This is the name of the public relations flak who is handing out press kits at the party in GFIII, and who also is in Rome keeping up on the Pope's health.

This is the same surname of the family which owned the grocery store where young Vito worked, and presumably the son of that grocer was Genco Abbandando, the Don's consigliere. I have two questions (Im counting on ya Turnbull)

Is this Abbandando Genco's son or grandson? He would seem to be too young to be a son, because Genco's children would be the same ages as the Corleones of Mikes generation.

Also, was there any reason given for the deletion of the Genco's deathbed scene from the GF movie. There is a poignant interchange between Michael and the Don in there.

I believe that Abbandando is Genco's grandson. I am pretty sure that he is Michael's godson.

As for the deleted scene, it wasn't as important as the other scenes. Yes, it was poignant and would have increased the story, but the film had to be cut down and so they were forced to delete some good scenes. I especially like the ones focusing on Sonny after Vito is shot. It was great character development for Sonny that I think the film needed.

The really important deleted footage is Fabrizzio's killing. The movie might have gone pretty well without many other stuff that was left in!

JM if I am not mistaken there are two versions of Fabrizzio's killing, neither of which made GF or GFII. The first is where Michael does it himself, and the second is where Fabrizzio, now in Buffalo NY walks out of a pizza parlor and blows up when he starts his car.

IMO, the Genco deathbed scene was the most important of the deleted scenes. It started with the Don and Michael waiting to be driven to the hospital. The cool feelings twixt the Don and Michael are set in this part when the Don asks Michael if his "American girlfriend" got home ok, then rolls his eyes to show his disapproval. Then he dismisses Michael's medals as "Christmas ribbons" and remarks, scornfully, "What miracles you perform for strangers." The Genco deathbed scene itself tells us a lot about peoples' expectations of the Don, and also sets the stage for Tom's ascension as consigliere.
Of the two Fabrizio death scenes, the car bombing was a deleted scene included with the DVD extras disc and in the spliced-for-TV "Saga." The scene where Michael kills Fabrizio has never been shown in any version.

Yes, you're not mistaken. For further information visit this great thread: Fabrizio

I understand the length of GFI was an issue, but I think this scene is too important to have left on the cutting room floor. Turnbull is right on - we get so much information out of this scene. Without having read the novel, the viewer doesn't know the degree in which Michael wants to distance himself from his father's business. What we see "That's my family, Kay, it's not me" is rather vague without the Genco scene.

With the Genco scene, the point of how Michael had a completely different life planned is reinforced with the flashback book-end scene of GFII in which Michael joins the Marines. And I think leaving the scene in would have made the part in III where Anthony said, "I will always be your son. But I will never have anything to do with your business" much more resonant.

I also found it a little odd on my first viewing of The Godfather when Tom and Sonny are in a fight and Sonny yells something like "Pop had Genco and I have you!" It caused some confusion and I didn't get it until I actually read the book.

Genco was Abbandando's son. In the scene where Fanucci is telling Abbandando that he must hire Fanucci's nephew, Genco is sitting with Vito having lunch or something to eat. He says something to Vito about "Fanucci is demanding more money--even from my FATHER." So, Genco is Abbandando's son, not grandson.

~~ Lollie

The Abbabdando to whom I am referring is the character named Abbandando in GF III. He is the PR flak handing out press kits at the party in the Manhattan apartment. I am wondering if he is a member of the Genco family who remained a next generation Corleone retainer (much like Enzo the Baker). If so he would have ben Genco's grandson I would think.

That was Genco's son (according to "The Godfather Legacy"). That should have made him ABOUT the same age as Michael (but he appeared to be younger). His role was as Michael's public relations director.

BTW - The actor who portrayed him, Don Novello, is the same guy who used to play Father Guido Sarducci on "Saturday Night Live".

I believe Genco Abbandando didn't have a son.

Now, why would you say that? You see very little of Genco, there is no way that you could possibly come to the conclusion. SC is right, Genco did have a son, Dominick, played by Don Novello.

He is probably Genco's son, but Michael Rizzi, Connie's son, is Michael's godson.

" Michael Francis Rizzi, will you be baptized? "

" I will. "

I think P_C was right in his own way, referring to the novel Genco had three daughters.
But FFC is so creative...
After all what is a mere written fact? What a bit in eternity.
For example he resurrected Calo, who was officially dead with Apollonia.

Does it really matter is Calo lived or not? To be honest, my greatest dissapointment with Coppola is inventing Vincent Mancini who was never mentioned in the book . But, I really would hate to make this another Godfather III topic or even one open to debate...

Sure it doesn't. Nothing matters.
Calo wouldn't agree with it, though...
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Moscarelli:
<strong> To be honest, my greatest dissapointment with Coppola is inventing Vincent Mancini who was never mentioned in the book . But, I really would hate to make this another Godfather III topic or even one open to debate...

It's explained in the book but only implied in the movie. Tom was on his way to California to meet with Woltz on Johnny's behalf.

In the book he didn't take only biological sons with him, but also Johnny Fontaine.

Well... We don't know if there was a convenient flight. It's Don who said that Tom won't have enough time preparing for his journey. Maybe he needed to contact Goff and settle everything that was agreed during the wedding day before he left...

I can't remember whether it was the movie, the novel, or both, but Vito wanted to settle "this business for Johnny right away (emphasis added).. If Vito wanted Tom to pay his respects to Genco, then Vito would have stated so specifically.

Well, it was the late 1940's. Air travel was not as common as it is now, so perhaps there weren't that many flights to California. Also, perhaps because Tom would be taking Genco's job, maybe that would be a little awkward, like he was hovering over him, waiting to step into his shoes.

Not only were there not many flights to California, Tom must have had to "pull some strings" to get a flight out of New York on the same day Connie got married. I wonder if he got to dance with the bride? I am guessing he flew to Chicago, then to Denver then to LA all on DC3's and that must have taken him 15 hours.