I was watching GF III on AMC yesterday and I was struck by either the poor acting or the the poor script of how these characters died:

1) The worst was the death of Don Altobello being killed by the poisoned cannoli, given as a gift by Connie. I think it was a clever touch, but the way the character died while eating the cannoli at the opera was just so ludicrous.

2) The killing of Don Lucchesi by Calo with Lucchesi's own glasses. Again, it was clever, but so unlikely.

Honoroable mention: While it was very traumatic to the other characters, I thought Mary's death scene was also poorly done. I think the main problem was Sophia Coppola's poor acting skills.

I think these death scenes stretched the credibility with the audience.

Agreed with all....they check Calo for weapons and then let him whisper in Lucchesi ear?? Credibility out the window.

Not to mention him "being clean", just like Mike was with Sollozzo.

I agree with #2. Killing someone with glasses stretches credulity. But Altobello's death was consistent with poisoning. It would have caused respiratory distress and the depfrivation ofd oxygen to the brain would have resulted in a coma like state that would have led to brain death - nothing more dramatic than that.

Now, #3. There is theis misconception out there that, when shot, everyone reacts the same. At 16, my sister was shot in the upper thigh. Yet, she managed to quickly walk some distance across the floor. I was shot in the left arm. It spun me around and I ended up face down, but didn't feel anyhting. Why? Shock. Mary was shot in the center chest apparently. The slug probably hit at least part of her heart which sent it into trauma. The look on her face and her dropping to her knees was quite consistent with shock. There's not that much actiong that one can do to mimic shock. It varies from person to person. Those of you who have been in combat know what I'm talking about.

I didn't think Mary's death was horrible, but I agree on the glasses. Luchese's body guard had a GUN, but before he could draw it and shoot, Calo could kill Luchese with a pair of glasses?

As for the cannoli death, it could have been a brilliant touch, but Eli Wallach who was terrible throughout the movie couldn't even act dead very well.

Part 3 has many bad deaths but dont forget the clothes hanger in part 2, that was preety bad, maybe not had bad as part 3 deaths but still preety bad.

I think the GFII clotheshangar death scene and the Lucchese death scene compete for the worst.

You articulated it better than what I originally posted. The idea of poisoning Altobello was great, but I just thought it was implausible that he appeared to stop moving like a robot would when the batteries die.

If you haven't you might read my post above. A poison may act on the respitory system or the nervous syetem generally. in that case, Altobello might be gasping for breath at one point as his chest heaved. Those might also be spasms as portions of his system shut down. I didn't find it all that unusual.

What war were you involved in? Vietnam?


Well I am afraid Micheal's death ranks third following clotheshangar death scene and the Lucchese death scene. If Micheal suddenly died, he would have been sitting quietly on the chair. But the first time I watched the GF III, I was amused by the fact that Al Pacino moved his body on purpose forth slowly to let himself fall down to the ground.

I purposely did not list Michael's death. I think the point of the scene was to show how Michael lost everyone important to him and that he was alone at the end of his life. His arm just fell limp when he died. I don't think it was as much of a stretch as the others I mentioned. His body was slumped when he died and the weight just naturally made him fall over onto the ground. I thought Pacino broke his fall somewhat, but I found the Michael death scene much more believable than the deaths of Altobello & Lucchesi.

Well, it wasn't lame, but Archbishop Gilday's murder was EXTREMELY far fetched. Are we to believe that Al Neri just slipped by the Swiss guards at the Vatican? In reality, they probably would have cut his throat with one of those swords that they carry around.

I agree. An elderly man sitting on a narrow seat chair who suddenly loses control over his posture is going to be quite susceptible to gravity. It was realistic. The scene was intended to illustrate not only his physical fall, but his moral and familial fall.

To WT: yes, Vietnam.

I'm so glad someone clarified that Altobello was killed with the poisoned canolli. I watched GF III four times now, mostly just the scenes w/Andy Garcia, and it finally hit me that's what Connie did.


The first time I saw it, I thought of something sexual with her and the canoli.

It also took all those viewings to figure out the whole Vatican/Pope conspiracy plot...because I kept fast forwarding through all the dialogue.

When Connie takes a bite of the Canolli in front of Altobello,it always looked like she was mimicking fellatio.

The guy getting shot while grabbing his "lucky coat" was pretty awful.

Probably the worst.

Maybe she was thinking about Merle.

I disagree. When she does, she barely parts her lips. It hardly mimicks fellation. Madonne!

You said it, dt! Oh, how awful!