The
Godfather quotes
have become so popular that you would probably still recognize the
quotes and lines from this movie even if you have never watched the
film from start to finish. Quotes
such as "I’m
gonna make him an offer he
can't refuse"
and countless other lines from this movie have been copied
many times in
comedy movies, sketches, commercials, etc. that it’s now
become part of our culture and it is one of the most iconic movies
ever made. To
sample the superiority of The
Godfatherhere are the
quotes.
Directed
by: Francis Ford Coppola
Written by: Mario Puzo (novel &
screenplay) Starring: Marlon Brando - Don
Vito Corleone
Al Pacino - Michael Corleone
James Caan - Santino 'Sonny' Corleone
Richard S. Castellano - Peter Clemenza Robert Duvall
- Tom Hagen
Sterling Hayden - Capt. McCluskey
John Marley - Jack Woltz
Richard Conte - Don Emilio Barzini
Al Lettieri - Virgil 'The Turk' Sollozzo
Diane Keaton - Kay Adams
Abe Vigoda - Sal Tessio
Talia Shire - Connie Corleone Rizzi
Gianni Russo - Carlo Rizzi
John Cazale - Fredo Corleone
Rudy Bond - Don Carmine Cuneo
[first
lines] Bonasera:
I believe in America. America has made my fortune. And I raised my
daughter in the American fashion. I gave her freedom but I taught her
never to dishonor her family. She found a "boyfriend," not an Italian.
She went to the movies with him. She stayed out late. I didn't protest.
Two months ago he took her for a drive, with another boyfriend. They
made her drink whiskey and then they tried to take advantage of her.
She resisted. She kept her honor. So they beat her, like an animal.
When I went to the hospital her nose was broken. Her jaw was shattered,
held together by wire. She couldn't even weep because of the pain. But
I wept. Why did I weep? She was the light of my life. A beautiful girl.
Now she will never be beautiful again. [He breaks down at this
point, and the Don gestures to his son to get him a drink] Bonasera:
Sorry...
Don
Corleone: Why
did you go to the police? Why didn't you come to me first? Bonasera:
What do you want of me? Tell me anything. But do what I beg you to do. Don Corleone:
What is that? [Bonasera gets up from
his seat and whispers into the Don's ear; for a long moment the Don is
silent] Don Corleone:
That I cannot do. Bonasera: I
will give you anything you ask!
Bonasera: Be
my friend...
Godfather. [the Don upon hearing
the title lifts his hand and a humbled Bonasera kisses the ring on it] Don Corleone:
Good. Some
day, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a
service for me. But until that day, accept this justice as a gift on my
daughter's wedding day. [a gratified Bonasera
offers his thanks and leaves] Don Corleone:[to Hagen] Give
this to Clemenza. I want reliable people, people who aren't going
to be carried away. I mean, we're not murderers, in spite of what this
undertaker thinks.
[The Corleone
Family poses for
the wedding photo] Don Corleone:[to Sonny]
Where's Michael? Sonny: Don't
worry. He'll be here. Don Corleone:
We're not taking the picture without Michael.
Tom
Hagen: I have to
get back to work. It's part of the wedding. No Sicilian can refuse a
request on his daughter's wedding day.
Luca
Brasi:
Don Corleone, I am honored and grateful that you have invited me to
your daughter's wedding... on the day of your daughter's wedding. And I
hope that their first child be a masculine child. I pledge my
ever-ending
loyalty.
Michael Corleone:
When
Johnny was first starting out, he was signed to this personal
services contract with a big band leader. And as his career got
better and better, he wanted to get out
of it. Now, Johnny is my
father's godson and my father went
to see this band leader and offered him $10,000 to let Johnny go, but
the band leader said no. So the next day, my father went to see him,
only this
time with Luca Brasi and within an hour he signed the
release for a
certified check of $1000. Kay Adams:
How did he do that? Michael Corleone:
My father
made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Kay Adams:
What was that? Michael Corleone:
Luca
Brasi held a gun to his head, and my father assured him that either his
brains or his signature would be on the contract. That's a
true
story. [cut to Johnny singing
again for about 10 more seconds before going back to Michael] Michael Corleone:
That's
my family Kay, that's not me.
Johnny Fontane:
A month ago he bought the rights to this book, a best seller. The main
character is a guy just like me. I wouldn't even have to act, just be
myself. Oh, Godfather, I don't know what to do, I don't know what to
do... [all of a sudden, Don
Corleone rises from his chair and gives Fontane a savage shake] Don Corleone:
YOU CAN ACT LIKE A MAN! [gives a quick slap to
Fontane] Don Corleone:
What's the matter with you? Is this how you turn out, a Hollywood
finocchio that cries like a woman? "Oh, what can I do? What
can I do?"
What is that nonsense? Ridiculous! [the Don's unexpected
mimicry makes Hagen and even Fontane laugh; around this time Sonny
comes in] Don Corleone:
Do you spend time with your family? Johnny Fontane:
Sure I do. Don Corleone:
Good. Because a man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be
a real man. [gives a quick look at
Sonny and affectionately embraces Fontane] Don Corleone:
You look terrible. I want you to eat, I want you to rest well and a
month from now this Hollywood big shot's gonna give you what you want. Johnny Fontane:
Too late. They start shooting in a week. Don Corleone:
I'm gonna make him an offer he won't refuse. Now just go outside and
enjoy yourself. Forget all this nonsense. Listen, I want you to leave
it all to me.
Tom
Hagen: Mr
Corleone is Johnny Fontane's godfather to the Italian people that's a
very sacred religious relationship. Jack Woltz:
I respect that. Tell him he can ask me anything else, but this is one
favor I can't give him. Tom Hagen:
He never asks a second favor once he's refused the first,
understood? Jack Woltz:
You don't understand. Johnny Fontane never gets that movie. That part
is perfect for him. It'll make
him a big star. Now I'm gonna run him
out of the business, and let me tell you why. Johnny Fontane
ruined one of Woltz Internationals most valuable proteges. For five
years we had her under training, singing lessons, acting
lessons, dancing lessons. I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on
her. I was gonna make her a big star. And let me be even more frank,
just to show you that I'm not a hard-hearted man, that it's not all
dollars and cents. She was beautiful, she was young, she was innocent,
she was the greatest piece of ass I've ever had, and I've had 'em all
over the world. And then Johnny Fontane comes along with his olive oil
voice and guinea charm and she runs off. She threw it all away just to
make me look ridiculous. And a man in my position can't afford to be
made to look ridiculous. Now you get the hell out of here. And
if that gumba tries any rough stuff you tell him I
ain't no band leader. Yeah, I heard that story. [Hagen has been calmly
eating his meal throughout Woltz's tirade] Tom Hagen:
Thank you for the dinner and a very pleasant evening. If your
car could take me to the airport. Mr Corleone is a man who insists on
hearing bad news immediately. [next morning Jack Woltz
wakes up to find his horses head in his bed]
Don
Corleone:
I said that I would see you because I had heard that you were a serious
man, to be treated with respect. But I must say no to you and I'll
give you my reasons. It's true I have a lot of friends in politics, but
they wouldn't be friendly very long if they knew that my business was
drugs instead
of gambling which they regard as a harmless vice. But drugs is a
dirty business.
Sollozzo:
If you're
worried about security for your million, the Tattaglias will
guarantee it. Sonny Corleone:
Whoa, now, you're telling me that the Tattaglias guarantee our
investment...? Don Corleone:
Wait a minute. [the
Don gives his son a cold stare, freezing Sonny into silence.] Don Corleone:
I have a
sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them, as you
can see. They talk when they should listen. Anyway, Signor Sollozzo, my
no is final and I wish to congratulate you on your new
business and
I'm sure you'll do very well and good luck with that. Especially since
your interests don't conflict with mine. Thank you. [Sollozzo leaves] Don Corleone:
Santino, come here. What's
the matter with you? I think your brain is going soft with all
that comedy you are playing with that young girl. Never tell anyone
outside the Family what you're thinking again. Go on.
Don
Corleone:[to
Luca Brasi]
I'm a little worried about this Sollozzo fellow. I want you to find out
what he's got under his fingernails, you know. Go to the Tattaglias,
and make them think that you're not too happy with our Family,
and find out what you can.
Sollozzo:
I don't
like violence, Tom. I'm a businessman; blood is a big expense.
Sollozzo:
He's still
alive. They hit him with five shots and he's still alive!
Tom
Hagen: Maybe we
shouldn't get Mike mixed up in this too directly...
[Tessio brings in Luca
Brasi's bulletproof vest, delivered with a fish
inside] Sonny Corleone:
What the hell is this? Clemenza:
It's a Sicilian message. It means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.
Clemenza:
Sonny's
running wild. He's thinking of going to the mattresses already. We
gotta
find this spot on the west side.
[to
Rocco who has killed Paulie in the car] Clemenza:
Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.