Question 1

Why did Francis Ford Coppola almost not direct The Godfather Part II?

Accepted Answer

Coppola had a horrible time directing the first film and asked to pick a different director for the sequel, suggesting Martin Scorsese, but executives rejected this, so he agreed to direct with conditions.

Question 2

What language did Robert De Niro learn for his role as Vito Corleone?

Accepted Answer

Robert De Niro spent four months learning to speak Sicilian, as nearly all of Vito's dialogue is in Sicilian.

Question 3

What historical inaccuracy in costumes led to reshoots?

Accepted Answer

Actors in flashback scenes originally wore pants with zippers, but a musician pointed out zippers hadn't been invented at that time, so some scenes were re-shot with button-fly trousers.

Question 4

How did Lee Strasberg's illness affect his character in the film?

Accepted Answer

Lee Strasberg became ill during shooting, so his character Hyman Roth was re-written to be an ailing old man instead of delaying production.

Question 5

What trick did Francis Ford Coppola use for a scene with Signor Roberto?

Accepted Answer

Coppola rigged the door to Vito's olive-oil business so it wouldn't open if a nail was inserted, keeping this secret from actor Leopoldo Trieste to film his real difficulty, with Frank Sivero pulling the nail out later.

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