The Godfatheris filled with iconic moments, but there is one overlooked element that adds so much to one of the movie’s most famous scenes. More than 50 years after its release, there are still many people who considerThe Godfatherto be thegreatest movie of all time. Even with such a bold statement, it is hard to argue against it as the movie brilliantly rewrote the gangster genre while also featuring some of the greatest performances in the history of movies from Al Pacino and Marlon Brando.
Of course, in talking about the brilliance ofThe Godfather, it is impossible to understate the work ofdirector Francis Ford Coppolain capturing the saga of the Corleone family. His eye for staging, lighting, and atmosphere elevates the already spectacular script into a masterpiece. There are so manymoments inThe Godfatherthat highlight how amazing Coppola’s work is. However, one of the best scenes in the movie features a small detail that helped make it iconic.
The Train Noise Gets Louder & Louder During The Godfather’s Restaurant Scene
The Tension Of The Scene Is Elevated By The Small Detail
The climactic moment of the first half ofThe Godfathercomes in the famous restaurant scene in which Michael Corleone sits down with rival crime boss Sollozzo (Al Lettieri) and corrupt cop McCluskey (Sterling Hayden) to discuss ending the war between them. However, as these two men are responsible for the attempt on his father,Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), Michael is only there to kill the men. However, the tension comes from the fact that Michael is not a gangster, so he doesn’t know if he can pull it off (and neither does the audience).
Francis Ford Coppola gradually increases the sound of the train, getting louder and louder until Michael kills the men.
The entire scene is a sequence of nearly unbearable tension that rises and rises. Right up until the moment Michael stands from the table and shoots the two men, the audience is on the edge of their seats. However,they might not even realize that it is the mountain train noise in the scene that is adding to that tension. The sound of a train or subway is common background noise in New York City, so it largely goes unnoticed. However, Francis Ford Coppola gradually increases the sound of the train, getting louder and louder until Michael kills the men.
It is an ingenious way for Coppola to raise the feeling of unease and make the audience feel Michael’s sense of impending terror. It is as if the sound is just in his head, getting louder and louder as he delays the terrifying act that he knows he must do. Coppola makes it all the more impactful in cutting the train noise as Michael stands, giving some relief that is immediately replaced by the thunderous gun shots.
Why The Godfather’s Restaurant Scene Is One Of Cinema’s Best
The Moment Is Essential For Michael’s Arc
The restaurant scene stands out as one of the defining moments inThe Godfatheras well as one of the best cinematic moments ever put on screen.It is a combination of incredible aspects of filmmaking coming together, with the script, the direction, the sound, and the acting all reaching a point that makes it as impactful as possible. It also mirrors the movie’s unique take on the gangster genre, reimaging the typical “mob hit” scene as a messy, uncertain, and unsettling one. From Michael clumsily finding the gun in the bathroom to his meek expression, there is nothing romanticized.
The journey of Michael Corleone is one of the best arcs in movie history, and this is perhaps the most important moment.
However, most of all, the sequence works because it is a thrilling and cinematic way to showcase important character growth. Thejourney of Michael Corleoneis one of the best arcs in movie history, and this is perhaps the most important moment. While Michael was a war hero, this up-close-and-personal killing is the moment he steps into the family business without any hope of coming back. The growing tension in the moment is not just for the impending murder, but for Michael’s soul. It is a defining moment inThe Godfatherand a brilliant moment of storytelling through action.
