The Godfather Quotes: Legendary
(Total Quotes: 50)


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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





Godfather Quotes Page  1 | 2 | 3

[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!



The Godfahter Quotes 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 Godfather Quotes
[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 outThe Godfather Quotes 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 makeThe Godfather Quotes 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 Godfather Quotes [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.

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Total Quotes: 50
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