I just gathered that Michael had made an effort to make himself fluent for the sake of business and succeeded. Evidence of the power of Michael's intellect.

His Sicilian would naturally have gotten better while living in Sicily after he kills Solazzo.

It was still unrefined then, at least at the point where he needed Fabrizio to translate to Appolonia's father. He wasn't shown as fluent until Part II.

Anybody else notice that Mama Corleone (Morgana King) does not appear in the Vito birthday flashback scene at the end of GF2?

How about the Corleone Family Chart that appears at the Senate Hearings sans Vito & Clamenza pics?

I think that might have been a clever power play on Michael's part. He orders Fab to translate, but obviously shows that he understands what Sr. Vitelli is saying in reply. Could be Michael showing Sr. V. that he's in charge--and that he knows enough Sicilian not to be fooled.

Interesting theory. It does show his superior position over Fabrizio. I'll have to rewatch the scene to see how much understanding Michael demonstrates.

So, Michael finds Kay at her school escorting a group of 1st graders across the street I guess on a nature walk. The next scene has her walking with Michael. Where are the kids? Did she abandon them? Are they still standing in the street? And what about the kid who comes riding toward them on his bicycle as his dog follows? Why isn't he in school?

Well, Oli, the answer might be found in an experience from my long-ago youth:

I was in junior high and was home sick. A classmate dropped by to visit with me at about 1 p.m. My dad was home, and he asked by friend why he wasn't in school. Without batting an eye, my friend replied, "It's Grover Cleveland's birthday--we get a half-day off."

Maybe there was another chaperone/escort to keep the kids in line.

A Catholic school might have a few different holidays than did the surrounding Rifraff schools.

I wonder how many Board members get the Grover Cleveland joke.

I've always noticed the poignant act of Senator Geary turning the cannon around on Michael's desk so it pointed directly back at Michael while they are speaking. The look on Michael's face is priceless. Anybody else see the major significance of this? I think it was a powerful statement from the senator as a warning for "Corlee-oney and his whole f%@&#+g family"...

Very nice touch. That whole scene was very powerful. And realistic:

Prominent Nevadans of that period, who could trace their ancestry in the state back three or more generations, believed they were entitled to play by their own rules and dictate terms to "outsiders" like Michael. You saw another view of the same attitude in "Casino," when County Commissioner Webb confronts Ace Rothstein about getting his worthless brother in law reinstated in a juiced-in job. I believe Oli posted that Texans have the same attitude.

Indeed they do TB. However, given my multiple decades of residence in Texas, I guess I'm describing myself.

Once a yinzer, always a yinzer, Oli.

Absolutely!

While watching the GF last night I noticed (again) that Vito's driveways are covered in what looks like gravel. Of course, he could well afford to have a paved driveway. Maybe it it was a production decision. It just seemed out of place.

I can't imagine how different the movie would have been if not for the crunching sound that Al Pacino's size five feet made when Michael walked on that gravel towards the end of the film.

I was at an auction at Christie's in NYC a few years ago. One of the items was one of Pacino's suits from III. The guy who could fit into that definitely would wear size 5 shoes.

The gravel was probably a security measure. As Vito told Tom the night Sonny was murdered: "I hear cars coming to the house."

I waS WATCHING GFII LAST NIGHT, THE SCENE WHERE vITO TAKES THE GUNS FROM cLEMENZA. His wife is looking at him and then he closes the door. It reminded me of Neri closing the door at the end of GFI. In both cases, it seems to symbolize Vito and Michael shutting their wives out of part of their lives.

In GF II, Why did Michael speak to his mother in Italian? She was fluent in English.

Remember that 15 years or so earlier he had to switch to English to get his point across to Sollozzo. So, his Italian wasn't that good.

Oli, I'm guessing that this was an intimate moment twixt son and mother, and he was asking a question whose meaning could only be expressed to his mother in Italian, as would be her answer.

Probably something already discovered by this boards veterans and never even mentioned, nonetheless, but I just have a comic little something that I liked to share and wanted it to get its attention - and of course it comes from Fredo himself. I read a topic in the Godfather novel forum about things that were comic about the book and got me thinking about something from the beloved flashback scene in II. The moment Michael breaks the news for everyone that he enlisted in the Marines. It's when he says "I did, I enlisted in the Marines", immediately after the sentence is told Fredo cracks a nut open and there is a silent pause until Duvall's line comes. I thought that was a bit of a comic and nice touch.

Been watching the Epic this past week. Probably like many of you, I notice new stuff every time.

So, how did Clemenza figure he could trust Vito when he threw him the guns? He didn't know him.

I'm thinking it was less a matter of trust and more a matter of desperation and proximity. Vito's window was probably the only one near enough for Clem to pass guns, and it seemed like the cops were knocking at his door.

Listen closely to Luca Brasi's footsteps while entering the hotel bar to meet Bruno Tattaglia and Sollozzo.

In between the click and clack of his shoe's sole and heel, you can actually hear the leather stretching under the stress of such a big man.

Just another small thing you notice when watching this great picture again and again and again...

Did anyone else notice that...

After Fredo fails to protect his father from the assassination attempt, he is not seen again until the day Vito returns home from the hospital via ambulance?

Also...

Fabrizio, Calo and Michael are talking about New York/America and Michael only confirms that he is the son of a big shot. At this point, we assume Fabrizio and Calo do not know Michael's last name?

However, when Fabrizio is translating for Michael, he doesn't bat an eye when Michael tells him to tell Vitelli that he is Michael Corleone hiding in Sicily. Wouldn't everybody know exactly who him and his father were as soon as they heard the name? One would think so?

When Vito returned to Sicily and killed Don Ciccio, there was a large can of Genco Olive Oil on the table next to his dead body.

Mark @ last one, that can be explained due to the nature of the visit. Vito was there asking Don Ciccio for his permission to start the relationship between America and Sicily regarding the company, so he probably brought him a gift.

Thanks, CB. I may not have been clear in my previous post - apologies.

I'm aware of the reason Tomassino & Vito went to talk to Don Ciccio. My point is that the powerful leader of the Corleonesi is assasinated and the "calling card" of a Genco Olive Oil can is found nearby. Maybe it was planned that way - maybe not?

Don Ciccio was in power for decades and it wouldn't take long before everybody in Sicily is familiar with Vito Corleone. Thus my observation that Fabrizio didn't flinch at the name; "Micheli Corleone".

Seems very peculiar that he did not do a double take when translating Michael's conversation with Vitelli.

I'm not seeing what you're seeing. Don Tomassino brought the can with him. He gave it to Ciccio.