Why did Bonasera speak English to Vito? Just because of the presence of Tom Hagen?
There are some more situations where those who were Italian immigrants could have easily talked Italian:
- The two Vito&Luca scenes
- Luca's meeting with Bruno & Sollozzo
- Clemenza & Tessio in GF don't speakt Italian at all, not even when they're emotionally moved, as in the fish tank scene.
...

I think we never hear Vito speak Italian in GF, except for something like "That's an infamia."
Do you think it's plausible that they had all switched completely to English? I mean, in the 30s and 40s, immigrants had less contact outside their own neighborhood & community.

Bonasera was more Americanized by his own admission. And by the end of the war Vito had been in America for what, over 30 years? So it makes sense that they would speak English.

Also, many Italian immigrants were eager to show Americans that they were really trying to integrate themselves into the language and culture...remember the opening line; "I believe in America..."
BTW, another good and insightful post started by Danito.

Vito (Marlon Brando) did say something in Italian to the photographer during the wedding scene.

I believe he said that he didn't want the photo taken until Michael arrived. He followed up the Italian with English.

Good thread. Michael as a typical second generation Italian was not to proficient at it until he went to Sicily. In the Sollozzo restaurant scene he struggled with his Italian and had to resort to English.

I think Vito said "aspetta, Fredo" (wait Fredo) when he went across the street to buy fruit.

I think there were two reasons:

First, a directorial concern: FFC didn't want to diminish the impact of acting and filming by constantly using subtitles. He wanted us to focus on seeing and hearing his splendid cast in synch.

Second, it reinforced, subtly, the power that Vito (and by extension the Mafia) had in contemporary America. We'd have a hard time believing that Vito and his crowd were so thoroughly integrated into American power circles if they all spoke Italian all or most of the time. If they did, we'd find it hard to believe that all those (non-Italian) judges and politicians were in Vito's pocket.

That's an interesting point. I think he went back to English because he wanted to let everybody know that he wanted his father to be safe. McCluskey would therefore be a witness.

Btw, another reason for Michael not speaking a lot of Italian was because Al Pacino didn't know the language very well.

Al Pacino is a second generation Italian just like Michael...

Vito says to the photographer "..la fotografia più tardi" which is "we'll take the picture later on".

I think Al Pacino is actually third generation.

Agreed, but is it believable? Of course, the first phrase "I believe in America" is much stronger in English. But would have Bonasera said it in Italian if Sonny and Tom hadn't been present?
How quickly did the Italian immigrants assimilate to such a degree that they were talking English among each other? For example, when did Vito stop talking to his kids in Italian. By the end of GF2 he says to Michael that he loves him in Italian.
There is another interesting scene in GF2 where Vito, Clemenza and Tessio are talking in the kitchen about Don Fanucci. They stick to Italian all the time. But suddenly, just for one sentence, Vito slips to English: "I'll take care of everything", as if it's something you could only say in English.

As you note, Danito, in the flashback scenes in GFII young Vito is beginning to pepper his conversation with English phrases. "I make an offer, he don't refuse." It is believable that, decades later and living in the suburbs, Vito would seldom speak Italian in everyday life.

In general, the pattern of American immigrants is that parents encourage their American-raised children to learn English and assimilate. This would be especially true of Vito, whose high hopes for Michael were dependent on his seeming as "American" as possible. Vito speaking English to his children would further this goal.

There was a huge push among many of the immigrants of that era - especially for children, like Vito - to learn English, even if they had to study on their own or at night school.

By the 40's when the first movie opens, Vito and his family (and probably most of his friends), have moved beyond their early immigrant stage. They're no longer living in the middle of tenement housing with other people who came to American from the same type places. They've made money. They've bought houses. They're becoming more Americanized.

At this point, like many immigrants, they're trying to fit into the larger picture of America in many respects. They've kept their religion, their food, and many aspects of culture, but as far as language goes - it's part of the past, not the present. And these are people who live in the present moment, in my humble opinion.

Well put, Simone. Welcome to the board.

Unlike many other nations, America encouraged assimilation and required young children to attend school, even in young Vito's day. So, there was a major incentive for all immigrant families to speak English at home, the better to make sure their kids spoke English and weren't ridiculed or disadvantaged in school.

My Dad told me that he spoke quite a bit of Italian at home, especially with his mother. However, with his siblings and the neighborhood, he only spoke Italian when whoever he was conversing with didn't speak it that well. I never asked my mother about that, but my older sister remembers her speaking it quite a bit with neighbors and relatives.