When Vito was shot at VERY close range, nne shots were fired by the assassins. I know, I counted them yesterday while watching the Godfather (again).
How could they miss four out of nine shots at point blank distance? Is this why they used such overkill to get Sonny, or was that just FFC's homage to Bonnie and Clyde?

DT, as staged, Sonny's murder was purely gratuitous. Recall that the novel's version has him murdered with pistols.

I don't know how many Board members have fired weapons in a combat theater, but from my experience, missing a close target can happen even with an automatic weapon.

"He's still alive. They hit'em with five shots, and he's still alive!"

Hey! Maybe they were afraid that Fredo would shoot them!

Seriously though, lets not forget that even though he basically was being shot at at point blank range.....he was still a moving target. Looks like five of the last six shots hit him when he was against the car and stopped moving.

Nice to hear from you, DC!

Yes, it's possible to miss at close range, especially if you're nervous and worried about getting away, as those two probably were. Also, as pointed out, Vito was moving, and he was wearing a heavy coat that might have slowed the bullets.

What i love about this scene is how Fredo instantly starts weeping, When Sonny and Michael each hear the news of Vito being shot they dont cry like Fredo, Interesting how each brother reacts differently

T

Tom's weeping too.

Like Johnny Fontaine, Fredo cries like a woman

Well to be fair the gunmen were running too. Ever go target-shooting while running? That's why quarterbacks get paid the big bucks, I guess.

These guys are supposedly professional hit men. Five shots out of nine at point blank range is pretty poor.

There were apparantly 20 bullets fired at Joe Masseria of which only 6 struck him, and killed him subsequently. So it's not unusual that 'only' 5 of the 9 bullets fired hit Vito.

Perhaps most Board members have never fired a weapon. However, we are exposed to TV and film examples where bullets fly hither and yon. Steven Seagal never misses when he fires, does he? On the other hand, there are any number of TV and film characters who seemingly and endlessly fire automatic weapons, but seldom hit any one. There are so many variables associated with hitting targets, up close or not.

Those of you who have had experience with an M16 know that one of those variables that was mitigated by the M16's design was the weapon's kick when a bullet is fired from it. Such kick can significantly distort the bullet's intended path. The stability of the hand grasping the weapon at discharge is a major issue. That's why law enforcement trains its students to stabilize the firearm with two hands.

Also 6 bullets were fired at Willie Moretti at very close range, and he was only struck by 2. At least a couple of the bullets went wild.

Let's not forget John Veasey.

Thank you, Turnbull, my most valued friend.

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CUT TO: The Godafther Trilogy Forum, Don Cardi enters the discussion, making a post.


CUT TO: Don Geoff's Computer. Don Geoff is reading Cardi's post.

Don Geoff: He came back from being away so long to come to the boards; I told you he was going to come back.

SC: It's been two years; he's probably in trouble again.

Don Geoff: He's a good godson.

DC welcome back. You been hiding out in Sicily?

A year. Longer than that, I think.

I was forced to leave this forum, -- and I had to make arrangements to get back here safely -- cleared of all those false charges.

But I'm a superstitious man -- and if some post is made -- and it should get deleted by another moderator -- or if I should get banned from the general discussion forum -- then I'm going to blame some of the people on these boards. And that, I do not
forgive.

Seriously though, it's been an extremely busy busy winter for me......but it's good to be back!

did you get hit by the thunderbolt? Was she blown up in a car?