# problem with the godfather...
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-the-godfather/179650
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [June 4, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-the-godfather/179650 "2003-06-04T17:52:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2003, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-the-godfather/179650/21 "2003-06-06T05:22:14Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Kaspar Hauser \*
> \*\*My problem is with _The Godfather 2_ – just how _did_ Clemenza die? \*\*
I don’t know if it was ever mentioned, but I heard somewhere it was a heart attack or something similar.
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### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-the-godfather/179650/22 "2003-06-06T16:32:37Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by HPL \*
> \*\*I don’t know if it was ever mentioned, but I heard somewhere it was a heart attack or something similar. \*\*
Until the week of shooting, Clemenza/Castellano was supposed to reprise his role for GODFATHER 2. When Coppola finally couldn’t come to terms with him (ultimately they agreed on money but Castellano insisted on writing his own dialogue and having script approval), Coppola finally said “screw it” and cast Michael V. Gazzo on the spot with the same lines/same plot but changing his name and adding that one sentence “shame about Clemenza” “that was no heart attack”) line to explain away Pete. Since Clemenza was enormously overweight, I wouldn’t have trouble thinking it was a heart attack, or that an already suspicious mafioso would try to pin it on the Rosato brothers, but the Rosatos would be more likely to just clip him- if you’re knocking off a rival mafia chief, you wouldn’t want it to look natural.
So my thought: Pete Clemenza died of a heart attack, his wife retired to Sicily, and Pentangeli moved into his house the next month.
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### Author:  [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-the-godfather/179650/23 "2003-06-06T16:46:03Z")
Whilst we’re here, I’ve got one question. It’s been a while since I watched GF part 1 so maybe I’ve forgotten some details… but my question is this:
After the meeting with the heads of all the families (proceeding Sonny’s death) Vito and Tom were talking in their limo as Vito said something along the lines of: “Tataglia’s a pimp. He never could’ve pulled off the hit on Sonny. It was Barzini all along.” Just how did Vito come to that conclusion? Barzini certainly didn’t give away any hints during the meeting, or did he?
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### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-the-godfather/179650/24 "2003-06-06T16:52:07Z")
Barzini was the one at the meeting angriest about Corleone not sharing his political clout in dealing with his drug interests, and Tattaglia seemed very willing to make peace. I assume that’s what tipped off the Don.
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### Author:  [@GenWoundwort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GenWoundwort)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2003, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-the-godfather/179650/25 "2003-09-18T03:43:17Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by ralph124c \*
> \*\*The interesting thing about the “GODFATHER” series films: In an interview on NPR (around 1996) Mario Puzo admitted that he made up most of the mafia “traditions” that were used in the book/movies. For example, the meetings and the wedding-day “justice” dispensations were all products of Puzo’s imagination. The reality was…by the 1930’s, the mafia was totally Americanized…allof the traditions of the sicilian mafia were pretty much dead. However, due to the Godfather, the crooks started reviving the traditions! For example, when Raymond Patriarca Jr. (the “godfather” of the NE mafia was busted in 1992 (at a mafia induction ceremony held in Revere, Ma), he was using a ritual that he got out of the “Godfather”. Today, the Mafia is just a bunch of criminals…yopu would not seek out your local “godfather” for justice, any more than you would seek out a mad dog. \*\*
Actually , it was in Medford , MA in 1989
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### Author:  [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-the-godfather/179650/26 "2003-09-18T14:14:17Z")
Did Teflon Don look scary? I don’t think so.
Marlon Brando was the perfect Godfather!
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