Best version of GF Trilogy?

Which is it? I have the one w/ 5 discs. Brando on GFI, Young Pacino on GFII, Older Pacino on GFIII, and FF Coppolla on Bonus DVD.

Is this the ULTIMATE collection. Is there a better collection?

Can anyone recommend other VIDEO items? I don't like to read books, especially long books...so I prefer video footage stuff. Do I have the best stuff or is there more?

anyone?

You really should read the book. It goes a LONG way to helping you understand the movie.

Welcome to the board!

tony b.

The best version to have is the "Saga," which is shown periodically on cable. It has GF and II in chronological order, with all the deleted scenes spliced in where they belong.

While I agree, overall, that the best version to have is the Saga, it's worth mentioning, however, that many scenes and much dialogue have been censored: Luca's garroting, Sonny and Lucy's "encounter" during the wedding, Sonny's death, etc.

It's really a shame that there isn't a totally uncut version of the Saga on cable (or DVD, for that matter). After all, if Comedy Central can air the South Park Movie totally uncut...

Signor V.

I agree: it would be wonderful to have a totally uncensored DVD chronological version that includes all the deleted scenes in place (and perhaps several more that were never released, like Michael's revenge on Fabrizio).
The censored lines are sometimes very funny: Sonny says of hiding the gun in the restaurant: "I don't want my brother comin' outta that toilet with just a stick in his hand" ; Frankie telling Michael, "Clemenza promised them [the Rosatos] ush-gatz" ; Bonasera telling the Don, "And those two punks, they smiled at me." Gee, I felt awfully enlightened and moral thanks to those "improvements."

The best thing possible would be the SAGA, but with
1. all scenes uncut (so no "stick in his hands)
2. all other deleted scenes possible
3. GF III

Btw Turnbull, we already have a killing of Fabrizio in the Saga (when he enters his car), so the scene where Michael kills him with a lupara can never appear in the movie. Unless as an extra, but not on the place where it should be. If you get what I mean...

I realize that, Enzo, but maybe Paramount can resurrect Fab. Instead of the Second Coming, it can be the Second Killing.

I have always wanted to see more of business back in the old days. If they make a GF4 i would like to see more of when clemenza, tessio and vito were just starting the family. i felt the parts in GF2 were vague.

The closest thing to the Saga is the EPIC, which is also in chronological order, with some deleted scenes.

However, I must be honest by saying that although it is nice every once in a while to watch the Saga and The Epic in chronological order, Godfather II is really meant to be watched on it's own, with the flashback scenes, as they coordinate with what is going on in Michael's life and what went on in young Vito's life.

But the EPIC is the the closest thing to the Saga, uncensored and uncut, as your going to get.




Don Cardi

I've got that, a friend of mine is working on transferring it to DVD. It may be a while but once it's done I'll send out copies to whoever is interested.

I'm a bit confused about one thing - apologies if this has already been done to death, but:

Is the Epic the same thing as the TV Saga, but uncensored?



Signor V.

The TV saga has some deleted scenes in it that the EPIC doesn't have. But chronologically it is the same.


Don Cardi

nothins better than the original

So if you wanted GF1 (the way it was in the theatre) and GF2 (the way it was in the theatre, with young Vito scenes interspersed among the Michael scenes), is there a collection for that? Or would you have to get the Trilogy for that (which means you'd have GF3 forced upon you as well)? Does the Trilogy include the deleted scenes?

AND if there is a GF1 and GF2 (the way they were in the theatre), does it include the deleted scenes?

Too many collections!

GF1 is available on DVD without the deleted scenes.
GF2 is available on DVD without the deleted scenes.
The GF Trilogy Set is available on DVD and includes a seperate dvd with the deleted scenes.


Don Cardi

Not while my mother is alive, you have the DVD trilogy with GF3! Wonderful! I've been hoping someone would have the GF3 disc so he/she could answer a question for me.

Next time you watch it, could you tell me if Michael still wears his wedding ring in that one? I've been asking this in another thread; only D Burghardt could answer (and he said "yes"), but he's going by memory. Ideally, I'd like to also have corroborating evidence from a recent viewing .

(But I do appreciate D Burghardt's taking the time to reply .)

And thanks, Don Cardi, for the info about the various versions. You've ended my "collection confusion." I'm going to save this thread for future reference so I'll know what's included in any version of GF that I come across.

Hello, I am new to the board and was looking at some of the threads when i noticed this one. I have the GF Trilogy on VHS, it contains the chonological version of GF1 & 2 as well as GF3, it has the deleted scenes some have mentioned but is not edited, i.e. Luca's garroting is shown in its entirety, Sonny and Lucy upstairs on the wedding day is included etc etc. I am sure this has been discussed before, but does anyone know or has anyone heard of them ever releasing the chronological trilogy (1901-1980)on DVD, i cannot find it on DVD anywhere.

The Saga misses the whole emotional irony of Part II entirely, for me. First time I watched the films was in this chronological form. I'd recommend it to fans as a once-only experience; otherwise, watch them in the theatrical order of release. The five-disc set is the best to buy.

Capo is right. It should be watched as it was meant to be watched, the way that it was originally put out, especially GFII :

Watching GFII in it's original form is the best way. It has a much better and totally different meaning than the chronological version.


Don Cardi

I agree with the idea that GF II has to be seen in flashbacks, but still, I would like to see all the deleted scenes that appear in the chronoligical version.