Grays Almanac

Home/Episodes/The Godfather

‘The Godfather’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Chris Ryan

January 8, 2019 · The Godfather (1972) · Crime · Drama · 2:06:48

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

Categories

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 32:12Listed multiple candidates including Salazzo meeting the Corleones to pitch his deal, and Clemenza making meatballs while giving Michael advice

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 45:28The house in The Godfather was also used as the Stanwyck house in Fletch

Best Quote

Bill Simmons▶ 55:17How about you get me off the hook, Tom? For old times sake. Can't do it, Sally.

What's Aged the Worst

Bill Simmons▶ 58:42Kate Corleone character - finds her behavior unrealistic and problematic, particularly how she takes Michael back after he disappeared for years and married someone else
Chris Ryan▶ 1:02:16Agrees with Bill about problems with Kate Corleone character, though distinguishes between the character being problematic vs Diane Keaton's performance
Sean Fennessey▶ 58:47Defends Kate Corleone character as necessary - argues she serves as the audience avatar and that her holding a candle for Michael is believable

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:08:28George C. Scott — Lists extensive casting alternatives including George C. Scott for Don Vito, Warren Beatty/Jack Nicholson for Michael, Ryan O'Neill preference by Robert Evans, De Niro originally cast as Pauly, and Stallone auditioning for Pauly/Carlo roles
Chris Ryan▶ 1:11:01Robert Redford — Notes Redford fits the book description for Michael, agrees Stallone would have been good as Carlo the shitbag
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:10:20George C. Scott — George C. Scott would have been interesting as Don Vito - has the weight and tortured, dark affect, though not Italian

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:19:41John Marley — Jack Waltz - said he fits the award definition best, being in three scenes and 'dialed up to 100 in all of them'
Chris Ryan▶ 1:18:02Alex Rocco — Mo Green - compared him to a player who 'plays eight minutes, scores 15 points, tears Achilles' and goes out amazingly with his death scene
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:19:35John Marley — Jack Waltz - praised his performance as constant heat checks, especially the horse head scream scene

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:28:47Gordon Willis — Not apex for any of the major stars - not James Caan, Coppola, Pacino, or Brando. Considers Gordon Willis and Robert Evans as possibilities.
Chris Ryan▶ 1:29:20Gordon Willis — Gordon Willis for cinematography and Al Martino
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:28:56Robert Evans — Not apex for James Caan since he'll be one of the biggest movie stars in three years. Agrees on Robert Evans as a possibility.

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:59:41Francis Ford Coppola — Torn between Pacino (who transforms and couldn't be replaced) and Coppola (who made an unprecedented film), ultimately seems to lean toward Coppola while also mentioning Bob Evans as a possible supporting case
Chris Ryan▶ 1:59:29Francis Ford Coppola — Francis Ford Coppola - agrees with Sean, considered Gordon Willis briefly but doesn't want to get too cute
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:58:36Francis Ford Coppola — Francis Ford Coppola - because he sets a new course for his career, creates the most important movie in American history, and turns a trashy novel into the highest art form

Movies Referenced (26)

Chinatown (1974)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 4:42IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jaws (1975)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 0:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Miami Vice (2006)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 45:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Love Story (1970)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 13:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Easy Rider (1969)

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 1:59:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Goodfellas (1990)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 19:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

On the Waterfront (1954)

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 24:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Rushmore (1998)

2 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 29:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 2:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 24:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Almost Famous (2000)

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:11:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Apocalypse Now (1979)

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 1:09:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (9)

Francis Ford Coppola

4 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for Apocalypse Now, The Godfather Part II▶ 16:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

AFI

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 22:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Arthur Penn

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Bonnie and Clyde▶ 12:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bob Fosse

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for All That Jazz▶ 27:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

George Clooney

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Ides of March, Michael Clayton▶ 1:04:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Otto Preminger

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Stalag 17, Anatomy of a Murder▶ 12:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Peter Jackson

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for King Kong▶ 1:05:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sofia Coppola

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation▶ 1:24:22IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Von Ryan

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:05:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (62)

Marlon Brando

37 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Apocalypse Now, The Godfather, On the Waterfront▶ 10:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Frank Sinatra

31 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for From Here to Eternity▶ 51:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Al Pacino

28 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Dog Day Afternoon, The Godfather▶ 12:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jack Nicholson

25 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Chinatown, As Good as It Gets, The Departed▶ 5:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tom Hayden

20 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 9:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Al Martino

15 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for The Godfather▶ 1:05:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

James Caan

12 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Thief, Rollerball, Misery▶ 9:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robert Evans

7 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Chinatown, Marathon Man▶ 11:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Abe Vigoda

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for The Godfather▶ 55:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Alex Rocco

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for The Godfather, The Wedding Planner▶ 52:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robert De Niro

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Cape Fear, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver▶ 10:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Crazy Town

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Something's Gotta Give, Saving Silverman, Orange County▶ 0:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (8)

George Lucas

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, THX 1138, American Graffiti▶ 1:04:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mario Puzo

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for The Godfather, The Godfather Part II▶ 14:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 23:05IMDb ↗Lb ↗

James Cameron

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Avatar, Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day▶ 28:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jackie Files

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:23:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Peter Bart

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Revenge of the Nerds, Fun with Dick and Jane▶ 15:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robert Towne

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Chinatown, Mission: Impossible, The Last Detail▶ 40:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

William Goldman

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men, The Princess Bride▶ 26:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

Gordon Willis

6 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for The Godfather Part II▶ 13:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗