Johnny Fontaine is based on Frank Sinatra who wanted the role of Maggio in “From Here to Eternity”. The director didn’t want to give him the part because he knew it would revive his career. Sinatra got the part and won an Academy Award for Best supporting Actor.

That cat walked onto the set, looking for attention. Marlon picked him up and became part of the scene.

The scene at the hospital with Enzo the baker was really a killer scene. If you remember, at the wedding, the man who baked the cake spoke to Don Corleone about Enzo who was about to be repatriated to Italy, so he asked The Godfather for help so that Enzo could stay in America and marry his daughter. That's why Enzo insisted on staying with Michael, though he was frightened to death about what may have happened.

You’re a legend for making this such a long reaction. This movie deserves it and seeing more of you is always a good thing!

I'll tell you this: this is the best INTRO for a Godfather reaction I can think of! You set the scene for the perfect viewing environment: a rainy day! You include a great montage of pop culture references to the movie. Loved it. I'm basically one minute into the video and I already had to comment! Very cool!

When Solotzo comes to the Godfather it was 1945, and so even though it seems strange that he would refuse the deal, back then organized crime was just getting into widespread narcotic sales. GREAT reaction!

"Why is it so dark in there?" There was a big argument during filming between the director and the lighting guy. The director thought the shadows were more important than clearly seeing faces. It was his movie, so he won the argument.

My mother was born and raised in Spain and she told me she could understand most of what a person speaking Italian said so the languages have a lot of similarities. As for the reactions, there are always people who will find a reason to dislike something, don't worry about them because the people who like your videos enjoy your honest reactions. This movie is a masterclass in framing, lighting and camera shots. There are videos on youtube that break this down and you can learn a lot about why particular shots are made in particular circumstances with specific lighting in this movie that helps you to understand why this movie is so admired and studied by film students and directors.

The man they had playing Luca Brazi was a legitimate scary person. He was a bodyguard for a capo in one of the families. As I understand it he spent some time in prison for arson. This was actual the start of a movie career for him. Also Luca was the primary enforcer for Vito Corleone. He was his primary enforcer. According to Michael Franzese who was a capo in the 70s dealing in drugs was frowned upon. He was told that if he got involved with drugs he would be killed. Although some did get involved you were ok as long as you didn't get caught and kicked up to the higher ups would look the other way. This is different than in Italy where they were heavily involved. Michael Fanzese is the only member of the Cosa Nostra that successfully left without going into witness protection.

Your English is superb. I wish I had similar comprehension of Spanish. And I really appreciate your reactions: fresh and authentic to a film I thought I knew inside out. You brought new perspectives to a classic film.

Can't wait for part 2!

I love that you showed a lot of the movie compared to some other reactors and you didn't talk over all of it. You def took it all in.

This reaction is FANTASTIC!!!!!! You have given us a very generous, very thorough cut and your reactions are priceless, even to just the tiniest little details. Your appreciation and understanding of Italian culture makes this reaction very, very special (you are completely correct: Italian and Spanish culture are very similar). I'd have to look at your full video list, but I think this may be my favorite Amanda Miquilena reaction yet!!! Very, very special reaction!!!! YES: Brando is wearing makeup, he did not look like that at all! He was the Brad Pitt of his day! If you look at pictures of him in "Last Tango In Paris", it's the same year, that's what he looked like. (Also "The Nightcomers"; he did three completely different characters in one year. No one ever mentions that!). "The Godfather Part 2" is fantastic as well. And then after that, you should hit "Goodfellas", the other masterpiece mob movie.....very different, just as great, though! Also "The Freshman" with Marlon Brando, a classic 90s comedy where he parodies his Godfather performance! You'll be able to get all the jokes!

My favorite movie of all time. Just a masterpiece. Fun fact: that cat on the lap was completely off script. It was just a cat on the set and it jumped in his lap. Marlon Brando just rolled with it and it added a lot to the scene I think.

You're forgetting that this drugs thing is taking place just after WW2. (And the Frank Sinatra reference is anachronistic because it -- the rumour of it -- took place in the early 1950s, years later.)

Good job Amanda! Put part 2 out sooner. I'll make you an offer you can't refuse!

The fact that they strangled Luca meant that they knew he was wearing a vest. That's the first sign there was a traitor in the family.

Your reactions are great! This movie is probably the second or third best movie ever made. The first is Casablanca( you must react to it) and the other is The Godfather Part II. Keep it up! You do a great job!!

30:19 - just noticing that shot of Michael on the phone and Kay behind the glass looking in. It's a recurring motif - while the men of the family conduct their business, the women are constantly being shut out (and sure enough, in the next shot we see Sonny on the phone and his wife standing in the background). And, of course, the last shot of the film is the door of Michael's office closing on Kay, shutting her out once again...

True fact: 'Luca Brasi' was played by Lenny Montana, a bodyguard for the Colombo crime family. The mafia sent him to the movie to watch it get made, and Coppola worked him into the movie as Luca.

Amanda Miquilena, I like that you're alotting more than one youtube video to this film.

That "Oh Honeeyyyy" 😂 Gurl you weren't ready!

What always gets me is how people think these are films about a "crime family" when this is just how the halls of power work in the US. It's all who you know, corruption, threats and violence. If anything Don Corleone is a bit of a saint as depicted here.

If you read the book, you won't feel bad at all for what happened to Luca. People dreaded him for a reason.

the detective who said Michael was a war hero was Sonny Grasso who was one of the lead detectives who broke up The French Connection

Tears are definitely running down my face. Good luck girl.

It is such a blessing, that even 50 years later, there are people watching The Godfather for the first time, and it still leaves such an astonishing effect on people. It's one of my all-time favorite movies, and hopefully, you get a chance to watch another incredible Francis Coppola film: Apocalypse Now.

The story of the horse's head: There was a dog food factory in Mexico that the producers scouted and they found a living horse there which was going to be slaughtered for dog food. It was the right color, and when it was time for the scene they brought out that horse's head and applied that white spot to its forehead. So yes, it was real. And yes, Marlon Brando wore an appliance in his mouth as part of his makeup. Dick Smith, one of the greatest makeup artist who ever lived (THE greatest, in my opinion) designed the makeup. I found severs images on Yahoo of the makeup process.

You have a beautiful spirit, great reaction, big love from Britain🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

The cat in the opening scene was not part of the script. It was hanging around the set. Marlon Brando befriended it and ended up in the movie. It is set in 1946

😂😂😂 "I thought he was just a fan of toilets" 😂😂😂😂

This is the first time that I see one of your videos. You are so awesome and very beautiful!

As an Italian-American who like The Godfather, has ancestors that came from Italy, I can tell you with certainty that to hold up your hand while opening and closing your fingers, then going wow “Wawa Wawa Wawa”is not offensive to us as a culture. 😎

Corleone / " Corleon' " would depend on the dialect. Early in the movie they use the term "paesan," meaning a fellow Italian or Italian-American, a variant of paesano (countryman).

The Godfather is one of the first violently mature films my parents let me watch growing up. It's definitely one of the greatest film franchises of all time. Seeing so much civilized (and uncivilized) politicking in the world of organized crime intrigued me and has been the center of many "What if" discussions with my father over the years, over how things could've played out differently.

First time seeing your videos, your editing is awesome 👌 👏

Arguably the greatest movie ever made......may be Brando’s best performance

Hey Amanda, can't wait to see your Part 2 reaction of The Godfather... Sharing some of my outlook on the movie. 10:46 - The music gets me too especially after the intense opening dark scene of the movie. 22:30 to 22:35 - Thought same for Woltz but it was his precious horse that met fate. 22:41 - Sharp observation (seeing the Oscar status). Some will miss it on first viewing. 24:29 - It means Don Corleone (Marlon Brando's) character is insulted. 37:01 - Hahaha **jump scare moment**

Regarding the question wondering why you don't cry: this is your channel and we want you to react honestly. The reason you haven't cried is because a movie hasn't made you cry. It's up to the movie to make you cry. It never even crossed my mind why you do or don't cry. What a stupid - and offensive - question.

The scene where Sonny smashes the Federal Agent's camera, the actor, James Caan, said in an interview that the paying the money was improvisation on his part because the way he was raised was that if you broke something then you paid for it.

Yes! Brando stuffed cotton in his mouth, and his make-up made him look 20 years older.

What a great movie! The Frank Sinatra (the Johnny Fontaine character) history is perfect, just like it really happened. The movie he got was "From Here to Eternity", first he didn't sing and he got an Oscar for it.

19:00 yes. Marlon Brando has prostetics in his face to make him look older. The actor was only 47 when they film the movie.

@25:41 Santino talking out of order here (his father stopped him), gives Solozzo (with the Tattaglias & Barzinis holding his strings) *the impression Sonny is interested enough* to be far less reluctant to ttake his project, that Solozzo so much needs, than his father Don Vito Corleone. That's the reason *why Solozzo will shortly make an attemot at Vito Corleone's life.*

"I though he was just a fan of toilets."

Hi, Amanda. New subscriber, first time watching, ready to watch more! Yes, sometimes, with some people, something simply must be done. But "happy endings" did make me laugh, LOL! 😂

Amanda.... YOUR WAY TO 😍BEAUTIFUL😍 TO CRY! And yes i just subscribed! ✌

I’m from NY. A lot of friends fathers were in. My dad grew up with them in Brooklyn. Rule is don’t owe then anything, and your ok.

12:32 in this situation you don't pay in cash. If you were cool in his book the Godfather gives you whatever you want on his daughter's wedding. In any other situation it wouldn't be free. In the book he won't take your cash, but he'll take your "friendship"

A lot of people miss the message of the Godfather surprisingly. The point of the first scene... and many after... is that the Godfather doesn't do things purely for money. Quite the opposite in fact. He wants friendships and connections with people that supersede the influence of money. Bonsera at the beginning of the movie wants to pay him to kill thugs, Vito asks him why he treats him so disrespectfully. You see Vito use his fingers to wipe something invisible from his face in that scene and the scene with Solazzo. When these people try to persuade Vito by the monetary aspect of a situation. Vito's own father was killed because of a monetary situation and his mother also killed and he had to flee to the USA... you see this more in Godfather 2. In Godfather 2 you see another Don basically bullying people to get money from them. Vito builds friendships that are based on something more solid than money. Real friendship and trust. Whenever it seems like he's a corrupt gangster, you have to remember at the time even police and politicians were persuaded by money to ignore truth or integrity. Vito builds real connections and friendships by avoiding monetary influence and even pushes violently when an issue is more about money gain than integrity. He teaches Bonsera about this in the beginning. He tries to teach Sonny about it with the Solazzo deal. He tries to appeal to the other Dons with the drugs issue. Don't bring bad things into the world you are overseeing whilst still trying to maintain some control and power over your community... because... other people gaining control may not care about the community and people as much. In Godfather 2 we see Micheal trying to maintain this connections dynamic but he isn't capable of maintaining the heart of it. Vito asks Sonny if he spends time with his family... because a man who doesn't spend time with his family isn't a real man. Micheal sadly didn't follow in his father's footsteps in that regard and ends up becoming very distant from all of his family where as Vito kept trying to keep them close. Because.... in life... even if you are very rich and powerful... it wont mean anything if you feel alone... like Vito was as a child in the USA after his mother and father and brother were killed in Italy. Build something more powerful in life than money. Build a family.

You mention that it's a shame that they don't show the beating the two punks who assaulted the undertaker's daughter receive. It is described in the novel and the boys get the treatment they deserve. Paulie and a couple of big ex-boxers give them a thorough beating and they have to spend q month in the hospital afterwards (and may have some permanent scars, etc. to remind them of their crimes).

What the guys laughing at Michael (when he said he'd "kill 'em both") didn't understand was that he fought in WWII. And not in Europe; he fought in the Pacific, which was intimate, brutal combat. Especially for the Marines.

The scene where Micheal tells his father in the hospital that he will take care of him is wher eMichael goes to the dark side. It's like Frodo keeping the Ring. That's why his father weeps, because he didn't want that for Michael.

It was my 30th birthday yesterday and I hadn't watched The Godfather until I was like 27 or 28. It's wild because so many people love it, even in my own family, yet I just never gave it a chance until more recently. I've watched the trilogy through like 4 times since then. It's really good, isn't it? People weren't lying jaja

Really enjoyed your first half review of The Godfather. Looking forward to part 2.

In the book, it explains Mike and the caporegimes laughing. The Caporegimes Tessio and Clemenza laughed taking Sonny's lead BUT they thought Sonny disbelieved Mike. Mike thought all three were disrespecting him. Sonny was in a holding pattern. He was a very good acting don and he held the other families to a standstill. But he was limited. He was not a great Don like Mike or Vito. He was cunning but not brilliant. He needed Mike to stop being a civilian. He KNEW with Mike on his side he could win. He was smart enough to know that and was waiting and FINALLY, a tap on the jaw got him to finally join Sonny. He thought it was hilarious. He was laughing with relief as much as anything. The caporegimes misjudged him and so did Mike. I think they should have spelt this out better as it underplays a lot of Sonny. Sonny in the novel was very smart, very violent and emotionally driven and it did make him a little reckless and unreliable he pays for that but is also loyal, tough and loves his family. Very complex character. In the movie, he is not as smart and a thug mostly.

I am glad you are taking your time reacting to this film Amanda. I hate when YTers watch a classic two hour film and give it all of 25 minutes. My only quibble is that you talked over the scene where Michael tells the nurse that "people are coming to kill my father", which I think is one of the movie's most powerful. Also, as far as reacting, your natural reactions are just fine. I also hate it when YTers ham it up with their reactions. EVERY damned movie is the "funniest!" or the "saddest" or whatever. They either have poor tasted or worse, they are lying to please gullible viewers. Keep up the good work!

This is reaction + asmr combined. Love eeeet

Great reaction, as usual, for a great movie, Amanda! However, I'm with most critics in thinking that Godfather 2 is even better than this... btw, the actress that plays Mike's gf is Diane Keaton, who went on to make a series of famous films with Woody Allen, and even win a Best Actress Oscar!!!

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY. I watch this like history lol - I am Italian. My family moved to America in 1920.

Your facial expressions are so cool-you’re so pretty! GF1 and GF2 are masterpieces. I wish I was watching these classic films for the first time again, too. 😊

The wedding takes place in 1945. The movie covers the years from 1945-50, or so.

Now that's a movie everyone should watch! The Godfather trilogy is a true classic.

"Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli" Kinda sums it up

have even eagerly awaiting another upload!

18:54, yes, Amanda..that's where the saying came from..this film! So cool how Brando played the Don, even though he wasn't Italian! 24:20..Ironic how the Mafia was so anxiuos to get into the drug biz in the 40's, then 60 years later couldn't get out of them fast enough, "Franchising'" it out to the Russians, Traids, etc. "Too big of a liability" said a local Chicago boss. They then invested in legal income like online sports betting, payday loans and banking.

As someone who loves history, I love the first half hour of this movie. I'm with you, the music and party scene is amazing.

Drugs were actually forbidden in the mafia. Those on drugs were more likely to become informants to the feds if/when pressured.

I've probably seen this movie 20 times, and I am looking forward to watching you see it for the first time. Should be fun. 😀

14:35 It is Corleone but, in informal or colloquial Italian, words/names can sometimes be abbreviated, so he's sometimes referred to as "Corleon".

Brando put gauze in his jowls because that’s how he saw the part. You should check out the movies On The Waterfront and A Streetcar Named Desire to see Brando at his physical and acting peak. He was generally considered to be the greatest American actor. Duvall, Hackman, Pacino, Hoffman, et al considered him to be the best.

This woman is like my wife she thinks she knows what's going on and tries to guess what's next and is always wrong . 😂

Amanda has the most beautiful smile i have ever seen. Good lord.

ha! you thought "he was just a fan of toilets." aren't we all? especially the new fangled in-door kind.

You’re going to love how this story progresses. And Godfather II, even better.

As a 2nd generation Italian American New Yorker, my grandparents were from Calabria, we don’t find anything offensive!

The war reference "take it to the mattresses" is also from this. At 18:45 P.s. Robert Duvall killed it as Tom Hagen.

Solving problems in exchange for loyalty.

YES, Marlon Brando put something in there! Dunno what, some gum pieces or something. A buddy of mine once put used earplugs into his lower gums, then started talking like Corleone. Btw, no fault for not getting it, since so many names fly around, but ENZO (the young man at the hospital, helping Michael out) is the son of the *second man* to speak to Corleone, during the intro - the baker's apprentice, hot for the baker's daughter! Corleone hooked them up, they got married, Enzo's living the life! He truly arrives at the hospital with flowers and true intentions, and when he realizes Corleone's in trouble, he eagerly assists (and with a thick Italian accent, he's _from_ Italy, after all _"I 'elp you, I 'elp!"_ ), even to the point of risking his life on the stairs, shaking like a leaf afterwards. Enzo's a real lad!

Awesome reaction to the masterpiece movie ;)

Tell the people who dislike your videos that you're gonna make them an offer they can't refuse.

Ahhh "The Godfather".... we are 3 brothers in the family and it's our favorite movie... its our father's favorite movie as well, he made us discover it. My biggest regret is that I didnt watch it for the first time with my Dad... it was a Friday night... I had school on Saturday and a biology exam to prepare and so he saw it with my younger brother and I watched it on Sunday afternoon, with my Mom... it was a crappy VHS everything looked blacka and white but I was mind blown... it was 25 years ago...

Wow, I thought this video was going to end with the meeting of Michael, Sollozo and McCluskey, a very imporant scene, the way you cut it lives up to the suspense, even if I had already seen the movie like +10 times, but it gets better after that, raI send thanks to Sterling Hayden, who played Captain McCluskey, excellent actor from Hollywood's Golden Age, also worked in The Killing and Dr. Strangelove, two of Stanley Kubrick's first films, who in fact said that The Godfather was one of the best movies ever). I like that you recognized Al Pacino when he was young, because everyone knows this is the movie that launched him into fame, Marlon Brando was the BIG STAR, but some of the young main actors, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, James Caan (who played Sonny, he passed away in 2022 at 82 years old, R. I. P.), they were all young and promising stars back then, they became LEGENDS, the 70s paved the way into Hollywood nowadays, that's why it was called "The New Hollywood" back then, some of the directors and actors from that time are still alive and working, also the movie is now 50 years old so I think you came up at time to watch it. And don't worry, I'm venezuelan and I don't care if you speak spanish a bit, I find it cute, especially mexican accent, my Godfather (literal) he referenced the film, also the references in other media like The Simpsons help me to watch the movie (I already did watch some scenes in KZfaq, yeah I did some spoilers to myself but I don't care) and understood it better, as I rewatched I always finded new things, he's now living in Mexico with my cousin and my Godmather (who in fact, got italian nationality, she knows to speak italian and also german). My mother also understands italian because as you mentioned, it's somehting similar to spanish and she even tried to traduce some scenes, she also fully understands portuguese, I mean, Brazil is a neighbor country and the biggest one, even if she dosen't speak those languagues fully. Gracias por tu video-reacción, veré la 2da parte de este video😎🤌👌👋👈

"Are this people paying for this?" Well. Amanda, not exactly. It's an exchange of favours that they are expected to accomplish and are accounted for. I'm Spanish and that's the way things have worked in the Mediterranean since Roman times, that's how our mediterranean cultures (Spanish, Italian, Greek, North African) have worked beyond the state for milennia, even now at some levels. And that's how "mafia" worked back then in the 40s. I guess you are from Spanish heritage, and I kinda expected you to relate to that. 😄

Italian is such a musical language!

Simpson’s reference!?!? I LOVE YOU

so great reaction

Marlon Brando was wearing a mouthpiece to look more like a bulldog. He was also wearing makeup to make him look older. He was only 47 when the movie was filmed. If you look up "Marlon Brando No Makeup" or something like that, you'll see. He looks way younger without it.

Hello there Armanda. This film starts off in late 1945 and ends in circa 1955. If you want to know what happened to the scum who beat up the mans' daughter, please read Mario Puzos' novel.

RIP James Caan.

Better late then never 😄 This is a tru classic And dont worry about your reactions, just be you 😉

That Simpsons reference (Don Homerone) is to a character from the second movie.

In the scene at the beginning The Godfather does you a favor but now you're in his pocket and he can ask you to do anything and you can't refuse

It's been so long since I've seen this film it all seems like a I've not seen it at all. Looking forward to part two. Here's hoping you will consider the other two Godfather films. Of course after watching all three, then "Goodfellas" is a must watch. -Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA

It's probably been mentioned here already, but the Tessio actor Abe Vigoda became a famous sitcom actor on the show BARNEY MILLER. Anyone wanting to see him being funny should look for that show.

Much Love!

You a gangster, girl. You're anticipating too much, you understand what the characters are going to do before they even know themselves. Gonna have to keep an eye on you!

Don Corleone's office is dark because the filmmakers wanted to show the contrast of the evil things happening there with the bright light of the happy wedding outside.

29:43 - Nice attention to detail - the movie playing at Radio City Music Hall is "The Bells of St. Mary's" (with Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman). I looked it up and that movie did indeed come out in December of 1945. So, it's Christmas time in the movie and a bit later Tom Hagen says "it's almost 1946." (Also, earlier when Nazorine the baker was asking The Godfather to arrange for his daughter to marry Enzo he said, "Now that the War is over, this boy Enzo, they want to re-patriate him back to Italy.")

This is my opinion is the best mob movie. It was released in the best decade for movies in my opinion. Loved your reaction and looking forward to seeing more of your content.