The Godfather Epic Hbo

The Epic has already aired on HBO on Jan. 17, but is being shown again on Saturday, January 23rd at 9pm on HBO. Now, I'm not sure if it's the original version aired on NBC years ago, but on Friday night, January 29th at 9pm, HBOZ is showing The Godfather Saga. May 27, 2016 Leaving June 30. If you want the Godfather theme stuck in your head: The Godfather Epic. First added to HBO back in January, The Godfather Epic combines Francis Ford Coppola’s Godfather movies.

MAIN / A / EpicGF1 | GF2 | GF3 | Epic | Trilogy[ A | B ]

'THE GODFATHER 1902-1959:
The Complete Epic'
(Out of Print Boxed Set version of The Saga)

introduction - behind-the-scenes
synopsis - additional footage

The following behind-the-scenes and synopsis text were taken from the program guide from the out-of-print 'The Complete Epic' boxed set

'I always thought of THE GODFATHER as the story of a great king with three sons. The oldest was given his sweet nature and childlike qualities; the second, his passion and aggressiveness; and the third, his cunning and coolness.' [sic.]

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA
(Note: This quote was corrected in The Trilogy!)
The

This quote from the director describes the mythical quality inherent in the story of the Corleone family. Paramount Home Video is proud to present this collector's edition created especially for home video.

Warm and loving. Brutally violent. Stark. Flowing. A compassionate portrayal of family ritual and honor. A shocking inside look at the chieftains of crime.

Such contrasts are part of the fascination of the classic motion pictures THE GODFATHER and THE GODFATHER PART II.

These two brilliant films achieved a fullness of storytelling and characterization seldom matched in the art of cinema. The masterful balance of intense family relationships and the grim business of crime is compelling in its contradictions.

Now the complete uncensored story is available in THE GODFATHER 1902-1959, THE COMPLETE EPIC. Presented especially for the home video audience by Paramount Home Video. It contains all of the footage from the original theatrical productions including scenes never seen on television. Riveting in its fifty-seven year scope, THE GODFATHER 1902-1959, THE COMPLETE EPIC is a very special videocassette program.

back

BEHIND THE SCENES

The landmark films The Godfather and The Godfather Part II brought the world a unprecedented chronicle of a Sicilian family's ascension into gangland dominance. Characterized by Time Magazine as having 'the dynastic sweep of an Italian-American 'Gone With the Wind',' the two films stand in motion picture history as masterful evocations of mood, character and story.

Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather was a best-seller many times over when filming began in 1971. Controversy and turmoil surrounded the announcement of the project; protests were lodged by the Italian-American Civil Rights League and by Senators, Congressmen and New York State legislators. Bomb threats and actual intimidation took place. But meetings were held and negotiations reassured many of the querulous, who were convinced to participate in the making of the movie.

It was the task of producer Albert S. Ruddy and director Francis Ford Coppola to assemble the brilliant cast. Marlon Brando was one of the many distinguished actors being considered for the role of Don Vito Corleone, but the feeling for him was not uniformly positive. So eager was Brando for the part that he improvised props and makeup, darkening the shadows under his eyes with shoe polish and stuffing his cheeks with Kleenex, and filmed a private screen test. His classic characterization is one of moviedom's most memorable.

Glamorous and renowned contenders for the crucial supporting roles of the sons were ruled out in favor of lesser-known, more authentic-looking actors: James Caan, John Cazale and young Al Pacino, who skyrocketed to fame with his portrayal of Michael Corleone. Later in PART II, surprise choice Robert De Niro turned in an Oscar-winning performance as the young Vito Corleone. Robert Duvall, Talia Shire, Diane Keaton, Lee Strasberg, Morgana King and many others etched their portraits with great skill to contribute to the epic films. This care in casting extended to the smaller roles and even the extras, all of whom were coached in the atmosphere, mannerisms and attitudes of the times being filmed.

The entire cast inspired each other and plays as a team. Residents of the locales used for filming -- New York's Little Italy, sumptuous Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, Sicily -- were hired as extras.

Meticulous attention to details of setting, place and time period made both films models of depth and subtle atmosphere. To evoke the texture and variety of each locale, great care was taken to obtain correct costumes, props, cars and even properly-dated posters and handbills.

'It was my intention,' says director-producer-screenwriter Coppola, 'to make this an authentic piece of film about gangsters who were Italian, how they lived, how they behaved, the way they treated their families, celebrated their rituals.' Coppola and Puzo collaborated on the two films' scripts, faithfully maintaining the spirit and complexity of THE GODFATHER.

The rhythm of the film is called by Coppola 'legato, rather than staccato,' easily flowing and building as the stories are developed. This cohesiveness is no small accomplishment, as the chronicle deals with almost three generations, encompassing literally hundreds of characters and complicated story lines.

THE GODFATHER was nominated for ten Academy Awards, winning 'Best Picture of 1972,' and garnered an Oscar for Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo for their screenplay. THE GODFATHER PART II won twelve Academy Award nominations, and was named 'Best Picture of 1974' by the Academy, while Robert De Niro captured the Oscar as 'Best Supporting Actor.'

Francis Ford Coppola's vision paid off. Not only is he the proud possessor of three Oscars, but he created two theatrical feature films that are a permanent part of that rare space reserved in history for true classics.

And now, with this totally unique and uncensored chronological retelling, THE EPIC, Coppola has expanded his horizons and boldly stepped into the exciting, new, intimate world of home video.

back

THE STORY

There is the family and there is The Family, and The Godfather is the story of both. Inseparably, it is the story of the rise to power of the Corleone family through the Mafia; and it is the story of the love, pride and honor of those people in their private lives.

It begins with the young Vito (Oreste Baldini), smuggled into New York's Little Italy [in 1901, not 1902!] as an eighth-year-old child, the only survivor of a vendetta against his family in their native Sicily. While a young man learning the various gangland businesses in New York, Vito (De Niro) falls victim to an extortionist, and kills him.

As Vito becomes more established in the operations of the underworld, he is also learning the cold satisfaction of revenge. Returning to Sicily - ostensibly for business reasons - he succeeds in killing the Mafia Don responsible for the slaying of his parents and brother. The family's honor avenged, he goes back to New York and begins his steady ascent through the ranks of organized crime. Soon he is the prosperous, feared and respected Godfather, Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), head of one of the city's ruling families. It is a position of great power.

As Vito's three sons reach manhood, they, too, assume responsibilities in the organization. There is Sonny (James Caan), the oldest, hot-tempered, brash and eager; Fredo (John Cazale), inept and weak-willed, given minor chores; and Michael (Al Pacino), the youngest, Ivy League-education, who is torn between family devotion and doubts about his inheritance of violence and power.

Daughter Connie (Talia Shire) is married to Carlo (Gianni Russo), a smalltime hoodlum, whose flagrant womanizing and mistreatment of her is a source of family dissension.

When Don Vito refuses to join the other five ruling Mafia families in the narcotics business, he touches off a brutal gang war that results in an attempt on his life. Ambushed and critically wounded, he passes command of the family to Sonny. Michael, killing to avenge his father, must hide out in Sicily. There he discovers the heritage that underscores and motivates his family. There, too, he falls in love and marries, but his wife is murdered in an attempt to assassinate him.

Sonny, acting as Don of the family, savagely beats his sister's husband, Carlo, who has been abusing here. In retaliation, Carlo arranges Sonny's brutal murder. Don Vito, after Sonny's death, capitulates and agrees to join the five families in the drug market.

When Michael returns to New York, it is to assume the role of Don. Saddened and turned cold by the blood that has flowed, he nonetheless tries to be true to both sides of his nature. He seeks out Kay (Diane Keaton), his college sweetheart, and convinces her to marry him, promising to make the family business legitimate. But when Don Vito, now elderly and gentle in his power, dies of a stroke, Michael vows to regain control. He orders the killing of the heads of the other New York families. With this consolidation of power, he stands alone and hardened: now he is The Godfather.

Michael moves the Corleone enterprises to Nevada. He, Kay and their children are ensconced in a fortress-like estate in Lake Tahoe, but its beauty cannot dispel the troubles in their marriage. Rather than legitimizing the operations, they have expanded into hotels and gambling, and Michael plans a complicated move into the less-restricted Cuba. This involves an alliance with Miami leader Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg), who secretly plans Michael's death using his weak older brother, Fredo Corleone, as go-between. Learning of the plot, Michael attempts to make peace but is mistakenly credited with an attempt on a New York mobster's life, who fearfully goes to the F.B.I. to inform on the Corleone interests.

The Cuban operation is scuttled with the rebel takeover of Havana so Michael returns to Nevada, only to be greeted by consiglieri Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall) with the news of Kay's miscarriage and a subpoena from the Senate Hearing on Organized Crime. Through intimidation of the star witness, Michael manages to get the hearing dismissed. But Kay is adamant that their marriage is over. She leaves, though Michael forbids her to take the children.

Mama Corleone (Morgana King) dies at the family compound, and what remains of the family draws closer together. Connie, twice divorced, begs to be allowed to come live there. Even the traitorous Fredo has returned.

But the power has slipped and Michael must reestablish his dominance by eliminating those who conspired against him...one of whom is Fredo. The others who betrayed him are erased. And once again, Michael has prevailed. He is The Godfather, truly.

Alone in the serenity of the Lake Tahoe home, Michael reflects on the past. He remembers the happy times, when he and his family were young, with their future stretching out before them. He contemplates the choices that were made, the paths that were taken as the story ends.
back

* Additional Footage! *

The Godfather Epic Hbo Max


Scenes added to The Godfather (1972):

Michael and Kay pretend to be in New Hampshire to get away, even though they're in New York. The scene is the two of them in a hotel bed, getting a wake-up call at 3 PM. They're supposed to go to the Corleone residence, but Michael doesn't want to go yet. He calls the mansion (Orchard-9-9539) and Kay pretends to be the long distance operator. Michael tells Tom that they're 'stuck in New Hampshire.' This scene occurs before Fredo gets the car for the Don.

When Michael is hiding in Sicily, there's a scene where Michael and his two bodyguards are laying down to rest. Fabrizio wants Michael to tell him about New York. M:'How do you know I'm from New York?' / F:'We heard. Somebody told us you were real important' / M:'I'm the son of a big shot' / F:'Is America as rich as they say?' / C:'Stop bothering me [Calo] with this rich America stuff!' Fabrizio asks Michael if he could be his bodyguard in America. This scene comes before their meeting Apollonia.

After Apollonia gets killed in the explosion, there's a short scene of Michael, in shock and in bed, muttering to Tommasino & Apollonia's mother: 'Apollonia..?' / T:'Dead' / 'Fabrizio..? Get me Fabrizio...'

When Michael returns to New York, before he meets up with Kay, he and his father talk in the garden. Michael: 'Pop, what about Sonny? What about Sicily? ...You gave them your word about breaking the peace, I didn't. I take all responsibility.'

(The Trilogy set adds even more footage!)

Scenes added to The Godfather Part II (1974):

After Paolo gets shot, 2 of Don Ciccio's thugs arrive at young Vito's home looking for him. She says she'll take him herself

The

There's a scene before Vito gets fired from Abbandando Grosseria: While Vito's delivering groceries, he sees three punks over on 9th Street assaulting Fanucci, and they cut his throat 'from ear to ear...to scare him.' Genco and Vito chat in the store. Vito says Fanucci's not a big shot. Genco says Fanucci has connections. The next time we see Fanucci, he's fine!

After the new carpet is installed, young Vito, Clemenza and Tessio meet up with a gunsmith, Augustino Coppola, and his young son, Carmine Coppola [sound familiar?]. This is where Clemenza sells his guns. The boy Carmine is the one playing the flute, NOT 'young Vito' as the caption in the Soundtrack claims

Hbo

We then see young Clemenza is hocking stolen dresses door-to-door for $5 a piece. He makes one married woman an offer (two for one), and even fools around with her. Clemenza tells Vito to bring the rest of the dresses to Dadine's Store, who'll turn it over the the wholesaler. While driving is when Fanucci hops aboard.

After Signor Roberto lowers Signora Colombo's rent, Vito sees Clemenza, who found a kid good with cars, to fix the truck. His name is Hyman Suchowsky, but Clemenza calls him 'Johnny Lips.' His name is then changed to Hyman Rothstien [sound familiar? Later it's Hyman Roth]

In a trip back to Sicily, young Vito finds and kills two of Don Ciccio's retainers (Strollo and ?) before he goes with Tommasino to kill Don Ciccio.

At the Communion party, Sonny's daughter, Francesca, comes to see Michael for his blessing to marry Gardner Shaw. He also asks how Santino's football is coming.

Then there's a scene in which Al Neri is talking to Michael (with Tom & Rocco) and they are looking at pictures of Fabrizio. He was brought over illegally from Sicily by Barzini.

After Michael's meeting with Sen. Geary, we see Fabrizio ('Fred Vincent'), leaving his pizzeria in Buffalo, NY, and getting firebombed in his car. He stumbles out of the car, before he dies.

Is this in Part II? Michael and his bodyguard take a train to Florida. [heh...a train?! I thought he was in a hurry!]

(The Trilogy set adds even more footage!)

Missing from The Godfather Epic (why?!):

The scene after Vito gets fired, when Abbandando offers him groceries to take home, is omitted

Not missing, but moved: The first scene of Part II (Rocco kissing Michael's hand) was moved to the beginning of the Epic
top

If I missed any, please let me know! Especially if there were scenes CUT from the Epic!


Read the Epic's official credits
or
Check out the TRILOGY boxed set!

Find Puzo & Godfather books, videos, and CDs!


top
Compilation, Layout, etc. ©1995-2006 J. Geoff Malta
Important Copyright Information
Most images & sounds © Paramount Pictures
The Godfather Saga
Written byMario Puzo
Francis Ford Coppola
Directed byFrancis Ford Coppola
StarringMarlon Brando
Al Pacino
Robert Duvall
James Caan
Diane Keaton
Robert De Niro
John Cazale
Talia Shire
Music byNino Rota
Carmine Coppola
Original languageEnglish
Sicillian
Production
ProducersAlbert S. Ruddy
Francis Ford Coppola
CinematographyGordon Willis
EditorBarry Malkin
Running time434 minutes
Production companiesParamount Television
American Zoetrope
DistributorTrifecta Entertainment and Media
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseNovember 12–15, 1977

The Godfather Saga is a 1977 American television miniseries that combines The Godfather and The Godfather Part II into one film. It originally aired on NBC over four consecutive nights (one three-hour segment and three two-hour segments) in November 1977. The Godfather Saga is also known as The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television, The Godfather: A Novel for Television, The Godfather Novella, The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic, and The Godfather Epic (on HBO). The television version was the basis for a shorter, 1981 video release known as The Godfather 1902–1959: The Complete Epic. Following the release of The Godfather Part III in 1990, a third unified version was released to video in 1992 entitled The Godfather Trilogy: 1901–1980.

Film structure[edit]

Epic

Francis Ford Coppola asked his editor Barry Malkin to make a seven-hour version for television; Coppola reportedly did this project to raise money for Apocalypse Now, which was severely over-budget at the time.[1] The resulting film was in chronological order. The Godfather Part II had cut back and forth between scenes in the early 1900s and the late 1950s, and was therefore both a prequel and a sequel to The Godfather.[2] Malkin also toned down the violence, sex, and language for a television audience.[3]

The television film incorporated additional footage not included in the original films, including Don Fanucci being attacked by street thugs, Vito Corleone's first encounter with Hyman Roth, Vito killing two of the mafiosi who worked for Don Ciccio and were instrumental in his family's death, Michael Corleone's reunion with his father after his return from Sicily, Sonny Corleone's taking charge of the family after his father is severely wounded, and Michael's vengeance upon Fabrizio for killing Apollonia. The previously deleted scenes totaled almost 75 minutes.[3]

Hal Erickson summarized the results as follows, 'While this rearrangement was reasonably coherent, the rhythm and pacing of the original theatrical versions of the two films was severely damaged. The inclusion of scenes previously removed from the theatrical prints also stretched out what was already an overlong project. Even allowing for the achievement of pulling off this gargantuan editing assignment, The Godfather Saga is a lumpy affair which seems to stop and start at irregular intervals and never truly picks up momentum.'[1]

Nielsen ratings[edit]

According to the entry in Les Brown's Encyclopedia of Television, the Nielsen ratings for the special were supposedly not as high as expected, possibly because both films had already aired (albeit separately) on NBC in previous years.

Re-release[edit]

On March 3, 2012, the American cable television channel AMC marked the 40th anniversary of the original theatrical release of The Godfather by re-broadcasting The Godfather Saga. It marked the first time the Saga was broadcast in high definition.[4] This showing also reinstated the violence that had previously been removed for its original broadcast.

The Godfather 1902–1959: The Complete Epic[edit]

The Godfather 1902–1959: The Complete Epic is a reduced, 386-minute version of The Godfather Saga (434 minutes) that was released to video in 1981.[5][6] Unlike the Saga, which was presented in four segments (each with opening and closing credits), the Epic is presented as a single segment. Lucia Bozzola wrote of this version, 'With the freedom of home video, The Complete Epic reinstated the violence that had been edited for television; free of commercial breaks, the narrative drive of Part I was mostly restored, but the impact of Part II was still muted by the separation of Vito's rise from Michael's descent.'[7] In January 2016, HBO aired the epic in its uncut and uncensored format; later making it available on its streaming platforms.[8] The HBO showing contained most of the known deleted scenes, thereby lengthening the runtime of the Epic from its video release. This HBO version carries the title Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901-1959 which has a runtime of 423 minutes.

The Godfather Trilogy: 1901–1980[edit]

The Godfather Trilogy: 1901–1980
Directed byFrancis Ford Coppola
Produced byAlbert S. Ruddy
Francis Ford Coppola
Written byMario Puzo
Francis Ford Coppola
StarringMarlon Brando
Al Pacino
Robert Duvall
James Caan
Diane Keaton
Robert De Niro
John Cazale
Talia Shire
Music byNino Rota
Carmine Coppola
CinematographyGordon Willis
Edited byBarry Malkin
Walter Murch
  • 1992
583 minutes
LanguagesEnglish
Sicillian

Following the release of The Godfather Part III in 1990, Coppola, Barry Malkin, and Walter Murch edited the three Godfather movies into chronological order to make the film The Godfather Trilogy: 1901–1980. As had the earlier compilations, this film incorporated scenes that are not part of the theatrical releases.[9] It was released on VHS and laserdisc in 1992; it has not been released on DVD, and is now rare.[9] The total run time for this version is 583 minutes (9 hours, 43 minutes). There were reviews of this version of the film that were favorable.[10][11] A Time review reads, 'This trilogy has a novelistic density, a rueful, unhurried lyricism and a depth that, singly, the films could not achieve. Altogether glorious.'[11]

Additional scenes[edit]

Several additional scenes not shown in theaters were added to the Saga, Epic, and Trilogy.[12]

The Godfather additional scenes[edit]

  • After Vito agrees to help Amerigo Bonasera avenge the beating of his daughter, Vito whistles to Sonny and asks if he was paying attention. Sonny confirms that he was. (Exclusive to the Saga only)
  • After Vito tells Hagen to go to California, Hagen tells him that the hospital called and the dying Genco Abbandando, Vito's previous consigliere, will not last the night. Vito tells Sonny to bring all his sons (including Michael and Johnny) to pay their respects to Genco and for Fredo to drive the big car. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • After Connie's wedding reception, Vito, his sons, and Johnny Fontane go to the hospital to visit Genco, where Vito calls Michael's military decorations 'Christmas ribbons' and tells him that he has plans for him after he leaves the military and finishes school. Genco asks that Vito stay with him and scare away death to which Vito says that he has no such power. After a short conversation, Genco becomes weak, and Vito motions for his sons to leave the room, himself staying behind while Genco dies. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • Before Hagen and Jack Woltz start talking, Woltz holds a birthday party for a young actress named Janie, and presents her with a pony as a gift. Present at the gathering are the girl's mother and several others involved with her current film. After Woltz kicks Tom out after dinner, he walks to the exit, looks up, and sees Janie, crying at the top of the staircase, being retrieved by her mother; the implication is that Woltz raped her. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • There is additional footage of Tom, Sonny and Vito discussing the Woltz situation before the horse head scene. Vito asks if Woltz is 'so tough', to which Tom responds, 'You mean is he a Sicilian? Forget about it.' Vito then asks if the story between Woltz and Janie is true, and calls Woltz's pedophilia an 'infamia'. Vito tells Tom to summon Luca Brasi to 'see if we can find a way to reason with this Mr. Jack Woltz.' (Saga only)
  • Michael and Kay are in a New York hotel bed, getting a wake-up call at 3 p.m. They are supposed to go to the Corleone residence, but Michael does not want to go yet. He calls the mansion, and Kay pretends to be the long-distance operator, calling collect for 'Mr. Michael Corleone'. Tom 'accepts' the charges, and Michael tells Hagen that they're 'stuck in New Hampshire', where Kay's family lives. After Tom hangs up, they giggle about their trick on Tom, and roll onto the floor between the beds they have pushed together. This scene occurs before Fredo gets the car for Vito.
  • There is some short extra footage of Luca Brasi walking through the hotel hallways before meeting with the Tattaglias. He sees a neon sign turn off, which signals him it is OK to enter the bar. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • After the Don is shot, Sonny gets a phone call from a detective informing him about his father's condition. Sonny then tries to call Tom, but his wife Theresa says he is not home. After he hangs up, some gunshots ring out. Sonny retrieves a gun from his dresser drawer and goes to check it out, at which point the scene ends and Clemenza knocks on the door, resuming the theatrical footage. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • After Sonny gets the call from Virgil Sollozzo informing him that Tom Hagen has been abducted, he goes to tell his mother that Vito has been shot. He then calls Sal Tessio and tells him to bring fifty of his men over. He tries to call Luca Brasi, but he does not answer, as Tattaglia has killed him. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • After Michael calls Sonny about Vito's shooting, there is additional footage near the phone booth of Michael telling Kay to go back the hotel. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • There is some short extra footage of Michael in the car arriving at the mall and being cleared to enter by the guards. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • After Michael meets Peter Clemenza, he asks Hagen's wife Theresa how he is. The two of them go in to see Sonny (who's with Tessio). After discussing how Paulie Gatto, not Clemenza, was the traitor, Hagen enters the room. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • Before Clemenza leaves the house with Paulie, he and Rocco Lampone talk about Clemenza's car with the wooden bumpers. Clemenza gives Rocco the gun he is to use to 'make his bones' by killing Gatto. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • After they leave Clemenza's driveway, they make a stop 'to call Sonny'. Clemenza eats a meal and buys cannoli while Lampone and Gatto wait in the car. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • When Michael is hiding in Sicily, there is a scene in which his bodyguard Fabrizio asks him about New York, and whether it is true that he is the son of a Mafia boss. Fabrizio then asks Michael if he could be his bodyguard in America. This scene happens just before they meet Apollonia.
  • In Sicily, after Michael tells Don Tommasino that they are going to Corleone, Michael and his bodyguards see a procession of Communists marching through the hills. When asked, Fabrizio tells they are going to Portella della Ginestra. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • There is some short extra footage of Michael and bodyguards walking through Corleone, before he says 'Where have all the men gone?'
  • Before they are on the road as the G.I.s pass by, Michael visits his father's birthplace and he asks a woman if there are any family/friends of the Andolini family around. She says they have all left and gone overseas. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • After Hagen makes the call to Bonasera following Sonny's murder, Bonasera dresses and contemplates what task Vito is going to ask him to do. (Exclusive to the Saga only)
  • After Apollonia is killed in the explosion, there is a short scene of Michael, in shock and in bed, muttering to Tommasino and Apollonia's mother: 'Apollonia..?' / Tommasino: 'Dead.' / Michael: 'Fabrizio..? Get me Fabrizio...'
  • After Connie hangs up the phone following a fight with her husband Carlo Rizzi, she walks into the bathroom where Carlo is showering. She confronts him about the 'whore'; he ignores the comment and tells her to make him dinner. The subsequent footage is slightly tailored to fit the standard scene, and a couple of extra lines are added where they were not before. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • Before Hagen asks Michael why he is being replaced as consigliere, there is some short extra footage. There is also some short extra footage after Michael says 'You're out, Tom.' These two short scenes talk about Al Neri. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • After Hagen leaves the room, Vito takes Michael out to the garden through the French doors in the study. (Exclusive to the Saga only)
  • The original ending of the film showed Kay praying at an altar while the credits were shown. The scene, though faithful to the original novel, was used only as a final of The Godfather Saga.

The Godfather Part II additional scenes[edit]

The following scenes are listed chronologically.

  • After Vito's brother Paolo is shot, two of Don Ciccio's thugs arrive at the Andolini home looking for Vito. His mother calls a Vito a 'Little Baccala, not worth worrying about'.
  • When Vito and Genco go backstage at the theater, there is additional footage before and after the scene where Don Fanucci grabs a young girl. Fanucci tells the theater owner that he should have more Sicilian songs and begins to sing. (Exclusive to the Saga only)
  • There is a scene before Vito gets fired from Abbandando's Grosseria: While Vito is delivering groceries, he sees three punks over on 9th Street assaulting Fanucci, and they cut his throat 'from ear to ear...to scare him'. Genco and Vito discuss how much power Fanucci actually has.
  • There is added footage at the beginning of the scene where young Vito and Clemenza are drinking coffee, talking about the carpet Vito is to steal. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • After the new carpet is installed, Vito, Clemenza, and Tessio meet up with a gunsmith, Augustino Coppola, and his young son, Carmine Coppola. This is where Clemenza sells his guns.
  • We then see young Clemenza hawking stolen dresses door-to-door for $5 a piece. He makes one married woman an offer (two for one), and presumably has sex with her. Clemenza tells Vito to bring the rest of the dresses to Dadine's Store, where Dadine will turn it over to the wholesaler. While they are driving, Fanucci hops aboard Vito's truck.
  • There is added footage at the end of Fanucci's talk with Vito in the truck. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • There is added footage at the beginning of the scene where Vito, Clemenza and Tessio are eating spaghetti at Vito's house discussing how to pay Fanucci. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • There is added footage at the beginning of Vito's meeting with Signora Colombo. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • There is added footage during Vito's talk with Signor Roberto on the street. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • There is added footage before we see Signor Roberto at Vito's office. He is seen entering through the garage area where he carefully asks for 'Don Vito Corleone'.
  • After Signor Roberto lowers Signora Colombo's rent, Vito sees Clemenza, who has found 'a kid good with cars', to fix the truck. His name is Hyman Suchowsky, but Clemenza calls him 'Johnny Lips'. Vito suggests that Suchowsky change his name; Suchowsky then begins calling himself Hyman Roth.
  • In a trip back to Sicily, there is additional footage of Vito's family exiting the train and walking with a small band. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • While in Sicily, Vito finds and kills two of Don Ciccio's retainers (Mosca and Strollo) before he goes with Tommasino to kill Don Ciccio.
  • There is additional footage of Vito and his family at the train station leaving Sicily. (Exclusive to the Saga only)
  • There is footage of Michael walking on a pier in Lake Tahoe playing with a dog. (Exclusive to the Saga only)
  • There is footage of Anthony's First Communion ceremony. (Saga and Epic only)
  • At the beginning of Anthony's party, there is added footage of singing on the grandstand, and in the parking lot. We also see Anthony walking up to the button men, and stopping as Kay calls after him. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • There is a scene of Fredo and his wife Deanna in the parking lot. Deanna is already drunk and Fredo does not want Michael to see her that way.
  • At the communion party, Sonny's daughter, Francesca, comes to see Michael for his blessing to marry Gardner Shaw, of whom Michael approves.
  • After Francesca and Gardner leave, he asks Francesca's brother, Santino Jr., how he is doing in football. (Exclusive to the Saga only)
  • There is a scene (after Michael's meeting with Sen. Pat Geary) in which Al Neri is talking to Michael (with Hagen and Lampone) and they are looking at pictures of Fabrizio. They explain that he was brought over illegally from Sicily by Don Barzini.
  • After Michael and Kay are dancing in the communion party, we see Fabrizio ('Fred Vincent'), leaving his pizzeria in Buffalo, New York, and starting his car, at which point a previously planted car bomb explodes. He stumbles out of the car, then dies. This was Michael's vengeance upon Fabrizio for killing Apollonia.
  • There is added footage leading up to Frank Pentangeli drinking from the garden hose in which he asks a waiter for a glass of wine or a beer.
  • After the family sits down to eat, we see Pentangeli sitting and drinking wine with Anthony. He gives Anthony a $100 bill. (Saga and Trilogy only)
  • There is footage of Al Neri visiting Meyer Klingman, the owner of the gambling license for Michael's new hotel, at the casino, and asking him to leave. Klingman resists, so Neri chases him through the casino into a closed auditorium, which is rehearsing for a cabaret, until Neri threatens him with a heavy chair, at which point Klingman finally capitulates and leaves the hotel. Neri then sits down in the seats and signals for the performers to go on with their rehearsal.

The Godfather Epic Free

The Godfather Part III additional scenes[edit]

The Godfather Epic Hbo

  • The original introductory scene showed Michael in a meeting with Archbishop Gilday about buying International Immobiliare reminiscent of the introductory scene from The Godfather of Bonasera and Vito. The scene was moved to later in the film, with the final cut's introduction showing the Corleone house in Lake Tahoe in ruins. (Saga and Trilogy only)

To date, this version of The Godfather Saga has never been released to DVD, Blu-Ray, or 4K UHD disc. Online, titled as The Godfather Epic and running 7 hours and 3 minutes, was available to watch through Amazon. However, it is currently unavailable to purchase.[13]

References[edit]

  1. ^ abErickson, Hal. 'The Godfather Saga: Critics' Reviews'. AllMovie Guide. Archived from the original on 2012-05-27. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
  2. ^Phillips, Gene D. (2004). Godfather: The Intimate Francis Ford Coppola. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 129–130. ISBN978-0-8131-2304-2. Coppola points out in his DVD commentary on Godfather II that when the film was edited for TV in straight chronology, according to his specific instructions, the story of the young Vito and the story of Michael were not as compelling alone as when they were intercut in the original movie. ... It is the juxtaposition of scenes like these that caused Coppola to decide to 'keep the parallel structure in Godfather II ever since, even now when the three films make one saga. '
  3. ^ abCowie, Peter (1994). Coppola: A Biography. Da Capo Press. p. 113. ISBN978-0-306-80598-1.
  4. ^'An Offer You Shouldn't Refuse - The Godfather Saga in HD on AMC'. AMC Blog. AMCtv.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  5. ^Maltin, Leonard, ed. (October 2003). Leonard Maltin's 2004 Movie & Video Guide. p. 538. Reports a runtime of 386 minutes.
  6. ^Malta, J. Geoff (2006). 'The Godfather 1902–1959: The Complete Epic'. Copies of the credits and other materials that accompanied the video release.
  7. ^Bozzola, Lucia. 'The Godfather 1902–1959: The Complete Epic: Critics' Reviews'. All Movie Guide. msn.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-27. Retrieved 2009-12-29.
  8. ^DiClaudio, Dennis. 'A special 7-hour chronological cut of The Godfather is now on HBO Go'. The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
  9. ^ abMalta, J. Geoff (2006). 'The Godfather Trilogy: 1901–1980'. Archived from the original on 2008-03-28. This webpage reproduces material originally distributed with the 'home video' release.
  10. ^Burr, Ty (October 30, 1992). 'Video Review: The Godfather Trilogy 1901–1980 (1992)'. Entertainment Weekly.
  11. ^ ab'Short Takes'. Time. March 1, 1993.
  12. ^'The Godfather Trilogy'. thegodfathertrilogy.com.
  13. ^'Amazon.com: Watch The Godfather Epic'. Amazon. Retrieved 30 August 2019.

External links[edit]

The Godfather Epic Hbo On Dvd

  • The Godfather Saga at IMDb
  • The Godfather Trilogy: 1901–1980 at IMDb

The Godfather

The Godfather Epic Hbo
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Godfather_Saga&oldid=1021727390'