The Godfather Quotes

Don Vito Corleone: I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse.

Movie: The Godfather
Don Corleone: You could act like a man. [slaps Johnny Fontane]
Don Corleone: What's the matter with you? Is this what you've become, some Hollywood finnochio that cries like a woman? [mockingly imitates Johnny]
Don Corleone: Oh, Godfather, what am I gonna do? What am I gonna do?

Movie: The Godfather
Don Corleone: You talk about vengance. Is vengance going to bring your son back to you or my boy to me? I forgo the vengance of my son. But my youngest son had to leave this country because of this Sollozzo business. So now I have to make arraingments to bring him back safely cleared of all these false charges. But I'm a supersticious man. And if some unluck accident should befall him, if he should be shot in the head by a police officer, or if should hang himself in his jail cell, or if he's struck by a bolt of lightning... *then I'm going to blame some of the people in this room*... and that, I do not forgive. But, that aside, let say that I swear, on the souls of my grandchildren, that I will not be the one to break the peace we have made here today.

Movie: The Godfather
Jack Woltz: Johnny Fontane never gets that movie. That part is perfect for him, it'll make him a big star, and I'm gonna run him out of the business - and let me tell you why: Johnny Fontane ruined one of Woltz International's most valuable proteges. For five years we had her under training - singing lessons, acting lessons, dancing lessons. I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on her, I was gonna make her a big star. And let me be even more frank, just to show you that I'm not a hard-hearted man, and that it's not all dollars and cents: She was beautiful; she was young; she was innocent. She was the greatest piece of ass I've ever had, and I've had 'em all over the world. And then Johnny Fontane comes along with his olive oil voice and guinea charm, and she runs off. She threw it all away just to make me look ridiculous! And a man in my position can't afford to be made to look ridiculous!

Movie: The Godfather
Kay Adams: Michael, is it true? Did you have Carlo murdered?
Michael: Don't ask me about my business, Kay.

Movie: The Godfather
Michael Corleone: Kay, I had a very different destiny planned for us.

Movie: The Godfather
[first lines]
Title Card: The godfather was born Vito Andolini, in the town of Corleone in Sicily. In 1901 his father was murdered for an insult to the local Mafia chieftain. His older brother Paolo swore revenge and disappeared into the hills, leaving Vito, the only male heir, to stand with his mother at the funeral. He was nine years old. [gunshots and screams]
Woman: [subtitled from Italian] They've killed the boy! They've killed young Paolo! They've killed your son Paolo!

Movie: The Godfather
Don Corleone: I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.

Movie: The Godfather
Don Corleone: Tattaglia's a pimp. He never coulda outfought Santino. But I didn't know until this day, that it was Barzini all along.

Movie: The Godfather
Don Corleone: But I'm a superstitious man. And if some unlucky accident should befall him - If he should get shot in the head by a police officer, or if he should hang himself in his jail cell - or if he's struck by a bolt of lightning, them I'm going to blame some of the people in this room, and that I do not forgive. But, that aside, let me say that I swear, on the souls of my grandchildren, that I will not be the one to break the peace we've made here today.

Movie: The Godfather
[ speaking to himself, practicing his speech ]
Luca Brasi : Don Corleone, I am honored and grateful that you have invited me to your home on the wedding day of your daughter. And may their first child be a masculine child. [ then, starting over ]

Movie: The Godfather
Michael : I have to see my father and his people so have dinner without me.
Kay Adams : Oh, Michael.
Michael : This weekend we'll go out. We'll go to the city, see a show and have dinner, I promise.
Kay Adams : Hmmmm. Michael. Michael, wait, your sister wants to ask you something.
Michael : Well, let her ask.
Kay Adams : No, she's afraid to. Connie and Carlo want you to be Godfather to their little boy.
Michael : We'll see.
Kay Adams : Will you?
Michael : Let me think about it. We'll see.

Movie: The Godfather
Michael : You have to answer for Santino, Carlo. You fingered Sonny for the Barzini people.
Carlo Rizzi : Mike, you got it all wrong.
Michael : Ah, that little farce you played with my sister. You think that would fool a Corleone?
Carlo Rizzi : Mike, I'm innocent. I swear on the kids.
Michael : Sit down.
Carlo Rizzi : Please don't do this to me, Mike. Please don't.
Michael : Barzini is dead. So is Phillip Tattaglia. Moe Greene. Stracci. Cuneo. Today I settled all family business so don't tell me that you're innocent. Admit what you did. [ Carlo starts sobbing ]
Michael : Get him a drink. Don't be afraid, Carlo. Come on, you think I'd make my sister a widow? I'm Godfather to your son. [ Carlo get handed a drink ]
Michael : Go ahead. Drink. Drink. No, you're out of the family business, that's your punishment. You're finished. I'm putting you on a plane to Vegas. Tom? [ Tom hands Michael an airplane ticket ]
Michael : I want you to stay there, you understand? [ Carlo nods ]
Michael : Only don't tell me that you're innocent. Because it insults my intelligence and it makes me very angry. Now, who approached you first? Barzini or Tattaglia?
Carlo Rizzi : It was Barzini.
Michael : Good. There's a car outside that will take you to the airport. I'll call your wife and tell her what flight you're on.
Carlo Rizzi : Listen, Mike...
Michael : Go on. Get out of my sight.

Movie: The Godfather
[ last lines ]
Michael : All right. This one time I'll let you ask me about my affairs.
Kay Adams : Is it true? Is it?
Michael : No. [ Kay smiles and walks into his arms ]
Kay Adams : I guess we both need a drink, huh? [ Kay goes to the kitchen to fix a drink, but sees Peter Clemenza, Rocco Lampone and Al Neri enter Michael's office ]
Clemenza : Don Corleone. [ Clemenza kisses Michael's hand, and Neri shuts the door in her face... ]

Movie: The Godfather
Sollozzo : Bene, Don Corleone. I need a man who has powerful friends. I need a million dollars in cash. I need, Don Corleone, all of those politicians that you carry around in your pocket, like so many nickels and dimes.
Don Corleone : What is the interest for my family?
Sollozzo : Thirty percent. In the first year your end should be three, four million dollars. And then it would go up.
Don Corleone : And what is the interest for the Tattalgia family?
Sollozzo : [ smiles at Tom ] My compliments. [ Hagen gives a formal nod ]
Sollozzo : I'll take care of the Tattaglias, out of my share.
Don Corleone : So, I am to receive thirty percent for finance, for legal protection and political influence. Is that what you're telling me?
Sollozzo : That's right.
Don Corleone : Why come to me? What have I done to deserve such generosity?
Sollozzo : If you consider a million dollars in cash merely finance... [ raises his glass ]
Sollozzo : Te salut, Don Corleone. [ the Don gets up to take a drink and sits closer to Sollozzo ]
Don Corleone : I said that I would see you because I had heard that you were a serious man, to be treated with respect. But I must say no to you and let me give you my reasons. It's true I have a lot of friends in politics, but they wouldn't be so friendly if they knew my business was drugs instead of gambling which they consider a harmless vice. But drugs, that's a dirty business.
Sollozzo : No, Don Corleone...
Don Corleone : It makes no difference, it don't make any difference to me what a man does for a living, you understand. But your business is a little dangerous.
Sollozzo : If you're worried about security for your million, the Tattaglias will g

Movie: The Godfather
Michael : My credit good enough to buy you out?
Moe Greene : Buy me out? [ Fredo laughs nervously ]
Michael : The hotel, the casino. The Corleone Family wants to buy you out.
Moe Greene : The Corleone Family wants to buy me out? No, I buy you out, you don't buy me out.
Michael : Your casino loses money, maybe we can do better.
Moe Greene : You think I'm skimmin off the top, Mike?
Michael : [ Michael shakes his head ] You're unlucky.
Moe Greene : You goddamn guineas you really make me laugh. I do you a favor and take Freddie in when you're having a bad time, and now you're gonna try and push me out!
Michael : You took Freddie in because the Corleone Family bankrolled your casino, and the Molinari Family on the Coast guaranteed his safety. Now we're talking business, let's talk business.
Moe Greene : Yeah, let's talk business, Mike. First of all, you're all done. The Corleone Family don't even have that kind of muscle anymore. The Godfather's sick, right? You're getting chased out of New York by Barzini and the other Families. What do you think is going on here? You think you can come to my hotel and take over? I talked to Barzini - I can make a deal with him, and still keep my hotel!
Michael : Is that why you slapped my brother around in public?
Fredo : Aw, now that, that was nothin', Mike. Moe didn't mean nothin' by that. Yeah, sure he flies off the handle every once in a while, but me and him, we're good friends, right Moe?
Moe Greene : I got a business to run. I gotta kick asses sometimes to make it run right. We had a little argument, Freddy and me, so I had to straighten him out.
Michael : You straightened my brother out?
Moe Greene : He was banging cocktail

Movie: The Godfather
Tessio : Barzini's people chisle my territory and we do nothing about it. Pretty soon there won't be anyplace in Brooklyn that I can hang my hat.
Michael : Try and be patient.
Clemenza : I'm not asking for help, Mike, just take off the handcuffs.
Michael : Be patient.
Clemenza : We gotta protect ourselves. At least give me the chance to recruit some new men.
Michael : No. I don't want to give Barzini any excuse to start fighting.
Tessio : Mike, you're wrong.
Clemenza : Don Corleone, you once said the day would come when me and Tessio could form our own families. Until today I would never think of such a thing but now I must ask your permission.
Don Corleone : Well, Michael's head of the family now and if give his permission then you have my blessing.
Michael : After we make the move to Nevada you can break off from the Corleone Family and go off on your own. After we make the move to Nevada.
Clemenza : How long will that take?
Michael : Six months.
Tessio : Forgive me, Godfather, but with you gone me and Pete will come under Barzini's thumb sooner or later.
Clemenza : And I hate that Goddamn Barzini. In six months time there won't be nothin' left to build on.
Don Corleone : Do you have faith in my judgement?
Clemenza : Yes.
Don Corleone : Do I have your loyalty?
Clemenza : Yes, always Godfather.
Don Corleone : Then be a friend to Michael. Do as he says.
Michael : There are negotiations being made that are going to answer all of your questions and solve all of your problems. That's all I can tell you right now. Carlo, you grew up in Nevada. When we make our move t

Movie: The Godfather
Michael : Fredo, who are the girls?
Fredo : That's for you to find out.
Michael : Get rid of them, Fredo.
Fredo : Hey, Mike, uh...
Michael : I'm here on business I leave tomorrow now get rid of them. Come on, I'm tired. Get rid of the band, too. [ Fredo chases everyone out of the room ]
Michael : What happened to Moe Greene?
Fredo : He had business. He said give him a call. Once the party started.
Michael : Well, give him a call. Hello, Johnny.
Johnny Fontane : Mike, it's nice to see you again.
Michael : We're all proud of you. Sit down, Johnny, I want to talk to you. The Don's proud of you, too.
Johnny Fontane : Well, I owe it all to him.
Michael : He knows how grateful you are. That's why he'd like to ask a favor.
Johnny Fontane : Mike, what can I do?
Michael : The Corleone family is thinking of giving up all of its interest in the olive oil business, settling out here. Now Moe Greene will sell us his share of the hotel and the casino so that it can be completely owned by the family. Tom. [ Hagen hands Michael some papers ]
Fredo : Hey, Mike, are you sure about that? I mean, Moe, loves the business. He never said anything to me about sellin'.
Michael : I'll make him an offer he can't refuse. You see, Johnny, we feel that entertainment is going to be a big factor in drawing gamblers into the casinos. We're hoping that you'll sign a contract agreeing to appear 5 times a year. Perhaps convince some of your friends in the movies to do the same. We're counting on you, Johnny.
Johnny Fontane : Sure, Mike, I'll do anything for my Godfather. You know that.
Michael : Good.
Moe Greene :

Movie: The Godfather
[ delivering his rehearsed speech ]
Luca Brasi : Don Corleone, I am honored and grateful that you have invited me to your daughter... 's wedding... on the day of your daughter's wedding. And I hope their first child be a masculine child. I pledge my ever-ending loyalty.

Movie: The Godfather
[ after Michael gets off the phone with Kay, clearly too embarrassed to tell her he loves her ]
Clemenza : Mikey, why don't you tell that nice girl you love her? I love you with all-a my heart, if I don't see-a you again soon, I'm-a gonna die.

Movie: The Godfather
Sonny : Goddamn FBI don't respect nothin'.

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Calo : In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.

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Sonny : Hey, listen, I want somebody good - and I mean very good - to plant that gun. I don't want my brother coming out of that toilet with just his dick in his hands, alright?
Clemenza : The gun'll be there.

Movie: The Godfather
Michael : My father is no different than any powerful man, any man with power, like a president or senator.
Kay Adams : Do you know how naive you sound, Michael? Presidents and senators don't have men killed.
Michael : Oh. Who's being naive, Kay?

Movie: The Godfather
Jack Woltz : All right, start talking!
Tom Hagen : I come from a personal friend of Mr Johnny Fontane. That friend promises his undying friendship if you would do him a small favour.
Jack Woltz : What's that?
Tom Hagen : Give Johnny a part in that war movie you're starting next week. [ Woltz signs a document with a smile and walks away, Hagen alongside him ]
Jack Woltz : And what favours does this friend promise in exchange for giving Johnny the part?
Tom Hagen : You've got some labour trouble coming up. My client promises to make that trouble disappear. You have a top star who makes a lot of money, but he just graduated from marijuana to heroin...
Jack Woltz : [ all East Side now ] Are you trying to muscle me?
Tom Hagen : Absolutely not. I've come to ask a service for a friend...
Jack Woltz : Now you listen to me, you smooth-talking son-of-a-bitch, let me lay it on the line for you and your boss, whoever he is! Johnny Fontane will never get that movie! I don't care how many dago guinea wop greaseball goombahs come out of the woodwork!
Tom Hagen : I'm German-Irish.
Jack Woltz : Well, let me tell you something, my kraut-mick friend, I'm gonna make so much trouble for you, you won t know what hit you!
Tom Hagen : Mr. Woltz, I'm a lawyer. I have not threatened you.
Jack Woltz : I know almost every big lawyer in New York, who the hell are you?
Tom Hagen : I have a special practice. I handle one client. Now you have my number, I'll wait for your call. By the way, I admire your pictures very much. [ Hagen leaves, with Woltz staring after him ]
Jack Woltz : [ to an underling ] Check him out...

Movie: The Godfather
[ first lines ]
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 "boy friend," 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. [ He breaks down at this point, and the Don gestures to his son to get him a drink ]
Bonasera : Sorry... [ He regains his composure and carries on ]
Bonasera : 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 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.
Don Corleone : What is that? [ Bonasera gets up from his seat and whispers into the Don's ear; for a long moment the Don is silent ]
Don Corleone : That I cannot do.
Bonasera : I will give you anything you ask!

Movie: The Godfather
Kay Adams : Michael, you never told me you knew Johnny Fontane!
Michael : Sure, you want to meet him?
Kay Adams : Well, yeah! Sure.
Michael : My father helped him with his career.
Kay Adams : How did he do that?
Michael : ...Let's listen to the song.
Kay Adams : [ after listening to Johnny for a while ] Tell me, Michael. Please.
Michael : Well, when Johnny was first starting out, he was signed to a personal services contract with this big-band leader. And as his career got better and better, he wanted to get out of it. But the band leader wouldn't let him. Now, Johnny is my father's godson. So my father went to see this bandleader and offered him $10,000 to let Johnny go, but the bandleader said no. So the next day, my father went back, only this time with Luca Brasi. Within an hour, he had a signed release for a certified check of $1000.
Kay Adams : How did he do that?
Michael : My father made him an offer he couldn't refuse.
Kay Adams : What was that?
Michael : 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.
Kay Adams : ...
Michael : ...That's a true story. [ cut to Johnny singing again for about 10 more seconds before going back to Michael ]
Michael : That's my family Kay, that's not me.

Movie: The Godfather
Sonny : Tom-anuch! Hey, a hundred button men on the street twenty-four hours a day. That Turk shows one hair on his ass and he's dead.
Sonny : [ to Michael, whose face is bruised ] Michael, come here. Let me look at you. You're beautiful, beautiful, just beautiful. Hey, listen to this. The Turk, he wants to talk. You believe the nerve on this son of a bitch? He craps out last night and now he wants to have a meetin'.
Tom Hagen : What did he say?
Sonny : What did he say, badda-beep, badda-boop, badda-boop, badda-beep, he wants us to send Michael to hear the proposition and the promise is the deal is so good we can't refuse. Ha.
Tom Hagen : What about Bruno Tattaglia?
Sonny : Ah, that's part of the deal. Bruno cancels out what they did to my father.
Tom Hagen : We ought to hear what they have to say, Sonny.
Sonny : No, no, no, not this time, Consigliary. No more meetin's, no more discussions, no more Sollozzo tricks. You give them a message from I want Solozzo if not it's all out war we go to the mattresses.
Tom Hagen : Some of the other families won't sit still for an all out war.
Sonny : Then you tell them to hand over Sollozzo!
Tom Hagen : Your father wouldn't want to hear this, Sonny. This is business not personal.
Sonny : They shoot my father and it's business, my ass!
Tom Hagen : Even shooting your father was business not personal, Sonny!
Sonny : Well then, business is going to have to suffer. And please, do me a favor, Tom. No more advice on how to patch things up just help me win, please?
Tom Hagen : I found out about this Captain McClusky who broke Mike's jaw.
Sonny : Alright, what about him.
Tom Hagen : He's definite

Movie: The Godfather
Michael Corleone : Where does it say that you can't kill a cop?
Tom Hagen : Come on, Mikey...
Michael Corleone : Tom, wait a minute. I'm talking about a cop that's mixed up in drugs. I'm talking about a - a - a dishonest cop - a crooked cop who got mixed up in the rackets and got what was coming to him. That's a terrific story. And we have newspaper people on the payroll, don't we, Tom? [ Tom nods ]
Michael Corleone : And they might like a story like that.
Tom Hagen : They might, they just might.
Michael Corleone : [ to Sonny ] It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business.

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[ Michael sees a man dressed in black coming to Vito's hospital room ]
Michael Corleone : Who are you?
Enzo the Baker : I am Enzo. The baker. Do you remember me?
Michael Corleone : Enzo...
Enzo the Baker : Yes, Enzo.
Michael Corleone : You better get out of here, Enzo, there's gonna be trouble.
Enzo the Baker : If there is trouble, I stay here to help you. For your father. For your father.

Movie: The Godfather