Are the flashbacks of young vito just scattered around in between the present scenes or do you see any links that connect the scenes.

One example perhaps is when Michael finds out about the 'miscarriage'-"was it a boy!!"
and in the next scene we see young Vito looking at baby Fredo.

Could be a link here,from Michael losing a baby to Vito who's worried about his sick baby Fredo.

What about the rest of the flashback scenes,are they in any way connected to the present scenes before/after them?

If you do find links,please explain them.

Great observation Fame!

FFC definately made links to what was going on in Michaels life and then showing the somewhat similar situations that Vito went through in his early life! No question about it. For this reason, while a small part of me likes the chronological version, a bigger part of me appreciates GFII the exact way that it first was released, with the flashbacks, etc. I sincerely believe that this is the way that it is supposed to be viewed so that the veiwer can see the brilliant writing and directing showing the similarities between Michael's current life situations and Vito's past life experiences.

Don Malta, SC, Lori, Turnbull, Plaw and myself had this exact conversation several months ago and if memory serves me correctly we all agreed that the GFII flashback version is really the best version to watch for these exact reasons.


Don Cardi

Don Cardi, by reeling off the names of all the BB bigshots, you are not allowing any scope for disagreeing.... This is bullying

It's not bulling SV, it's called Stacking the deck!

So tell US why you disagree!


Don Cardi

I prefer the chronological version. It better meets my inner order needs!!!!

Well, you know, in the novel they are not in chronological order too, and it serves a great purpose. At first we are shown Michael's hour of choice and see how he discovers his own character to be a reincarnation of Vito's, and only then Puzo shows us where all his qualities and destiny originated from, how similiar they were with Vito and what were the sins he now paid for.

I think there are all kinds of foreshadowings in the flashback scenes. Throughout them Don Vito, for instance seems to favor (or to curry favor with) Michael above his other children. He is openly affectionate to the baby Michael when he is sitting on the stoop while music plays, and in Sicily, he is always carrying michael around. We also see Sonny misbehaving during the family reunion in Sicily, and at the very end in the Flashback to GF I where Sonny gets angry at Michael for signing up with the marines, you here one of his kids in the background saying "Mommy, Daddy's fighting again --- uncle Michael." Also I think the Fredo pneumonia scene foreshadows his weakness. I am sure there are many more examples.

The version with the flashbacks is definitely the way to go. This format puncuates the similarities AND differences between Michael and Vito, along with the transition of power from father to son. This, I think, is core of the story and is illustrated best by flashbacks.