I am undecided there’s a film that’s extra quotable than The Godfather. It is type of the proper movie for everybody. It has intercourse, violence, household drama, intrigue, and rather more.
However one of many strains I exploit on a regular basis, even when it would not match the context of the scenario I am in, is “go away the gun, take the cannoli.”
It may be once I’m asking somebody to assist with the grocery baggage or simply to seize my sneakers for me.
I am a bizarre man.
However have you ever ever puzzled the place that line got here from? And the way it transcended the world of cinema to grow to be part of our cultural lexicon?
Let’s dive in.
What Occurs within the “Depart The Gun, Take the Cannoli” Scene?
In one of the vital memorable scenes from The Godfather, Peter Clemenza, a trusted caporegime within the Corleone household, is tasked with eliminating Paulie Gatto, a driver and bodyguard who’s suspected of betraying Don Vito Corleone.
The scene begins with Clemenza, his confederate Rocco Lampone, and the unsuspecting Paulie driving to a distant, swampy space on the outskirts of town.
The pretense for the journey is to seek out appropriate areas for “safehouses” the place the Corleone relations can conceal out through the escalating mob struggle.
They’re planning on “going to the mattresses,” which is one other iconic line from the film.
Earlier within the day, earlier than leaving his residence, Clemenza’s spouse had reminded him to choose up some cannolis for dessert. This seemingly insignificant element turns into essential.
After driving for a while, Clemenza asks Paulie to tug the automotive over, saying he has to “take a leak.” As Clemenza relieves himself by the aspect of the street, Rocco, who’s within the again seat, shoots Paulie within the head, killing him immediately.
Clemenza, having completed, returns to the automotive and, with a chillingly informal demeanor, utters the well-known line to Rocco: “Depart the gun, take the cannoli.”
The Advert-Lib That Nailed a Character’s Mindset
As a author, I’m all the time in awe of strains of dialogue that folks considered which have lived endlessly. However what if I advised you that this Godfather line was really an ad-lib?
That is proper, one of the vital memorable moments in Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece was fully improvised.
In accordance with The Hollywood Reporter, the credit score for this stroke of genius goes to the actor Richard Castellano, who performed Peter Clemenza.
Within the authentic script, the road was a easy, and much much less impactful, “go away the gun.”
It gave you a way of how callous these males are about killing.
However Castellano was taking part in throughout from his precise spouse Ardell Sheridan (who performed his spouse within the film), and within the scene had reminded him to choose up some cannolis on his method residence. This errand sparked an thought in Castellano’s head for the character in that second, a man that beloved his spouse, which humanizes him.
So he added the now-famous phrase to his dialogue.
‘Depart the gun, take the cannoli.’
Coppola acknowledged the brilliance of the ad-lib, determined to maintain it within the last reduce.
It hits the observe of them being callous, however it additionally exhibits he loves his spouse and would not wish to upset her. That sort of depth is so particular and so intimate.
The road is a masterclass in character growth, revealing Clemenza’s informal indifference to violence whereas concurrently highlighting his give attention to the easy, on a regular basis pleasures of life.
Summing It All Up
The following time you watch The Godfather, pay shut consideration to that scene. And keep in mind, probably the most memorable moments in artwork, as in life, are sometimes those which are unscripted.
Let me know what you suppose within the feedback.
