The audience is supposed to fear Sollozzo, and by the time of the meeting to be grateful that Vito is there to protect them.

Mentions "Miracle on 34th Street" as a Christmassy street background, apparently didn't realize it came out a couple years later.

Original plan was for Vito to be leaving the actual olive oil company for the holidays, exchanging small gifts and holiday wishes with employees.

Seems intrigued by a Hitchcockian presentation of Vito's ambush (fruit rolling around). He wanted to emphasize a sense of confusion on both sides - Fredo's dropping of his gun may have confused the assassins, leading them to bolt.

As Sonny takes the phone calls related to Vito's shooting, he becomes the central character in the film for a while. Coppola wanted to reinforce that idea, so that the audience would come to see him as a permanent part of the story. ("a la Psycho")