the godfather opening scene
So old people or people with learning disabilities can be vulnerable. [Pause] How much shall I pay you? We understand that in accepting a “gift” from a mafia don, a chain, not just a string, is attached. We understand all of this effortlessly because we see the world through the lens of reciprocity. What have I ever done to make you treat me so disrespectfully? CHARACTERS: The character to the left, Buonasera, is the one that we first see in ‘The Godfather’. Opening Scene Godfather. For props, there isn’t much that stands out but everything that is in the room looks well furnished and good quality stuff so you can tell that these people are quite wealthy. The scene starts off with a close up shot of a man’s face, the man is named Bonasera. You can be in debt to a person, which really mean you owe the person some money or you can be in a person’s debt which means you owe them in another way. Includes stills from the film. The judge sentenced them to three years in prison — suspended sentence. So they beat her, like an animal. The movie begins with Bonasera, a man seeking a favor, visiting Don Corleone in the Godfather's home office. I’m afraid I ran out of energy. Scene 1. This is a very unpleasant treatment. But let’s be frank here: you never wanted my friendship. She went to the movies with him; she stayed out late. The screen is completely dark, as the introduction music composed of Italian sympathetic strings quietly silences and the screen illuminates only to show the figure of an older man stand in formal clothes in front of a desk. Because this is The Godfather’s primary cut, it signifies his prominence as a character. And you didn’t need a friend like me. Perhaps you talk over them when they are talking or you ignore their advice or perhaps you start yawning or don’t pay attention to them. The Italian immigrant Bonasera, an undertaker, has come to ask for a favor: He wants to avenge an assault upon the honor and body of his own daughter, who was beaten by her boyfriend and another young man. Michael’s power is established. So, in no particular order, here are my top 5 scenes from The Godfather. And if by chance an honest man like yourself should make enemies, then they would become my enemies. The Godfather says that Bonasera did not come to him for help because he was afraid to be in his debt. (then, after Tommasino shakes his head not knowing where Fabrizio is) share. There are two important concepts in this scene. hide. Vito Corleone: We’ve known each other many years, but this is the first time you came to me for counsel, for help. Thanks Caroline – It’s lovely to hear that you are enjoying the podcast. Mario Puzo knew his Shakespeare. America has made my fortune. The boys tried to take advantage, but she resisted and kept her honour. You don’t even think to call me Godfather. It means that you will have to serve the time in prison if you get into trouble again. I chose the opening scene from “The Godfather” which utilizes low-key lighting.Although it is using two sources of lights (sun and lamps), the scene is very dark to put emphasis on the darkness of the discussion. Reciprocity is a deep instinct; it is the basic currency of social life. BONASERA: Let them suffer then, as she suffers. If a conman tries to steal from these people because they are weak, the conman is taking advantage of them. SETTING: The opening sequence is set in what appears to be The Godfather’s office. The way you act towards them might show respect, it might demonstrate your attitude towards them. The screen is completely dark, as the introduction music composed of Italian sympathetic strings quietly silences and the screen illuminates only to show the figure of an older man stand in formal clothes in front of a desk. But until that day—accept this justice as a gift on my daughter’s wedding day. That's the only reason this scene isn't further up the list. Sometimes, they lose the ability to consent at all. The word shattered means broken into many pieces. The opening scene of The Godfather, sets the mood and tone of which the classic film takes the viewer through the compelling story. The scene is extraordinary, a kind of overture that introduces the themes of violence, kinship, and morality that drive the rest of the movie. It is a spirit. Home / Scenes / Openings / The Opening Scene in The Godfather. "The Godfather" opens very slowly, with just one man speaking, in low key lighting. Bonasera’s opening monologue—a long take first cut of the film, revealing Don Corleone. There’s a page for this podcast with the transcript, an activity and a task for you to do in the comments section. The cat in the Godfather 1 opening scene, The cat held by Marlon Brando in the opening scene was a stray Francis Ford Coppola found while on the lot at Paramount. Vito Corleone: That is not justice; your daughter is still alive. Source: Jonathan Haidt, The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom. The cat that Vito Corleone can be seen holding in The Godfather’s opening scene wasn’t included in the original script.On his way to set, Francis Ford Coppola found the cat as a stray, wandering around the Paramount Pictures lot, and he decided that it would be fun to give the Don a cat to hold during his opening scenes. So please visit LearnEnglishVocabulary.co.uk and say hello. Part II begins with a parallel shot of Michael, now Godfather, having his hand kissed by a suppliant. This means to do something that reduces a person’s honour. If you have enjoyed this podcast, please leave me a comment or a rating or a review. The opening wedding scene was shot in a Staten Island neighborhood using almost 750 locals as extras. Good people deserve good things to happen to them and bad people deserve bad things to happen. Like Shylock, Don Corleone is a member of an unliked ethnic minority who has acquired a certain amount of power by means considered unsavory and who cares very much about his family. Your email address will not be published. It’s usually money. MICHAEL (whispering) Apollonia...? New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. She stopped them assaulting her sexually, but then they physically attacked her. She was the light of my life — beautiful girl. That’s why this column is so hard! Often you hear about a 1 year or 5 year sentence which means that the convict has to go to prison for up to 1 or five years. It is a regular noun so the plural form should be bastards. Honour and respect. The first few lines of the film establish that Vito is incredibly powerful. He added the cat himself, believing that it would help show the Godfather, Don Vito Corleone‘s, soft side. Hello and welcome to Learn English Vocabulary. Vito Corleone's cat was his only animal associate and was seen sitting on Don Vito's lap while he sat in his office during Connie Corleone's wedding ceremony. The cat was not originally called for in the script, and the cat with its purring muffled some of Brando’s dialogue, and, as a result, most of his lines had to be looped. He explains that he always believed in America, and it treated him well—until his daughter was beat up by her boyfriend and another man after she refused to have sex with them. If you are in a person’s debt, then they may ask you for a favour in return and you would feel obligated to do what they ask. Today, I want to look at the language from the opening scene of The Godfather. save. Subscribe. The a in front of shattered is supposed to be his Italian accent. © 2021 Scraps from the Loft. 1. The Opening Scene in The Godfather. THE GODFATHER PART 2 opens with: A brief shot of Michael as a guest kisses him on the hand. Corleone uses it to manipulate Bonasera into joining Corleone’s extended family. She kept her honour. The opening wedding scene of The Godfather serves a dual purpose, revealing Vito’s love for the entire Corleone family and the standard of behavior he expects from them, while also exposing his three sons as failing to meet that standard. Learn this way is too much more fun. Credit card debt is probably the easiest debt to run up. This means earn money. . Suspended sentence! The police protected you and there were courts of law. Whiskey is a very strong alcoholic drink. This is widely held to be one of the best films of all time. The opening scene of The Godfather establishes that Don Corleone is Shylock. VITO CORLEONE Prego. Thanks The Godfather opens with a scene that culminates in an initially disrespectful suppliant kissing Don Vito’s hand in a humble show of respect. We wince at Bonasera’s clumsy attempt to offer money when what is lacking is the right relationship, and we understand why Bonasera had been wary, before, of cultivating the right relationship. New York: Basic Books, 2006. i need a whole analysis of the Godfather like this please! Bonasera is furious and feels humiliated; he has come to Don Corleone to ask that justice be done. , Hi Aitana Instead, you come into my house on the day my daughter is to be married, and you uh ask me to do murder, for money. THE GODFATHER: 3. But now you come to me and you say, “Don Corleone give me justice.” But you don’t ask with respect. When I clicked on the link on Podcast (iOS), it linked to the transcript of article “Types of Film and TV series”. Another common use of this phrase and the meaning of the use in the film is to sexually assault someone who is too drunk to be able to stop it. The opening scene of the movie The Godfather is an exquisite portrayal of reciprocity in action. Part of a series of resources available on The Godfather. Thank you so much for this! Marlon Brando enjoys being mysterious. Detail. Hi! He was eased in, despite stiff opposition from the studio brass, because of the advocacy of a thirtyish fan, Francis Ford Coppola, an Italian-American who happened to be the director of The Godfather. Being a person of honour in one society might mean going to church and dressing smartly, but in another it might mean serving in the military or doing an important job. What more could we possibly want from a movie? It is a great way to learn and practise english! To dishonour is much stronger. I want reliable people; people that aren't gonna be carried away. Bonasera . Jack. It is a swear word and is offensive to some people. The sentences has been suspended, or put on hold and you won’t have to go to prison if you don’t break the law. I'm mean, we're not murderers, despite of what this undertaker says. CORLEONE: Bonasera . Hic. 182. The opening scene of The Godfather is one of the most iconic in cinematic history. The sprawling crime opera The Godfather is one of the most popular fictional stories of the 20th century. ***EXTRA SCENE FROM THE EPIC, TRILOGY & SAGA: Michael, in shock, is lying in bed as Apollonia's mother wipes his forehead with a washcloth. It shows how sometimes what’s considered justice is nothing more than words on a court form, and true justice has to come from other sources. It really is a brilliant opening scene. And then they would fear you. The Godfather agrees to make the boys suffer in a way that he thinks is just and appropriate considering their crimes and sends Bonasera away with these closing words. Could you please check the link of this transcript on Podcast? The scene in which Connie struggles to confront Carlo also showcases the power of allowing a long take to play without editing. Bonasera whispers something into his ear, which we can safely assume is “Kill them.” Corleone refuses, and points out that Bonasera has not been much of a friend until now. Where can I find the activities? David Wong. We intuitively understand why Bonasera wants the boys killed, and why Corleone refuses to do it. All rights reserved. To make a living means to earn enough money to pay for the things you need to survive. THE GODFATHER _____________ Screenplay by MARIO PUZO and FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA THIRD DRAFT PARAMOUNT PICTURES 1 Gulf and Western Plaza March 29, 1971 New York, New York 10019 INT D Justice can mean the system of laws in a country that says how a person should be punished for different crimes, but there is also a more general kind of natural justice that people believe should be the case. If you haven’t seen the film, or haven’t seen it recently, I recommend you watch it again. It offers us only the absorption of good acting and good storytelling combined with a plausible anthropology of a strange, terribly relevant culture. And you didn’t need a friend like me. (during the movie, The Godfather strokes the cat while deciding who should live or die) You won’t attract any attention if you say it in a pub, but you shouldn’t say it at work or somewhere you should be polite. A sentence is another word for an official punishment. CORLEONE: That is not justice; your daughter is still alive. Now she will never be beautiful again. I love to hear from you and any comments or suggestions you have. However, we can make a crucial distinction between the three sons: while Sonny and Fredo are both defined by their immature actions, Michael is Vito’s only son who … A life sentence in some countries means you have to stay in prison for the rest of your life. And then they tried to take advantage of her. Bonasera says that America has made his fortune. Still, it's an incredible scene and one in which the cat was only introduced seconds before the cameras rolled, when Francis Ford Coppola dropped it into an unexpecti… A fortune is a large amount of money or property. Corleone asks what exactly he wants. There is a hand controlling a section of the word ‘Godfather’, which similarly symbolises the control that the Godfather … 42 comments. Marlon Brando doesn’t speak clearly in the scene and he’s difficult to understand throughout. In this scene we are introduced to Don Vito Corleone, quietly listening to the pleas of a fellow Italian man. Bonasera: I believe in America. Listen to the next lines. It’s a really tricky scene. I didn’t protest. Required fields are marked *. Bonasera: They went free that very day! Why did I weep? The beginning oversees the godfathers daughters wedding. 87% Upvoted. Associates are continually professing their loyalty, and asking for “favors” to rescue them from any issues they have in their lives. You don’t offer friendship. This thread is archived. And then there was Marion Brando, against all the odds, cast in one of filmdom’s juiciest roles, as mob chief Don Vito Corleone. Bonasera: She found a boyfriend; not an Italian. Grazie, Godfather. To make a good living means you earn enough money to live well. Vito Corleone: I understand. You found paradise in America, had a good trade, made a good living.