Decades after they were released, the installments of The Godfather trilogy continue to enthrall fans. The three films heavily lean towards crime and violence, but that’s not all they have to offer. The movies impress further by using different kinds of narrative tools which complement each other easily. Key details are sprinkled into the imagery, while the dialogue also helps lay the foundation for tragedy, drama, and humor.
Many of the trilogy’s quotes, therefore, remain iconic to this day. These remarks all serve different purposes. Some are meant to be words of advice, others are explanations, and a couple are simply uttered by people reacting to different situations. Whatever the situation the characters find themselves in, they make sure to piece their sentences together in a fascinating manner.
15 “Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli.” – Clemenza (The Godfather)
Betrayal is an unforgivable sin in the Cosa Nostra, so Clemenza is quick to act when he realizes his right-hand man, Paulie Gato, had something to do with Vito Corleone’s assassination attempt. He and Rocco trick him into joining them for a ride, making him believe they are shopping for weapons. On the way, Clemenza buys some cannoli for his wife, and when he gets out of the car to urinate, Rocco shoots Paulie.
Clemenza caring more about pastry than the homicide that has just happened is what makes the quote legendary. They might have been close friends, but because of his treachery, Paulie doesn’t matter to him anymore. It’s like he never even existed. Leaving the gun isn’t a rookie mistake on Clemenza’s part either because he had previously spoken about the importance of covering gun handles with tape so as not to leave fingerprints.
14 “I’m Gonna Make Him an Offer He Can’t Refuse.” – Vito Corleone (The Godfather)
Right from the first few minutes of The Godfather, Vito is portrayed as a caring and compassionate man who is always willing to help those he cares about. Even on his daughter’s wedding day, several people are shown lining up and waiting for an appointment. The trend continues for the rest of the movie, with his godson Johnny Fontane (who happens to be an actor), arriving late on to seek a solution about the studio head, Jack Woltz, who has refused to cast him.
Vito reacts with certainty and promises to make Jack Woltz change his mind. He sends his consigliere Tom Hagen to talk to the man and when he shows some resistance, a different strategy is adopted. One morning, Woltz wakes up to find the severed head of his favorite horse Khartoum, on his bed. For Vito, forcing compliance is important because he has to be respected. When he allows one person to get away with saying no, other people will start doing the same.
13 “Finance is a Gun. Politics is Knowing When to Pull the Trigger.” – Lucchessi (The Godfather: Part III)
When Don Lucchessi approaches Vincent in Italy and offers to be his friend, Vincent feels honored. However, he is hesitant because he is just a mere mobster, yet Lucchessi is well-connected in financial and political circles. The Don realizes that the young man is baffled, so he explains to him the importance of both.
According to Lucchessi, one might have all the money but if they don’t have the right political connections, they won’t get the same kind of power and influence as someone who does. Politicians get to pull a lot of strings and so wealthy people need them. It’s an important lesson for Vincent, one that eventually propels him to the top seat of the Corleone crime family.
12 “It’s Not Personal, Sonny… It’s Business.” Michael Corleone (The Godfather)
The phrase “It’s not personal, it’s business” was coined by the real-world mob accountant, Otto “Abbadabba” Berman, back in the ‘30s, but it’s Michael Corleone that popularized it. Michael says after his brother Sonny tries to persuade him not to kill Captain McClusky and Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo. For Michael, the two have to go because they had made an attempt on his father’s life.
As a former Marine, Michael knows it’s important to retaliate. By killing the two men, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he hates them. He is only treating them the way they treated his people. And true to his world, Michael goes on to whack the two men inside a diner in what is undoubtedly one of the most iconic gangster movie scenes.
11 “I Say We Make Him Dead. You Give Me the Order, I Take Care of It.” – Vincent Mancini (The Godfather: Part III)
Coup attempts are common in the mob and in The Godfather Part III, the Corleone crime family capo, Zoey Zasa, plots with Don Altobello, to get Michael out of power. An assassination attempt is, therefore, made during a meeting of The Commission, but it fails. Fearing Zasa will make another move, Vincent Mancini offers some rather straightforward advice.
Vincent’s words are inspired by both loyalty and a strong desire to please the boss. By offering a suggestion to whack Zasa and offering to do it himself, he ends up looking both proactive and brave. It’s such a kind of personality that makes Michael grow fond of him. It’s no surprise that he eventually names Vincent his successor.
10 “Luca Brasi Sleeps with the Fishes.” – Clemenza (The Godfather)
The decision by the Corleone family to use Vito’s enforcer, Luca Brasi, to spy on the drug kingpin, Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo, doesn’t end so well. When Brasi pretends he is dissatisfied with Vito, Sollozzo sees through it and kills him. He then sends a fish wrapped in Brasi’s vest to the Corleones, and as everyone wonders what the message means, Clemenza explains that it’s a Sicilian way to say that someone’s body is now deep in the sea with fish.
The line went on to be iconic and has been referenced in many of the critically acclaimed gangster movies that came after The Godfather, since throwing bodies in water bodies is a common practice in the mafia. In the pilot episode of The Sopranos, Christopher and Big Pussy even argue about the correct way to say the statement, with the former insisting that it’s Louis Brasi, not Luca Brasi.
9 “My Final Offer is This… Nothing!” – Michael Corleone (The Godfather: Part II)
Away from its endless violence, The Godfather: Part II is considered one of the best films about capitalism. In it, Michael chooses to expand the Corleone crime family’s empire to Las Vegas but is met with some resistance. Senator Pat Geary even meets him personally and demands a bribe by noon the next day or he’ll force him out of the state.
The senator clearly underestimates Michael’s stubbornness and courage. The bullying attempt backfires and instead of giving an answer the next day, the new Don does so immediately, letting Greary know that he isn’t going to pay a single cent. Michael’s words show that he is a different breed of mobster. The senator was clearly used to extracting bribes from other gangsters, but Michael won’t let it happen.
8 “Look How They Massacred My Boy.” – Vito Corleone (The Godfather)
One of the saddest scenes in the whole trilogy plays out when Vito Corleone walks into a morgue to view the body of his son, Sonny. Vito’s eldest son had been lured to the Jones Beach Causeway before being sprayed with bullets by Barzini hitmen in order to avenge his brutal assault on Carlo.
Ordinarily, Vito is an emotionally robust person but, on this occasion, tears flow freely from his eyes. The reality breaks the Don’s heart because he had such high hopes for Sonny. Under normal circumstances, it’s him that could have taken over the family. Thankfully, the act doesn’t go unpunished. A war soon begins, and it eventually ends with Michael killing the bosses of all five families.
7 “Just When I Thought I Was Out, They Pull Me Back In.” – Michael Corleone (The Godfather: Part III)
One of the most common gangster movie tropes involves mafia Dons trying to go legitimate as they grow older. It’s all understandable because as the bosses age, the willingness to deal with police and dangerous enemies reduces. As for Michael, he makes such steps by selling his casinos and forming the Corleone Group. He also invests in the billion-dollar real-estate company, Immobiliare. Unfortunately, he realizes that some of his men are attempting to double-cross him.
At this point, the feared mob boss has no option, but to get back to a life of crime and violence. He hates to dive back into the Cosa Nostra waters, but doing nothing will make him look weak. Michael’s facial and bodily expressions (which highlight his frustration), make the quote even better. Years later, the scene would be hilariously reenacted by Silvio in The Sopranos.
6 “I Don’t Like Violence. I’m a Businessman. Blood is a Big Expense.” – Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo (The Godfather)
During negotiations with the Corleone crime family, the drug lord, Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo is quick to exert dominance and make his terms clear. The statement above is more of a subtle threat. Sollozzo insists that he doesn’t like violence because it interferes with business, but if anyone opts not to bend to his will, he is willing to let things turn bloody.
A statement like this is part of the reason why Sollozzo is such a great villain. He beams with confidence and sees no problem in forcing his will on others. Unfortunately for him, he begins suffering from delusions of grandeur, so much so that he underestimates Michael Corleone, something that eventually leads to his downfall.
5 “I Don’t Fear You, Michael. I Just Dread You.” – Kay (The Godfather: Part III)
Think of some of the worst couples in movie history and you have Michael and Kay. Early in the trilogy, almost every single conversation involving the two is an argument. However, by the third installment, they appear to have matured and put the animosity behind them. Kay is now married to the attorney, Douglas Michelson, while Michael has become so religious and generous that he is now being honored by the Catholic Church for his contribution.
Kay attends the honoring ceremony where Michael asks her if she still fears him. Well, Kay gives a rather interesting response, stating that she just hates what he is capable of doing to others, not necessarily what he can do to her. It’s an honest answer and one that perfectly defines the nature of their relationship.
4 “I Believe in America!” – Bonasera (The Godfather)
In the opening scene of The Godfather, the undertaker, Bonasera, visits Vito Corleone, and informs him that his daughter was assaulted, and the culprits are still walking free. Bonasera then erupts into a passionate monologue, claiming that he has always known America to be a decent country, so the incident has really disappointed him.
For Bonasera, it’s not a case of him completely losing hope in the country, He simply wants the image he has of the country to be restored. So long as there are people who can still help him get justice, America will remain pure in his eyes. Luckily for him, the Don happens to be in a good mood because his daughter is getting married. He vows to help, on condition that he will ask Bonasera for a favor too in the future.
3 “Power Wears Out Those Who Do Not Have It.” – Carlo (The Godfather: Part III)
There’s plenty of plot armor in The Godfather trilogy, so most of the people that attempt to backstab Michael, including Don Lucchessi. Upon learning of his treachery, Vincent gives an order for him to be whacked. Michael’s Sicilian friend, Carlo, is the person sent to do the job and before taking Lucchesi’s life, he says the words above, which are actually a message from Michael.
The quote means that those who don’t have power end up being burdened by it the most. They either concern themselves too much with the activities of leaders or they work day and night to bring them down. On the other hand, those with power simply enjoy it without worrying too much about those that are beneath them.
2 “I’m Smart, and I Want Respect” – Fredo (The Godfather: Part II)
During his brief time in the trilogy, Fredo is depicted as the black sheep of the family. He is lazy, irresponsible, and disloyal. Interestingly, a part of him still feels he deserves better. In one of his heart-to-heart conversations with Michael, he laments about being passed over for the position of Don. He also curses out about being sent to do errands all the time.
Fredo is somehow right about being ignored. As the second child, he was the one that should have taken over after Sonny was killed. However, he is hardly qualified for the job and Vito knew that from the start. He is completely naïve and delusional, so much so that he isn’t aware that respect can never be demanded. It has to be earned.
1 “I Have A Special Practice. I Handle One Client.” – Tom Hagen (The Godfather)
When the studio head Jack Woltz refuses to cast Vito’s godson, Tom Hagen is sent to talk to him. Tom introduces himself as a lawyer and when Woltz presses him further about his specialty, Vito’s consigliere gives an answer that’s both vague and specific.
It isn’t surprising that Tommy is so economical with the details. The Cosa Nostra values secrecy, so he cannot go telling everyone what his exact role in the family is. All that Woltz deserves to know is that he is a personal lawyer. In the scene, Tom’s composure impresses as much as his remark. As a powerful person, Woltz thinks he can intimidate Tom and make him feel inferior, but the consigliere remains calm throughout the entire interaction.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
