Speaker 1: This is a podcast from Minute Media.
Speaker 2: Hello everybody, and welcome back to the Surely You Can't
Be Serious Podcast. Today we are recording from the brand
new Surely you Can't Be Serious Productions Studio. I'm very
excited to do this. We're gonna be talking about The Godfather,
The Godfather Too, and Goodfellas.
Speaker 3: I know this is like the big Mafia mashup right here,
but you know we're missing a major opportunity. D what
we are recording at our new Surely you Can't be
Serious studio, But we should be recording in my bedroom
where my wife sleeps and my children play with their toys.
Welcome back, everybody. We are diving in today to some
of the best movies ever made, literally.
Speaker 2: Literally like you, you look at any source and The Godfather
will be number one or number two. I think AFI
had at number two after Citizen Kane. You look on IMDb,
it's number two after the Shawshank Redemption. Then we have
The Godfather Too, which is almost always right after, and
then in a not two distant third place, and most
of those ratings, you're gonna hit the Goodfellas Too.
Speaker 3: That's exactly right. And you've got cast members intermingled. You've
got Scorsese intermingled a little bit, a little bit, so
a little bit. The quotes are going to be flying.
Didn't mean to assilicate, you know, a little bit.
Speaker 2: A little bit, Okay, you did a little bit. Okay, everybody,
If this is your first time with us, please just
right now, look at your podcast app and hit that
follow button. And if you are coming back, do us
a favor and give us a review. And if it's
a five star review, great.
Speaker 3: Leave the gun take the Canoli five star review.
Speaker 2: Yes, all right, are we ready to jump into these
three iconic movies?
Speaker 3: I'm ready.
Speaker 2: Okay. Let me just say this. There is no way
that we could do a sufficient podcast on all of
these movies in just two episodes.
Speaker 3: You really could do like a season on you could.
Speaker 2: Yes, you could do probably multiple seasons on these movies.
Given how good they are, how iconic they are, We
couldn't possibly so, David Wright, I'm speaking to you. I'm
not going to cover everything, but we are going to
keep this fun and casual and talk about what we
love about these movies. Let's do it, Okay. So our
story starts back at the turn of the century, Young
couple of Italian immigrants leave their home home of Corleone, Italy,
a John Girardi and his wife Kate Okay, and they
travel to New York. They have a daughter who marries
another Sicilian in town who they have a son. Ultimately,
the husband leaves and the grandparents, John and Kate are
left to raise this young Sicilian man who ultimately will
get cast in a part where he has the last
name of the town that his grandparents came from. Okay,
you got me al Pacino's grandparents both from Corleone, Italy.
Speaker 4: Don't ever take signs with anyone against the family again.
Speaker 3: Get out of town. I am not kidding.
Speaker 2: He had a poor background growing up. Like I said,
his parents divorced and he was raised by his grandparents.
He dropped out of school when he was seventeen and
worked as a janitor, messenger, clerk, a bus boy. Sometimes
he was homeless, but he wanted to be actor. His
grandparents supported him in this, and he caught his big
break in nineteen sixty eight when he got to play
a street punk in the play called The Indian Wants
the Bronx. He would be in a movie that same
year and then virtually nothing else, a complete unknown. But
somehow he caught the eye of a gentleman named Francis
Ford Coppola, who was convinced, this is the man who
needs to star in my epic movie, The Godfather.
Speaker 3: Okay, all right.
Speaker 2: The book was released a year after this first play
that al Pacino did, and it wasn't originally going to
be titled The Godfather. A few years earlier, this kind
of heavy set Italian guy shows up in the office
of Robert Evans, a producer for Paramount Pictures, Yes, which
had recently been purchased by Gulf and Western. This was
like the first of the big conglomerates purchasing movie studios.
This was a time just think about this right now.
This is late sixties, early seventies. This was a time
when people thought the movies were dead, Like they didn't
think any more good movies were coming out. TV was
kind of ruling the world at that point.
Speaker 3: Sure sound familiar, Yeah, it sounds like yeahow right, yeah.
Speaker 2: And this set the stage for what would become the
new Hollywood. The new Hollywood would include George Lucas, Francis
Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and a couple of
those guys, George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola, went film
school together decided to start their own production company, Zoetrope.
At the time that they formed this company, they were unknowns.
As it turned out, this business that's run by artists
wasn't doing too well exactly.
Speaker 3: They had gone in debt making THCHX eleven thirty eight.
This was George Lucas's film.
Speaker 2: Yeah, back to our heavy guy who's walking into the
office of Robert Evans at Paramount Studio. Right, So he
walks in and he's got this forty to fifty page
treatment under his arm for a novel, and he says, look,
I need money. I liked to gamble and I have
some debts that I have to pay. Would you be
interested in optioning a novel that I haven't even written yet?
And Robert Evans is like, who are you? He tells
him Mario Puoso I'm friends with. He's like, oh, you're
that guy who I agreed to meet as a favorite
to a friend. Okay, yeah, what let me look at
I don't think he even read it. It was just like,
let's get this guy out the door, how about twelve
thousand dollars. Well, Mario Puzo owed about ten thousand dollars,
so that sounded about right to him.
Speaker 3: Mario Puso owed ten thousand dollars to mob guys like
leg breakers.
Speaker 2: He was an excellent author, but it takes more than
being good to be successful. So Puzo had written this
book called The Fortunate Pilgrim, which according to my sources,
was incredibly good, incredibly intelligent, incredibly well written, and it sold.
Speaker 3: About five copies.
Speaker 2: I head this, yes, And what happened was there was
a character that had not much more than a cameo
appearance in the movie, that was a Godfather esque type
of character, and everyone that read his book said, you
should do something with that guy. That's a stroke of
genius to find accidentally a character. And somebody says, you
know what, that dude is interesting. Let's go with that.
So Robert Evans says, sure, sounds good. I want the
movie rights to great. See you later. Never expected to
see anything from him again until the novel gets written.
As I said, it wasn't supposed to be the Godfather initially,
you know what the name of it was. At first,
no mafia.
Speaker 3: Hah, that word comes into play here shortly.
Speaker 2: Yes, So he writes The Godfather, and the Godfather explodes.
It becomes this huge success that now Paramount now has
the property rights to.
Speaker 3: That's a great story.
Speaker 2: A few months later, Mario Puzo calls Robert Evans back
and he says, would it be a breach of our
contract if I change the name of the book, And
he was like, I don't even.
Speaker 3: Remember who are you?
Speaker 2: Who is this?
Speaker 3: And he says, I want to call it The Godfather.
So the interesting thing to me, though, is that Paramount
is now holding the rights to this novel that's incredibly popular.
You can't just sit on it. You have to make
a movie, right. But they had just come off a
huge mafia failure in a movie that starred Kirk Douglas
as this mafia leader called The Brotherhood. Yes, have you
ever seen that?
Speaker 2: I have not seen it.
Speaker 3: I haven't seen it either, but I heard it's junk.
Speaker 2: There have been mob movies around since movies began. I
mean it was a go to You had James Cagney,
you had Edward g. Robinson, exactly. But in the late
sixties early seventies, nobody was interested in any of the
mob movies.
Speaker 3: Because here's the problem.
Speaker 2: They were all the mob was just a bunch of
greaser guys who deserved whatever they got. There was no
redeeming value about any of the mobsters.
Speaker 3: Sure it was all the guys like a man.
Speaker 2: So they're sitting on top of this beautiful piece of property.
They say, okay, we got to figure out a way
to make this a movie. The guy from Gulf Stream
and Western or whatever it was, his name was blued Horn.
He was this Swedish guy. He was like, no, no,
no more gangster movies, No more mafia movies. I don't
want to do that. And then we're like, but this
is the Godfather. This has been like weeks and weeks
on the national bestseller list. He's like, if you can
make it fast while it's still on the best seller list,
then we can get something done fast and cheap, fast
and cheap. Original budget two point five million dollars. I
want to make them an offul kind of a.
Speaker 3: Fields even for the seventies. That's really low.
Speaker 2: That's crazy low. And so they're like, okay, we need
a producer, we need a director. They go literally in
the parking lot in the parking lot. They're like, hey,
there's already.
Speaker 3: Hey you Hey that guy. He's good.
Speaker 2: He did the Hogan's hero stuff. He's a guy who's
got his business together. Let's get him. And they're like, already,
do you want to do this? He's like, I love
that book. Yeah, sure, absolutely so already. This guy who's
like six' Four jewish, guy he has got all kinds of.
Personality you've listened to this guy. Talk he he's still,
around still.
Speaker 3: Around this guy is A jewish man who sold the
idea of a sitcom in Which american heo w's are
in A nazi war. Camp, yes, YES i mean. Talking
he's moxie all over the.
Speaker 2: Place.
Speaker 3: Right you know what's really funny To jewish, People Nazis.
HITLER i, Know.
Speaker 2: Nasti if you are making if they are the buffoons
of the, show then you were abound to have. Success
And Hubn's heroes was a. Success, right it's fun as.
Show so they, say, hey al how about you produce
this all? Right who's? Directing? UH i don't, know, Right
and so they, say, hey we know this, Guy Francis.
Coppola let's see if he's interested in. It and so they, say,
Hey francis would like you to direct, this And francis,
says uh, no. Thanks. Yeah they're, like what we're offering
you the opportunity to direct a movie that's on the
best Cellulars and he's, like, yeah you know, WHAT i
couldn't get past page. Fifty this graphic sex scenes were
a little too much for, me AND i Just i'm
not interested in that kind of. Stuff and they're like,
okay and they start looking. Around he goes back To zoetrope.
Again he talks To George lucas about what's going, on
And George lucas is, like what we are in debt
six hundred thousand? Dollars could you just direct the movie
for the? Money?
Speaker 3: Maybe how about you just get us.
Speaker 2: A little cash before we go belly.
Speaker 3: Up Francis Ford coppola incredibly gifted, director not known for
his business. Sense. Though you know some other names that
were associated with, This the one that stands out to
me Was Peter. Bogdanovitch that would have been. Interesting twelve
guys passed on.
Speaker 2: This, yeah so it's interesting too that they're going to
The Roger corman, schools. Right bogdanovitch Was Roger corman. Guy
Francis Ford coppola was A Roger corman. GUY i know
when we talk about, casting we're gonna be talking About Jack,
nicholson who is also A Roger corman. Guy they were
looking for bargain basement deals at this, point and those
are the guys that they were looking.
Speaker 3: At Black friday sales right here.
Speaker 2: Right, so as this novel has gained a, popularity Ultimately
Francis Ford coppola does decide to. Direct he takes the.
Novel this is so. Awesome he takes the novel and
he takes he cuts out every single page and he
puts the small novel sized pages within the borders of
a larger eight x eleven piece of paper with the
middle cutout sees both sides. Right and then he's made
notes in the margins of the. Novel and now he's
making notes in the margins of the big pieces of.
Paper and it's all about how to direct each and
every scene that he has planned for this. Movie so
the guys From, paramount they want to make it a modern.
Take they want to make it in nineteen, seventies and
they want to base it In Kansas.
Speaker 3: CITY i see this is crazy to me because it's
cheaper to go to The. Midwest, yeah, so, hey great,
idea let's go To Kansas city Or Saint.
Speaker 2: Louis sure you'll get all kinds Of italian extras in you,
know the middle of the.
Speaker 3: Country you know what they say In Kansas city all the,
time bout a bing brains olive heard college.
Speaker 2: Jacket So Francis Ford coppola once again banging heads with these,
guys and he's, like, no, guys, no this needs to be.
Period peace needs to take place in the, fifties and
we need to do it In.
Speaker 3: New york And italy And.
Speaker 2: Italy, fortunately there weren't that many. SCENES i, mean it
was mostly wilderness that there a, restaurant a, mansion and
some grassy.
Speaker 3: Knolls right those grassy knolls could have been filmed outside
Of Kansas. City, Yes.
Speaker 2: So they, Agree they're, like, Okay, francis that's, fine that's,
fine we will shoot nineteen Fifties New. York there's only one.
Problem you, know who lives In New York the.
Speaker 3: Guys the mafia.
Speaker 2: Guys so in the early nineteen, seventies a guy Named
Joe colombo had started what was called The Italian American
Anti Defamation, league which was basically against all these mob
movies that we had been talking, about against Probably The
godfather that had just come, out because he felt like
it portrayed All italians as these hit, men mob boss connected,
guys and he wanted to say that not All italians
are like.
Speaker 3: That they went After Alka seltzer because they had a
commercial where the guy's, like that's a spicy meat.
Speaker 2: BALL i remember those.
Speaker 3: Commercials they went after those. Guys, yes mom, me that's
a spicy meat.
Speaker 2: Board there's only one. Problem Joe colombo was the boss
of one of the families in the mafia In New
york at the.
Speaker 3: Time we're all a part of the same. Hypocrisy All
italians are not. MOBSTERS i KNOW i, am but not
All italians. Are so this became a really big. Movement
they had a large arge, following WHICH i have to
think has something to do with extortion racketeering That bob
was involved. In hey you're going to join the? Club
or what made my Friend rocco over here to help
you make a.
Speaker 2: Decision whenever it was announced that they would be trying
to film this Movie The godfather In New York. City
The Italian American Anti Defamation league said, no no, Way
we're not going to let this.
Speaker 3: Happen, yeah they had, Rallies they even had death. Threats
they had to Clear Paramount studios. Twice Al ruddy was
receiving phone calls that were threatening and. Mysterious one, day
he lets his secretary as assistant drive his car. Home that,
night in her, driveway they blow out the windshield of the.
CAR i, mean this was serious, stuff And i'll mention
this right. Now there is a series that's coming. Out we, said,
okay what are we going to do for our season three?
Opener we Did batman because The batman movie's coming. Out
we're Doing.
Speaker 2: Godfather because it's the fiftieth anniversary Of The godfather right,
now right fifty years ago this, MONTH A godfather.
Speaker 3: Came out l twenty, fourth nineteen seventy. Two as it turns,
out some other people noticed that this was fifty years
since the, release and so they put together A tv
series that's about to come out Called The. Offer so
met with all of this opposition already goes To Mario
puzo and is, like, hey can you talk to these.
Guys You're italian and he's, like they hate.
Speaker 5: ME i am.
Speaker 3: Not, no there's no chance That i'm going to go
talk to any of These you Think i'm gonna get
mixed up with these guys right.
Speaker 2: Way so this is The maxie that already. Says he,
says you know What i'm Gonna i'm gonna go talk to.
Him these guys have been giving him death. Threats he
knows who they, are and so he's, like let's just go.
In let's just talk to. Him so they go. In
they meet In Joe colombo's office and he brings the,
script already brings the. Script he, says, LISTEN i want
you to just read. This let's talk about. It let's
let's see what we can, do because we're not out
to paint All italians as bad. Guys And columbo's, like, okay,
okay and he's, like, Listen i've got the.
Speaker 3: Script read. It just read it and tell me if
there's something you don't, like and let us. Talk let's
talk About And columbo's got is you know a couple
of associates with, him and so he's like, okay and
he opens a page and he's, like fade.
Speaker 2: In what does fade in, mean and already he's, like,
okay all, right well that's when the black goes to picture. Serious, yes,
right it's fade in, mean thank, you. Sirious and so
he gets frustrated within the first page trying to figure
out this. Dialogue he hands it to one of the
associates who's, LIKE i don't know what this is. About
read this man and so and So Joe colombo looks it,
already and he looks at his guys and he, says
you know, WHAT i THINK i like. THAT i like this.
Guy do you guys like this? Day do we like this?
Guy and they're, like, YEAH i like this guy, too
and he, goes you know, WHAT i like, you we like.
You just do me this, faith don't say the word
mafia anywhere in a, movie and we'll be cool with.
It and so already it's LIKE i can do.
Speaker 3: That that's a.
Speaker 2: Deal that is a.
Speaker 3: Deal by the, way one of the members of The
Italian American Civil Rights, League Frank sinatra.
Speaker 2: Naturally, so as it turns, out mafia appeared in one
spot in the entire, script and it WAS i don't
care how Many Daego guinea Wop mafia greaseball goombas come
out of the, woodwork and so he erased. Mafia and
then it BECAME i don't care how Many, Daego, Guinea,
wop grease ball goombas come out of the.
Speaker 3: Woodwork I'm, German. Irish, well let me tell you something
of my. Problem. Friend that's such an easy you just
cross out the word.
Speaker 5: Mafia THERE i go.
Speaker 2: With, Wop, Goomba greece Or, guinea none of. It mafia
was the, issue and they took it.
Speaker 3: Out and since he hadn't read the, script he didn't
know how many times it was in. There one little,
line one little, line, Boom we're good to.
Speaker 2: Go it's an OFFER i can refuse right love. It
so the next day he, thinks oh my, Gosh i've
narrowly averted massive. Trouble everything's going to be. Good And
Joe colombo calls him back and, says, HEY i just
want to touch base with you on, something if you'll
come by the. Office he goes by his, office he
walks in the door and all of a sudden he
is confronted by a horde of newspaper reporters and they've
got it all set up and he has already has
no idea what has been set. Up but he's there
and he's Got Joe colombo and all of these other,
associates And Joe colombo is letting all of the newspapers
know that he and the rest of his associates have
approved the script and that can the movie can be,
made and already realizes what's going to, happen and sure
enough it. Happens the newspapers immediately come out and, say
this movie is getting made because of ties to the.
Speaker 3: Mafia, wow that's, impressive and you know some of the
other things that happen because of. That, so because The
Italian America Civil Rights league is involved in the, production
you have this Guy Lenny montana who's hanging around all the,
time who actually worked as an enforcer in The columbo crime.
Family So francis Ford coppo is, like, dang this guy's, huge,
right he's, big he's, strong he's. Intimidating maybe we should
offer him apart he Is Luca. Brassei, yes they hire
an actual mobster to play an actual.
Speaker 2: Monsters, yeah because what happens is the, mafia now that
they've okayed the, film they're like hanging around and they
are guys who are LIKE i like to be in a.
MOVIE i, mean you should have the real guys in
the movie right. HERE i, am we just hire, me
leave it right. Here and so when the news comes
out that this movie is tied to the, mafia now
instead of being banned by the, Mafia golf And Western
stock takes like a six bajillion dollar. Dip people are,
like whoa this? Is this is bad and So golf
And western is, Furious but somehow the movie still gets.
Speaker 3: Made it's. Incredible by the, WAY i want to circle
back real quick On Luca brosse And Lenny. Montana, okay,
Okay So Lenny montana was involved with The colombo crime
family since the, sixties as In Joe colombo The Colombo family. Exactly,
yes his talents were mostly as enforcer and. Arsonist wait
what are your? SKILLS i was an. Arsonist once he
allegedly tied a tampon to the tail of a, mouse
dipped it in, kerosene lit it on, fire and let
the mouse run like crazy through the building to set
it on.
Speaker 2: Fire that that's actually pretty. Ingenious, honestly that's pretty. SMART
i wasn't expecting that From Joe, Montana Luca. Brossi, yeah
there's much more to, tell but we only have a
little limited amount of.
Speaker 3: Time let's move on To The godfather.
Speaker 5: Too he told, me keep your friends, close but your enemies.
Speaker 3: Close The Godfather part two actually took pieces from The godfather.
Novel all the stuff that flashes back To, italy The
Robert denier, stuff that's all from The godfather.
Speaker 2: Novel all of The michael parts were Completely Francis Ford.
Coppola it was all his. Writing, Now Francis Ford coppola
during the making of this, movie and we'll get back
to it in a, minute but he was in fear
of getting fired every single, day and there was a
key moment that changed that, concern and we'll get into
that a little bit. Later but at that moment when
he realized things were good and that this looked like
it was really going to be, success they started working
On The Godfather. Too, now the problem was the studio
wanted him to, direct but he didn't want to Direct
The Godfather. Too and so he's, like, HEY i got this,
guy he'd be perfect to. Direct his name Is Martin. Scorsese,
yeah that's a really cool. Story and they're like, nope,
nope not good. Enough so he, Said, Okay i'll, direct
But i've got some, conditions.
Speaker 3: Right so here are his. Conditions number, one he wants
to be able to direct his own, movie his own
script of The Conversation. Logical he wants to be allowed
to direct a production for The San francisco Opera What What?
Opera and he wanted to be allowed to write the
screenplay For The Great Gas peat nineteen seventy. Four, okay,
okay all prior to production for the sequel of A
christmas nineteen seventy four. Release oh by the, way No
Robert evans Or i'm. Out. Wow So Robert evans is
one of the head guys At.
Speaker 2: Paramount so if you're familiar with the Kid stays in the,
picture That's Robert. Evans he's an interesting, guy Interesting hollywood story.
Guy but apparently he And Francis Ford copola did not get.
Speaker 3: Along they had a lot of shouting matches.
Speaker 5: Here.
Speaker 3: Yeah oh you know, what there's another thing that kind
of went along in this same. Area, yeah every day
they picked him up in this crappy station, wagon took
him to the set and he's, like this car. Sucks that's. Right,
sucks but they, said he, said if the movie does
over fifty million, DOLLARS i want a new, car right,
Right and so they made that. Agreement and then actually
the beat up crappy car makes an appearance In American,
Graffiti Oh, nice which is kind of cool zotrop MOVIE i. Believe, so,
OKAY i don't know How, FRANK i don't know How
George lucas is getting out on not having ANY i, know, Right, okay,
hey you know that just the demands made By francis Port,
coppola it's like the exaggeration of somebody who knows they're
on the, spot like in the end Of. Sneakers we're, Like,
OKAY i want the conversation. MADE i want The Great.
GASPY i want pizza for a. Year you, know it's
just all these weird things that you're trying to come
up with on the, spot lifetime supply of. CHOCOLATE i
Want eminem's all the green, ones nothing.
Speaker 2: Else so they agree to his. Conditions he becomes the
director for his own, script which is partly influenced by
the original Novel The. Godfather that part where we see
we Hear Vito corleone's backstory and then his own, dissension the,
fall if you, will Of Michael corleone into the very
depths of. Hell and it's such a great back and
forth to see the rise of one in the fall
of the. Other he did a brilliant job weaving these
two storylines.
Speaker 3: Together the only THING i can compare The corleone character arc. Two,
YEAH i, mean you gotta Think George lucas used it
For Darth, vader.
Speaker 2: Right he was kind Of Darth, vader wasn't. He he
was the golden child who ultimately ended up being the ultimate.
Speaker 3: Villain he's the Chosen one and went pure evil all
in the darkest.
Speaker 2: Point, Yeah i'll say this, now there is A godfather.
Three it's not as bad As superman. Four BUT i
really didn't care for, it AND i didn't do any
lookbacks at all on.
Speaker 3: That so here's the interesting thing about The godfather. Three
i've never seen. IT i can't comment on. It here's
WHAT i do. Know, YEAH i Know Robert duval wasn't in, it,
Right AND i know That francis Port cooppola's daughter was
kind of the Main, careara AND i know that that
didn't really go so. Well, Yeah AND i also know
that it went head to head in the theaters Against,
goodfellas and there you have.
Speaker 5: It.
Speaker 3: Yeah the interesting thing to me About The Godfather part
two is this is a time when sequels aren't really ever.
Speaker 2: Made there has been no movie before this movie in
THE us that had part part, two not.
Speaker 3: One that's. Incredible that was one of his.
Speaker 2: CONDITIONS i wanted to be called part two because people
need to know that it is tied to the.
Speaker 3: Knovel, yeah and ever since, then every summer we have part,
Two part, three part four of something else.
Speaker 2: And the BEAUTIFUL i, mean he does it in a
beautiful way because the bulk of the movie takes place In, nevada,
RIGHT i mean they've moved over To Las. Vegas they're
doing an entirely different. Style but the very first scene
is a continuation of the very last scene Of The.
Godfather really that takes place In Lake. Tahoe, Right, no
the very first scene even like before the like as
the credits are rolling at the beginning the opening, credits
it shows the guy kissing his ring as he sits
in the, chair just like the end Of The. Godfather ah, right, okay, yeah,
Interesting and then once we do the credits then it
goes To Lake. Tahoe, yes, Okay so obviously in between
these two movies we have the success Of The, godfather, right.
YEAH i mean people are lined up in the streets
to go watch this. Movie AND i think largely in
part for all the media attention it got because of
it running head to head with The mob and then
seeming to be.
Speaker 3: In cahoots with the. Mob this is like some of
the other movies we've covered where there it's just like
a mega, success, right like a shocking mega. Success it's
like a nuclear. Bomb the budget was right around you,
know six seven million. Dollars, yes in nineteen seventy, two
that's made two hundred and eighty seven million.
Speaker 2: Dollars kind of the time For francis to make some
demand so that he can direct his.
Speaker 3: OPERA i want chicken nuggets every day on the set
with the honey. Mustard just in, Comparison, Yeah goodfellas made
forty seven million. Dollars, wow big, difference, right not a huge.
Speaker 2: Success, now there were a few new cast. Members there
were a couple of cast members that kind of got
left out or were portrayed by different. Actors we can
get onto all of that in casting here in just
a little. Bit but the important thing to remember is
That The godfather became a world changing. Movie and WHEN
i say, THAT i mean there were things that happened
In The godfather that The mafia didn't do but then started.
Doing they adopted. Them like The godfather was not a
term that was used very, often but after this, movie
everybody in The mafia was started to throw that term
around as the leader of a particular. Family it's funny
to see art imitate, life and then life then imitate that.
Speaker 3: Art it's, crazy you. Know just one of the things
you're talking about. There Mario puzo didn't know a lot
about The, mafia wasn't really involved in any of, that
and he was just kind of writing about a subject
he didn't know a whole lot. About, yeah so one
of the mistakes that he made that sort of became
changed in. Culture the main character Of The, godfather, yes
Is Don. Corleone, yes but in real life The mafia
they would call him More Don. Vito and since the
movie then changed, that then everybody else sort of adopted.
Speaker 2: That there's an entire book that's devoted to, this called
The Godfather.
Speaker 3: Effect it gave us a pretty good piece place. Too
Godfather's pizza was. Good that suspices beauta. Ball, okay do
we want to go into the production Of.
Speaker 6: Goodfellas, Yeah goodfellows came, out as we, said in nineteen, ninety,
right yes it.
Speaker 2: Did now we know That The godfather took place in nineteen, fifties, right,
Right and we know That The godfather, too late, fifties
early sixties For michael's, story and then we've got like
twenties and thirties For vito's, story, right, Right so you've got, twenties, thirties,
forties a little bit fifties and, sixties and in these you,
know the main part Of The godfather one is the.
Fifties well that is Where goodfellas. Starts starts with the
life of a kid who all his life he wanted
to be a.
Speaker 3: Gangster as far back AS i can, REMEMBER i always
wanted to be a. Gangster So Nicholas poledgie wrote a
book in nineteen eighty five Called Wise, guy and this
book was based largely on the events of the lives
Of Henry, Hill Jimmy, burke And tommy De. Simone, yes
So Henry.
Speaker 2: Hill was a guy who had really lived the mob
life he had as a young, kid started to work
for mobsters in the fifties and. Sixties he ultimately went
and served in the, military where he also ran, scams
and ultimately came back and became a part of the mafia.
There but he was a guy who was Half sicilian
and Half, irish so he never had a chance of
becoming a maid, man becoming a. Leader he was always
going to be a. Soldier but he was fine with.
That that still meant that he could live the. Life
and he did live that, life and ultimately it went
very badly for, him and he had to go into
the witness protection program for a while for a little.
Speaker 3: While so the cool thing to me about the birth
Of goodfellas the, movie, right according To, Pulegi scorsese just cold, calling, Right,
yeah just called him out of. Blue, Yep, Hi, nick
this Is Marty. Scorsese, Yeah i'm. Sorry, well and he told, him,
Listen i've been waiting for this book my entire. Life,
YEAH i want to make this a.
Speaker 2: MOVIE i, mean keep in, Mind Martin, scorsese Like Francis Ford,
coppola had Grown He's. Italian they'd both grown up In
New York, Now Martin scorsese lived in an area that
was less mob involved than many other, folks but he
still understood that. Perspective he still understood The italian way of.
LIFE i mean it's important to, NOTE i mean why
the mafia exists in the first. Place, Okay So sicily
is this little island that's off the boot Of, italy
and it's gone through several, countries taken over power, there
and ultimately it ends up kind of in this feudal.
System there's a big revolution and then the serfs the
peasants end up getting a bunch of property and owning.
Stuff but there's no real police force, there, Right and
so what happens is these peasants start hiring thugs to
protect their. Farmland and eventually the thugs, go you, know
we've got the most power. Here why are we letting
them be the. Boss we're going to be the. Boss
so what they do is they have these peasants pay
them for, protection and that is the extortion racket that
the mafia itself is based. Upon. Right and so you
get these little families who have become the police force
and they're essentially policing. Themselves but it grows into a
system where, yes we're going to protect you from. Us you,
know if you don't pay, us then you're going to
reap the wrath of. Hell but if you do pay
us will not attack you and we will protect. You
but it is largely based on things that are against the. Law,
well when the turn of the century, happens we have
a huge amount Of sicilians And italians who come over
to The United states and they bring that way of
life with them because they are not given good, jobs
they are not given good places to, live and so
they bring that same system with, them and that is
how you get the beginnings of the mafia in The United.
States then something happens in the early twentieth. Century there
is a push against alcohol in The United. States it
is amazing how Much americans used to drink comparatively speaking to. Now,
surprisingly they drink more in the early nineteen hundreds than
they do. Now and it became an, issue and so
a lot of women group together and they, said we
want to outlaw, alcohol and ultimately they get an amendment
to The constitution passed which said The United states is
now dry.
Speaker 3: Prohibition, well this was just.
Speaker 2: The opportunity that the mafia needed to make themselves extremely
wealthy and extremely. Powerful by the time prohibition is repealed
in nineteen thirty, three it's too. Late they now have
their fingers in everything, illegal and they are far too
powerful to.
Speaker 3: Fight they.
Speaker 2: Have judges on the, payroll they have police on the,
payroll they have city attorneys on the pay and they
are a force to be reckoned with that continues to
grow and. Grow and that's a lifestyle that looks good
To Henry.
Speaker 3: Hill, yeah he always wanted to be a, gangster. Right so,
anyway So poleggi Calls Martin. Scorsese, Yes Martin scorsese had
sworn off gangster, movies but then he reads this book
and he's, like, man this book is. Fantastic, Yeah so
he cold Calls polegi and, says this is the Book
i've been waiting for my entire, Life And peleggi, says
this is the phone Call i've been waiting for my entire.
Life to. Me the interesting thing, is you, Know Martin
scorsese in the late eighties was kind of persada nongrada
because of The Last temptation Of.
Speaker 2: Christ in the, seventies he had done taxi driver nineteen
EIGHTY i think was When Raging bull came. OUT i,
MEAN i gotta say. THIS i don't Think robert De
niro would have Been robert De niro Without Martin. Scorsese
AND i don't Think Martin scorsese would have Been Martin
scorsese Without robert De. Niro, SURE i mean they, were
they made each.
Speaker 3: Speaking OF i, mean there's so much we could talk.
About but in our home, state just an hour or so,
away they're Shooting killers of The Flower.
Speaker 2: Moon, yeah With robert De. Niro robert De.
Speaker 3: Niro my sister said that her friend rented her house
out To robert De niro get out of town In. Tulsa, yes.
Fantastic so, anyway.
Speaker 2: That's a long relationship right. There, yeah seventy six and
now that's forty six. Years scorsese is still making great, movies,
yep Including gangs Of New York That. Departed he does
have a flavor for the gang mafia mob.
Speaker 3: Style by the, way small side note, Here goodfellows was
originally titled Wise, guy BUT i think there was a
movie in nineteen eighty seven Called Wise guys that was
kind of a little bit close to that time. PERIOD
tv SERIES.
Speaker 2: Tv, yeah, okay, YEAH i Had Ken wall And Jonathan,
banks and they.
Speaker 3: Didn't want to be associated with that in any, way
so they changed the name To, goodfellas which they talk
about in the. Movie is you know that? Guy he's
a good. Fella he's a good.
Speaker 2: Guy. Okay So Nicholas peleggie was a crime, reporter, right
and that's how he got his material for Wise guy
by chronicling the life Of Henry. Hill interesting note on
the cover of Wise. Guy it's Says Nicholas pleggie Wise,
Guy life in a mafia. Family and then you know
they always have the review quotes at the. Bottom it,
says a fascinating, Book Mario. Puso that's. Cool so he
Writes Wise. Guy he gets this call From Martin. Scorsese
Martin scorsese, says, HEY i want you to work with
me together to make this into a script THAT i
can make the movie For, YES i, mean what else
do you say to? That but, yes of course. Yeah
and then of course he also ends up writing the
book that the Movie casino is based upon as.
Speaker 3: Well did you know That Nicholas pledgie wrote that? Back,
yeah he.
Speaker 2: Wrote a book Called Casino love And honor In Las,
vegas and he helped write the screenplay For, casino both,
obviously of which we're directed By Martin.
Speaker 3: Scorsese, wow that's a cool. MOVIE i like that movie a.
Speaker 2: Lot, yeah so they work on the script.
Speaker 3: TOGETHER i love.
Speaker 2: This as part of the script writing, Process Martin scorsese
will write down the name of songs that he wants
in the. Scene that's fantastic to, Me like he's got
an encyclopedic knowledge of what obviously is a lot of,
music but we can say for this one is classic
rock best.
Speaker 3: DEFINITELY i know he uses in the Kiss, ME i
know he Uses, leila and then he always Uses Gimme
shelter by The Rolling, stones which is one of my
Favorite stones.
Speaker 2: Songs, OKAY i know there's lots more to, tell BUT
i really would like to jump in a.
Speaker 3: Cast, well let's jump into. Casting let's put back To
The godfather and we'll talk casting of this incredible.
Speaker 5: Movie.
Speaker 2: Now i've already talked about the fact that Al pacino
is a basically an unknown actor at this, point, Right,
yes and of course the studios didn't want. Him BUT
i think my favorite story in this vein is Whenever
Francis Ford coppola is, SAYING i would like For Marlon
brando to play the title, role and they were, like
no freaking, way, no, no, no, no not just, no
but heck. No you got guys who are interested in,
it Like Orson, Wells.
Speaker 3: Yeah Orson, Wells Lawrence, Olivier Ernest, Borgnine Burt, Lancaster GEORGE. C,
scott and none of these guys there's Screaming italian to, me,
right none of. Them, WELL i Mean Marlon Brando's, dutch.
Speaker 2: Right, right you Got, english you Got, dutch you Got.
German it's there's a lot of there's a lot of
Not italian, there, Right but the guy That Francis Ford
coppola wants Is, brando, Right and so The resident Of
paramount says to, him, LOOK i am telling you there
is no way That Marlon brando will ever be in this,
movie to Which Francis Ford coppola then throws himself onto
the floor and just lays there like a baby and
is just, like, oh, WELL i don't even know why
we're even, talking if you're not even gonna listen to,
me and if there's just nothing THAT i can say
to make you think that there might even be a
possibility That brando might be in this. Movie they're, like, okay,
okay we've got some. Conditions if you meet these, conditions
we'll consider Having brando in the. Movie and so they
give these ridiculous.
Speaker 3: Conditions. Yeah so the conditions. Are number, one he's got
to do a screen.
Speaker 2: Test we're talking About Marlon, brando.
Speaker 3: The greatest actor of the. Generation car name, desire, Right
he's Freaking Marlon. Brando he's an. Icon so screen. Test
gotta do a screen, Test, yeah number one hurdle the
studio knows never going to get.
Speaker 2: Packed, Hey, Marlon i'm this director who's never directed anything
you've ever heard of in your.
Speaker 3: Life you've never heard of, Me BUT i need you
to do a screen. Test would you come in and
do some screen test for? Me, yes so number one screen.
Test number, two lower. Salary he's got to do it for,
free is what they told. Him oh my, gosh free ninety. Three,
yeah if you can get him to do it for,
free then We're. Oh and also he's got to post
a bond in case he screws up production or filming
in any. Way, well he was notorious for bad, behavior
just being a he's a terrible person on.
Speaker 2: Set he's he is a, prankster and he is also a,
temperamental obnoxious, guy and he would just screw stuff.
Speaker 3: Up you cannot like him on what come?
Speaker 2: On that's how you turn on A hollywood crislock a.
Woman what COULD i?
Speaker 5: Do what CAN i? Do?
Speaker 2: Right? Right you will remember from Our superman episode where
he suggested to To Gick donner that maybe a green
suitcase could play the part and he could just do
the voice For direlle a green suitcase or a.
Speaker 3: Cheeseburger and then it had been a long time Since
Marlon brando had had hit, right mutiny on The. BOUNTY
i think was nineteen sixty, two that's nearly ten years
prior to and he's he's bulging up a little. Bit,
yeah he got a little. Thicker they also asked him
to lose. Weight, yeah you, know go talk To, marlon
tell him to lose some. Weight So coppola is, like, okay, fine, yes,
yes and yes. Right so he goes To, brando goes
to his, House, yeah goes to his. House that, says,
listen Mister, brando you're the only one who can pull this.
Off we gotta have. You, oh AND i have to
do some like special effects type of. Things they just
want to see, how you, know the costume and you
know how your voice is going to. Be it's not
a screen test or. Anything don't worry about that anything
but a screen. Test and so they see sort of
Tricks brando into, doing you. Know and So brando does
his you, know he's, LIKE i think he's going to
look like a. Bulldog, Yeah and so he puts cotton
balls in his. Jowls.
Speaker 2: Yeah brando's only forty seven years old this. Time he
looks like this old man in the, movie but he's
only forty. Seven he's got long blonde hair like a, Ponytail,
yeah in a ponytail when he shows. Up and so
when he, starts when he starts trying to feel out this,
character he pulls the, ponytail pulls the blonde hair, back
and starts putting shoe polish in his hair to give
him The italian black.
Speaker 5: Hair.
Speaker 3: Yep and then that's when he puts the cotton balls
in his jowls and he starts to work with his
voice a little.
Speaker 2: Bit he had read the book and he had seen
That Don corleone had had a throat, injury and so he's,
like he's probably probably talks like this in the real
congressional hearings where they had the mobsters come.
Speaker 3: In, yeah one of the guys actually talked like that
guy's name Is Frank, costello thank. You, yeah saw him
talking or you, know whispering, yeah during the hearings in
nineteen fifty, one and emulated his husky. Yeah only he
didn't say any. Words he just went if he should
be struck by, lightning THAT i will not.
Speaker 2: Forgive and so he transforms in front of these handheld
video cameras That Francis Ford coppele has brought with. Him
francis takes these tapes and he goes To gulf And,
western which is you, know LIKE i, Said, bluehorn The swedish, guy,
right you, know.
Speaker 3: The guys who know nothing about making. Movies.
Speaker 2: Right so he in the lobby there sets up the
A tv so that he can show these tapes that
he's made Of brando And bluehorn has no idea what's.
Coming he just knocks on the door And bluehorn's, like, Oh,
francis come. In you KNOW i can't do A swedish. Accent, yeah,
no probably not, that but he's but he's, like, hey
come out, Here i'd like to show you. Something and
he turns on the video and It's brando with his
blonde hair And bluehorn is.
Speaker 7: Like, What, No, no we are not Having. Brando, no
and he's, like oh my, gosh and he's watching him.
Transform he, goes that is. Amazing, okay he can be The.
Speaker 3: Godfather, wow that's. Awesome so they've Got, brando and Actually
brando won it. Over olivier said he was, sick he
couldn't do. It, yeah which THAT'S i think that's kind
of who they, initially like the studio really was. After
and then it came down To GEORGE. C, scott which
had worked With francis Port copla On, Patten Ernest borgnine
And Marlon. Brando that's a different movie With Ernest borgnine
as The Don. Vito, yeah then they wanted to hire Al.
Pacino you talked a little bit about that As Michael. Corleone,
yep he was an. Unknown francis Ford cople literally called
Up Al, Pacino Bobby duvall And James kahn and, said,
hey can you guys just come down here and let's
just play around with this and see what. Happens, yeah
SO i love this. Story so he gets gets them
to do this little screen test that come and they
visit and sit around And james conn says that they
did it all for about the price of four corn beef. Sandwiches,
right they got. Fed that was their pay for the,
day was that they got, fed and they got to
sit at a table and they got to act out
like in character who the brothers. Were, yeah very, minor very,
cheap very. Easy and the studio is, like, no we
want you to do some real screen tests with real.
Speaker 2: Actors, Right so they brought In robert De. Niro, well
they brought In Martin.
Speaker 3: Sheen, yes they brought In Jack, Nicholson Dustin, Hoffman Robert,
Redford Warren, Batty ryan. O'Neill and like you, Said Martin,
sheen one guy at the studio Wanted Charles. Bronson. Wow, okay,
oh and here's the other. Name they came up, With Burt. Reynolds.
Wow Burt. Reynolds And Marlon brando, said if you Hire Burt,
Reynolds i'm, out which is. Funny he didn't think he
was a.
Speaker 2: Very good, actor in which you, know, well and what's
hilarious is already ends up working With Burt. Reynolds Cannonball,
Run Anniball, run one of our favorite movies already is
The guy on The. Camel this Tall jewish guy is
playing An.
Speaker 3: Arab, Yeah Jamie farr is a camel. Guy, yes that
was Six lamburgers or sheesh. Keebobs they signed us and
to a, minute Apparently Burt reynolds had been in an
episode of The Twilight zone and he had in some
way Emulated Marlon brando's, mannerisms And branda was. Pissed what
is the?
Speaker 4: QUESTION i, mean like any slop can walk through the.
DOOR i mean LIKE i do it every. Day but uh,
well now MAYBE i shouldn't walk through the door at that.
Moment SO i got to ask, myself WOULD i walk
through that. Door it's on the basis of that answer
THAT i find my. Motivation so the question, is what's my? Motivation?
Speaker 3: Oh, Hi Bert, Reynolds i'm. Out, Wow, okay it's.
Speaker 2: Interesting in the book he's described the character Of michael
is described as a, taller blonde. Guy he does not Look,
italian which is interesting for the character himself and interesting
FOR i guess how probably a whole lot of the
people were picturing him who had read the, book including the.
Producers but after all of these screen, tests WHAT i
think they spent like four hundred thousand dollars on screen.
Speaker 3: Tests, yeah they got all these guys for the price
of forb corbefs have much the same.
Speaker 2: Three guys that had come down that first.
Speaker 5: Day.
Speaker 3: Yeah so they Hired James khn to Be, Sonny, Yes
sentino and listen to me a.
Speaker 6: Favorite Ton no more advice on how to patch things,
up just help me win, please all.
Speaker 5: Right.
Speaker 3: Yep they looked At Anthony perkins flashback to Our psycho. Episode, wow,
okay but they really Wanted James con all. Along in,
fact they actually tried him At, Sonny they tried him
At michael At, michael, yeah and they tried him At
Tom Hagen oh. Wow. Okay by the, Way James con Not, Italian, No,
no He's. Jewish.
Speaker 2: Yes.
Speaker 3: Yes they had Hired Diane keaton to play k, Corleone,
Yes and she had worked and done plays and stuff
with Al, pacino and she was testing with these, guys uh.
Huh and they went to her and they're, like who
do you? Want you, like who's your and she's, like,
oh without a, doubt.
Speaker 2: Right and there is another lady who is very important
to the decision making process on Al pacino was the
lady who edited all of those screen tests. Together it
Was George lucas's.
Speaker 3: Wife that's, Right Marcia.
Speaker 2: Lucas Marcia, lucas, who by the, way Saved Star wars
with her editing. Skills saved. It, yes so she's there before.
Long this is this is at least five or six
years Before Star. Wars she is, there she is doing
the editing for these screen, tests and she says it
needs to be Al pacino because he undresses you with his.
Speaker 3: Eyes love. That we're going to talk About Star wars
later this. Year it's forty five years this year's ladies and.
Gentlemen all, right you mentioned that they Hired Robert duvall
to Be Tom, hagen business not. Personally your father was
business not, Personal. Sonny listen to this list of what
IF's Tom. Hagen Bobby duvall was, Awesome, like that's my
favorite Character Tom. Hagen, Wow, Okay Jerry Van, Dyke Bruce,
Dern steve, McQueen Paul. Newman but this is the one
that gets Me. Elvis presley wanted to Play Tom.
Speaker 2: Hagen elvis as the consign through a.
Speaker 3: Body, okay how about? That? Interesting very, interesting, Right and
then you Have. Fredo Fred russ was a guy in
charge of. Casting he Saw John cazell in an Off
broadway play Called. Life he, said we were looking for Fred,
oh we didn't know Who John cazeale. Was but when
they saw that, play they're, like That's. BRAIDO i did handle.
Things i'm, smart like everybody.
Speaker 5: Says.
Speaker 2: Yeah and he looks like a member of the. FAMILY
i don't know. HOW i don't know, why but for some,
reason he looks like he belongs to that, family even
THOUGH i couldn't say that he looks like any of those.
Guys it's just, like somehow he.
Speaker 3: Fits it's incredible how subtle he is as the, weaker you,
know more deferent.
Speaker 2: Brother it takes some chops to be a weak character
who wants to be a strong.
Speaker 3: Person that's the WAY i, Wanted. Mike and then let's
talk real quickly About Johnny. Fontaine, Okay Johnny fontaine was
played By Al. Martino, okay now.
Speaker 2: He had to.
Speaker 3: Hit Al martino had a hit in the, fifties go,
ahead go, ahead, okay fifty. Two, well so many people
think that this character is based On Frank, sinatra, right
in terms of his role with the Movie From here To.
Eternity in, Fact Frank sinatra Saw Mario puzzo at a
restaurant and cussed him.
Speaker 2: Out, sure except that it's not based On Frank, sinatra
at least not. Directly, well, right it's based on the
actor that Played Johnny.
Speaker 3: Fontaine Al martino was a singer in the. Nightclub he, said,
hit a, hit and then he lost the. Part copola
came in and, said, no we don't want this, guy
get him out of. Here we Want Vic. Damone and Then,
martino who had mafia, dealings went to a crime boss and, said,
hey they just fired, me and they're, like, no this
is not something that will. Pass so they have to
go and go back To copola and they're, like he
is your, man and that's. It they made him an
offer he could not, refuse you know that head of
the horse in your. Bed so he had had a
hit in the fifties with three singles and they all
hit the top. Forty but his success attracted the attention
of the, mafia and the mafia bought Out martino's management
contract and ordered him to pay a seventy five thousand
dollars safeguard for their. Investment so he's got these ties
to the, mafia which is how he gets this part
in this. Movie so, No Mario puzzo probably did not
base it upon. Him he just made his life mirror
that Of Johnny. Fonteine that's. Incredible according to behind the scenes,
Stories Marlon brando wanted Al martino fired and said so
to his, face this guy looks like a wooden. Board
you gotta get him out of. Here and Al martino,
says you say that, Again i'm gonna mess you. Up
And brando's, like, see that's the type of acting we
need right, there and so he kept his. Part, okay
two more PEOPLE i want to talk about really. Quick,
Yeah Simonetta. Stefanelli this Is michael's Beautiful italian, wife the
girl he goes Across. Sicily she's the babe of the
village and he marries this.
Speaker 5: Girl uh.
Speaker 3: Huh and, boy she was sixteen cup no, way, sixteen
my friend sixteen years. Old, yes you're killing me right. Now,
yes she's.
Speaker 2: Beautiful she was, beautiful and that was. IT i told
you about that bible That coppola had made out of the.
Novel that was a big part of. It it's like
she has got to melt the heart of every man
in the, theater and they did a great job with.
Speaker 3: That but sixteen that's. Crazy, yeah moving, on moving, On
no more talk about. Her that's, Okay, shelly she shows
up for about twenty minses and then gets blown. UP i,
Know English Amanda, Tuesday, Sunday. Wednesday she's also a good.
Driver and, LASTLY i want to talk About Talia Shire
Francis ford coppolas sister that blew me. Away she's. Great she's,
EIGHT i, KNOW i. Know but that didn't happen for
a couple of, years right that was he was seventy. Six,
yeah seventy, Six, okay but The, yeah she did a fantastic.
Job you can say how she get the park because
it's but he does. THAT i, mean he puts his
family in the, movies and he even SAYS i like
to do it because.
Speaker 2: It's kind of like a THING i can go back.
To and, hey remember, When by the, way another family
member appears in the God. Father her name Is Sophia coppola.
Speaker 3: She's the baby at the. Christening is the baby at the.
Christening she actually then grows up to Being godfather, three
AND i think now she's just she's a. Director, yeah
she's a, director and she's had some, great great Success
The lost In translation and other. Stuff she makes fantastic.
Movies she doesn't act as much. Anymore let's switch To
Godfather part two for. Casting all, right so you have
everybody From Godfather part one Except Marlon. Brando Marlon brando
as a. No he well he was a yes until
like they're, like, well Where's.
Speaker 2: Marlon, right for the very last scene of the, movie
everybody showed back. Up, Right you Had James, cohn who
had died in the first. One you've got All fredo Al.
Pacinoo all of those guys are. There and it was
supposed to be a birthday celebration For Vito corleon And
brando was supposed to show, up and he did. It
and so that's why you have this scene at the
end of the movie where everyone's. There they're all. Talking
He's michael's talking about how he joined the. Army sonny's all,
upset and it's this great scene where you start off
with all of them there at the, table and then
because he had to rewrite the scene Without Marlon brando in,
it everyone at the table gets up and leaves to
go to Say Happy birthday To Don Vito, corleone leaving
Only michael all. Alone WHICH i talk about those accidental,
drips the magic. Moments Had brando showed, up he would
not have had that, ending and that ending is in
an allegory to all Of michael's.
Speaker 3: Life all, Right so other casting For Godfather part, two
you had to bring In Michael goatzo to Play frankie five.
Speaker 6: Angels, Right, michael are you sitting high up in The
Sierra mountains and you're drinking what do you?
Speaker 2: Think it's?
Speaker 8: Champagne champagne champagne cocktails and your passing judgment on HOW
i run my.
Speaker 3: Fing that was supposed to Be. Clemenza, YEAH i wass
to Be. Collinson if you, don't if it's been a
minute since you've Seen The, Godfather clemenza is the, big
heavy guy who Teaches michael how to properly cook some
pasta little, sugar a little. Wine and he's also the
guy who says leave the, gun take the, canoli which
was an ad lib. Line he doesn't make it into
the second. One he was supposed to play The frankie
Pin tangily. Part it was supposed to Be clemenza is the.
Trader he was supposed to be the supposed to testify
against The corleone. Family, right So clemens is played By Richard.
Castellano he had lost a lot of weight and didn't
want to have to gain it, back and he also
wanted a lot more, money and he WAS i think
he was like the highest paid. Actor i'm not sure,
why but he was the highest paid actor In The
Godfather won and he felt like he wasn't getting enough
For godfather. Too, well, okay we can make your character somebody.
Else and so they write him off as died of
a heart. Attack but not really right that that whole
thing was kind of. Weird BUT i think that when
he doesn't show, up you've got a doctor in the
script to make this. Work but it. Worked it. Worked
so they bring In freaky Five angels and he becomes
this valuable member of the. Family Michael gotso plays. Him,
okay you Have Renald kirby Of When Harry Met sally
And City Slickers, Fame Good Morning.
Speaker 2: Vietnam this comes. UP i was just trying to be.
Funny funny is.
Speaker 3: Gone funny is. Gone but then do it by using
comedy and, humor not police action and coffee. Remarks he
plays Young. Clemenza, yes and actually one of the reasons
why he did not come back For City Slickers part
two is because he was irritated At Billy. Crystal but
like directing him on how to, act on how to,
Act he's, like what are you talking. About i've worked
with De, Niro i've worked With. Coppola do you don't
tell me how to? Act that's why he's Not In
City Slickers part. Two you Have Lee, strasberg who Plays Hymen.
Roth AND i said to, myself this is the business we've.
CHOSEN i didn't ask who gave the audu because it
had nothing to do with.
Speaker 2: Business this is interesting at Least. Strasburg i'm a theater.
Major my bachelor's was in. Theater, okay his method is
a huge part of what we study in the theater.
Program he was pivotal in training all of these, guys
like all of the famous. Actors it's pivotal In Marlon brando's,
training pivotal in Al pacino And robert De, niro all
of those guys studied Under, Strasburg Stilla Adler elike is
on those. Guys eli Is on was who they wanted
to play the part Of Hymen roth in this, movie
but he turned it. Down but here's the interesting, story
interesting tidbit about. That you know how When strasburg is
playing the part Of, roth there's one scene where he's
doing he's gotten no shirt. On there's that old man with,
gray hairy.
Speaker 3: Chest no.
Speaker 2: Sure so the reason that they put that scene in
there is Whenever Francis Ford coppola went to Eli on
to talk to him about playing this, part eli shows
up with no shirt. On, ye so he has the
whole interview about playing this part with him and he's
got no shirt on it and he's, like, WELL i
didn't get the, actor BUT i love that. Moment we're
going to make it a part of the.
Speaker 3: Movie that's that's. Awesome one of the THINGS i wanted
to mention For Hymen, roth they Wanted Peter. Sellers now
that's a different. Movie, yeah that's inspector freaking.
Speaker 2: Clues, OH i did not know That bankwall's being robbed
BECAUSE i was engaged in my swallom duty as a
piece office. Off. YEAH i, Mean Peter sellers is an amazing.
Actor it has been interesting to see what he did with.
It but, yeah, gosh how about. That that'd be.
Speaker 3: Crazy. Okay so one of the guy THAT i want
to talk about Is Troy. Donahue Troy donahue the part
Of Merle. Johnson the anticipation, IS i don't Know Troy
donahue plays the part Of Merle. JOHNSON i don't know This.
MERLE i don't know what he, DOES i don't know
what he lives.
Speaker 5: On do not.
Speaker 3: Marry this, man break it. Up here's the interesting thing about,
That Troy donahue is this like heart throb from the
fifties who did surfer movies and stuff like. That, yeah
he's playing the part Of Merle. Johnson Troy donahue's real
name Is Merle. Johnson.
Speaker 2: Yeah if you get a poster on your wall and
the name on the bottom Is Troy, donahue that's something to.
Behold and if It's Merle, johnson you're, like is he
a country?
Speaker 3: Singer is this that? Part they looked At Sonny bono
playing that. Part, Okay but here's the THING i mentioned
THAT i texted you this. Week Troy donahue gets this
incredible shout out in a very popular. Song, okay got, It,
yeah let's hear. It look at. Me I'm sandra d From.
Greece ask for, You Troy. Donna it's. Incredible keep your
filthy pause?
Speaker 2: Off, my would you try that.
Speaker 3: Crap with a? Net Troy, Donahue ladies And gentlemen makes
the reappearance In.
Speaker 2: Greece, okay we can't leave out sterling. Hating he plays
the police Chief captain, McClusky beats the crap out Of Michael,
yeah and then gets the press.
Speaker 3: Jaw oh my best death.
Speaker 2: Scene, wow it was such a good that's such a
good death. Scene he had been in a lot of
those old movies as, well Including Doctor strangelove With Peter.
Speaker 3: Sellers he's the guy who gets shot in the. Throat
let's dive into that scene for just a. Second, okay,
well one more, actor one, more gotta throw it again
To David wright And Deaf dave as you may know.
Him we can't forget Av.
Speaker 9: Godada Plays tesco a very important part of the, movie
so let's not forget.
Speaker 3: Him he ends up On Barney miller And Beastie boy.
Albums the guy who Plays Mo GREEN i think Was
joe's dad On facts Of.
Speaker 2: Life yeah that's, Right, yeah that's, Right Alex, Rocco Alex,
Roco Mo Green.
Speaker 3: GREEN i didn't ask his. Business. Okay this week Our
Shirley showcase is The Vintage Video. Pod they go through
every movie year by. Year it's really awesome for a
complete dist like. Me and they just went through what
we consider the greatest two weeks in eighties movie, history
that middle part Of june of nineteen eighty, one.
Speaker 2: Greatest two weeks in movie. HISTORY i, mean there's so
many great movies that came out in that two week. Period,
Yeah raiders of The Lost, Stark you've Got superman, Two
you've got The Great muppet.
Speaker 3: Cap Muppet caper, stripes there's just a simile.
Speaker 2: RUN i, mean icons all coming out in two.
Speaker 3: Weeks their Host patrick wide in and here's what he
had to say About, Godfather Godfather, too And.
Speaker 8: Goodfellas, hey this Is patrick O'Reilly from The Vintage Video,
podcast And i'm here for a three way comparison Of,
Oddfather Godfather, too And. Goodfellas this is a tough. One
coppola And scorsese are obviously masters of the crime family,
genre so ultimately it's going to come down to personal.
TASTE i think if it were simply A Kapalis scorsese,
CONTEST i Think scorsese has been winning that handily by
consistently producing celebrated. Works coppola is obviously still, working gearing
up now to self produce the long Gestating, megalopolis presumably
through his Own American zootrope, label but outside of his,
WINERY i think you'd have to go back to the
early eighties for the Last kappola film to earn near universal,
praise Where scorsese is an annual front row seat holder
at The. Oscars, obviously all three films are technically, adaptations
With godfather's one and two coming from a Single Mario
puzo novel And goodfellas coming From Nicholas Peleggi's Wise, Guy
BUT i think the successes of all three films is
as much owed to the directors as the source, material
Especially Godfather, too which is widely acclaimed as the best
installment of the, trilogy but which is sort of cobbled
together from unused parts of the First godfather, novel since
the second, book The, sicilian wouldn't be published until nineteen eighty.
Four another difference between the franchises is That goodfellas basically
takes place in a localized area like this several blocks
of the, city where the events of The godfather film
span the entire us and sometimes. INTERNATIONALLY i Love, goodfellas
And i've rewatched it many, times but not nearly as
many times AS i find myself coming back to The,
godfathers and specifically The First, godfather WHICH i THINK i
had memorized for a. Time the production is so steeped
in and lower that it's obviously inspired dueling behind the scenes
fictionalizations in the form of The Paramount plus Series The
offer And Barry levinson's upcoming Film francis and The, godfather
WHERE i Think Jake gillenhall is supposed to be Playing Robert,
evans which sounds worth the price of admission to. Me
forced a gunpoint to choose a, FAVORITE i THINK i
land against the grain on the First godfather, film if
only because of the simplicity of the plot and just
the magic of those. Performances it's a perfectly crafted. Story
it's a relatable family in. Crisis it, also for better or,
worse really humanized the real life people behind the whole mafia,
mythology although the filmmaker's famously avoided specifically mentioning the. Mafia
we also kill so many characters in that first installment
that seem indispensable to the, recipe but clearly the second
film did well without. Them but purely, NOSTALGICALLY i don't
think anything beats the first few notes Of nino Rootis
godfather waltz over the paramount. Logo you just settle in
and you're ready for the. MOVIE i Think godfather one
is still the first of the three That i'd be
tempted to put on right, now and it's the ONE
i expect to rewatch the most moving.
Speaker 2: Forward, well that was, Awesome like that was, intimidating. Awesome
that was so. Good so what's the name of this podcast?
Speaker 3: Again Vintage Video. Pod i'm subscribing to that.
Speaker 2: PODCAST i want to listen to what this guy has
to say about every single movie from nineteen eighty.
Speaker 3: One, yeah they do a really good, job really professionally.
Done voices are, great very. Entertaining definitely want to check them.
Out thank.
Speaker 2: You patrick very much for doing that for.
Speaker 3: Us great.
Speaker 2: Take we will give you our take on our next
episode next, week so be sure and come back next.
Week we're going to finish Up, Godfather Godfather Part, two And,
goodfellas and we will give you our final judgment between
those three movies.
Speaker 3: Exactly leave the, gun take The, canoli hit subscribe on
your podcast. App see you next, Week bye, guys