Week 3 Day 2: Character Intro – THE GODFATHER

[Steven Delisi]

How the Don Corleone character does the following:

Puts him in a challenging situation,

– On his daughter’s wedding day, a guest comes to him for a favor that involves violence … he wants a murder for revenge that is not justified.

Give him interesting dialogue,

– He talks about friendship and fealty as if they are the same thing for him. He speaks in an easy and laid back way … but his message is one of personal power.

Has him take action that fits their character, and…

– He chastises the visitor for never giving him the proper respect to the point where the man begs him and lowers himself in an act or fealty towards the Don.

Give us an insight into who he really is.

He is a manipulator who is always one step ahead of anyone else … friend or enemy. He says no to the request for a revenge murder, but accepts the man’s fealty in exchange for some illegal form of justice.

What makes these characters engaging?

The guest quickly changes his tone from one of self importance to one of helpless and needing the Don for justice.

Don Corleone is like a puppeteer the way he listens and considers what the guest is saying, then he turns the man’s past behavior or lack of respect into a debt that will now further put him in a position of power.

How are they expressing their profile?

– Don C. speaks softly and with intention about what he wants rather than what the guest wants. INSIGHT: this is a counterpoint to who he really is.

– The guest behaves like a victim … & talks about how he’s been a patriotic American, but the system has failed him.

Where do you see character depth in this scene?

The guest goes from being self congratulatory, patriotic for effect, to being demanding & disrespectful (according to this world), and then to being a coward who has to grovel for the favor of violence that is immoral and illegal.

BREAKTHROUGH: A main character who is in a position of power, can behave in a very measured way … to the point where he or she is untouchable by the other characters.

Don Corleone has him on a string the whole time. It’s engaging watch how he manipulates his guest.

[Judith Resell]

The scene introduces characters in a morally ambiguous world. The Don is violent, but has a code. The Italians are not served by the police and courts, so they have turned to street justice. The Don demands respect–he is not crude and he refuses to be treated like a common criminal. The notions of family and honor and respect are always counterpoised to violence and criminal ways of making money. This is set up well in a scene of elegant people at a fancy wedding talking about violence and revenge–and revealing the Don’s detailed understanding of both. What actor wouldn’t want to play top man in such a world?

[C Holmes]

I love the weightiness in this first scene in The Godfather. In my film there is a scene that is similar in that two people are weighing each others awareness. <font face=”inherit”>Gilgamesh expresses this weightiness, the depth of his occult understanding, which he never uses casually. Even though Skunk is a fool, he does not treat him foolishly. He is a full human soul, that will now regress because he denied another’s humanity Skunk must pay that price. That is the weightiness </font>I<font face=”inherit”> am </font>committed to.

[Marti Wheat]

Week 3 Day 2: Character Intro – THE GODFATHER

How the Don Corleone character does the following:

Puts him in a challenging situation:

On the day of his daughter’s wedding, Don Corleone meets with people who have come to ask him for favors because he cannot refuse them on this day. Mr. Bonasera has come to ask him to exact revenge for the assault on his daughter, but he comes showing no respect and no worthiness for the Don to help him.

Give him interesting dialogue:

Don Corleone is troubled by the Bonasera’s arrogance and total lack of respect and refuses to help him, reminding him that his wife is Bonasera’s daughter’s godmother and even with that, Bonasera has the audacity to come to him, not on his knees in reverence, but rather as if the Don was his last resort for help and it pained him to have to come to him. Don Corleone expresses his “hurt feelings” that Bonasera is so disrespectful, asking him to commit murder when he has never shown the Don the least amount of respect or friendship. Finally, realizing the dangerous situation he’s put himself in, Bonasera supplicates himself to the Don, making excuses for his behavior and begging for his help.

Has him take action that fits their character:

Don Corleone knows he can’t refuse Bonasera’s request, but he can make him earn it and he does, ultimately agreeing to take care of the two men who assaulted Bonasera’s daughter but making it clear that he will not accept payment, which would make them “even.” Rather, he puts Bonasera on the hook to return the favor at some future date, guaranteeing that Bonasera is now firmly in his pocket and will never be disrespectful to him again.

Give us an insight into who he really is.

There is never a question that Don Corleone is a ruthless thug who doesn’t hesitate to do whatever is necessary to protect his interests, but throughout the scene he is playing with a young cat, showering it with affection in a gentle, loving manner that betrays his sinister demeanor. It reveals an underlying vulnerability that foreshadows the treachery and loss he will experience on his journey.

What makes these characters engaging?

Don Corleone speaks softly and emotionally about his feelings and everything he does for his friends and family, while his anger at Bonasera simmers hotly just below the surface. The signs of danger are flashing all through the scene, but it takes Bonasera longer than it should to come around and realize what he must do if he wants the Don’s help. His supplication is not sincere, and the Don knows it.

How are they expressing their profile?

Bonasera is a pompous, self-important man who has made a mistake in thinking he can use the Don’s daughter’s wedding day to get the Don to do him a favor when his other attempts at justice have failed. When he realizes his mistake, he says the words the Don wants to hear, but he continues to believe himself superior to the Don. In accepting Bonasera’s feigned loyalty, the Don lives up to everyone’s expectations of him as a thug, despite his soft-spoken demeanor.

Where do you see character depth in this scene?

Don Corleone knows exactly who Bonasera is and over the course of this scene, continues to expose him for the coward and ineffective person he is. Like peeling an onion, he quietly reveals each layer of Bonasera’s disloyalty and vulnerability and binds him to the “Family.” Bonasera walks out thinking he’s played the Don, when in reality, the Don now owns him.

[Zev Ledman]

On his daughter’s wedding day, the Godfather cannot refuse any request for a favor. However, there are several issues that arise with Bonesera. First, he’s demanding and shows little respect for Corleone. Even though Corleone’s wife is Godmother to his only child, they have done their best to disassociate from the Godfather’s environment to show they are good and proud Americans. However, everything changes when Bonesera’s daughter is severely assaulted and the perps are set free with a slap on the wrist. Now, revenge brings Bonesera back into the old world. This is when the Godfather calls him out in a subtle but forceful way for disrespecting him and not even seeking his friendship. The Godfather goes further by letting him know that people will fear him because of his association with him. With trepidation, Bonesera gives him the respect he demands and hesitantly requests his friendship to exact revenge on his daughter’s perps. The Godfather lets Banesera know that he will be beholden to him.

What I learned: Sometimes the subtle display of power can be more effective than an aggressive display as was also seen in Hannibal’s communication.