The modern story-line of GFII, the conflict between Michael and Roth, and the betrayal of Fredo; only exists in movieform.

My question: Would you've liked to see this in novelform too? Of course written by Puzo, not that other mule!

"Not that other mule!" excellent!

I would have liked to see a novel written about Roth, the hearings, basically all of the scenes from the GFII movie that were not in the novel.


Don Cardi

Yea I definetly think Puzo couldve added some more depth to some of the characters exclusive to GFII. It'd be nice to see his writing on Roth, Pentangali, Cicci becoming more involved, see him flesh out Fredo more now that he was important, maybe spend some more time on Tom. A lot of different possibilities could've been explored.

But in this imaginable novel, Fredo wouldn't have been killed, since that was in the movie completely FFC's idea!

Why not? The Hyman Roth storyline was also FFC's idea and was not in the original GF novel.


Don Cardi

It's well documented (and well-discussed here) that Puzo was completely against the killing of Fredo, but deferred to FFC whose 'baby' Part II was. So in 'Puzo' novel form, that aspect right there would've been different.

I'm sure Puzo would've included the Roth storyline and Fredo's BETRAYAL, but the question is how would he have had Michael deal with it. After what we now know...banishment from the Family might be somewhat anti-climactic.

Also, would a Puzo GFII novel have included Kay's abortion...which according to legend was the brainchild of Talia Shire.

Apple

Would I enjoy it??? I'd fall in love I bet, I can imagine a novel with so much detail and make it come alive in the mind where it can flourish and swim with all the wonderful characters



Joe Batters

I don't think he wouldn't include the Fredo killing in a novel of PART II, as if that novel was written - a novel that described the movie's Part II, AFTER the movie was released, as it would contradict the facts a great deal. The movies never dettered too greatly from the novel (except with Lucy Mancini, which I didn't care, and Fredo, who in Puzo's novel was more like a Stalone character). I think he would develop Fredo differently, as FFC changed him quite a bit in the first movie and continued so in Part II. In Copola's vision, Fredo was figuretively and literally weak, whereas in Puzo's novel he was perceived as a strong in muscles, but light on heart. Not stupid, not TOO weak, but certainly a lot more sensitive than either Sonny or even Michael. So I suppose Fredo's development would be intriguingly different, yet it would lead to the same events and end of the character yet again (ie the Cuba scenes). But, aside from that, we could've actually got some interesting information on the Rosato Brothers, and Roth's connection to Vito etc..

I'd be certainly a lighter in weight book, as I don't think Puzo would include more material that wasn't include in the previously released movie. In short, he'd take FFC and his' PART II screenplay, adapt the modern part sequences and make them a novel.