Read The Godfather Legacy by Harlan Lebo, GREAT book! Even contains Pics from Bonus Scenes, AND Never before Scenes of Miek killing Fabrizzio.

If I remember correctly, (FRom thebook, i wasn't alive in 1971, or 1981, but I was here for the Challenger Explosion)

Back in 1971, the longest moive ever released was a little over 2 hours, maybe 2:15

FFC was hired because his last movie had been completed WAY under budget!

Paramount's last MOB Movie The BrotherHood floundered and they expected The Godfather to do the same.

FFC pleaded for 2 1/2 hours of Running time, and Paramount agreed. FFC showed Paramount the 2:59 THEATRICAL Release of The Godfather, and Paramount took a chance on this 3 hour film and it paid off.

There was a good twenty minutes of Footage cut from the release. About 10-15 Minutes worth was added in Saga/Trilogy/Epic, but some scenes NEVER made it anywhere. Mike killing Fabrizzio with his own Lupara at the Bufalo Pizza Parlor. Paulie gatto beating up the attackers o Bonasera's daughter (From the book).

Paramount took a chance with another 3 Hour Sequel.

FFC showed Paramount the THEATRICAL 3 1/2 hour version. They went for a chance and it paid off AGAIN!

Abotu twenty minutes were cut, with 10-15 added back in Saga/Epic/Trilogy, and some NEVER released including Genco marrying Carla, the Senza Mamma girl, and her working as a telephone operator at GPOC, Johnny Ola hanging from the Havana Balcony after being Strangled, and extra footage of Mike in 1968, later added into the TV Version of GF3.

The two movies together Commercial Free are six hours. GF1 with Commercials is 3 1/2, GF2 with Commercials is 4 hours.
The Chronological Television Version is 7 1/2 hours long Commercial Free, and 9 hours with Commercials.

There are TELEVISION ONLY scenes eg. Connie or another Young Maid with Anthony and Mike in Lake Tahoe 1968 (Opening Scene in Saga before 1901), a Scene with Rocco Lampone kissing Michael's han din the Corleone NY office in 1955 that starts after Mario Puzo's The Godfather appears. The first scene in 1958 has Rocco and other men playing catch with dogs at Sunset in Lake Tahoe th enight before Anthonys Communion.

USA's TV Version of GF3, starts with a 15-minute Lead-in recapping the First Two Movies.

Mike sits alone in Tahoe witht he leave rustling in 1968 (Last Scene in GF2), only there is MUCH more footage of him doing this, at least two minutes. The Lead-in recaps Vito being shot at Fruitstand, Mike saying he wil kill Sollozzo, Sonny's Ivy-League suit speech, Tessio describing the toilet at Louis's, Mike killing Sollozzo and McCluskey, Mike marrying Appolonia, Fabrizzio bombing Appolonia, Fredo betraying Mike at the Moe Greene meeting, Mike's Baptism, Cuneo/Carlo/Stracci/Moe/Barzini/Tattaglia are killed, Anthony walking down to the Altar on his Communion, the Hit in my bedroom, "Rocco, ALive!", "We're bigger than U.S. Steel", Fredo's Kiss of Death, Fredo, Connie, Tom, and Mike at Mamma's Funeral, "I'm not dumb, I'm Smart, The Pentangeli brothers at Hearing, Mike slaps Kay "ABortion", "Difficult not impossible", Tom says "Why you hurt me Mike?", Rocco and Hyman are killed, Frankie is dead, and then GF3 starts, and during the Mass we see the GF3 footge of Fredo being killed in the boat.

Mike sits on a bench in a NY park in 1978 and writes the letter to Ant and Mary.