MovieChat Forums > The Godfather Part II (1974) Discussion > I can understand Vito

I can understand Vito

posted 2 years ago by jpssteveshanahan (400)
23 replies | jump to latest

wanting to kill an elderly Ciccio (though he was already on the verge of dying) but why his men? They were just following orders when Don Ciccio instructed them to kill his family. Wouldn't be surprised if they themselves were against the idea of killing a child. But when a mob boss tells you to do something, you do it. No way around it. The godfather of all people should know this.

When an aging Vito narrowly survived his assassination attempt. The Corleone family went directly after Sollozzo (not his gunmen). Cause he was the one who gave the order, obviously. Or when Roth tried to kill Michael even though it was Neri who fatally shot his childhood friend (Moe Greene).

[–] TexasJack (12515) 2 years ago

Probably just self-defense. I don't think Don Ciccio's men were just going to let Vito and his people walk away.

[–] jpssteveshanahan (400) 2 years ago

I was specifically referring to when young Vito returned to Sicily as ''The Godfather'' and exacted revenge on those that killed his family when he was a child. He basically pulled a Beatrix Kiddo and killed anyone that was even remotely associated the aforementioned slayings (even the guy who was calling him out). Like I said in my previous post. These men were just following orders. If you're gonna go after someone, go after the man who gave the order.

These were deleted scenes from Godfather II. I should have been more specific.

[–] Information-Police (4032) 2 years ago

He stabed Ciccio and the latter's men fired upon him and his guys so they fired back. It was kill or be killed.

[–] jpssteveshanahan (400) 2 years ago

These are the deleted scenes that I'm referring to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3KQ6saDFc4

[–] strntz (10790) 2 years ago

Just saw those deleted scenes, and I don't have a problem with them. Those two goons were going to either kill the boy Vito or turn him over to Don Ciccio to be killed.

F them.

[–] jpssteveshanahan (400) 2 years ago

"Those two goons were going to either kill the boy Vito or turn him over to Don Ciccio to be killed.

F them" 😄

Thank you for taking the time by the way.

[–] kwestmo (4114) 2 years ago

Deleted scenes are not part of the film.

[–] jpssteveshanahan (400) 2 years ago

Debatable! You could argue that they were cut because the movie was already long enough as it was, but are nonetheless part of The Godfather canon. And I'm pretty sure that these aforementioned executions were left in the original novel. Which obviously makes them canon.

[–] TexasJack (12515) 2 years ago

I would not assume that the only reason something was cut was for the overall length of the film.

[–] Information-Police (4032) 2 years ago

Copollo likely agreed with you and that why the scenes were cut. If he felt those scenes were integral to Vitos character he would have cut elsewhere

[–] kwestmo (4114) 2 years ago

The movies have one canon. The novel has another.

[–] jpssteveshanahan (400) 2 years ago

I don't know! Depends on how you look at it. You could say that the movie and the novel are two separate entities. But you could also argue that they're two sides of the same coin. Besides that. I was under the impression that Coppola worked on the script with Puzo because he wanted the film to be as faithful to the source as possible. It's not like The Shinning where Kubrick rejected Stephen King's script because he wanted to make something completely different.

[–] EdwardHaskell (122) 2 years ago

And I'm pretty sure that these aforementioned executions were left in the original novel. Which obviously makes them canon.

None of this was in the novel. It was only in the film that Don Corleone returned to Sicily.

[–] javie (2201) 2 years ago

He pulled N LBJ

[–] elmacho (859) 2 years ago

because this was the life they chose. It was business.

[–] jpssteveshanahan (400) 2 years ago

Are you referencing what Hyman Roth said to Michael?

[–] elmacho (859) 2 years ago

yes,

[–] jpssteveshanahan (400) 2 years ago

😁

[–] EdwardHaskell (122) 2 years ago

...but why his men?

Why not? Following orders is no excuse. In spite of the oft repeated, "It's just business," adage, this was personal. They were searching for Vito and they would have killed him. He would never forgive this and he certainly couldn't forget.

The Corleone family went directly after Sollozzo (not his gunmen).

We don't know if they even knew the gunmen's identities. They could have been brought in from out of town. If the Corleone's did know the gunmen's identities they certainly would have been dealt with at some point. This wasn't really an important detail.

BTW, it wasn't Neri who killed Moe Greene. Neri Killed Barzini. Moe Greene's killer is not identified.

[–] jpssteveshanahan (400) 2 years ago

"It's always personal and never business" as Coppola would say. The novel details that it was indeed Neri who took care of Green. Wether this was the same in the movie or not. I do not know. Seeing as Neri was busy taking care of Barzini whilst posing as a constable in the latter.

[–] EdwardHaskell (122) 2 years ago

Yes, in the novel it is Neri. I am speaking of the film only. Greene's killer is only seen from behind.

[–] strntz (10790) 2 years ago

but why his men?

Why not? *belch* (with apologies to Senator Blutarsky)

Anyone that Don Ciccio would employ would have no compunction of killing a small boy if his father was an enemy. Sound familiar? As it was said, that was the life they chose. Good money but the chance of being killed. Those men did have options. They could either not work for Ciccio or leave the village or even the country as many Sicilians did. I would never work for someone like Ciccio.

The Corleone family went directly after Sollozzo (not his gunmen)

Sure they did. Remember the police captain? He was Sollozzos hired gun. If it wasn't McClusky, it would have been anyone who was guarding Sollozzo that day. The Corleone's targeted Sollozzo and planned his assassination in a way that had the most chance of success, and that was when Sollozzo was only protected by one man. If they couldn't get Sollozzo and McClusky alone, they would have attempted something more risky that would have included more men.

[–] jpssteveshanahan (400) 2 years ago

"Why not? *belch* (with apologies to Senator Blutarsky)" 🤨

I was specifically referring to the men who gunned down Vito. Though I'm aware that captain McCluskey also tried to set him up. At any rate! The decision to kill a police captain was not taken lightly, due to the obvious heat it brings (even Sonny was reluctant to do so). They would have preferred to just taken out Sollozzo but seeing that McCluskey was guarding him 24/7. There was no way around it.