Obviously, the ending of GF3 when Michael remembers the old happy times while he cries for Mary`s death and when Michael dies.

I don't thing any scene of any Godfather movie has actually brought me to tears. Only one that I think of as truly sad but never 'cried' over... Tom's informing Vito of Sonny's death and then the visit to Bonasera immediately afterward ("Look how they massacred my boy....").

Of course, they do seem to set up lots in GFIII to try and choke up the audience. Such as Michael's breaking down during confession AND his silent scream after Mary's death.

Apple

The credits rolling. It meant the end of the movie.


Don Cardi

Sorry folks no tears here and I cry easily. Some people may say that any scene Sofia Coppola was in would bring you to tears.

I too have never actually cried when watching one of these films, the only movies that can still do that to me are Forrest Gump and the Shawshank Redemption.

But I would say the scene that hit me hardest emotionally was either Mike's silent scream at the end of GFIII, or the Hailmary prayer at the end of PtII.

Oh...you mean the one where Fredo was merely trying to catch a fish and had no clue he was about to die???

I remember that one !!

Apple

Ok Apple, I've remained silent on this issue long enough.

Tell me why you really think that Fredo knew that it was all over for him?


Don Cardi

If you look at the behavior, the demeanor of Fredo in just about every scene throughout BOTH films, what you see is a sniveling, spineless, shallow misfit of a human being. A nice guy, sure. But sniveling/spineless/shallow nonetheless.

The only times Fredo generates even a hint of maturity is when he's with his nephew, Anthony. Figures...the kid is 8 years old.

Now, what would make anyone think that a person like that would, upon realizing the end was near...suddenly attain a serene acceptance of his fate and bravely say a Hail Mary while he awaited the final blow.

Not Fredo. Not possible.

He didn't know.

Apple

So you agree that he didn't know? Ok, than It must have been SB who feels that he knew.

SB, then tell me, what makes you feel this way?


Don Cardi

I agree that Fredo didn't know, but for different reasons.

If he did know, then you have to ask when did he know?

What conditions changed while he was out on the lake that would have suddenly made him know that didn't exist before he got into the boat in the first place?

And by getting into the boat in the first place, he was clearly demonstrating that he didn't know what was coming.

As dumb as he was, if he know that he was about to embark on a one-way fishing trip with Al, he would have made some excuse right on the spot and not gone.

And given the the fact that Connie was standing right there, it's doubtful that Neri would have killed him right on the spot.

By calling Anthony away at the last minute, it is clear that Michael's plan was for Neri to have Fredo make his final cast out in the middle of the lake with no witnesses.

So if Fredo would have begged off before leaving, the plan would have been put on hold.

But by getting into the boat, Fredo was is showing us that he thought he was simply going fishing and had no idea what was coming.

I don't believe for one moment that Fredo knew.

But we never were able to finish the discussion at dinner that night, and I would like to hear Sicilian Babe's point of view regarding why she feels that Fredo did know.


Don Cardi

I do believe that Fredo knew. He could not have believed that Al was going to take him on a simple witness-free fishing trip. And why did he get in the boat? I believe that he had accepted his fate as such, and was willing to die for what he did.

1. Michael had become his whole life. He lived on the estate, had no wife, had no kids. He was everything that his father wasn't. He had no life except that which his brother offered him.

2. I believe, as you can see from his facial expressions during the "drink" in Havana, that he was wracked with guilt for what he had done. I think that part of him was willing to accept the punishment for his betrayal.

I didn't find any scenes very emotional either.

However the scene for Vito's birthday where they show Sonny's reflection in the window, and then you see all the old faces around the table who were actually dead and gone ... That was one scene that really plugged in to a very sweet but sad, sentimental feeling for me. I think it was because I miss my big Italian family who are also now mostly all dead and gone too. All just memories now.

That's a good question really. I never thought about it, but trying to remember my first couple viewings, I too can't think of any scene that made me cry.

However, in my first viewing, I felt sorry and surprised when Fredo joined the fish.


TIS

Appollonia, Kay, Mary.

Michael thinking back, dying.

no scene has made me bawl or anything, but for sure the ending of part 3 brought one tear to my eye. it was a great scene...with al making it believable.

All these reasons are great except that you are seeing the situation from the POV of an intelligent person. Fredo was not an intelligent person.

Yes, Michael was his whole life and that's why he was content to live out his days under Mike's wing at the Tahoe estate, having been 'forgiven' for what he did. That does NOT mean that he would be willing to accept the punishment of death, even if ordered by his treasured kid brother.

Yes, he clearly felt guilty during the 'drink' chat in Havana. That does not mean that if discovered to have been THE TRAITOR, he would have been willing to accept punishment. If that were the case, he would not have run away from Michael TWICE on New Year's Eve. If he was not able to behave like a man then, then he would not have behaved like a man had he known what was about to happen on the fishing boat.

And of course he thought Neri was simply going to take him fishing. Neri was going to take him and Anthony fishing wasn't he? One can assume the three of them had been on previous fishing trips. No reason to assume that they shouldn't go fishing anyway, even though Anthony this time was called away to go to Reno with his father.

Also...dumb as Fredo was, he was (hopefully) at least bright enough to know that he would no longer have any part in the Family Business. So I don't feel a 'witness free' fishing trip on the lake would at that point be anything that would cause him alarm. He'd already been forgiven by his brother so in his mind there was no longer anything to fear or cause his guard to be up.

He didn't know.

Apple

Actually, buddys, I never cry... But Vito´s dead made a pity esception in my rule...

I so much agree with Don Cardi!

"The credits rolling It ment the end of the movie" This was one story I never wanted to see end!
IMO The Best Ever Made

I didn't cry from any scene in The Godfather films. Most touching scenes to me was Michael and Vito talking in the garden, and how Vito didn't want this life for him. Anothony saying how he wanted to help his father and go with him on the business trip in Godfather Part II. Godfather Part III I was sad by the fact of Mary's death and how Michael tried to redeem himself, but it was too late and he lost everything dear to him.

Some of the touching scenes for me are:
1)Michael hugging Fredo at his mother's funeral while looking at Neri
2)GF3, michael recollecting appolonia when Anthony sings
3)Michael realizing the lie behind the mis-carriage.
4)The biggest of all - Hail Mary scene.

Nothing in the movies brings me to tears, but I get a feeling of melancholy at the end of GF2, when we see Michael sitting alone, having lost or killed or forced away nearly everyone close to him.

Again The ending of GF3 made me quite emotional the first couple of times i seen it,very sad ending

I told you, the sadest part is the ending of the GF3 remembering Apollonia, Kay, Mary, the old good times after Mary`s death, Michael screaming for pain, Michael dying. Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni was a very good choice to this sad ending, the music and the scene are one...

Apple, don't be so shy. State your opinion with firmness.

I always cry, sometimes more than there's a reason to, but GF3 certainly was an exception: I didn't know whether to cry or laugh, and definitely not because something touched me, but because of it's general stupidity.
If you need a peculiar scene - OK, let it be "my future" flashback.

As a mother, Mary's death gets me every time. After recently rewatching the film, I realized that I have focused so much on Pacino's acting in that scene, that I have done a disservice to Diane Keaton's. Her expression of grief was incredible.

yeah, the camera mostly focuses on Pacino, but Diane Keaton definetly does show her fine talent of acting in the scene breaking down.

What got me was Michaels roll in crying when Mary died. That was unbelievable...

The memories you are speaking of are of happy times, no doubt. BUT, the memories are also about the 3 women he's always loved and how he's lost the women he loved throughout his life. He failed, as his goal was to protect his family and loved ones and not to lose them.

Right point Don Chater