min. 20 sec., before holding the shot for another 30 sec. while the undertaker whispers in the don’s ear.
3.The Horse Head
It could be said of so many movie moments, but describing the horse-head scene as one of the most iconic in American film history is no exaggeration. It was already famous from the book — only in Mario Puzo’s novel, the horse’s head was on the bedpost when Jack Woltz wakes up. Audiences rose up in anger over the death of the horse, and many asked if it were a real animal head.
Yes, it was. The studio had encouraged Francis Ford Coppola to use a fake horse head, but he didn’t like the mock-up. His scouts found a horse ready for slaughter at a dog-food plant in New Jersey. The art director picked one that looked like the horse in the film and said, “When that one is slaughtered, send us the head.” Coppola later remembered, “One day, a crate with dry ice came with this horse’s head in it.”
4.Brando Was Almost a No-Go
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10 Things you didn’t know about The Godfather part(I)
Mar27 by raunaksinghai
1.The Cat
Vito Corleone with Cat in The GodfatherAs Don Corleone calmly explains his idea of “friendship” to the undertaker Bonasera, the first nearly full-body shot of the don reveals an unexpected guest: a gray and white cat sitting in Marlon Brando’s lap. “The cat in Marlon’s hands was not planned for,” director Francis Ford Coppola said later. “I saw the cat running around the studio, and took it and put it in his hands without a word.” Brando apparently loved children and animals, and it became part of the scene. But it also nearly ruined the shot. When the sound crew listened to Brando’s dialogue, they couldn’t understand a word he was saying and feared they would have to use subtitles. The problem wasn’t Brando but the cat, whose purring wrecked the sound. You can still hear it on the sound track
2.That Opening Shot
The First Shot of The Godfather
Before helming The Godfather, Francis Ford Coppola wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for Patton, which featured one of the iconic opening scenes in 20th century cinema. As Coppola was writing The Godfather‘s screenplay, a friend suggested he try for an equally striking opening. Coppola said the part of the book he found most significant was that people call on the don on his daughter’s wedding day because on that day, the don cannot refuse a favor. The undertaker’s story introduced that concept, and also the idea that the laws of the country don’t always protect the citizens, so they call upon the don like clients in the oldest sense, asking for help. Using a “high technology” computerized zoom lens, Coppola started with a tight shot of the undertaker’s face, and then pulled back slowly for 2 min. 20 sec., before holding the shot for another 30 sec. while the undertaker whispers in the don’s ear.
3.The Horse Head
Courtesy of Everett CollectionIt could be said of so many movie moments, but describing the horse-head scene as one of the most iconic in American film history is no exaggeration. It was already famous from the book — only in Mario Puzo’s novel, the horse’s head was on the bedpost when Jack Woltz wakes up. Audiences rose up in anger over the death of the horse, and many asked if it were a real animal head.
Yes, it was. The studio had encouraged Francis Ford Coppola to use a fake horse head, but he didn’t like the mock-up. His scouts found a horse ready for slaughter at a dog-food plant in New Jersey. The art director picked one that looked like the horse in the film and said, “When that one is slaughtered, send us the head.” Coppola later remembered, “One day, a crate with dry ice came with this horse’s head in it.”
4.Brando Was Almost a No-GoEverett
Early in his career, Marlon Brando starred in hits such as On the Waterfront and A Streetcar Named Desire. But by 1971, he had a reputation for conflicts with directors, off-screen antics and delays on the set. Even though Don Corleone appears in less than a third of the film, Francis Ford Coppola knew he needed an actor who could give the picture power and mystique, and in Brando he had his man. Studio head Stanley Jaffe thought otherwise and told Brando, “As long as I’m president of the studio, Marlon Brando will not be in this picture.” After more badgering, Jaffe finally agreed to three concessions he thought would be deal breakers: that Brando work for far less than his usual salary, take financial responsibility for any delays he caused and, most important, consent to a screen test, which was unheard of for the actor at that time.
5.Luca Brasi Fumbles His Lines
though Francis Ford Coppola carefully sketched out so much of the film, unexpected twists during filming resulted in some of The Godfather‘s biggest gems. Perhaps none had a bigger impact (in the literal and figurative sense) than Lenny Montana as the feared enforcer Luca Brasi. Montana, a 6 ft. 6 in., 320-lb. professional wrestler, was working as a bodyguard for real-life mobster Joe Colombo, who had come to the set. Coppola and producer Al Ruddy quickly cast Montana as Brasi. When we meet Luca, he’s waiting to see Don Corleone on Connie’s wedding day, practicing his greeting nervously. But that scene was shot after the one in which Luca greets the Don. When Montana stood in front of Brando, he froze and fumbled his lines.
As Don Corleone calmly explains his idea of “friendship” to the undertaker Bonasera, the first nearly full-body shot of the don reveals an unexpected guest: a gray and white cat sitting in Marlon Brando’s lap. “The cat in Marlon’s hands was not planned for,” director Francis Ford Coppola said later. “I saw the cat running around the studio, and took it and put it in his hands without a word.” Brando apparently loved children and animals, and it became part of the scene. But it also nearly ruined the shot. When the sound crew listened to Brando’s dialogue, they couldn’t understand a word he was saying and feared they would have to use subtitles. The problem wasn’t Brando but the cat, whose purring wrecked the sound. You can still hear it on the sound track.
2.That Opening Shot
Before helming The Godfather, Francis Ford Coppola wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for Patton, which featured one of the iconic opening scenes in 20th century cinema. As Coppola was writing The Godfather‘s screenplay, a friend suggested he try for an equally striking opening. Coppola said the part of the book he found most significant was that people call on the don on his daughter’s wedding day because on that day, the don cannot refuse a favor. The undertaker’s story introduced that concept, and also the idea that the laws of the country don’t always protect the citizens, so they call upon the don like clients in the oldest sense, asking for help. Using a “high technology” computerized zoom lens, Coppola started with a tight shot of the undertaker’s face, and then pulled back slowly for 2 min. 20 sec., before holding the shot for another 30 sec. while the undertaker whispers in the don’s ear.
3.The Horse Head
It could be said of so many movie moments, but describing the horse-head scene as one of the most iconic in American film history is no exaggeration. It was already famous from the book — only in Mario Puzo’s novel, the horse’s head was on the bedpost when Jack Woltz wakes up. Audiences rose up in anger over the death of the horse, and many asked if it were a real animal head.
Yes, it was. The studio had encouraged Francis Ford Coppola to use a fake horse head, but he didn’t like the mock-up. His scouts found a horse ready for slaughter at a dog-food plant in New Jersey. The art director picked one that looked like the horse in the film and said, “When that one is slaughtered, send us the head.” Coppola later remembered, “One day, a crate with dry ice came with this horse’s head in it.”
4.Brando Was Almost a No-Go
Bookmark the permalink.
10 Things you didn’t know about The Godfather part(I)
Mar27 by raunaksinghai
1.The Cat
Vito Corleone with Cat in The GodfatherAs Don Corleone calmly explains his idea of “friendship” to the undertaker Bonasera, the first nearly full-body shot of the don reveals an unexpected guest: a gray and white cat sitting in Marlon Brando’s lap. “The cat in Marlon’s hands was not planned for,” director Francis Ford Coppola said later. “I saw the cat running around the studio, and took it and put it in his hands without a word.” Brando apparently loved children and animals, and it became part of the scene. But it also nearly ruined the shot. When the sound crew listened to Brando’s dialogue, they couldn’t understand a word he was saying and feared they would have to use subtitles. The problem wasn’t Brando but the cat, whose purring wrecked the sound. You can still hear it on the sound track
2.That Opening Shot
The First Shot of The Godfather
Before helming The Godfather, Francis Ford Coppola wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for Patton, which featured one of the iconic opening scenes in 20th century cinema. As Coppola was writing The Godfather‘s screenplay, a friend suggested he try for an equally striking opening. Coppola said the part of the book he found most significant was that people call on the don on his daughter’s wedding day because on that day, the don cannot refuse a favor. The undertaker’s story introduced that concept, and also the idea that the laws of the country don’t always protect the citizens, so they call upon the don like clients in the oldest sense, asking for help. Using a “high technology” computerized zoom lens, Coppola started with a tight shot of the undertaker’s face, and then pulled back slowly for 2 min. 20 sec., before holding the shot for another 30 sec. while the undertaker whispers in the don’s ear.
3.The Horse Head
Courtesy of Everett CollectionIt could be said of so many movie moments, but describing the horse-head scene as one of the most iconic in American film history is no exaggeration. It was already famous from the book — only in Mario Puzo’s novel, the horse’s head was on the bedpost when Jack Woltz wakes up. Audiences rose up in anger over the death of the horse, and many asked if it were a real animal head.
Yes, it was. The studio had encouraged Francis Ford Coppola to use a fake horse head, but he didn’t like the mock-up. His scouts found a horse ready for slaughter at a dog-food plant in New Jersey. The art director picked one that looked like the horse in the film and said, “When that one is slaughtered, send us the head.” Coppola later remembered, “One day, a crate with dry ice came with this horse’s head in it.”
4.Brando Was Almost a No-GoEverett
Early in his career, Marlon Brando starred in hits such as On the Waterfront and A Streetcar Named Desire. But by 1971, he had a reputation for conflicts with directors, off-screen antics and delays on the set. Even though Don Corleone appears in less than a third of the film, Francis Ford Coppola knew he needed an actor who could give the picture power and mystique, and in Brando he had his man. Studio head Stanley Jaffe thought otherwise and told Brando, “As long as I’m president of the studio, Marlon Brando will not be in this picture.” After more badgering, Jaffe finally agreed to three concessions he thought would be deal breakers: that Brando work for far less than his usual salary, take financial responsibility for any delays he caused and, most important, consent to a screen test, which was unheard of for the actor at that time.
5.Luca Brasi Fumbles His Lines
though Francis Ford Coppola carefully sketched out so much of the film, unexpected twists during filming resulted in some of The Godfather‘s biggest gems. Perhaps none had a bigger impact (in the literal and figurative sense) than Lenny Montana as the feared enforcer Luca Brasi. Montana, a 6 ft. 6 in., 320-lb. professional wrestler, was working as a bodyguard for real-life mobster Joe Colombo, who had come to the set. Coppola and producer Al Ruddy quickly cast Montana as Brasi. When we meet Luca, he’s waiting to see Don Corleone on Connie’s wedding day, practicing his greeting nervously. But that scene was shot after the one in which Luca greets the Don. When Montana stood in front of Brando, he froze and fumbled his lines.
