It seems to me like the car Tom sent RIGHT BEHIND Sonny when he left the compound should have easily been able to catch up with him and get to the tollbooth before the shooting started.

Not if Sonny was speeding enough and if you judge by his temper alone...he probably was.

And suppose the car Tom sent HAD caught up with Sonny's in time for the shooting? You think that would've prevented the hit from taking place?

Don't think so...the rest of them would be lying there right next to Sonny.

Apple

I'm sure he was, but I don't think the car behind him would have hesitated to speed either.. afterall, they are gangsters. I don't think that they could have definitely stopped the hit, but they would have put up a damn good fight.

So...would you prefer the movie be remade to accomodate your depiction?

OK...Lets suppose Tom's car wasn't able to follow right behind Sonny all the way to the tollbooth. Suppose other cars, (like some hired by Barzini) weaved their way in between them & Sonny thus slowing them down, delaying them from being right behind Sonny the entire time??

How d'ya know THAT didn't happen?

The ultimate needed outcome of the scene (both in the novel and the film) is that Santino ends up dead. Doesn't matter if a few other Corleone men, Barzini's hitmen and even that toll collector ended up dead with him.

The excitement of a bigtime shootout or '..damn good fight..' would've done little to further the story, and in fact I think it was WAY more dramatic and effective the way it was done, with the Sonny being bullet-riddled while alone, cornered, and utterly helpless.

And I think the sight of him lying there all alone was more effective too, then if there had been several other bloody bodies and bullet-riddled cars crowding up the screen.

Apple

Also, Don Vito probly did'nt want Sonny seeing them behind him.

Sonny was the Don at that point and it was Tom who sent them after him. Vito didn't even know did he?

No, DonMichael..he didn't. Clearly Vito knows of the 'war' going on during his recuperation but he would be completely unaware of the Connie's call and Sonny's sudden departure.

I'm not sure what the deal is with BP's statement it really doesn't make too much sense.

Apple

Yes. That is basically the point I'm trying to make here..

No. I agree that the scene was more effective the way they did it, I just didn't understand how they were right behind him when he left, but by the time they got there he was dead and the murderers were nowhere to be found. But what you said about Barzini cars getting in between them is a good explanation of what could have caused it. I'd never thought of it.

You're taking this very personal.

This is my personal opinion so feel free to rip it apart.

In the movie itself, That was the only thing Sonny did as Don. He became Don and 2 minutes later he is dead. I think the whole point of Sonny's character was to make Michael "that much better of a Don". So, they needed Sonny to "mess up BAD". I think with the car not being able to follow him was just for the fact that Sonny was so pissed off that he was just flooring it and they could never catch up. When you see the other guys pulling up AFTER HE WAS SHOT, that was just to show how fast he was actually going, how hot headed he was. (Then when calm Michael comes in it looks that much better)

Also and this might be a stupid excuse but, what if Sonny's car was just FASTER than the car the other guys were driving?

Those are all reasonable explanations. I just started this post to see what others thought, not to undermind the movie.

Not exactly.

Sonny became acting Don the moment his father was shot. First thing he did was order the hit on Paulie for 'sellin' out the old man'. Second thing he did was order the hit on Bruno Tatagllia (after getting mad at what happened at the hospital). Third thing he did was to ok allow Michael's killing of Sollozzo & McClusky - which could not have happened without his permission. Fourth thing he does is send Fredo to Vegas to learn the casino business and get a rest. Fifth thing he does is beat the crap out of Carlo for beating up his sister.

Weeks, maybe even months passed before Sonny is finally put down; as we are made aware by the synopsis of newspaper headlines ending with the one announcing Vito's release from the hospital. Sonny did plenty as Don during that time (even if it was to just order hit after hit after hit).
As Vito later says, Sonny never could've been outfought by Tattaglia.

Sonny was quite active during his reign as acting Don.

Apple

wow I never even realized all that. You are right (obviously) but I guess because he wasn't in the scenes themselves I just missed it.

Apple, I thought Michael sent Fredo to Vegas? I am blanking on that part.

How could Michael send Fredo to Vegas if he has just committed a double murder and fled to Italy and was at this point not even acting Don?

If you pay attention to the scene in which Vito is broght up-to-date after being brought home from the hospital...it is Sonny who says that he's sending Fredo to Vegas.

Later when we see Michael visiting Vegas on business (to buy out Moe Green); Fredo has already been there for several years.

Apple

ah ok I see what you mean. In part 2 I thought during Fredo's talk with mike he said You sent me to Vegas but after looking back I saw I was wrong.

Ok we need to realize that no movie is perfect, and either is the GF, as good as it was. Although so many things could have happened, like sonny speeding of toms men getting a flat tire, i dont know, but in any movie you are going to find a couple things that werent explained