In The Godfather Part II at the party for Anthony's communion, when Senator Geary gives his speech, when he asks for Michael and Kay to stand up to be recognized for their charitable contribution, Geary says Mike and then seems to stumble and say the name Pat as if he forget Kay's name. He then seems to catch and correct himself and says Kay a fraction of a second latter. Being that the senator was moments before introduced as Pat Geary did he accidentally say his own name due to this? Also, was this a genuine mistake actually made by the actor playing Geary or was it intended that the character of Senator Geary make this mistake within the context of the film? Does anyone here know what I'm talking about? The members here seem to be very knowledgeable about the details of the Godfather films so I thought I might be able to get some help here with this. Thanks in advance for any helpful contributions.

I think it was a dialogue mistake that FFC left unedited.

I have caught this every time I see the movie, and I have always thought it was another way for Geary to publically humiliate Michael. Throughout that speech he refers to the family name as Car-lee-an....he refers to Michael as "Mike" which no one calls him, he mispronounces Anthony's middle name as "Vy-to" and by saying "Pat" instead of "Kay" I think he is deliberately showing further disregard and disrespect for the Corleones. If you look at the scene immediately following where they are taking the pictures, Michael looks none to pleased.

Yes, as Senator Geary makes it clear later he is quite capable of pronouncing the Corleone name properly. He just chose not to do so.

As he states as far as HE is concerned "EYE-talians" are not real Americans so there's no reason to bother giving much respect.

Totally agree with the misrespect by Geary, but at the point mentioned,he says his wife's name,who seats by the Corleone family

I just think that Geary is dumb. He says his wife's name instead of Kay. As they are sitting next to each other.

He also mispronounces Anthony's name wrong because he sees it/reads it as VI-to instead of VE-to. He is not use to those types of names in his area.

Now he uses the term Mike to show friendship and closeness when he is taking this great gift.Like they are the best of buds. But his slip shows that he is dumb and not a good politician. He isn't that close or that friendly with them, it is all an act for the public. He should have done better at this little farce.

Now, when he calls the family name-Car-lee-an.. he is surely busting on him. Making a power point.

My thoughts is that Michael looks none to please when taking pictures is because Michael is not that type of person, to be in the spotlight or open public forum like that. Quick set up this shot, change positions and shot another one, etc. He looks uncomfortable, like high school kid giving his first public speech or meeting his girls parents for the first time. He is powerful in his own closed world, behind close doors.

I think Geary's wife's name was Pat (as was his), which would explain the apparent mistake.
But dt and Lilo are right (as usual) about the deliberate misrepronunciation of the Corleones' name. As they said, Geary, when alone with Michael, draws it out--"Cor-lee-own-ee" in a way that shows his contempt for Michael and for Italians. But there's another reason why he deliberately mispronounced their names in public:

Nevada politicians of that era knew that gangsters were behind the casinos, and welcomed the money the gangsters were bringing into the state--and into their own pockets through bribes and political contributions. But it didn't pay for politicians to be seen as being close to gangsters--political foes could use that against them. It was safe for Geary to appear at Anthony's party because Michael was making a big endowment to the state university. If the trustees of the university made the decision to ok the big endowment from a gangster, then it was safe for Geary to accept it on their behalf. Mispronouncing the names was a clever way for Geary to broadcast to the thousands of people present that he really didn't know the Corleones, might have been meeting them for the first time, wasn't close to them, etc.

Mispronouncing the names was a clever way for Geary to broadcast to the thousands of people present that he really didn't know the Corleones, might have been meeting them for the first time, wasn't close to them, etc.
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Turnbull you give him way to much credit!
No way was Geary that clever.
What did he have to hide. All those folks were in the same boat, they were also there for the free party. There is no was most of those people knew Kay or Michael that well.

FS never underestimate the stupidity of some rural voters back then. Here in Fla, in a Senate race one of the candidates attacked his poopnent by going into rural towns saying things
"My opponent went to a cllege where he matriculated, and his sister is a well known thespian in evl New York."

I agree with just about everything said here, but I think it's worth noting that Geary also mispronounces Corleone, only to then later emphasize his perfect pronunciation during his meeting with Micheal...Mr. COR-LEE-OOH-KNEE.

He certainly intends to denigrate Micheal and his whole fucking family throughout the course of Anthony's Communion.

Geary was bound and determined to have his fun at Michael's expense, and insult him in every which way he could. Yes, I came here to your home, but I'm making it crystal clear that I am in no way, shape or form to be associated with you.