You've all listed some really funny parts in the trilogy.

But my all time favorite has to be the whole flashback scene at the end of GFII with Sonny cursing the Japs for dropping bombs on his fahter's birthday, and Fredo innocently exclaiming " They didn't know it was Pop's birthday!" Casale delivers that line with such innocence, and the look on Caan's face is priceless! Then Sonny swatting at Fredo's arm when he reaches across the table to congratulate Mike for joining the military!

I think that FFC really did a great job with that scene of expressing what it was like in real life, growing up in a large Italian family, with all of you sitting around your grandmother's table for a sunday dinner.


Don Cardi

I change my answer to that. Fredo's line is funny, I'll put the Zasa car one in a close second.

The scene in Havana where Fredo is introducing everyone is pretty funny...him going on with all these judges and politicians, telling Mike that one of them does a "mean cha cha cha" and then announcing to the table that they should try "some of them local drinks," like a Cuba Libre. At that point Sen Geary, who we (and the Corleones) know secretly frequented a house of ill repute brashly says "I want one of those red headed Cubanas," Which Fredo says , "That you've got con gusto."

BTW how is it that Fredo, who did not know the term for banana daiquiri was the same in English and in Spanish know about Cuba Libres and was able to say "con gusto?"

The part when Michael shuts the door on Kay in Part II makes me laugh. Obviously I think it's Diane Keaton's acting/reaction that's funny rather than the situation in the movie.

What's your name?
Suchowsky. Hyman Suchowsky.
He's gonna dump that; I call him Johnny Lips.

The scene when Mike says he'll "kill them both" and Clemenza, Tessio and Sonny are overcome with laughter (I can't help but laugh with them).

The part that always makes me laugh is when Don Vito slaps Johnny and tells him to "act like a man!!!" and then mimicks Johnny crying......then they show Tom in the background laughing at Johnny......That is such a classic scene.
I also laugh at Tom's reaction to Sonny banging Lucy Mancini in the bathroom, when Tom tells him that his dad is waiting for him downstairs......LOL

There is all sorts of subtle humor, such as in I, when Michael explains to Kay how "Luca Brasi held a gun to his head and my father calmly explained that either his brains or his signature would appear on that piece of paper." The look Kay gives him back is priceless.

Yes! That's my favorite humorous part as well. The way her expression changes is fascinating.

I'm not sure how much it was funny to me. I think it is quite strong, a mother leaving her children and cold-hearted Micheal...

yeah ... one of my favoritez is when Michael is asking Fredo question in Neveda and Michael tellz him that he has alwayz taken care of him (Fredo) and then Fredo replyz ... TAKEN CARE OF ME ! Michael YOUR MY KID BROTHER ! ... lol

I don't think anyone's mentioned this before- one of my favorite bits of humor, and one of those little bits of buisness that seperate the good from the great-
In GF2, during the flashback to the Festa, Vito goes to see Don Fannucci ("It looks like there's $100 under my hat." etc...) When Don Fanucci gets up to leave, he does that cheek pinch/smack on Vito's face. Vito never reacts to this until Fanucci leaves the cafe, and then De Niro swipes his fingers across his face (in that very "Don Vito" manner) and then checks the tips of his fingers, as if he's loooking for a streak of blood or (more likely) checking to make sure he got all of Fannucci's slime off. The look on De Niro's face is priceless, and it gets me every time.

Sammy The Fish

Just another example of DeNiro's brilliant acting abilities. Nothing is said by him at that point, and yet his facial expressions say it all.

IMO one of DeNiro's best pieces of acting in a non-speaking scene is in the movie 'Sleepers'. He plays Father Bobby, a priest. In it there is the scene where Jason Patric's character 'Shakes' goes to Father Bobby to tell him all about the abuse that he and his friends took when they were kids incarcerated in the detention home for boys. If you watch DeNiro's facial expression in that scene, as Shakes is giving him the details of abuse they took as boys, without ever uttering one word DeNiro brilliantly transforms from this concerned priest, to a sickened, disgusted and angered man. All these mixed emotions conveyed by DeNiro, and felt by the viewer, without his ever having to say one word.


Don Cardi

Facial expressions are indeed frequently more poignant than any dialogue.

My favorites are Vito's expression as Luca stumbles through his awkward thank you at Connie's wedding; Michael's hateful glare at Kay when she admits to the abortion; and young Vito's look of concern after he unwrapped the package Clemenza had asked him to hold in GII.

Another great laugh is in GF1 when Michael and the bodyguards first arrive at Vitele's cafe and everything Fabrizio says, Calo echos the last few words of each sentence-
"..tentare il diavolo..."
"...tale a bocca..."
"...averla visto lei?"

One of my favorite funny Godfather scenes occurs in the original movie. It's Sunday dinner at the Corleone house and everyone (sans Vito, who is upstairs in bed resting after coming home from the hospital) is at the dinner table.

This is not verbatim but it's what I remember:

Sonny: Those N---- up in harlem are having a good time with those policy banks, driving those Cadilac's

Carlo: I knew that was gonna happen when they started making big money.

Connie: Papa never talked business at the table.

Carlo: Shut up Connie!

Sonny: Don't you ever tell her to shut up.

Mama Corleone: Santino, don't interfere.

Carlo: Sonny, Tom, I'd like to talk to you about doing more for the family.

Sonny: We don't discuss business at the table.


A close second is in II when Hyman Roth tells Michael: "We're bigger than U.S. Steel."

Remember in GF 3 when vincent bites his fist in the office after the zasa altercation.

That was funny too.

I also like the guy singing the song at the mic in GF 1.

What about Clemenza's real life brother dancing really corny at the wedding.

1) When Luca Brasi stumbles through the speech (I'm aware that was a blooper and they kept it in) and the look that Brando gives him is pretty funny.

2) When Don Vito slaps Johnny and Tom is just sitting there in the corner laughing.

3) Signor Roberto apologizing to Don Vito for the apartment problem. Vito and Genco have a good laugh at Roberto's expense.

Their are many. but i always thought this to be funny!

Tom to Woltz

I'm German-Irish....

Woltz
Well let me tell you something my Kraut Mick friend, I'm gonna make so much trouble for you, you won't know what hit you!

Tom: Mr. Woltz, I'm a lawyer, I have not threatened you.

Woltz:
I know almost every big lawyer in New York, who the hell are you?
That who the hell are you is just too funny!

hi all... long time reader here ..this is a great thread.I always got a kick out of young Vito and Genco going to the opera/play where the actor on stage gets word after about 2 minutes that his "mama morte".(forgive spelling..I know there is another word in there somewhere).I love when the audience gasps..they had absolutely no chance to get emotionally involved with any of the chracters...maybe its not funny but at least noteworthy!!!