#johnny fontane

[mrs-jake-blues]

Frank Sinatra reading about Johnny Fontane in the Godfather (~1969)

[sharry-arry-odd]

"Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than government. It is almost the equal of family. Never forget that."

The Godfather, by Mario Puzo

[randomgodfatherthoughts]

I live for Tom Hagen and Johnny Fontane being salty about each other.

[bed-wed-behead-your-fave]

Johnny Fontane - The Godfather trilogy

[vidavalor]

Leave the Gun, Eat a Damn Cannoli

Satan to The Metatron like...

And Aziraphale all like...

And Satan all... going with me is not actually a choice, really, Az, I mean, wait 'til I actually get to the 'offer you can't refuse' part...

You ever see 'The Godfather', Az? I know you have.

You remember the film producer that wouldn't give Johnny Fontane the role in that movie? Do you remember how The Godfather forced his hand? The producer was a bit tough to crack at first until they realized what he loved more than anything in the world, remember?

His horse.

Do you remember what they did to get that guy to play ball, Az?

They killed the horse, chopped off its head, and left it in the guy's bed when he was sleeping. He woke up soaked in its blood and screamed the house down. It's one of the most notorious and disturbing scenes in cinematic history. Don't worry, though-- we're gonna do that shit a bit more symbolically here. Think of it as more of an allusion to the film than a literal recreation.

Your horse is Crowley. Amusingly, both euphemistically and symbolically. He's who you love more than anything else. We can also get in his head because he's a demon so there's that bit of the "horse head" in here as well, just for dark amusement.

Instead of killing him, though, which will just tick you off and make you harder to tempt to Hell and get out of the way for Armageddon 2: Armageddon Returns, we're gonna make you an offer you can't refuse:

Crowley's safety.

Yeah, I'm going to show up as The Metatron and tempt you by offering the one thing you would never refuse--no matter how slim the odds of the offer being true seemed-- because you have no choice. You would do anything to keep Crowley safe. Anything. Your unconditional love would be beautiful if I weren't evil incarnate and all that.

I mean, of all the nebulas for my stooge to reference, right?

Just FYI-- we watch more than Mary Poppins down here. This bit below is from 1941, so, really, Shax ghost-wrote part of the novel and film, apparently...

The show we're in has been telegraphing allusions to this film as a thing for awhile now, actually, Aziraphale... you rejecting oranges in 1601... Gabriel and the spilled tomatoes out of the wooden crates in the marketplace in 2.01... the fact that he then spent a chunk of S2 taking a nap in your house after betraying us, so, that Luca Brasi Gabriel was doing a form of, well...

...sleeping with the fishes...

...but really, ya know, the strongest suggestion of all this The Godfather referencing was when those writers of our show told us how it was tied to how you wind up going Down-- way back in the first episode. You foreshadowed it, actually...

You said it yourself then, Aziraphale:

Yep. That's the idea.

[leavemeslowly]

I am currently rewatching the show, after the renewal, and I want Max, Lord Bassington (played by Freedie Fox), to return, but now as a star in a Hollywood movie who is also on Eddie and Susie’s payroll. He in return gives them access to high-profile artists etc. I don't know how it could be vowen into the plot, but I enjoy the idea. Like a character of Johnny Fontane in the Godfather.

[melis-writes]

Was it really Apollonia's death that changed Michael? That made him the monster he came to be?

No. 🤣 Noooo, not even close! Dear anon, I really invite you to read the book to discover more of how much of a black sheep Michael really was in his family. He always had it in him. Becoming Don and having his father's life on the line then having Sonny die only bolstered the sociopathic tendencies Michael always had in him. He was always cruel and cunning and now had all the reason in the world to permanently show that part of his personality.

There's a portion in the beginning of the book after Vito slaps Johnny Fontane as to how Vito's sons would react if he slapped them instead. While Mario wrote Sonny would have the biggest outburst being hit by his father, he mentioned that Michael would simply remain quiet and take it, smile coldly and then disappear for months.

I'm telling you that man BEEN having demons in him since forever.

[latristereina]

When Johnny Fontane shows up at Connie’s wedding and starts singing “I Have but One Heart”, we can see Michael and Kay talking at their table, he takes her hand and tells her to listen to the song, trying to ignore her questions about his father and Johnny. Then we see Connie clearly in awe of Fontane while he’s singing:

“I have but one dream that I can cling to, you are the one dream I pray comes true.”

And then Michael turns around and smiles at Kay, his dream girl as per the novel by Mario Puzo.

Many years later, in The Godfather part III, we have another family reunion with Johnny singing a romantic song, Connie fangirling over him, and Michael approaching Kay as she’s looking at the display of family photos. She’s in these photos as well. The song’s title is “To Each His Own” and it goes:

“To each his own, to each his own, and my own is you. What good is a song if the words just don’t belong, and a dream must be a dream for two. No good alone to each his own, for me there’s you.” And so on.

I came to the realization it was a parallel to the wedding scene from the first movie only when I skimmed through the script draft. Originally, it was a completely different song, and when Michael invited Kay to his study to talk about Anthony, Johnny was supposed to be singing: “…tell me that you love me, tonight…” They later modified the script and “To Each His Own” was what we got.

Anyhow, I’ve just wanted to point out the parallels, I think they’re great, and I interpret the lyrics of all three songs as Michael’s feelings for Kay.

[freakywaters]

The Johnny Fontane + Nino parts in the godfather book r making me want to scratch my eyes out

[malinthebodyguard]

August Quotes the Godfather (again): Performing Power

So, a few weeks ago I made this post, going off on a rant about August’ quoting of The Godfather in the first episode of season one. I’d basically concluded that the quote was both indicating to us the kind of figure August linked himself to (powerful, violent, mafia boss) as well as providing

I was oh-so excited when I saw August quoting The Godfather again in Season 2 Quoting the Godfather once? Understandable, most of the films one-liners have become expressions onto themselves. Quoting The Godfather twice?? That’s some 1970s Pacino fanboy behavior.

Now, my initial reaction was to be slightly horrified at this quote. Why the fuck would you say that quote  to Sara who loves horses more than anything in the world??  For context, in the first Godfather film, mafia boss Vito Corleone says this line to his godson Frank Sinatra Johnny Fontane. Fontane is a famous singer looking to enter the film industry. A big shot producer had rejected him. When the producer refuses the offer Vito makes, the mobster retaliates by killing and decapitating the producer’s expensive horse, and placing the head inside his bed while he slept. 

(no the horse wasn’t killed for the movie)

Was the phrase an iconic film line? Yes, certainly. Was it a good line to tell the girl you’re in love with you’ve bought her a horse? Umm… probably not.  

However, I don’t think this is really a connection August is making in this moment. He’s certainly not looking to upset Sara in this scene. I think that, as with the previous quote, a comparison to the films themselves can help us understand August’s headspace. Similar to the quote in S1, August is trying to convey something about himself and how he wishes to be seen. 

‘I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse’ isn’t just a quote from the scene with Johnny. It’s arguably the most important phrase of the film. The line implies that the speaker is someone incredibly powerful, with enough money and manpower to coerce anyone into anything. For the characters of the films, this implies being above the law, and above justice. The line is also used throughout films to show us how different characters transition into the role of Godfather.

The first time we hear it, is from Michael Corleone himself. He’s telling a story about his father to Kay, his WASPy girlfriend, so she can better understand who exactly his father is.

At this point of the story, Michael is the wayward son of the Corleone family. He has distanced himself from them and the business. He tells this story to Kay almost to reassure Kay – and the audience--  her that he isn’t like that.

But Michael is destined to be the heir of the Corleone family, a destiny that he’s frankly struggling to accept. That is his journey through the film : Michael embraces his family’s legacy, with all that it carries. The power and the wealth, but also the violence and loss. The movie shows this transformation wonderfully. But it’s not until the moment when Michael has finally accepted the role as his father’s successor that we hear him say this: 

We see this again in the second film. In the flashbacks to Vito’s youth, the moment right before he becomes the Godfather, he says:

It’s not difficult to see why August finds this relatable . From August’s perspective, he is in a similar situation. August believes that, like Michael, he’s destined to inherit the family legacy. Just because he’s the second in line doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Michael, after all, was the youngest brother.  In both families the “perfect” heir (Sonny/Erik) died, and the “spare” was the one least capable of handling the family responsibilities (Fredo/Wille). And just like Michael, August has all the requirements for the role: the intelligence, wit, and an abundance of hair gel. He’s certain that he’ll eventually become King just as Michael became the Godfather.

But there’s a few of cracks in August’s idea. We know, and he knows, that his role has nothing to do with  his talent or skills. Quite the contrary, no one cares much about his input (see Jan-Olof’s face)

His role as ‘backup’ depends entirely on his ability to not become a problem for the monarchy.

By episode 2x06, he  has started to see the cracks in his Godfather-like fantasy. But we already know that, for August, appearances always come first. The quote is meant to convey that, like Michael in the first film, he’s transitioned into a new role, one with unlimited power and wealth.  

But, unlike the first time he quoted the Godfather, August is speaking only to Sara. This performance is for her to see, his way of trying to get her back. The subliminal message being that August can make offers that can’t be refused for her. This is his plea for forgiveness, how he asks her to stay. Not, I love you or I’ll make this right, but I will give you anything you want. I read  this as an indicator of just how intertwined power (and being perceived as powerful) is with his sense of self. To the point that, when his significant other is leaving him, showcasing that power is the only thing he can think of to get her to stay. 

This time, the part August probably forgot about the Godfather is that it is very much not a love story. That the power he craves and the love he wants are incompatible with each other. And that  by choosing power, he’s pushing the woman he loves away:

[diamondstuddedflunkies]

And while I'm here can I just mention how much I love Tom Hagen and Johnny Fontane's relationship in the book? They're like a couple of kids together. They really don't like each other, Tom is jealous of Johnny's relationship with Vito and Johnny resents Tom from keeping him from The Don but they have to spend a lot of time talking together regardless. Their scenes together are some of my favorites.

YES. It's so subtly funny, I love how they're just barely tolerating each other XD. Imagine how much more salty Tom would have been after he had to take the trip to Woltz's place and get insulted on Johnny's behalf 😭

[sharry-arry-odd]

The voice that came over the phone was unrecognizable with hate and passion. "You fucking bastard," Woltz screamed. "I'll have you all in jail for a hundred years. I'll spend every penny I have to get you. I'll get that Johnny Fontane's balls cut off, do you hear me you guinea fuck?" Hagen said kindly, "I'm German-Irish." There was a long pause and then a click of the phone being hung up.

The Godfather, by Mario Puzo

[randomgodfatherthoughts]

"Tom Hagen held out his hand when Johnny came into the room. Johnny shook it and said, “How are you, Tom?” But without his usual charm that consisted of a genuine warmth for people. Hagen was a little hurt by this coolness but shrugged it off. It was one of the penalties for being the Don’s hatchet man"

From The Godfather novel by Mario Puzo.

[kimwexlers-brownhair]

So I watched The Godfather again, and now I'm thinking that Jack Woltz's rant about Johnny Fontane stealing his starlet away from his creepy old ass could apply to Logan ranting about how Erik stole Meg away.

Oohhhhhhh shit, yes! So creepy

[t4tbruharvey]

please be deranged about the godfather

highlights from my shared document with my friend that contains my new godfather canon:

Sonny fully thinks he’s BoyBestFriends with tom. He’s having an ‘everyone wants to fuck the homies’ moment. He doesn’t think tom’s his brother or his friend but a secret third thing

I cannot stress this enough. They’re weirdly codependent. Tom goes to college and sonny’s lamenting at home (this is during a mafia war, canonically) like man :( wish my bestest friend was here :( in this mafia war with me :( and there was only one mattress :( 

Tom and johnny fontane had a Thing when they were teens

Source: i don’t think for a second the thought that it was gay crossed johnny’s mind. Tom’s entire inner dialogue in the book about johnny is ‘god i fucking hate that guy he’s so annoying coming in here like he owns the place and the godfather likes him more than me because johnny is sicilian woe is me i hope johnny gets hit by a truck’ and i think that’s really funny if it’s covering up a gay thing. Equally they have like one (1) interaction in the johnny fontane minigame in which johnny is like ‘im sorry for being such a cunt to you :( i always respected you and i’m going to stop drinking for a while because you asked me to’ which is unfortunately the most genuine interaction johnny has with another human being in the whole book.

The aforementioned Thing is that one time johnny made out with tom when he was really drunk and this was like, really annoying for tom because he’d sort of spent a few months redirecting lust into annoyance AND johnny doesn’t remember it

Fredo has a really watery laugh and kind of watery eyes also? Like in frankenstein. He reminds everyone of the creature from frankenstein

When tom gets married (canon, to a woman called theresa or maybe there’s no h but point still stands) it breaks sonny’s brain. He fully goes to tom like what but you’re- you- you know, you like- how does that even- and tom has to gently explain the concept of bisexuality without ever looking any of the concepts at play in the face

Michael and tom both know how to eat pussy and sonny doesn’t

[melis-writes]

I was just watching some old hollywood movies and I was wondering what Victoria’s favorite films/actors are? And what do you think Micheal and the other Corleones would prefer?

Ooh, a good question!! ❤️ Victoria and Michael do love watching films together at the end of a day while they spend time with each other after all. 🥰

I would say Victoria's favourite actors/actresses are Marilyn Monroe (💓!!), Vivien Leigh, Cary Grant and Humphrey Bogart. She's a fan of Alfred Hitchcock's films for sure. Her favourite films would be "Notorious" (1946) "Casablanca" (1942) and "Niagara" (1953).

Michael probably likes Ingrid Bergman's films too considering he saw one with Kay way before 😂 Gary Cooper, and Montgomery Clift, I definitely think!

Tom had said in the first film he was a fan of Jack Woltz's movies. I have no idea what kind of films Jack Woltz makes, but considering Johnny Fontane was in one of them, I think Tom as well as Sonny would probably be into the more dramatic, thrilling films. Maybe with some violence as well? Lmao.

I think Connie would enjoy dramatic films too, maybe romantic comedies as well. 💞