Great casting is one of the greatest strengths of GF and II (but not III)—and it extends to minor characters, and/or those who don’t have much screen time. Here are my favorite examples:
Joe Spinell as Willie Cicci: He’s barely glimpsed three times in GF, and gets only two lines at the end. He does better in II, but is still a minor character. But he’s so absolutely perfect—the quintessential street wise guy in looks, attitude and voice. His laugh about the family having “a lotta buffiz” at the Senate hearing is just priceless. People on this board love him.
Al Lettieri as Solozzo: Sol is a pivotal character because he sets up Vito’s shooting and is the catalyst for Michael’s entry into The Life. But, he doesn’t have much screen time, and is dispatched early. Still, Lettieri plays Solozzo for all he’s worth: businesslike, calm, assertive, forceful, sure of himself but never cocky—a man to be reckoned with. Lettieri (like Lee Marvin) combines a coarse face with a cultured voice to add menace to the role.
Saro Urzi as Sr. Vitelli: He makes the most of a small but important role—sitting chummily with Michael, Fab and Cal to ask about their hunt; exploding with insult and indignation over their mention of his daughter, then carefully weighing Michael’s sincerity, and ending with a warm smile. It’s a brilliant performance that also sets up Michael’s first showing of his coolness and command as a budding Don. It’s one of the best scenes in GF.
Sterling Hayden as Capt. McCluskey: Hayden, a major leading man of the Fifties, gets a bit part here, but he plays the corrupt, arrogant, bigoted Irish cop to perfection. I love the dismissive wave-off to his men when Tom shows up with the bodyguards at the hospital, and his constantly contorted, expressive, brutal face.
Alex Rocco as Moe Greene: A limited actor, Rocco gets a role that allows him to exploit one emotion: violent, unreasonable rage. He perfectly sets up Roth’s description of him in II (“headstrong, talking loud, saying stupid things”).
Gaston Moschin as Fanucci: The perfect small-time “Black Hander,” bluffing and intimidating neighborhood people—and looking faintly ridiculous with his white suit, hat, shoes and gold tooth. A man of substance without substance, just waiting to be felled by calm, cool, quiet—deadly—Vito Corleone.
Though they are not minor characters, I want to mention two others who stand out:
G.D. Spradlin as Sen. Geary: The embodiment of the arrogant, cocksure, self-entitled political satrap. Brimming with phony sincerity at Anthony’s party, then strutting his greed and bigotry in Michael’s office—then crumbling into pitiful helplessness at Fredo’s brothel. He’s totally convincing in each personality. (BTW: Spradlin, who held a law degree, once ran for Mayor of Oklahoma City.)
Dominic Chianese as Johnny Ola: He’s a toady in Roth’s presence, but a smooth, confident front man when representing Roth. You see right through his phony self-importance, as FFC intends. His pitying look at Michael after Roth’s soliloquy in his Havana hotel room is almost worth the price of admission.
Comments? Your candidates?
