3 Changes That Would Make The Godfather Even More Of A Masterpiece

by

Many consider The Godfather to be a nearly perfect film. The story of Michael Corleone’s ascent to power, told in The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974), showcases a remarkably talented cast and crew. The performances are outstanding, the direction and script are almost without flaw, and the music and visuals are instantly recognizable. Beyond being a gangster film, the story evokes deep emotions and resonates with audiences on a universal level.

Saying the Godfather films could be better might seem like a bold claim, but even a perfect movie can have small weaknesses. Fixing those flaws would have made Coppola’s masterpiece even stronger.

Restoring Genco Abbandando To The Godfather

Genco Abbandando was a supporting character in The Godfather Part II and Vito Corleone’s first friend when he arrived in New York City. He was the son of a grocer who offered Vito a job and helped him get started. Although The Godfather Part II showed a bit of their connection, much of their story was left out of the final cut. In fact, most of Genco’s role in the original Godfather film only appears in deleted scenes.

The film version of The Godfather downplayed how important Genco was. After Vito Corleone killed Don Fanucci and became the new crime boss, Genco acted as his trusted advisor (consigliere) and played a key role in strengthening the Corleone family’s power. However, by the start of the movie, Genco is already sick and Tom Hagen has taken over his responsibilities.

Though Genco’s character doesn’t appear in the final version of The Godfather, subtle references to him remain, like the name of the Corleone family’s olive oil business. It’s a shame these scenes were cut, as they would have significantly enriched Coppola’s film.

As Genco lies dying, he believes Don Corleone is powerful enough to even frighten death itself, or ‘pull some strings’ to avoid it. This moment perfectly illustrates the immense power and respect Marlon Brando’s character commands. The sheer idea that death would fear Don Corleone, however absurd, is a brilliant touch of character development. It also subtly hints at how Vito ultimately avoids death in the film, only passing away when he chooses the time.

Swapping Frank Pentangeli For Clemenza In The Godfather Part II

There’s been a lot of debate over why Richard Castellano didn’t reprise his role as Clemenza in The Godfather Part II. Different people offer different explanations, including disagreements over pay, Castellano wanting more control over his lines, and a request for him to gain weight for the part.

It’s still not entirely certain what happened, but Peter Clemenza was initially planned to appear in The Godfather Part II. However, negotiations fell through, and the character was ultimately replaced by Frank Pentangeli, played by Michael V. Gazzo. The story later established that Clemenza had died sometime between the first and second films.

Pentangeli is a strong character, but the movie The Godfather Part II might have been slightly improved with Clemenza playing that part. Michael Corleone’s reaction to the betrayal would have felt more impactful, and the character’s eventual decision to remain loyal would have been more meaningful.

A deleted scene from The Godfather Part II could have shown a young Clemenza introducing Hyman Roth to Vito Corleone during the flashback sequences. This would have not only explained why Clemenza later turned against the family, but also connected the entire story more tightly, foreshadowing the plot against Michael Corleone many years before it happened.

Removing The Godfather Part III From Canon

While The Godfather Part III isn’t a terrible film, it doesn’t reach the heights of the first two movies. A few changes could have improved it; for example, removing the romantic relationship between Mary and Vincent would have been a good start. Also, the dramatic helicopter attack felt out of place and could have been replaced with a scene more fitting for the overall style of The Godfather.

Ultimately, the biggest issue with The Godfather Part III isn’t its quality, but that it felt like an unnecessary addition to the story. Director Francis Ford Coppola now refers to it as The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone, and calling it a “coda” highlights that it doesn’t quite stand alongside the original 1972 and 1974 films.

The final Godfather film explored Michael Corleone’s feelings of regret and his desire for redemption, and the scene showing his emotional breakdown over his past actions is still very powerful. However, this single moment doesn’t quite make up for the fact that a third movie wasn’t really necessary.

The second Godfather film concluded with Michael isolated and having lost both Fredo and Kay, contrasting this with earlier, happier memories of his family before his father, Vito, died. Those scenes perfectly captured the tragic end of the Corleone family saga. The third film, however, simply repeated this idea unnecessarily.

Read More

2025-11-06 20:19