The Fight Between Sonny and Carlo in The Godfather

[Hornius Emeritus]

Lord knows that I am a huge fan of "The Godfather" movie, which is showing right now on AMC. However, something has always bothered me about it, and that is the "fight" between Sonny (James Caan) and Carlo. Have you guys every witnessed a less "real" looking fight? Several of the blows to which Carlo reacts are clearly a foot away.

I dunno. It just seems like, in such a perfect movie, Coppola might have gone back and refilmed that because it just looks so staged.

 

[Hornius Emeritus]

Wow ... I just found out that John Cazale, who played "Fredo," died of bone cancer at the age of 43 in 1978 and was Meryl Streep's fiance at the time of his death.

 

[RabidLonghorn]

I read somewhere that Cann over did it and hurt the guy playing Carlo.

 

[Hayden_Horn]

by "caan" i think you mean "beatty" and a cut of film that shows sonny's supposed punch about a foot away is terrible. every time that scene comes on, i just look away and pretend that sonny is whaling on him as opposed to floating airballs.

 

[dallas_the_tiger]

Pretty fake for sure... but I did read that the actor who played Carlo broke some ribs or something filming that scene..

 

[Jive_Turkey]

The scene where Sonny dies wasn't a thing of beauty, either.

 

[sanf81]

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[rage-a-holic]

yeah i think you have the Godfather confused with Dick Tracy. fail.

 

[Third Coast]

 

[HenryGandorf]

or deliverance.

 

[RabidLonghorn]

This is from IMDB
"While filming the scene where Sonny beats up his brother-in-law in the street, James Caan purposely injured Gianni Russo leaving him with two broken ribs and a chipped elbow. Caan and Russo did not get along during filming"

 

[Uncle Rico]

he was too busy making other bad *** parts to that movie.

 

[unpaintedhuffhines]

oh Hayden

I'd stick with deck building

 

[Hayden_Horn]

nope, i'm the idoit freakshow

 

[El Torito]

Agreed. The last part of the scene where Sonny supposedly "smashes" the trash can on Carlo is about as lame.

 

[Not Shinola]

By "John Cazale" I think you mean "Rick Moranis"

 

[Hayden_Horn]

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[HornMafia]

Coppola explained later that the gaffe was due to the film's squeezed budget:

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[Hornius Emeritus]

Good catch, HornMafia. I had no idea that Coppola had addressed my issue with the fight.


By the way, Carlo (GIanni Russo) claims to have made love to Marilyn Monroe:


The Link

 

[doylehargraves]

The scene where Carlo beats up Connie was not cinematic greatness either.

Still, G-1 or G-2 seems to run about every weekend either on AMC, Bravo or Spike. And I'll watch either one of them, regardless of what is on any other channel. Those 2 movies are that ******* good.

 

[acworthhorn]

As many times as I have seen that fight scene, I have never noticed it being staged. I have just always thought that I wouldn't let Sonny beat my *** like that without at least an attempt at some shots of my own. What a *****.

 

[Steel Shank]

By "Gianni Russo" I think you mean "Tony Curtis". Tony and Marilyn were tight.

 

[Ramathorn]

Who knows? Marilyn would probably sleep with him.

 

[HornMafia]

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[acworthhorn]

Good point HornMafia. I hadn't considered that. Carlo gets wacked anyway though, right?

 

[GunsofNavarone]

Yeah, but not by Sonny. He delayed the inevitable.

 

[general35]

Wow ... I just found out that John Cazale, who played "Fredo," died of bone cancer at the age of 43 in 1978 and was Meryl Streep's fiance at the time of his death.
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What a tragic figure fredo was...his death was as sad as sonny's. John was a great actor, see him and pacino reunited in dog day afternoon.

 

[p_town_horn]

Film does not lose any greatness because of the phantom punches. Like a well worn 'three bar' UT hat, the scuffs only make it more special. Tear.

 

[mr. sunshine]

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[Ramathorn]

I guess Hornmafia would know.