The Godfather Part II

Summary

With Francis Ford Coppola’sThe Godfather Part IIcelebrating its fiftieth day of remembrance , retentive - clock time fans and first - time viewers alike might be wondering where the Oscar - winningGodfathersequel was filmed . broadly based on Mario Puzo ’s epic offense novel , The Godfather Part IIserves as both a prequel and a subsequence to the original 1972 film . The movie ’s dual timelines allow Coppola to twin the story of Michael Corleone ( Al Pacino ) with that of his male parent , Vito Corleone ( Robert De Niro ) . While Michael ’s account chronicles the decline of the category business , Vito Corleone ’s timelinetraces the rise of his enterprise .

One of only two sequel to gain an Academy Award , The Godfather Part IIis the rare follow - up that has exceeded the original impression ’s success . Part ofThe Godfathermovies ' entreaty is the feeling of genuineness . Whether Coppola is chronicle Vito ’s time in Sicily or a shootout on a New York main road , The Godfather ’s take locationsare crucial to build up the humankind of the Corleone crime family . Much like the firstGodfatherfilm , the subsequence was largely take on location , though some spots are rack - ins for the setting call for in the playscript .

Michael’s House On Lake Tahoe Is Not A Set

The First Communion Party Was Filmed At A Lakeside House In Fleur Du Lac

In the backwash ofThe Godfather ’s ending , Michael becomes the Corleone family ’s newfangled don . When the subsequence pick up with him in 1958 , Michael is attending his son ’s First Communion political party at an demesne on Lake Tahoe . Straddling the California and Nevada border , Tahoe is a sensational freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada Mountains , and serves as an incredibly cinematic backdrop . Of allThe Godfather Part II ’s film localisation , the Corleone kinfolk ’s lakeside Fleur du Lac Estates mansion , which is settle along the westerly shoring of Lake Tahoe , is perhaps the most recognizable .

Michael watches from the sun parlor of the Lake Tahoe estate as his order to vote out Fredo … are acted upon .

Although some elements on the belongings were added by the motion picture ’s production squad , the land is very veridical . Built by Henry J. Kaiser to celebrate the historic mop up of the Hoover Dam , the 15 - acre gate community boasts a massive house , an outside swimming pool , lawn tennis courts , and a private marina ( viaSFGATE ) . Undoubtedly , the Lake Tahoe estate of the realm illustrate the winner of the Corleone crime familyunder Vito ’s leadership . Most notably , Michael watches from the sunroom of the Lake Tahoe land as his orders to kill Fredo ( John Cazale ) , his brother , are act upon inThe Godfather Part II ’s end .

The Godfather Part II Movie Poster

The rare sequel that stand out the original , The Godfather Part 2 is a classic — but why did director Francis Ford Coppola also produce the film ?

The Godfather Part II’s Sicily Scenes Were Filmed On Location

The Town Of Corleone Uses Forza d’Agrò & Savoca As Backdrops

Coppola ’s prequel - sports meeting - subsequence open in Corleone , Sicily , with a nine - year - old Vito ( Oreste Baldini ) learning that his family has been killed by the local Mafia headman , Don Ciccio ( Giuseppe Sillato ) , after his father failed to pay tribute . Although Vito manages to flee Sicily and rise to the principal of his own crime syndicate in New York City , the Corleone Don returns to his home island in 1922with his kin under the guise of establishing an olive crude oil importing business enterprise . The ulterior need , of course of action , is that Vito wants to avenge his family by killing Don Ciccio .

Savoca ’s Bar Vitelli remains a popular tourer destination …

The Godfather Part II ’s dramatis personae of charactersactually travel to Sicily to shoot these chronological succession on localisation . Primarily , the picturesque landscapes featured in Coppola ’s pic are of the northeastern municipality of Taormina . In finical , the brow town of Forza d’Agrò , along with Savoca , served as the backdrop for the townspeople of CorleoneinThe Godfatherfilms . While Savoca ’s Bar Vitelli remains a pop tourist destination , buff also visit the iconic Baroque country house of Castello degli Schiavi on their travels .

Robert De Niro as Vito Corleone looking serious with the Godfather part 2 poster behind him in red scale

Custom Image by Kate Bove

The Godfather Part II ’s terminate centers on the tragic fallout of Fredo tell on Michael Corleone , but why did Fredo almost get his pal killed ?

New York City’s East Village Was Transformed Into Little Italy

The 1917-Era New York City Street Scenes Were Filmed On Location

so as to enamour an authentic depiction of 1917 New York City , The Godfather Part II’sproduction team transformed Manhattan ’s East Village into the Little Italy of yesteryear . In addition to transforming the streets , the film also used several well - cognize concern and attraction as background . For example , the scenery where Pentangeli ( Michael V. Gazzo ) encounter the Rosato comrade ( Carmine Caridi and Danny Aiello ) at a prevention was filmed at the 7B Horseshoe Bar in the East Village , while the baptism scene was charge at The Basilica of St. Patrick ’s Old Cathedral .

InThe Godfather Part II , young Vito Corleone ’s arriver in New York Harbor was shot at the Ellis Island Museum .

Both The Godfather and The Godfather Part II are considered to be cinematic chef-d’oeuvre . But which one would shoot fanatic say is better ?

robert de niro with francis ford coppola and the godfather 50 poster

Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather II continues Michael Corleone’s story as he expands the Corleones' presence as a crime syndicate. The film is also half devoted to the backstory of Vito Corleone, following his rise to power in 1920s New York City. While The Godfather is considered one of the greatest movies ever made, The Godfather Part II was able to live up to the original and secure six Oscars at the 1975 Academy Awards.

The Dominican Republic Was A Stand-In For Cuba In The Godfather Part II

Hyman Roth’s Home Was Actually Located In North Miama, Florida

After surviving an assassination attempt , Michael surmise a traitor within the family ’s ranks , though he conceive the dodging was plot by Hyman Roth ( Lee Strasberg ) , a Judaic mob boss and long - sentence business sector partner . finally , Michael decides to meet with Roth at his abode . In existent life , the estate of the realm is located off Biscayne Boulevard in the Keystone Islands of North Miami , Florida . However , Michael and Roth ’s business trip to Cuba was dissipate in Santo Domingo , the capital of the Dominican Republic . From Florida to Sicily , it ’s exculpated thatThe Godfather Part II ’s preference for locations over studio exercise set pay off .

As of August 2024,The Godfather Part IIis streaming on Paramount+ .

Francis Ford Coppola ’s The Godfather II carry on Michael Corleone ’s story as he expands the Corleones ' presence as a crime consortium . The film is also half devoted to the backstory of Vito Corleone , keep an eye on his ascent to force in 1920s New York City . While The Godfather is considered one of the great movies ever made , The Godfather Part II was able to live up to the original and secure six Academy Award at the 1975 Academy Awards .

John Cazale’s Fredo looking uncertain in The Godfather

Sources : SFGATE , IMDb

An image of Michael Corleone and a young Vito Corleone in The Godfather movies

The Godfather Part II