Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Mrs. Piggy (A) on October 16, 2002 at 17:54:54

In Reply to: It's a five-way tie........... posted by danj on October 15, 2002 at 20:57:53:

Michael: Come on. Don't be afraid, Carlo. Come on, you think I'd make my sister a widow? I'm Godfather to your son, Carlo...You're out of the Family business, that's your punishment. You're finished. I'm putting you on a plane to Vegas...I want you to stay there, understand? Only don't tell me you're innocent. Because it insults my intelligence and makes me very angry. Now, who approached you? Tattaglia or Barzini?
Carlo: It was Barzini.
Michael: Good.

Clemenza is ordered to murder Carlo in a brutal and painful manner - strangling him from behind while inside a car bound for the airport. Carlo valiantly kicks a hole through the car windshield as he tries to break free while being choked to death.

The ending scene of the film is justifiably famous. As the house is vacated and furnishings are moved by packers to their new home in Nevada, Connie hysterically accuses Michael of being responsible for her treacherous husband's death. She calls Michael a "lousy, cold-hearted bastard." Kay, Michael's non-Italian wife, asks whether Connie's accusation is true about the order to kill their brother-in-law. Denying responsibility, Kay is patronizingly lied to about his business:

Kay: Michael, is it true?
Michael: Don't ask me about my business, Kay.
Kay: Is it true?
Michael: Don't ask me about my business...
Kay: No.
Michael (slamming his hand on the desk): Enough. All right. This one time, this one time I'll let you ask me about my affairs.
Kay (whispering): Is it true? Is it?
Michael (quietly, shaking his head): No.
Kay (sighing relief): (Michael kisses and hugs her.) I guess we both need a drink, huh?
She leaves his study to fix a drink, shaky but smiling. At the same time, family henchmen Rocco Lampone, Clemenza and Al Neri (known as Michael's 'Luca Brasi') enter Michael's study, telling him of the successful assassinations of his enemies and betrayers, and paying tribute. Kay stares at them in the study - Clemenza embraces Michael, shaking and kissing his hand, clearly anointing him as the new Don Corleone of the Family: "Don Corleone." Rocco is the second one to kiss his ring hand. [The Godfather, Part II (1974) begins with this shot.] Michael has emerged as the new Godfather in his father's image, an image he once sought to escape.

Good stuff
mp