One thing that's always puzzled me is the high billing that Bridget Fonda recieves for her role as reporter Grace Hamilton, in the credits for GF3. Her character is established as a tough reporter who is willing to go at lengths to get her story, but what's done with her? NOTHING! Oh yeah, we see her in bed with Vincent later, but technically that contradicts what little we know of the character already. (Remember where she told Vincent to get lost?) I mean, it could have been any girl there with Vincent and the scene would have worked much the same. (So how did Vincent get her? Maybe that infamous Corleone charm!)

Fonda could have been the hard-as-nails reporter, constantly shadowing Michael, trying to find out the true details behind the Immobiliare deal. (Maybe that could have been her reason for shacking up with Vinnie?) And to Michael, Fonda's character could have represented the type of enemy he's never faced before, not a wiseguy casino owner or shady businessmen, (who could easily be told to back off by Neri or another of Michael's cohorts), but a member of the national press. Okay, maybe not the most dynamic idea in the Trilogy, but there was definitely a potential for something here that would have justified the high billing Fonda recieved for the role, but Coppola blew it.

I always assumed her character was there to give background to Vincent. In a sense GF3 is another GF1, the rise of the new Don the fall of the old, so the story of Vincent's transition from a Sonny to a Michael is crucial.

As to why the top billing, maybe it was part of her contract.

I just wonder why they would bother spending that much cash on Fonda when it could've been better spent to get Duvall. Even if Duvall wanted a high payment, getting rid of Fonda would've freed up some $$$.

Her character, to me, was a minor character, and although I think she played it ok, and I don't dislike her, I think anyone could have had that part. As far as the "billing" she got for the film, I agree, it was overrated. Perhaps they felt it would be a "breakthrough" role for her???

V.L, your idea of a "hard as nails" reporter, I think is a good one. It would have given Michael a "different" type obstacle to face. Although she would have probably been "small potatoes", her charcter could have been a little more agressive.

TIS

Hi!

Whatever the billing, I find some interesting logic in this character. She caught Vince's attention, immediately tried to use him to get her job done, then, with whatever intent, merrily slept with him, and was ruthlessly used in her turn.

When she asked whether he had a cat, he knew already it was not a cat, and just sent her out there to win time and possibly split the hitmen. The scene with her throat being scratched also showed just how little he valued her, and what kind of gambler he was.

I don't think Grace stayed with him after that incident, so what was the point in keeping her around any longer? Vince's inherited charm was confirmed, his touchness revealed, so Grace's role was over.

Best regards.

Alexander

I have already been quite straight foward with my displeasure with this matter. It is good to know that there are those out there who agree with me. I starting to think I had gone crazy.

I agree with the people that say that getting Fonda just to be there in Vinnie's bed (which ist basically what she did) was a waste of good money, that coulda have served to pay our beloved Mr Duvall to be in the movie. Or maybe get a REAL ACTRESS to play the role of Mary Corleone. So, it was a mistake.

(Not that it wasn't a pleasure watching her just wearing that shirt and nothing under it... She's HOT!!!)

Yeah, but not everyone would have looked so good in Vincent's leather jacket

Except maybe Vincent, since it is his jacket after all.

Excellent idea. I think she could provide another interesting new element. Besides Vito Legacy's "hard-nails reporter" story, I would add her later on Sicily, when Vincent would be under the guidence of Don Luchesi and they make love and then Ms. Hamilton would declare her love to Vincent (little hard to show, but with the right ingrediants, could happen), creating with that way an interesting love triangle between Vincent-May-Grace, and when he becomes Don Corleone, he takes Grace Hamilton as his escort and tells he may actually marry her...

I will include her in the upcoming re-working of The Godfather Part III, retitled THE TRAGEDY OF MICHAEL CORLEONE.

I agree with those who say that Fonda should not have been in this movie. What value does she give? A reported? Please! Better spent getting a real actor like Robert Duvall. At least we have continuity and not silly sexy tricks....

"Oh no,we cant get Duvall! Quick,we need some big names....preferably with successful family members in the business......well we already got Sophia,which means they dont have to act.......Birget Fonda!.....I am a genious!"I think she was a big name to (maybe) attract some more viewers.Her billing,a disgrace to everything everywhere.By the end,youve already forgotten about her.In Part 1,Fredo is somewhere close to "best grip"

Yeah I'll admit Fonda's high billing in GF3 confused me. Especially when her role was small.


But VL's idea of her possible being used as a hard as nails reporter, a new enemy that Michael wasn't use to facing. Would've been an interesting plot line.

The Grace Hamilton character was intended as kind of a parallel to Kay Adams - a non-Italian, WASP-establishment character for the Don-apparent's love interest.

Then, of course, there are direct parallels between Mary Corleone and her late step-mother Apollonia, even down to the circumstances of her death.

As Michael returned from Italy and the murder of his young love Apollonia to marry Kay, certainly in any GF IV plot, after the murder of Mary, Vincent would probably pick back up with Grace Hamilton. A mafia Don being married to a scoop-hungry reporter -- that would certainly set up some conflict points...

I would understand if she was in the beginning, and the end but once Vincent killed Zasa's guys she wasn't even heard of again even Sonny used Lucy Mancini a couple times. Maybe she was just used to show that Vinny was a ladies man like Sonny, but if you are gonna do that use a not known actress who won't cost money.

Yeah, really, unless they actually DO have intentions of making a GF IV where she will marry Vincent and become a major character, it was pretty much a cameo role.

Certainly knowing what we know now, they could have cast some B-list actress in the part and paid Duvall more, which would have saved the movie.

from everything that i've heard, she was cast as and billed so highly as a lead in to a possible Godfather 4 script in which she would have a much, much more important role (rumored to be Vincent's wife).

The other, more confusing question should have been the lack of billing of Sofia. Sure it is obvious that Paramount was trying to take the focus away from her, but truly it is unfair. It should have been in his orer: Al Pacino, Andy Garcia, Talia Shire, Sofia Coppola, and then Diane Keaton.

I do not know....GF III is a very very bad movie

There is no real consistency, and the plot line is weak at best. Much better to have included Robert Duvall, and forget about Fonda and Coppola. The movie had no dramatic tension, and not enough plotting to even care about the new characters.