So this weekend I was all alone and decided to have my own Godfather trilogy party. I've seen 1 & 2 about a million times and have been a member of this site for a while but one thing that came to me while watching GF1 - why do the newspapers run the story of VITO CORLEONE getting shot? Was he that much a big shot? Who was he so important to? I mean, yes I know it was the lead in for the movie, but would the public have cared?
Just curious

As one of the city's crimelords he was worthy of such attention.

In real life, the same New York papers ran cover stories when the big names were shot and killed (ie. Paul Castellano, Albert Anastasia, Carmine Galante, etc.).

I don't mean to be disrespectful about your question, but what in the world would compel you to ask it? Why do you not think that the attempted murder of one of the country's most important and well known mafia dons would not be reported. I would think that if a mafia don were important enough to have a US Senator sending his daughter a wedding gift, and if judges were apologizing for not attending that wedding, and if the FBI shows up at the wedding to write down license numbers and take photographs that one would "assume" that this guy was kind of important.

And you didn't invite me?


Don Cardi

And has they have people in the Newspaper department you would expect it.Close associte's in the Family

Olivant I was thinking that the Don may not have been important to the general public - like front page important - of course he was a powerful figure with politicians but I wasn't sure if the public would have cared. Like I was thinking he may have shyed away from attention- you know the opposite of John Gotti. Anyway, I'm with DeNiro's response, with associates in the newspaper business they put it on the front page.

They wouldn't have dared to play up that story. Don Vito would not have wanted any unneccesary attention.

The public eats up news stories like that, though, and it sells newspapers. Thats the bottom line.

I really think that when something happens to a big mob boss, even if he's just alleged mob boss, papers catch their chance and publish all gossips they can find.

He obviously was that important. When someone from the IRA in Ireland gets killed, it always makes the first page in the newspapers.

In 1945, as today, the standard for tabloid newspapers (like the ones shown in the film) is: "If it bleeds, it leads." Vito was enough of a bigshot to merit p.1, but any shooting in cold blood in the streets would have gotten significant coverage, then and now.

I go along w/ olivant's original post expressing amazement that someone who bothered to join this board would even think of asking such a question.

I'll also second Martin Sbalzi's response (clever name, BTW...) that OF COURSE he was THAT IMPORTANT!!!

I recall as recently as the 1970's front page stories on the Daily News & such about big mob names being shot.

Would have NOTHING to do with the Corleones being associated with the newspaper business. It would've been big news in post-war 1945.



AppleOnYa

I'm glad I was able to amaze you Apple -

Thats the spirit, Sophia!

I thought the question was reasonable, and it was certainly a welcome respite from so many off-topic discussions.

Doesn't happen often!!

Chalk it up to the 'just when you thought you've seen everything' category of subjects!


Apple

I think Sophia deserves more respect. I thought this board was for asking questions and discussion, thats what she did.
Turnbull gave a good answer, the more bullet holes and blood it has, the closer to the front page it gets.

what am i missing, why is that a clever name?

Nice question Sophia.

Its been pretty much answered by the people before me, but next time yoh sit down to watch all three dvds, ill join you!

Sophia,

Definately an interesting and legitimate question! I am glad to see that some of the new people here do try to start legitimate discussions on legitimate subjects.

Keep on posting Sophia!


Don Cardi

Sophia:

Mi dispiace!

Because if you look at it in the demented way in which I believe it's intended, it translates to:

Martin's Ballzy

And if by any chance it was NOT intended that way...well then it was just a fortunate accident.

But I think it was.

Apple