The story of this movie has obvious similarities with The Godfather. I would not be surprised if it was an inspiration for Puzo and Coppola.
But what really blew me away way the dinner scene. Wasn't the set, the mise en scene, the seating order in the Corleone mansion an EXACT copy? It really looks like a homage to House of Strangers.
It is just that most Italian families were similar when it comes to the dinner table.
shareNo, Puzo & Coppola know what real Italian families are like, although the Corleone's are not typical either.
This movie did NOT have a real Italian feel to it. Robinson's accent was terrible and the actress playing Conte's possible mother-in-law was even less Italian than Estelle Getty in GOLDEN GIRLS.
You don't even have to be Italian to do a good job of portraying them. John Patrick Shanley did a perfect job in MOONSTRUCK.
Sam Tomaino
The dinner scene almost made me hit "pause" and go boil the water for pasta. But I refrained.
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