THE GODFATHER, PART II

US, 1974, 190 minutes, Colour.
A1 Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Robert De Niro, John Cazale, Lee Strasberg, Talia Shire, James Caan.
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

The Godfather, Part II is a mammoth production, of great interest in its convincing flashbacks to the early 1900s, showing the Sicilian migrants' vendetta back ground and gradual success in New York; also in the contrast of the ,good old days' of family loyalty to the changing times of heartless business deals and political investigation. Acting is excellent, the film convincing, if Jumpy in its vast coverage. But it does not have the intensity of the original - nor its flair. Part II lacks the older Godfather's presence and the horrendous violence and climax of Part I. But the now-familiar Corleone family are repellently fascinating.

1. The value of the film as a sequel? Did the film deserve the awards that it won? Expectations from the original in terms of theme, treatment, scope? The meeting at the opening with Michael as Don?

2. The importance of the technical side of the film: colour, re-creation of Sicily, the New York sequences, the contrast with Nevada in the late 50s, Cuba? The contrast of the times? The contribution of the music and the recognised themes?

3. The importance of the editing, the linking of past and present by facial close-ups? The use of close-ups for reflection? Group sequences and set themes etc.?

4. The effectiveness of the structure: the 1958 to 1960 setting? The transferring to the past? The paralleling
of the rise of Don Vito and the decline of Michael? The theme of decline and fall? The parallels with the Roman empire as spelt out?

5. What did the return to the past add to this film? More appropriate for Part 1? The reasons for Don Vito's success, hold over people, the Sicilian background and expectations of justice, favour and counter-favours? The audience with an impression of Don Vito? With the judgement on him from Part 1?

6. The contribution of the Sicilian sequences: atmosphere, look, the old world, the boss and his ruthlessness, deaths of Don Vito's father, brother, his mother helping him to escape? The atmosphere of vengeance in the town? The suspense of his escape? The transition to New York, the atmosphere of the migrants, the statue of liberty? The customs, language barriers, his name, and his illness?

7. The showing of Vito growing in New York, his work, friendship with Clemenza? Their visit to the theatre and Clemenza's girlfriend? The comedy and the melodrama of the Italian theatre? In New York? Naples, Nama, tears? The impression of Fanuccl? His reputation, protection, power? How were these sequences balanced by the family sequences of Don Vito and his wife and their children at home?

8. The build-up to Fanucci's death? The use of the feast and the New York streets, the tracking sequences, the violence of the shooting and Vito's escape? The effect on his reputation? How was this illustrated by the encounter with Signor Roberto and his hardness, his change of style, clothing, language?

9. The final Sicilian sequence and the arrival of the family, the encounter with the murdering man, the violence of the murder? The farewell and Michael as a baby waving out the window?

10. What had been established by the end of Part 1 with Michael as Don? The memory of the massacres of 1950 and the baptism? Eighty years and development, the moving from New York to Nevada? The more sophisticated organisation? The atmosphere of the times with the police and politics? The disintegration of empire and Michael being left alone at the end and the significance of the flashback to the beginning of the war and his enlisting and not going for his father's birthday? What had he gained, lost?

11. The significance of the Communion setting? The Catholic emphasis, religion as part of the heritage of these families? The sense of family, the sense of the Mafia family? The holiday atmosphere and yet the guard and the protection? The Senator's speech, the choir, the atmosphere of Nevada and the contrast with New York? Connie and Meree, Frank Panatell and his wanting to get to Michael, standing in line, his drunken speech? Kay and her coping? The meal sequence and the confrontation with Frank? The setting of the atmosphere for the film, for characters?

12. The contrast with the Senator and his straight talk in private? His hostility to the Italians, his wanting money~ Politics and corruption? The turning of the table and the sequences with the framing of the murder of the prostitute? His desperation? The transition to Cuba and his presence there? To the Senate committee and his talk praising the Italians? How did this symbolise the relationship of the Mafia business with politics?

13. How well delineated was the character of Frank Panatelli? The link with the past? His difficulties in New York, hostility of Hyman Roth? His drunken speech, the attempt at hitting Michael and the violence in the bedroom? Michael's decision that he be killed, his leading him on to suspect Roth? His not being killed and sudden appearance as the witness? His happy-go-lucky attitude, protection? His behaviour in the investigation with the presence of his brother? The talk with Tom Hagen about the Roman empire and suicide, the pathos of his death in the bath? What comment on Mafia behaviour and loyalty?

14. The domestic side of Michael's life? His pride in Anthony, presents, education etc.? The bond with Kay, and yet her regrets that the business was not legitimatised? Her growing hostility and suspicion, her being imprisoned and not allowed out to shop? The discouragement, the confrontation with Michael, her presence in the Senate investigation? The truth about the abortion? Her visiting the children and the door being slammed in her face? The disintegration of a potentially happy marriage?

15. The presentation of Tom as Advocate, yet the diminishing of his influence? Michael hurting him and yet his loyalty, his persuading Frank to kill himself? His role within the family, in the flashback?

16. The contrast with Fredo as weak, unable to control his wife's behaviour at the party, being the weak link and traitor with Hyman Roth's men? His presence in Cuba, his lies, his giving himself away in the nightclub? Michael's hostility yet trying to save him, the expression of hatred and Fredo's outburst against being passed over? His mother's death, his not speaking with Michael? Taking Anthony fishing, the Hail Mary story, his death, especially with the anticipated words of the Hail Mary?

17. Michael and his shrewdness in business? His treatment of the senator, getting advice from Tom Hagen, his visits, his relationship with Roth and sparring verbally with him, visiting Frank in New York and his reminiscing about the old house, visits to Cuba, control? His lies and his motivations, the web in which he involved himself? His presence in the investigation, the lies, the declaration of innocence? The clash with Kay, his growing bitterness? The decision to kill all his enemies? His being left alone, a failure?

18. The significance of Hyman Roth, Jewish gangster, ageing, succeeding, helping his friends, his plans against Michael? The importance of the Cuban sequences and their geniality? His leaving for Israel, and his return, murder?

19. The contribution of Conme and her going away from her children, her going round the world, the significance of her return, looking after Michael, caring for Kay? The presence of Don Vito's wife and her death?

20. Themes of family, intricate business, the laws of family, violence and death?

21. The depiction of violence - how appropriate for the film?

22. Themes of politics, America, migrants, corruption, politics cleaning up against the business, evil? The analogy with the Roman empire?

23. The value of this comprehensive portrait of a 20th century Mafia family?