In scope of course it is much bigger - the budget had risen from $6 million to $13 million, and shows in its recreations of New York in the early part of the twentieth century, and its journeys back to Sicily and onward to Cuba.
It's a film of two halves, cross cutting Vito's early life with that of the increasingly embittered Michael, and it's an irony that when both men take their vengeance against people who have betrayed them, the victims are all old men - a token victory only.
It is supposedly the better film because it has more to say - about the corruption through big business and politics - but I think it's the lesser of the two films. You don't really feel any emotion, or suspense, or joy - there's nothing to laugh about in this one. But it is marvellously photographed by Gordon Willis, and has an amazing golden look. Amazingly, he wasn't even Oscar nominated. But winners were Coppola for film, direction and screenplay (with Mario Puzo again) Dean Tavoularis for the production design, and Nino Rota for the music. Some of those artful dissolves from new to old also eluded the Academy - Barry Malkin - Richard Marks, Peter Zinner. Walter Murch was the sound designer.
Robert de Niro also won for best supporting actor. With Cazale, Keaton. Shire and Duvall are Lee Strasberg, Michael V. Gazzo (the old-school Pentangeli), G.D. Spradling (Senator), Bruno Kirby, Marianna Hill (High Plains Drifter), Morgana King (Mama Corleone), Dominic Chianese (Junior Soprano), Harry Dean Stanton, Danny Aiello and Roger Corman (one of the senators). Talking of the senate enquiry, I don't know if it was supposed to, but it seemed to me very much to invoke the feel of the HUAC hearings.
Q wasn't impressed that I made us watch the remastered edition which Channel 4 broadcast over her original, boxed set Valentine's Day gift (!), but you can see the difference:
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| Original |
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| Remastered |
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| Original |
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| Remastered |
And here's a reminder of how dark Willis dared to go (from the new edition):
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