I watched this scene over and over last night, and it's hard to imagine the decision to cut it out of the movie. It is powerful in more than one way. The interaction between Michael and Vito really gives you a feeling of their relationship before Michael joins the "family". Although I thought the Genco bed scene itself was a little 'weak', it also shows you the relationship Vito had with Genco. Maybe it's just me, but I think the scene should have definitely never been cut out.

I think the bed scene was *trying* to show how powerful the don is (i.e. stay with me because he will see you and be afraid or something like that) but it came across very bad. As for the interaction between mike and vito I thought that was perfect. It showed how he was "different" from them. Vito asks what he wants to do after the army (I believe) and Mike says I'm going back to school, vito says you have my blessings (or something like that) but notice Michael never asked for them. He SAID WHAT he was going to do.

I believe that the exchange between Vito and Michael was definately an important scene.

>>>DON CORLEONE then lifts
his hand, and slowly touches a particular medal on MICHAEL's
uniform.

DON CORLEONE :What was this for?

MICHAEL : For bravery.

DON CORLEONE : And this?

MICHAEL : For killing a man.

DON CORLEONE : What miracles you do for strangers.

MICHAEL : I fought for my country. It was my
choice.

DON CORLEONE : And now, what do you choose to do?

MICHAEL : I'm going to finish school.

DON CORLEONE : Good. When you are finished, come
and talk to me. I have hopes for you.<<


As for the Genco part of that scene, I think that FFC was trying to show how powerful and dependable The Don had become as Genco asked him to defeat death on his behalf.


Don Cardi

yes,that scene is very good,up from where Tom asking if michael should come too and Vito says-"all my sons"...but I dont think the bed part was 'weak'...actually,its very beautiful to see all the members of the family standing around his bad,and when Vito tells him Fontaine is here and we see him in the "Hollywood" glory-that was very 'cinematic'.also Genco says something like "maybe you can pull a string or 2"...I think the entire scene is great.when Vito talk to Michael outside the room in army uniform and Vito says something like "the things you do for strangers"...

bad decision to take it out of the movie.

Read my post above!


Don Cardi

Sorry,I started to reply when your post wasnt there..Im very slow

but besides the "miracles you do for strangers" line I mentioned I dont think my post conflicts with yours

Again,Im sorry,Don Cardi

No apology neccesary! Please!


Keep on posting baby!


Don Cardi

"Weak" probably wasn't the right word. I think Genco's lines were a little overdramatic. I would have prefered the Genco scene to be more "touching", than Genco being afraid to die.
That's just my opinion though.

There is a funny part to the scene that I'm not sure was intentional or not. After Vito asks if Mike's girlfriend made it to the city ok, and Mike tells him
"Tom said he'd take her in." Watch Brando's face and eyes. It's a half smirk, half rolling of the eyes.

Damn I really need to see that scene. Surprising how I'm such a hardcore Godfather fan and have never seen any of the deleted scenes.

Ask Santa for the DVD Collection.

It's definitely on my Christmas list.

My DVD collection came with an extra disc if you want it. Oh wait, nevermind --That's just part III.

I wonder what's the importance of Vito asking Fontaine to come along. Fontaine was the godson of course, but why not includes Tom as well. Tom was planned to be the next consigliere anyway, and considered as part of the family since he was a kid.
I know that Tom had been assigned to meet Woltz, but hey ... this is the last visit to the great consigliere. Other business can wait.

I found it curious that at Genco's deathbed in the hospital, there was zero sign of Genco's wife, or his three daughter's, or their husbands, or any grandchildren...

They're in the book, and could have made a useful scene so I guess they just skipped over it to save time.

That was one of the best of the deleted scenes because it explained why Tom was to become consigliere, had a cold confrontation between Vito and Michael, and showed nice human drama between Vito and Genco.

"all my sons"...includes Fontaine considered as part of the family but not Tom Vito also mentioned Michael's American girlfriend

Tom was on his way to Califfornia to "settle this business for Johnny." ("I want you to go tonight...")

True Turnbull but he could have taken a later flight or go the next day, still had a week before shooting starts
Other business can wait when Consiglieri Genco -- he's not gonna last out the night.

He probably would have wanted to be with Genco because Genco probably mentored him. But, business came first.

I took Tom's absence from Genco's bedside to be because he had effectively taken Genco's job, and Vito wouldn't want him there looking like a vulture. In the book, at least, Tom doesn't actually leave until Vito returns and formally promotes him.

That's how I feel about that. Not being there acting like a vulture. Exactly!!

Don't know Pete I reckon in his dying moments, Tom taking his job is the last thing on his mind
Family man Vito asking Fontaine to come along for the last visit to the great consigliere but not Tom

It's what's in Vito's mind that's important. He's kept the fiction of Genco's position alive for a year, no reason to challenge that in the last few hours.

I will have to watch that scene again but how do we know what's in Vito's mind and what was the fiction of Genco's position he kept alive for a year?
If he was sick for a year, he'd have known someone was consigliering in his absence

The exact same way that you knew what was on Genco's mind in the post immediately before.



The fiction that he's still consigliere, still necessary to the Family.



Nonetheless, you don't have to rub it in his face.

Mine was based on Genco, by all accounts was a great consigliere because of which no rocket science for him to know that someone was consigliering in his absence during his long illness

However going by if he thought he's still consigliere, still necessary to the Family and Vito kept that fiction of Genco's belief alive for that duration, why would Genco suddenly think, he was being replaced let alone by German-Irish, non-Sicilian Tom, just because he came to visit him in the hospital within "all his sons"

A powerful scene, I thought, reading it in the book. I had no idea it had been filmed until the "deleted scenes" on the DVD.

Prof, you should try to find the "Godfather Saga," which is GF and II put together in chronological order, and with all the deleted scenes spliced in where they belong. By far the best of many versions. Was shown extensively on US cable TV years ago. Also was shown (with III in chronological order) on HBO a few years ago.