What Occurs within the “Depart The Gun, Take the Cannoli” Scene?
In one of the 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 the town.
The pretense for the journey is to seek out appropriate places for “safehouses” the place the Corleone relations can cover out throughout the escalating mob conflict.
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 house, Clemenza’s spouse had reminded him to select up some cannolis for dessert. This seemingly insignificant element turns into essential.
After driving for a while, Clemenza asks Paulie to drag the automobile over, saying he has to “take a leak.” As Clemenza relieves himself by the facet of the street, Rocco, who’s within the again seat, shoots Paulie within the head, killing him immediately.
Clemenza, having completed, returns to the automobile 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 at all times in awe of traces of dialogue that folks considered which have lived without end. However what if I advised you that this Godfather line was really an ad-lib?
That is proper, one of the memorable moments in Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece was utterly improvised.
In line with The Hollywood Reporter, the credit score for this stroke of genius goes to the actor Richard Castellano, who performed Peter Clemenza.
Within the unique script, the road was a easy, and much much less impactful, “depart 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 select up some cannolis on his method house. This errand sparked an concept 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 be aware of them being callous, however it additionally exhibits he loves his spouse and does not need 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 concentrate on the straightforward, on a regular basis pleasures of life.
Summing It All Up
The subsequent 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 can be unscripted.
Let me know what you assume within the feedback.
