The Godfather (1972)

Share this quote on facebook Luca Brasi held a gun to his head, and my father assured him that either his brains or his signature would be on the contract. That's a true story.

Share this quote on facebook What I want... what's most important to me is that I have a guarantee. No more attempts on my father's life.

Share this quote on facebook Hey, whatcha gonna do, nice college boy, eh? Didn't want to get mixed up in the family business, huh? Now you wanna gun down a police captain 'cause he slapped ya in the face? Hah? What do you think this is? The Army, where you shoot 'em a mile away? You've gotta get up close like this and bada-bing, you blow their brains all over your nice Ivy League suit!

Share this quote on facebook [to Bonasera] I want you to use all your powers, and all your skills. I don't want his mother to see him this way. [pulls sheet to reveal Sonny's bullet-ridden body] Look how they massacred my boy.

Share this quote on facebook I spent my whole life trying not to be careless. Women and children can afford to be careless, but not men.

Share this quote on facebook Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than the government. It is almost the equal of family.

Share this quote on facebook You cannot say "no" to the people you love, not often. That's the secret. And then when you do, it has to sound like a "yes" or you have to make them say "no." You have to take time and trouble.

Share this quote on facebook Son of a bitch! Do you know who I am? I'm Moe Greene! I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders!

Share this quote on facebook Amerigo Bonasera: I believe in America. America has made my fortune, and I raised my daughter in the American fashion. I gave her freedom, but I taught her never to dishonor her family. She found a boyfriend, not an Italian. She went to the movies with him. She stayed out late. I didn't protest. Two months ago he took her for a drive, with another boy friend. They made her drink whiskey and then they tried to take advantage of her. She resisted. She kept her honor, so they beat her like an animal. When I went to the hospital her nose was broken. Her jaw was shattered, held together by wire. She couldn't even weep because of the pain, but I wept. Why did I weep? She was the light of my life. A beautiful girl. Now she will never be beautiful again. [sobs] Sorry. I went to the police, like a good American. These two boys were brought to trial. The judge sentenced them to three years in prison, and suspended the sentence. Suspended sentence! They went free that very day! I stood in the courtroom like a fool, and those two bastards, they smiled at me. Then I said to my wife, "For justice, we must go to Don Corleone."
Don Vito Corleone: Why did you go to the police? Why didn't you come to me first?
Bonasera: What do you want of me? Tell me anything, but do what I beg you to do.
Vito: What is that?
Bonasera: [whispering in Vito's ear] I want them dead.
Vito: That I cannot do.
Bonasera: I will give you anything you ask.
Vito: We've known each other many years, but this is the first time you ever came to me for counsel or for help. I can't remember the last time that you invited me to your house for a cup of coffee, even though my wife is godmother to your only child. But let's be frank here. You never wanted my friendship and, uh, you were afraid to be in my debt.
Bonasera: I didn't want to get into trouble.
Vito: I understand. You found paradise in America, you had a good trade, you made a good living, the police protected you, and there were courts of law. You didn't need a friend like me. But, now you come to me, and you say: "Don Corleone, give me justice." But you don't ask with respect. You don't offer friendship. You don't even think to call me Godfather. Instead, you come into my house on the day my daughter is to be married, and you ask me to do murder for money.
Bonasera: I ask for justice.
Vito: That is not justice. Your daughter is still alive.
Bonasera: Let them suffer then, as she suffers. How much shall I pay you?
Vito: Bonasera, Bonasera. What have I ever done to make you treat me so disrespectfully? If you'd come to me in friendship, then that scum that ruined your daughter would be suffering this very day. And if by chance an honest man like yourself should make enemies, then they would become my enemies. And then they would fear you.
Bonasera: Be my friend, Godfather. [kisses Vito's hand]
Vito: Good. Someday—and that day may never come—I'll call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, accept this justice as a gift on my daughter's wedding day.
Bonasera: Grazie, Godfather.
Vito: Prego. [Bonasera leaves, and Don Corleone turns to Tom] Give this to, uh, Clemenza. I want reliable people, people who aren't going to be carried away. After all, we're not murderers, in spite of what this undertaker thinks.

Share this quote on facebook Vito Corleone: [to Sollozzo] I must say no to you, and I'll give you my reasons. It's true, I have a lot of friends in politics, but they wouldn't be friendly very long if they knew my business was drugs instead of gambling, which they regard as a – a harmless vice. But drugs is a dirty business. It makes, it doesn't make any difference to me what a man does for a living, understand. But your business is, uh, a little dangerous.
Virgil "The Turk" Sollozzo: If you're worried about security for your million, the Tattaglias will guarantee it.
Santino "Sonny" Corleone: Oh, you're telling me that the Tattaglias guarantee our investment?
Vito: Wait a minute. I have a sentimental weakness for my children, and I spoil them, as you can see. They talk when they should listen. But anyway, Signor Sollozzo, my "no" is final and I wish to congratulate you on your new business. I know you'll do very well, and good luck to you, especially since your interests don't conflict with mine. Thank you. [Sollozzo leaves] Santino, come here. What's the matter with you? I think your brain's going soft from all that comedy you're playing with that young girl. Never tell anybody outside the family what you're thinking again.

Share this quote on facebook Tom Hagen: This is business, not personal!
Santino "Sonny" Corleone: They shot my father. It's business, your ass!
Tom: Even shooting your father was business, not personal, Sonny!

Share this quote on facebook Peter Clemenza: [shows Michael a revolver] This is as cold as they come, impossible to trace, so you don't worry about prints, Mike. I put a special tape on the trigger and the butt. Here, try it. [Michael takes the revolver] What'sa matter? The trigger too tight?
Michael Corleone: No. [He fires] Ah, my ears.
Clemenza: Yeah, I left it noisy. That way, it scares any pain-in-the-ass innocent bystanders away. All right, you shot 'em both. Now what do you do?
Michael: Sit down, finish my dinner.
Clemenza: Come on, kid. Don't fool around. Just let your hand drop to your side, and let the gun slip out. Everybody'll still think you got it. They're gonna be staring at your face, Mike, so walk out of the place real fast, but don't run. Don't look nobody directly in the eye, but you don't look away either. Eh, they're gonna be scared stiff of you, believe me, so don't worry about nothing. You know, you gonna turn out all right. You take a long vacation, nobody knows where, and we gonna catch the hell.
Michael: How bad do you think it's gonna be?
Clemenza: Pretty god-damn bad. Probably, all the other families will line up against us. That's all right. These things gotta happen every five years or so, ten years. Helps to get rid of the bad blood. Been ten years since the last one. You know, you gotta stop 'em at the beginning, like they shoulda stopped Hitler at Munich. They should never have let him get away with that. They was just asking for big trouble. You know, Mike, we was all proud of you, being a hero and all. Your father, too.

Share this quote on facebook Fabrizio: [in Sicilian, upon seeing Apollonia] Mamma mia, what a beauty.
[Apollonia says something in Sicilian and is startled to see the three men watching her. She and Michael exchange looks.]
Fabrizio: [to Michael, in Sicilian] I think you got hit by the thunderbolt.
Calo: [in Sicilian] In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.

Share this quote on facebook Vitelli: [in Sicilian] Did you have a good hunt?
Fabrizio: [in Sicilian] You know all the girls around here? We saw some real beauties. One of them struck our friend like a thunderbolt. She would tempt the devil himself. Really put together. Such hair, such mouth!
Vitelli: [in Sicilian] The girls around here are beautiful but virtuous.
Fabrizio: [in Sicilian] This one had a purple dress and a purple ribbon in her hair. A type more Greek than Italian. Do you know her?
Vitelli: [in Sicilian] No! There's no girl like that in his town.
Fabrizio: [in Sicilian] My God, I understand! [gets up to look at the cafe.]
Michael Corleone: [to Calo, in Sicilian] What's wrong?
Fabrizio: [in Sicilian] Let's go. It's his daughter.
Michael: [in Sicilian] Tell him to come here. Call him. Fabrizio, you translate.
Fabrizio: Si, signor.
Michael: [with Fabrizio translating] I apologize if I offended you. I'm a stranger in this country and I meant no disrespect, to you or your daughter. I'm an American hiding in Sicily. My name is Michael Corleone. There are people who'd pay a lot of money for that information, but then your daughter would lose a father instead of gaining a husband. I want to meet your daughter with your permission and under the supervision of your family with all respect.
Vitelli: [in Sicilian] Come to my house Sunday morning. My name is Vitelli.
Michael Grazie. [in Sicilian] What's her name?
Vitelli: Apollonia.
Michael: Bene.

Share this quote on facebook Don Vito Corleone: [sees Tom Hagen with a drink] Give me a drop. My wife is crying upstairs. I hear cars coming to the house. Consigliere of mine, I think you should tell your Don what everyone seems to know.
Tom Hagen: I didn't tell Mama anything. I was about to come up and wake you and tell you.
Vito: But you needed a drink first.
Tom: Yeah.
Vito: Well, now you've had your drink.
Tom: They shot Sonny on the causeway. He's dead.
Vito: I want no inquiries made. I want no acts of vengeance. I want you to arrange a meeting with the heads of the Five Families. This war stops now.

Share this quote on facebook Tom Hagen: When I meet with the Tattaglia people, should I insist that all his drug middlemen have clean records?
Don Vito Corleone: Mention it. Don't insist. Barzini is a man who'll know that without being told.
Tom: You mean Tattaglia?
Vito: Tattaglia's a pimp. He never could've outfought Santino, but I didn't know until this day that it was Barzini all along.

Share this quote on facebook Michael Corleone: I'm working for my father now. He's been sick, very sick.
Kay Adams: But you're not like him, Michael. I thought you weren't going to become a man like your father. That's what you told me.
Michael: My father's no different than any other powerful man – any man who's responsible for other people, like a senator or a president.
Kay: [laughs] You know how naïve you sound?
Michael: Why?
Kay: Senators and presidents don't have men killed.
Michael: Oh, who's being naïve, Kay? Kay, my father's way of doing things is over, it's finished. Even he knows that. I mean, in five years, the Corleone family is going to be completely legitimate. Trust me. That's all I can tell you about my business.

Share this quote on facebook Moe Greene: We had a little argument, Freddy and I, so I had to straighten him out.
Michael Corleone: You straightened my brother out?

Share this quote on facebook Fredo Corleone: Mike! You don't come to Las Vegas and talk to a man like Moe Greene like that!
Michael Corleone: Fredo, you're my older brother, and I love you, but don't ever take sides with anyone against the family again, ever.

Share this quote on facebook Don Vito Corleone: I knew that Santino was gonna have to go through all this, and Fredo, well, Fredo was... but I never—I never wanted this for you. I worked my whole life—I don't apologize—to take care of my family. And I refused to be a fool dancing on a string held by all of those big shots. I don't apologize. That's my life, but I thought that when it was your time, that you would be the one to hold the strings. Senator Corleone. Governor Corleone. Something.
Michael Corleone: Another pezzonovante.
Vito: Well, there wasn't enough time, Michael. Wasn't enough time.
Michael: We'll get there, Pop. We'll get there.

Share this quote on facebook Salvatore "Sal" Tessio: I hope Mike can get us a good deal.
Tom Hagen: I'm sure he will.
William "Willy" Cicci: Sal, Tom? Boss says he'll come in a separate car. He says for you two to go on ahead.
Salvatore "Sal" Tessio: Hell, he can't do that. It screws up all my arrangements!
Cicci: Well, that's what he said.
Tom: I can't go either, Sal.
[Several button men close in around Tessio]
Sal: Tell Mike it was only business. I always liked him.
Tom: He understands that.
Cicci: 'Scuse me, Sal
Sal: Tom, can you get me off the hook, for old time's sake?
Tom: Can't do it, Sally.

Share this quote on facebook [While Carlo dials the phone, Michael Corleone enters the room with Tom Hagen, Al Neri and Rocco Lampone. Carlo turns and looks at Michael's new inner circle]
Michael Corleone: You have to answer for Santino, Carlo.
Carlo Rizzi: Mike, you've got it all wrong!
Michael: You fingered Sonny for the Barzini people. Ah, that little farce you played with my sister. Did you think that would fool a Corleone?
Carlo: Mike, I'm innocent. I swear on my kids. Please don't do this to me, Mike.
Michael: Sit down.
Carlo: Please don't do this. Please.
Michael: Barzini's dead. So is Phillip Tattaglia, Moe Greene, Stracci, Cuneo. Today, I settle all family business, so don't tell me you're innocent, Carlo. Admit what you did. [Carlo breaks down] Get him a drink. Come on. Don't be afraid, Carlo. Come on. You think I'd make my sister a widow? I'm Godfather to your son, Carlo. [Gives Carlo a drink] Go ahead, drink. Drink. No, Carlo, you're out of the family business, that's your punishment. We're finished. I'm putting you on a plane to Vegas. Tom? [Tom produces a plane ticket] I want you to stay there, understand? Only, don't tell me you're innocent, because it insults my intelligence. It makes me very angry. Now who approached you: Tattaglia or Barzini?
Carlo: It was Barzini.
Michael: Good. There's a car waiting for you outside, it'll take you to the airport. I'll call your wife and tell her what flight you're on.
Carlo: Mike, it was—
Michael: Go on. Get out of my sight.
[Carlo gets in the car and notices Clemenza sitting behind him]
Peter Clemenza: Hey, Carlo. [strangles Carlo]

Share this quote on facebook [Connie has just accused Michael of having Carlo killed]
Michael Corleone: She's hysterical. Hysterical.
Kay Corleone: Michael, is it true?
Michael: Don't ask me about my business, Kay.
Kay: Is it true?
Michael: Don't ask me about my business.
Kay: No!
Michael: [slaps the desk] Enough! All right, this one time. This one time, I'll let you ask me about my affairs.
Kay: Is it true? Is it?
Michael: No.
Kay: I guess we both need a drink, huh? Come on.
Peter Clemenza: [kissing Michael's hand as the door closes on Kay] Don Corleone!