An Anachronism

On page 188 of the 30th anniversary edition, Puzo writes about Johnny Fontane being nominated for an academy award for his role in the Wolz war movie. Johnny was depressed because "he was not asked to sing one of the songs nominated for the Oscar at the CEREMONY THAT WOULD BE TELEVISED NATIONALLY (emphasis added)".

But this was when? 1946? Television had barely been invented. I don't think there was anything televised nationally back then.

good thinking, I think you're right but I'm no expert, so I can't confirm it. but good thinking

Well, just out of interest I did a little search I found that the first televised academy awards were held at the RKO Pantages theatre in Hollywood in 1953.

The first 'colour' televised awards were in the Santa Monica Civic auditorium in 1966.

FH

Very Nice. One can easily find mistakes in the films, but very very few in Puzo's well researched book.

One that always surprised me: At Connie's wedding, the Don is described as so dashing looking that he could have been the groom. But when they arrive at Genco's deathbed after the wedding, Dr. Kennedy looks with distain on Vito in his "ill-fitting tux." Maybe Vito ate too much at the wedding?

I read the 1st chapter (only the 1st) in dutch, and I diden't noticed anything, must be the translation.

Yes, the Dutch are far too polite to have insulted the great Don Corleone by translating the fact that his tuxedo was "ill-fitting." On the other hand, Ian Fleming, in the James Bond novel, "The Man with the Golden Gun," had a KGB villain masquerading as a Hollander, and described him as "as thick and heavy as a Gouda cheese."

I don't know what's up with that. Tranlations are very polite, but they aren't right, that's why I opened the topic "Il patino or Il Padrino?" It says Il Patino and alsow Consigliori, it's rediculous. About the cheese, I'm not an expert, but if Ian Flamings was intending to insult us from the Netherlands I would say something like: "Shut up you bloody bellybutton." I like English (Great-Brittain) It sounds so funny!

No, I diden't feld insulted. It's just that English (Great Brittain) is so funny, some words just crack me up!

Good one, FH! Oh, that British drollery!

This is not an anachronism, but rather a strange thing that happens in Puzo's descripiton of his character. When he tells the story of how Vito Corleone became a Don, he says that Santino Corleone ar 16 years old had muscluar frame and had grown to an astonishing 6 feet tall. But earlier in the novel when Sonny is in his early 30, Puzo write that Sonny was tall for a first generation italian--almost six feet. So i am confused. At 16 he was 6 feet tall and at 30 something he was almost 6 feet.

Well, Puzo made a big deal over the fact that Sonny was well-hung. Perhaps the burden of carrying around all that extra weight below the belt caused him to be somewhat stooped-over at age 30.

lol...may be. That's a possible explanation