The Godfather: Part II (1974)

The early life and career of Vito Corleone in 1920s New York City is portrayed, while his son, Michael, expands and tightens his grip on the family crime syndicate.

Director:

Francis Ford Coppola

Writers:

Francis Ford Coppola (screenplay by), Mario Puzo (screenplay by)

Stars:

Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall

Top Rated Movies #3 | Won 6 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Al Pacino	...	Michael
Robert Duvall	...	Tom Hagen
Diane Keaton	...	Kay
Robert De Niro	...	Vito Corleone (as Robert DeNiro)
John Cazale	...	Fredo Corleone
Talia Shire	...	Connie Corleone
Lee Strasberg	...	Hyman Roth
Michael V. Gazzo	...	Frankie Pentangeli
G.D. Spradlin	...	Senator Pat Geary
Richard Bright	...	Al Neri
Gastone Moschin	...	Fanucci (as Gaston Moschin)
Tom Rosqui	...	Rocco Lampone
Bruno Kirby	...	Young Clemenza (as B. Kirby Jr.)
Frank Sivero	...	Genco
Francesca De Sapio	...	Young Mama Corleone (as Francesca de Sapio)

Storyline

The continuing saga of the Corleone crime family tells the story of a young Vito Corleone growing up in Sicily and in 1910s New York; and follows Michael Corleone in the 1950s as he attempts to expand the family business into Las Vegas, Hollywood and Cuba.

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Plot Keywords:

revenge | corrupt politician | bloody body of child | mafia | 1950s | 

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Taglines:

All the power on earth can't change destiny.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian Spanish Latin Sicilian

Release Date:

20 December 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Son of Godfather

Filming Locations:

2045 N. Hibiscus Drive, North Miami, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$57,300,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, The Coppola Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

202 min 220 min (The Godfather Trilogy 1901-1980 VHS Special Edition)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The line in the film, "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer" was voted as the #58 movie quote by the American Film Institute (out of 100).

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Goofs

The Chairman of the Senate Investigating Committee asks Michael, "Is it true that in the year 1950, you devised the murder of the heads of the so-called Five Families in New York?" But at the party in the opening scenes, which takes place in 1958, Kay reminded Michael that, seven years previously, he had promised her that "within five years, the Corleone family will be completely legitimate." If that conversation took place in 1951, then the murders the Chairman referred to, which came afterwards, could not possibly have happened in 1950. In fact, since Michael refers to his son (who was neither born nor even conceived in 1951) being three years old shortly before the murders, it is probable that the murders did not occur before 1955.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Title Card: The godfather was born Vito Andolini, in the town of Corleone in Sicily. In 1901 his father was murdered for an insult to the local Mafia chieftain. His older brother Paolo swore revenge and disappeared into the hills, leaving Vito, the only male heir, to stand with his mother at the funeral. He was nine years old.
[gunshots and screams]
Woman: [subtitled from Italian] They've killed the boy! They've killed young Paolo! They've killed your son Paolo!

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Crazy Credits

As with the first film no opening credits are shown. Although it is now commonplace for films not to have opening credits, it was considered innovative in 1974.

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Alternate Versions

The 2008 Coppola Restoration features the modern Paramount logo in use from that time, tinted in the iconic Godfather golden hue.

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Connections

Referenced in General Hospital: Episode #1.11435 (2007)

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Soundtracks

Pop Goes the Weasel
(uncredited)
Traditional English nursery rhyme (first published 1855)

User Reviews

A Potpourri of Vestiges Review: The Godfather of all sequels

The Godfather Part II is a consummation of the saga of the Corleone Crime family. Regarded by many as the best sequel ever, the Godfather Part II is equally brilliant as its precursor and good enough to stand on its own. The movie juxtaposes, the early life of Vito Corleone (from his orphaned childhood to his rise in power in New York), with the life of his son, Michael (after Vito's death to Michael becoming the most powerful Mafia head). Al Pacino picks up from where he left in the first part, consummating Michael's journey to the dark side and in the process, presenting him as the greatest anti-hero, the western cinema ever embodied. The movie gave Pacino his third consecutive Oscar nomination and a perpetual stardom that catapulted him above the ruck, laying the foundations of his illustrious career. Just like in part I, his performance in this movie is absolutely worthy of an Oscar, but the Academy once again robbed him of the glory.

Robert De Niro in his Oscar winning portrayal of Vito Corleone, gives a great performance without uttering a single word in English. The synergy imparted by the brilliance of these two outstanding performers, makes the movie, a treat to watch. Robert Duvall reprises his role of Tom Hagen with a desired degree of subtlety and equanimity, reminding the viewer of Brando's portrayal in Godfather part I. The entire cast is brilliant with special mention of John Cazole as Fredo, Lee Strasberg as Hyman Roth and Michael V.Gazzo as Frankie Pentageli, who are outstanding, to say the least. Cuppola's brilliant and innovative direction gives Puzo's masterful story, an incredible impetus, which is well complemented by Nino Rota's poignant score and Gordon Willis' vivid cinematography. In a nutshell, the movie, though sanguinary and lengthy than its precursor, is an equally brilliant work of cinema, a profound and a deeply engrossing master piece.

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