I agree that as nice as it would have been to see, Luca and Neri's backgrounds were tales that did NOT need to be shown in the movie. Those tales weren't really neccessary for the main plot.

However Michael (a major character) had to flee to Italy because he executed a Police Captian and a Drug Dealer in order to save his family, (a key part of the plot), needed to somehow get back to America, cleared of all charges and eventually become the Godfather.

So I don't see how you can claim that the tale of Vito setting up a deal with the Bocchicchio family to get Michael back safely into the United States

and how you can categorize that tale as being just as unimportant, for the film, with the tale of Neri and Clemenza.


Don Cardi

I didn't say it was 'unimportant'...but that it had no place in the film. And it didn't.

I think a better word would be 'unnecessary' .

The goal in the making of the film was to get Michael home and get on with the story. The meeting of the Dons called by Vito after Sonny's death pretty much fulfills that obligation, without the need to include the vast (yet interesting) details of the Bocchicchios.

In the film, we don't need to know HOW Michael gets home...just that he gets home and proceeds to take on the reigns of running the Family Business.

As I've said before...I enjoyed the movie for 20 years before ever setting eyes on the book. While I thorougly appreciated this particular aspect of the story, I can tell you that its lack of inclusion did NOT leave the movie lacking in any way whatsoever.

But...perhaps they can make a big deal of it in GFIV !!

Apple

In your opinion it was not needed.

In my opinion it would have added another great subplot to an already great movie.


Don Cardi

Hindsight is 20/20.

The movie had enough 'subplots'. It would've slowed down the main story...and while in the midst of making what was at the time anything but a guaranteed blockbuster, let alone a classic....FFC was wise to leave it out.

Of course, the story would've eventually found a home in the made-for-television 'Godfather Saga'...had any of it even been filmed.

Anyway, back to the 'Atlantic City Hit'...

Apple

I agree somewhat with both POVs here.

Altho it would have been difficult to tell the Bocchicchios story any way other than from a narrative POV- i.e. Vito, or maybe Tom, "telling the tale", which might have bogged things down quite a bit, or flashbacks (which really weren't a feature of the first film) - I think that the reason Michael was able to return from exile was definitely glossed over in the movie and was feature of the plot worthy of an explanation.

For someone who hadn't read the book , it might've caused them to wonder a bit.

Same thing, kind of, with Neri.

No explanation, really, as to who he is or where he came from. He's just there.

I hadn't read the book, and never wondered at all.

After Sonny's murder, the purpose of calling the meeting of the Families was to end the war, make the peace and get Michael home safely. Vito makes that final point quite clear. Once he & Barzini embrace and are applauded by their 'paisan', we know that Michael's coming home, will cleared of all charges regarding 'this Solozzo business', and will not be harmed. The average movie-watcher who hasn't yet read the book doesn't need the how/why/where of Michael's return, they need to see the story get going.
Having the cut from that scene to Michael approaching Kay over a year later was a brilliant way to accomplish that.

The average movie watcher who has read the book already knows how it's accomplished, and good for them. But it wasn't crucial to the film.

Speaking as the average movie-watcher who hadn't read the book by the first 20-30 times I saw the movie, I have to say it never occurred to me to think..."gosh, how the heck DID they manage to get Michael home????"

When I did read the book and came across the Bocchicchio story, I remember thinking..."Oh...so that's how they got Michael home!!!"

To be honest, I never would've dreamed it had been as complicated as it ended up being in the book. Such an amazing story (or subplot) could not have been glossed over, it would had to have been translated to the screen in great detail in order to be done the justice it deserved.

And there was just no time for it in the film. And the film did not suffer for the lack of it.

Apple

and yet Vincent seems to know something is up as Altobello is leaving to "talk" to Joey

I have not noticed Vincent's seeming to know about the hit. I will check it.

I haven't watched any of the films or read the novel in a loong time so I don't remember the 'tale' you're talking about. I know it's off topic but now I want the details! I remember the summary about the Bochichios being held as hostages for guarantee while members of different families were meeting, but what exactly is the "tale" of 'how Vito brought Michael back'?

I didn't detect any sign from Vincent that he knew about the hit.

One of the Bocchicchios who was in trouble already took the rap.

IMO, this was perhaps the best backstory in the novel. Worth reading again for that story alone.

Look at Vincent's facial expression as Altobello makes a big scene about going to "talk" to Joey.

Indigestion, maybe!

BRILLIANT!!!