Amazingly,The Godfather Part IIdirectly emulates this iconic murder.
More amazingly, it does an equally impressive job.
Both Michael and Vito elect to ignore the unwritten rules and conventions forced upon them.
Taking such a major risk heralds the birth of the Godfather depicted in the original movie.
The jubilation of the festival outside comes across like an oppressed community celebrating Fanucci’s downfall.
The biggest comparison is the slow build of suspense at the heart of both passages.
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InThe Godfather, the audience is forced to bite their nails over whether the assassination attempt will be successful.
For every second that slips by, it feels like Michael’s odds of success get slimmer and slimmer.
Interestingly, both assassinations go slightly wrong at the end.
Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather II continues Michael Corleone’s story as he expands the Corleones' presence as a crime syndicate. The film is also half devoted to the backstory of Vito Corleone, following his rise to power in 1920s New York City. While The Godfather is considered one of the greatest movies ever made, The Godfather Part II was able to live up to the original and secure six Oscars at the 1975 Academy Awards.
Michael disobeys Clemenza’s instructions, and Vito’s makeshift silencer is set on fire.
Another cinematic technique Coppola repeats is synchronizing background elements with the murder itself.
The former is strongly defined by a sense of claustrophobic isolation.
The confined space of a single interior setting makes a big contribution towards the tension of the scene itself.
Which Movie Did It Best: The Godfather Or The Godfather Part II?
Both are supremely executed, expertly acted, packed with thematic depth, and excruciatingly entertaining to watch.
While some viewers marginally prefer the original, others narrowly choose its follow-up.
Picking one over the other is a thankless task.
