{"id":98683,"date":"2025-05-30T20:28:54","date_gmt":"2025-05-31T03:28:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=98683"},"modified":"2025-09-25T22:29:06","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T05:29:06","slug":"godfather-part-ii-the-1974","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=98683","title":{"rendered":"Godfather, Part II, The (1974)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Godfather-Part-II-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Godfather-Part-II-Poster-205x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-98684\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Godfather-Part-II-Poster-205x300.png 205w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Godfather-Part-II-Poster-87x128.png 87w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Godfather-Part-II-Poster-184x270.png 184w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Godfather-Part-II-Poster.png 590w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 205px) 100vw, 205px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nAfter immigrating from Italy as a child (Oreste Baldini), young Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) rises to a position of power and influence in New York City. Years later, his son Michael (Al Pacino) becomes increasingly alienated from his wife (Diane Keaton) while navigating ongoing tensions in Las Vegas with his brother Fredo (John Cazale), his stepbrother Tom (Robert Duvall), his sister Connie (Talia Shire), and Jewish mob boss Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Al Pacino Films<\/li>\n<li>Betrayal<\/li>\n<li>Diane Keaton Films <\/li>\n<li>Family Problems<\/li>\n<li>Flashback Films<\/li>\n<li>Francis Ford Coppola Films<\/li>\n<li>Historical Drama<\/li>\n<li>Mafia<\/li>\n<li>Marital Problems<\/li>\n<li>Robert De Niro Films<\/li>\n<li>Robert Duvall Films<\/li>\n<li>Siblings<\/li>\n<li>Talia Shire Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary is not a huge fan of Francis Ford Coppola&#8217;s Oscar-winning follow-up &#8212; a combined prequel and sequel &#8212; to <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=98610\">1972&#8217;s <em>The Godfather<\/em><\/a>. He asserts that &#8220;Coppola doesn&#8217;t have De Niro or Pacino do much acting, limiting them to little snippets of dialogue and many moments when they react (with quiet, calm voices) to the more emotional and demonstrative peripheral characters around them.&#8221; (I disagree, but will keep going with Peary&#8217;s assessment.)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-De-Niro-Walking.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-De-Niro-Walking.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"882\" height=\"498\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-98719\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-De-Niro-Walking.png 882w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-De-Niro-Walking-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-De-Niro-Walking-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-De-Niro-Walking-768x434.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-De-Niro-Walking-478x270.png 478w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 882px) 100vw, 882px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>He argues that &#8220;De Niro gets by on presence alone (his charming smile, his quizzical look, his physical grace), but Pacino is a brooding bore&#8221; &#8212; a character who &#8220;does not develop logically from the person he played in the original,&#8221; but rather &#8220;is a caricature of a crime boss&#8221; (again, I disagree). He adds, &#8220;All [the] major scenes seem unreal, calculated for audience response,&#8221; and &#8220;phoniest of all is his breakup scene with wife Diane Keaton, who looks over-rehearsed, like a scene for an acting class.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Kay-Michael.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Kay-Michael.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1264\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-98720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Kay-Michael.png 1264w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Kay-Michael-300x171.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Kay-Michael-1024x583.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Kay-Michael-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Kay-Michael-768x437.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Kay-Michael-474x270.png 474w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1264px) 100vw, 1264px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Peary continues his take-down by noting that &#8220;several of the major scenes in the contemporary section come across as mere duplications of real-life drama we&#8217;ve seen on television,&#8221; noting specifically that &#8220;the scene in which the senator (G.D. Spradin) is found in a brothel with a hooker he brutally killed is similar to numerous sequences in exploitation films of the era and is included for no reason other than sensationalism.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Brothel.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Brothel.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"906\" height=\"488\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-98721\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Brothel.png 906w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Brothel-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Brothel-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Brothel-768x414.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Brothel-501x270.png 501w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 906px) 100vw, 906px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>He asserts that &#8220;the only moments that come across as real are when the crime bosses and legitimate businessmen gather in Batista Cuba to decide how to divide up the American pie&#8221;: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Cuba-Dinner-Table.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Cuba-Dinner-Table.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"910\" height=\"484\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-98727\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Cuba-Dinner-Table.png 910w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Cuba-Dinner-Table-300x160.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Cuba-Dinner-Table-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Cuba-Dinner-Table-768x408.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Cuba-Dinner-Table-508x270.png 508w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 910px) 100vw, 910px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and &#8220;when a Jewish crime boss (a terrific, subdued debut performance by legendary acting teacher Lee Strasberg) raises rather than lowers the volume on a televised football game while talking over important crime business with Michael.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Strasberg-Sofa.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Strasberg-Sofa.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"896\" height=\"492\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-98723\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Strasberg-Sofa.png 896w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Strasberg-Sofa-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Strasberg-Sofa-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Strasberg-Sofa-768x422.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Strasberg-Sofa-492x270.png 492w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 896px) 100vw, 896px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In <em>Alternate Oscars<\/em> &#8212; where he names <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4157\"><em>Chinatown<\/em> (1974)<\/a> the Best Picture of the Year instead &#8212; Peary concedes that <em>The Godfather, Part II<\/em> &#8220;went a step farther&#8221; than the original film &#8220;by exploring the link between organized crime and politicians &#8212; which was certainly a topical theme in light of the Watergate scandal.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Courtroom.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Courtroom.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"898\" height=\"495\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-98724\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Courtroom.png 898w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Courtroom-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Courtroom-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Courtroom-768x423.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Courtroom-490x270.png 490w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 898px) 100vw, 898px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I &#8212; along with most other film lovers and critics &#8212; disagree with Peary&#8217;s take on this justifiably lauded sequel. It&#8217;s equally, if differently, compelling throughout, taking the sprawling storyline in fascinating directions (both backwards and forwards) and continuing to grow our understanding of precisely how a mob family like the Corleones may have evolved. I don&#8217;t have any complaints, and find both De Niro and Pacino suitable in their roles; to that end, for another take on the depth of Pacino&#8217;s characterization as Michael, check out the video <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZAPkRlwkOls\">&#8220;How Michael Corleone Looks at People&#8221;<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Al Pacino as Michael Corleone<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Pacino-Still.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Pacino-Still.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"906\" height=\"502\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-98715\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Pacino-Still.png 906w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Pacino-Still-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Pacino-Still-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Pacino-Still-768x426.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Pacino-Still-487x270.png 487w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 906px) 100vw, 906px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Robert De Niro as young Vito Corleone<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-De-Niro-Old.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-De-Niro-Old.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1262\" height=\"714\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-98716\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-De-Niro-Old.png 1262w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-De-Niro-Old-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-De-Niro-Old-1024x579.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-De-Niro-Old-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-De-Niro-Old-768x435.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-De-Niro-Old-477x270.png 477w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1262px) 100vw, 1262px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Gordon Willis&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Windows.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Windows.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1276\" height=\"722\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-98718\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Windows.png 1276w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Windows-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Windows-1024x579.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Windows-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Windows-768x435.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-Part-II-Windows-477x270.png 477w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1276px) 100vw, 1276px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine attention to period detail<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-II-Cuba.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-II-Cuba.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1262\" height=\"708\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-98717\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-II-Cuba.png 1262w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-II-Cuba-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-II-Cuba-1024x574.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-II-Cuba-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-II-Cuba-768x431.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Godfather-II-Cuba-481x270.png 481w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1262px) 100vw, 1262px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Nino Rota&#8217;s score <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, naturally. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Genuine Classic<\/li>\n<li>Oscar Winner or Nominee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0071562\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/vault\/issue\/1974-12-16\/page\/77\/\">Time Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/76548\/the-godfather-part-ii#articles-reviews?articleId=140792\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.&#8221; Synopsis: After immigrating from Italy as a child (Oreste Baldini), young Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) rises to a position of power and influence in New York City. Years later, his son Michael (Al Pacino) becomes increasingly alienated from his wife (Diane Keaton) while navigating ongoing tensions in Las Vegas with his brother Fredo (John Cazale), his stepbrother Tom (Robert Duvall), his sister Connie (Talia Shire), and Jewish mob boss Hyman Roth&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=98683\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-98683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98683","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=98683"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98683\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":99110,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98683\/revisions\/99110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=98683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=98683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=98683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}