What a great and insightful post. The comments and questions posed prove the amount of us "creative artsy types" are on this BB. The eyes for detail are teriffic.

I, too, love this publicity still, PP. I have a 16x24 blowup of it in my home. But I agree with you; I would've HATED to see Michael dressed like this in any of the movies. It would have been very tacky and cheapened the character, like he was trying to emulate Paul Muni or George Raft, thirty years after the fact. There was no reason for Michael to dress or act like a "wannabe." He was in the bloodline; a Prince, if you will.

And I believe that's pretty much the same outfit Al's wearing in the pizzeria shot .

That scene was actually shot, but as PB said, it got lost on the cutting room floor. I'd give my left you-know-what to see it.

Another anomaly: the movie poster of II (and VHS and DVD boxes) show Michael in a tuxedo. He never appeared in a tux in any of the films.

He also looks like Matthew Broderick in that photo.

Yeah he does. BTW how did Matthew's wife make out in the Belmont?

Well, she didn't lose by a nose, that's for sure. With that beak, she couldn't lose by a nose.

Matthew and Sarah Jessica walk into a bar. The bartender says "Why the long face?"

PB, you are so BAD!!! lol

Never mind, everyone. She was apparently scratched.

So now we know who played Khartoum so well.

Reminds me of a joke from the Sixties:
Woman walks into her beauty salon and tells the hairdresser she wants the "Barbara Streisand look." The hairdresser hits her across the nose with a hairbrush.

hi guys, i have a new post up. i'm trying to continue with more analysis on part I, but i got sidetracked by Francis Ford, and while a post can't do him justice, it's just where my heart was on this one. i shall continue with more in depth stuff and many more pics in my next post, so please bear with me thanks again for your awesome insights.

http://homairajaan.tumblr.com

pp

Cool. The bowler hat was a great addition for Clemenza in part 2. It set him apart from the other "hoods" and complimented his unique character.

Virtually all American men wore hats before and for years after WWII. Workin' stiffs wore caps like young Vito and Abbandando did. Bowlers, or "plug hats," generally were signs of someone who was up-and-coming--not yet in the middle class. They started declining ca. 1910. Fedoras were the choice of men who wanted to be taken seriously--and gangsters who were posing as such. A homburg (like the one Michael wore when courting Kay in New Hampshire) was for a banker or a Wall Street type.

I am addicted to hats. I wear a hat even when I go out to fetch the newspaper in the morning. Since I live in AZ, I have a bunch of Western hats for winter, Panamas for summer, and a few "normal" hats with regular brims.

I always remembered my Uncle Pasquale wearing a driving hat or "Gatsby" style of hat. He was part of the greatest generation so wearing a hat to him was like putting on shoes - an absolute prior to going out.

TB i love hats, too. i actually wear all kinds of hats whenever i feel the moods, and it's mainly when i just want to look really, really cool, or tomboyish. i googled the'homburg'and it's so great how that brim sort of flips up like a wave, i love it. it's such an 'im an asshole, fuck you' type of hat. i want one now. (btw, i'm going to quote you on my next post re: that hat history tidbit you wrote up there).

Mark, speaking about uncles, my grandfather's younger brother, my dear uncle (may he rest in peace) used to dress so beautifully. he was the only one in our family who would still wear fedoras and newsboys out to work or anywhere outside- with cashmere sweaters and button ups and then tweed slacks. i miss him so much man. but i do have 2 things of his, a watch which is worn out and i haven't changed the battery because i just don't feel like it yet- and a fedora of his, which still has a little TINY red feather in it.

pp

Me too, TB.
Same here, except with me it's when I'm in Florida. I have so many Panama hats and Kangol caps, my wife throws them right up to my face whenever I break her chops about buying a new pair of shoes .

I'm big on hats, have a few Panamas, a "boater" and some wide brimmed straw hats to block the sun. Have an "ivy league" woolen cap for winter when I go to NY. Next time I am definitely getting a fedora.

My dad always had a fedora in the winter and a Panama in the summer.

I guess JFK really did in the hat biz.

I have a real problem with grown men walking around wearing baseball caps UNLESS they are at a game.

dt, I'd love to have a boater. I used to see them regularly when I was a teenager working in NYC.

dt and PB: a great place to buy good quality hats at great prices is:

www.sportsmansguide.com

Think I'll get the boater out tomorrow.

When Kay asked Michael to wear one he said, "A man in my position cannot afford to be made to look ridiculous."

That was a beautiful write up, p. And I agree with you, the Don looks truly regal in his pj's.
The threads could have only been sewn from a royal loom--truly fit for a King!

And I hope you'll do a piece for II...mostly b/c I'd like to find a way to incorporate an ascot into my wardrobe.