what are Mike and Sollozo saying?

Does anyone know (1) what Mike and Sollozo are saying during the meeting w/ McClusky and (2) why there are no subtitles?

Actually, they are arguing over the veal. Sollozzo tells McCluskey that it's the best in the city, but Michael takes issue with that. Michael prefers the Vealbucks down the block.

More actually, Sollozzo tells Mike that he has alot of respect for his father, but that Vito has not kept up witht he times. They don't say much really.

This question has been asked many times before. If you use the "search" function for these boards, you'll probably find a direct translation of the dialog.

oh... again, my apologies for the redundancy

Frank, We love when a new member of the board raises questions, even if they've been asked before. You never know when you'll ask that one question that makes everyone say "Ah!! I never thought of it that way!".

Welcome to the BB Frank. I hope you enjoy you're stay with the BB Family.

Frank, another member, a friend here on the GangsterBB, JUST LOU, found the translation for us a while back :




I see that you joined way back in January of this past year. Are you a born again Godfather Fanatic? (just joking)

If you have any other questions, then perhaps, as one of our most valued friends here Turnbull suggested, you should try and familiarize yourself with the search function that has been provided here. I am sure that you will find some really interesting and insightful posts from the past.

And if you come across an old post that interests you and you have a new opinion or a different view about what is being discussed in it, then please feel free to revive that post by just replying to it with a post of your own.


If there ever comes a time where you cannot seem to find an answer through the search function, to a question that you may have, then please feel free to just ask us right here.

Don Cardi

However...even with the availability and convenience of the 'search' function, I think it's always more enjoyable to simply put out the question even if taking the risk that it's been asked before.

After all, at this point it's extremely rare that someone can manage to bring up a topic that's NEVER been discussed. So why not allow the ever-growing member ship to have their fun without always referring to (either politely or impolitely)... the 'search' alternative.

Apple

I agree that we must always be willing to understand that a new person is going to bring up something that has been asked or discussed in the past. Being new, there is no way for them to
know if their question has ever been brought up before.

You know that I've made that exact point many times before.

However the suggestion to use the search function was not one made soley with the intent of doing away with repeat questions. It was made more with the hopes that if a new person finds a past post that addresses their question, they will reply to that old post and revive it by provoking some new insight into the subject matter. There was no malice intended, by either myself, or by Turnbull, in suggesting the use of the search function for the new member.


Don Cardi

I couldn't have said it better, DC--thanks!

I hoped that we could come together and reason as reasonable people. And as a reasonable person, Apple is willing to do everything she can to make that happen. of course, we must have strict assurances that as time goes by and Apple's sense of self-esteem becomes stronger, will she attempt any type of revenge? Not being lawyers, we do have to provide assurances.

I used the search function...it took me to this page...lol. That clip from the IMDB seems incomplete, as Sollozo can be heard to reference the "Tattaglias" in his pre-restroom speech to Michael.

Well, now we've seen firsthand how "quirky" the new BB search feature is. It takes a little getting used to, to say the least.

To add a little to the discussion: yes, the translation is not complete. I know at one point in the conversation, Sollozzo says to Michael (in Italian) "I am a man of honor."

If I can track down links to any of the earlier discussions, I'll post them here.

Signor V.

.]

Sollozzo : "What happened to your father was business -- I have much respect for your father -- but your father -- his thinking is old fashioned. You must understand why I had to do that"

Michael : "I understand those things."

Sollozzo : "Now let's work through where we go from here."

Michael : "How do you say."

Then Michael speaks in english and goes to the men's room. When he comes out the conversation continues in Italian :

Sollozzo : "Everything all right? I respect myself -- understand? -- and cannot allow another man to hold me back. What happened was unavoidable. I had the unspoken support of the
other Family Dons. If your father were in better health, without his eldest son running things, no disrespect intended, we wouldn't have this nonsense. We will stop fighting until
your father is well and can resume bargaining. No vengeance will be taken. We will have peace, but your family should interfere no longer...."

This is a rough translation from Don Malta's GF website. I actually believe that Signor Vitelli is correct in that when Sollozo says, in Italian, that he respects himself, the real translation is that he is man of honor. I also believe that in the movie, when Michael comes back from the mens room, the translation to "Everything all right?" does not include a translation for the Italian word that he says in that sentence, "Med" or "Meda" (don't know correct spelling) which translates to the english word shit.

But for the most part, Don Malta's website translation is pretty close to what is actually being said in Italian.


Note: I've always get a kick out of the translation in the subtitles when Luca is talking with Bruno Tattaglia and the offer of $50,000 is made to Luca. In the movie he responds in Italian : "Mingya" but the subtitle translates it to "Wow" or something like that. That Italian does not mean wow.



Don Cardi

This seems pretty similar to the IMDB translation posted earlier. Again, the missing translation seems to be Sollozo's words after the waiter returns the second time (with a plate of something). Sollozo may indeed state "now lets work through where we go from here", but before-hand, he can be clearly heard to reference "Bruno Tattaglia" in his speech and what sounds like the latin cognate verb for "to help".

I may be repeating myself here (a condition that seems to manifest itself increasingly with each year that goes by), but I believe that we cannot hear Sollozzo's words well on purpose. When Michael returns to the table and the El train is going by (and we can see how close it truly is, thanks to Signor V's photos), I think that the noise of the train drowns out his words as a way of reflecting Michael's emotions at the time. He knows that he is about to shoot the guy in the next 30 seconds, so would he really be listening to what Sollozzo has to say? His nerves are jangling, and I think that the roar of the train represents perfectly the noise inside Michael's head.

Good point. I too think that the train is purposefully drowning out the conversation to reflect Mike's concentration on what he is about to do.

Byt he way, it's merda.

I think at one point, Sollozo suggested he give Mike a kiss on the mouth and a little somethin' extra and that is when Mike stood up and shot him.

Huh?!?! was that a joke (please tell me it was)?

DC, if you would, what does "Mingya" mean???

Well it's sort of a slang word. In essence the use of it by Luca in response to the offer of $50,000 was the proper response, a response that resonated a "wow, that's a pretty nice ampount of money."

But I cannot post what the word is mostly used for, in slang of course.

PM sent.


Don Cardi

Are you sure about that? I remember Luca just saying Bene.

I could swear that he says Mingia. Perhaps I have always misunderstood, or perhaps you are thinking of the edited version.
Now you have me wondering. I'll have to watch the scene and listen very closely.

Between you and Turnbull, you both now have me rewatching GF and GFII!

Not a bad thing though. I don't mind at all



Don Cardi

I think it's just his pronunciation. He pronounces the final e in bene as a long e.

Frank:
Yes, that was meant to be a joke, but since I never liked the Sollozo character much, I wouldn't put it past him.

In reference to the "Mingya" comment: I am not sure how many versions of the movie are circulating, but the one which I retain sounds like Luca says "Bene", and my subtitle reads "Not Bad!".

I have never had any doubt that Luca says "Bene." I have two uncut versions - one I taped ages ago from HBO and one that was shown a few months ago on TCM. Also, I have the Saga that was shown a few years ago on Bravo. He says the same thing in all three versions I have.

It also doesn't make any sense to me that Luca would say something offensive to Tattaglia and Sollozzo at that point. His whole intention at the meeting is to play along with them and, in Vito's words, find out "what they have under their fingernails."

Signor V.

I always thought it was.... perfect for what he wanted to do... noisy train drowns out gunshots to people outside

Everytime I watch this scene... this part has so much emphasis.... Solozzo says something like "MA! TU PADRE!... STA VAN DIQUE" <- I know its wrong... I am sounding it out... it seems to bother Mike