Does anyone else feel Barzini was kind of miscast? All of the Dons portrayed in the series--Vito, Michael, hell even Tattaglia--all have two things in common: They both seem respectable, but also subtly menacing.

Barzini on the other hand, while he seemed respectable, seemed to lack the menace present in Vito, Michael or the other Dons we've seen. And he seemed much more Americanized than all the rest--even more Americanized seeming than Michael. The actor portraying him just made him seem more like a CEO of a company, a businessman, rather than a stone cold gangster.

I can't explain it. He just seems more modern and more business like than the stone cold Michael or the rustic but menacing Vito, or the sleazy yet also menacing Tattaglia.

Heard he was a dragqueen in real life.

Barzini was different. According to the novel he was younger, slim, cigarette smoking.

Barzini was modern and progressive in the Book. Richard Conte was a great Barzini in the movie. Exactly what I expected. In fact Barzini was more scary than Tattaglia. Barzini was smooth, slick and in control. Tattaglia was a greasy little Pimp that couldn't fool anybody. I liked Bruno Tattaglia better.

I thought he was brilliantly cast, mostly for the reasons stated above. Barzini was sort of the bridge of the old school Vito/Tattaglia type dons to what Michael would become. No telling how far Barzini might have gone if he had not had that unfortunate accident on the courthouse steps.

From the novel: "He was a man much like Don Corleone, but more modern, more sophisticated, more businesslike." As DT states, brilliant casting.

A miscast, are you serious?? There couldn't have been a better casting than Richard Conte. He was perfect in portraying Barzini and the film wouldn't have been as good without him.

Also, Barzini was supposed to be more business like than the other dons. Puzo literaly describes him that way in the novel.

Barzini in the film and the novel definitely was younger, more modern, more suave. Conte played him perfectly.

I think Danny DeVito would have made a good Barzini.

And Rhea Perlman a good Mama Corleone

I believe I read that Richard Conte was going to get part of Vito Corleone if Brando did not take it. I looked up Richard Conte, he had impressive acting career. I thought he was good. He had to be more low key in order to not have Vito suspect him. One of my favorite lines and scenes, where Brando says "It was Barzini all along" would not have worked if Conte played him as obvious villain behind the war.

Conte's grandson plays for the Chicago Bears.