Ciao a tutti,

I'm Valentino, a fan of the Godfather (Il Padrino) writing from Italy.

Have you ever been in Sicily, in the sicilian sets, for example in the Church of the wedding, or in the bar Vitelli?

If yes, did you like it? I've never been to Savoca, because it's too far from where I live (I'm of the north of Italy).

Another thing... Is the Godfather so famous around the world?

Baciamo le mani (Kiss the hands)....

Valentino

Ive never been to the Sets,but would love to visit the places in the film.

And yes the film is very Populor around the world,it tops many polls for best film etc....

BENVENUTO!

I was in Sicily in 1969. Saw Mt. Etna, was in Taormina, Siracusa, Agrigento and Palermo. I visited the Greek temples, and found Sicily to be one of the mosty beautiful places on earth. I would love to return there some day.

This was several before I knew anything about the Godfather and I never had the chance to see any of the sets where the films were made.

The Godfather is extremely popular in the United States, and many of the lines used in the book and the films have become a part of our language ...sayings like "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse" "go to the mattresses" "Keep your friends close but your enemies closer," and "it isnt personal, its business, to name four, are used in everyday conversation in this country.

This brings up a question that I've been wondering about for a while.

Were the films released theatrically in Italy?

How were they received?

Were there any Sopranos-esque "Sicilians aren't all mafioso" protests?

Benvenuto, Valentino!
What do Northern Italians think about "The Godfather"? What
movies do they think of as "classic"?

Last Woltz...My one and only trip outside our nation's borders was in 1972 to accompany my dad and grandfather back to Italy to visit family. It was my grandfather's first trip back to the old country after my grandmother died in 1970. At that time I specifically remember the posters and signs advertising "Il Padrino." I presume that was how the movie was being promoted in Italy. I can't say for sure, that it was showing in Italy at the time, but I do remember those posters in italian for Il Padrino.

tony b.

Benvenuto, Valentino!! I've been to Sicily many times, but have never visited the movie sets. I have family in a town about a half hour outside of Palermo. It's been five years since I was there, but I hope to get back there soon. I have toured the island and seen the temple of Segesta, the cloisters at Monreale and the castle at Erice. I've been to Etna, and think that Taormina is one of the most beautiful places on earth. As I told one of my cousins, there's a part of my heart that will always stay in Sicily.

Thanks a lot for the replies.

First of all, il Padrino in Italy is considered as a parody of mafia, theatrically uncorrect.

As I wrote in an other post, Italian mafia is not based in: honour, family, exasperated as in the film. I can understand the connection between italian and american mafia (in fact, also in the us there's cosa nostra), and the last man who fought with success our pestilence, Cesare Mori, should be killed by a person of Chicago.

The Godfahter has represented an ideal mafia, not the true. Italian mafia, particularly in Sicily, creates the anti - state. And it's always more hidden.

Here the words of the film are not part of our language. When you want to make fun of someone, you use "I'll make him an offer...".

Another thing: after the Godfather, thousands of film were set all around the world. Remeber, The Godfahter is a story, as Pinocchio, or the the lion king. Not the reality.

Sorry for my bad english... Not easy for me.

Many greetings to the italian - americans of the forum!

Ciao, Valentino

I was forgetting... The soprano in Italy are only in the pay - tv. I have never seen them, and never heard. Are mafia stories?

Yes it is a series about a mafia family in the United States.

Ciao Quintox. Dove vive in Italia?

Vivo a Padova, nord - est dell'Italia, vicino a Venezia (45 km distante).Mai stato?

Translation:

I live in Padua, north - east of Italy, near Venice (it's 45 km far). Have you been there?

Ciao a tutti,

Can I suggest you a thing? If you have the possibility, you should see the Godfather in italian. It's wonderful listen James Caan, Marlon Brando and all the others speaking with in sicilian or with sicilian accent. It's almost as De Niro in the Godfather II.

Moreover, I understood that there are several different translations. For example when Michael talks to Sollozzo in the restaurant, when he is in Sicily, or in the GFIII when he's presenting to the friends the Cavalleria Rusticana.

Si. Ho stato a Padua molti anni fa...1969