I Watched The Godfather as a TV Show

[@HappyTacoPaco]

Instead of spending another hour looking for a bootleg he edits the entire thing himself, what a legend

[@behelit1997]

He wanted time to watch the movie, not to look for it! Based

[@AC-gm6dr]

more like stupid

[@peytongonavy]

It's like baking a pie that's pie-flavored 🥧 "I'm gonna edit the KZbin video. May as well edit what the video's about!"

[@Madstsone]

The chronological Godfather is like watching Star Wars from Episode 1 to 6. The main character is introduced as a child, becomes a villain, and then his son becomes the main character midway through the saga.

[@onemoreminute0543]

Ha, I've said the same thing myself! It's a generational tale.

[@kumdemon]

That’s how I watched it because that’s how the TV channels ordered it as it aired

[@jmadratz]

Why anybody would watch the 9 Star Wars movies is beyond comprehension. The only watchable movies are Stars Wars (I refuse to call it part 4 because when it came out it 1977 it was called Stars Wars), The Empire Strikes Back, and The Return of the Jedi. The other 6 movies are trash.

[@hilaryc8648]

@@jmadratzAnd they are so tonally different any continuity is borderline incoherent. For the same reason I guess this reviewer, correctly, left out Godfather 3.

[@Fantasyremix]

Saw someone watch the Star Wars movies for the first time in this order: 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6. Adds a nice plot twist to 3 but I wouldn't recommend anyone else do it.

[@snoopsq.527]

Hot Take: The definitive way to watch The Godfather on TV are the movies playing just as they are but the channel watermark covers Fredo’s face. The entire time no matter where he is. Even when he moves around the watermark just follows him in the frame. Perpetually Mike Wazowski’d just as Godfather Michael would have wanted.

[@EyebrowCinema]

I have found the subject of my next video.

[@crnkmnky]

🤣

[@SamAronow]

This is the second time today I've seen "Mike Wazowski" used as a verb on KZbin.

[@nateds7326]

This is one of the most unhinged ideas I've ever seen

[@bassplayer2011ify]

100 percent, though I will say you should watch the originals first and then watch this.

[@deckarde4919]

Imagine: the year is 1977 and you are Francis Ford Coppola. The Horror, the horror.

[@spews1973]

The funny thing is, the novel isn't in strict chronological order. It opens on Connie's wedding day. A lengthy flashback detailing Don Vito's boyhood in Sicily and rise to power in America, comes after he is hospitalized following the attempt on his life.

[@dennisdezarn5895]

Thanks for the spoiler. Next you're gonna tell me Atlanta burns down at the end of Gone With the Wind.😂

[@Alkinski]

It opens with a court scene, in which the abusers of the undertaker's daughter are let go.

[@spews1973]

@@Alkinski I stand corrected.It's been 20 years since read it.

[@pisquickgta]

@@Alkinski (sorry for my english) well technically yes, but the og comment isn´t wrong, the main arc of the begining of the novel is the wedding, it just presents really fast a couple of different cases of people who will go to the wedding to ask for help to don corleone

[@rayvenkman2087]

So, can we sue the company for false advertisement then?

[@nateds7326]

I love how we live in a day and age where anybody on youtube with the initiative and Premire Pro subscription can just say "fuck it, I'll make my own version of this obscure broadcast based off of descriptions I saw on IMDB". Thats just so cool, if this were the 90s it'd a take an insane amount of equipment and time to do anything like that.

[@Drew-vn8rx]

You might already know this but the final dinner scene at the end of Godfather 2 does NOT get re-arranged in The Godfather Saga version. It's still the final scene. You should at some point try to watch that version. Seems like there's a few differences from what you've done here

[@uh.theroyalwe]

I didn't even know about this linear TV version, but of all the flashbacks, the last one, which shows that Michael has always isolated himself from the rest of the family, is the one that fits best where it always was. As much as I love the parallel that the other flashbacks make, sometimes they break the narrative; the last one complements it

[@kingjensen8091]

@@uh.theroyalwe Totally agree, the context of the scene is that it is happening in Michael's head as a reminiscence at the end. Moving the scene to before Godfather I takes away the impact of the scene. Especially the part where Fredo is the only one to support Michael in the flashback, it makes his death even more painful.

[@ogto]

yup, this was also how i first saw the godfather, on tv back in like 2005., having no idea that it was NOT the original theatrical cut. imagine my confusion when years later i saw the original articles.

[@EyebrowCinema]

@@ogto fascinating. Was it disappointing to see the movies proper given you were used to the saga cut?

[@ogto]

@@EyebrowCinema no the real cuts were much better, and i was older. but i did mandela effect myself because i was CONVINCED 1000% that brando shows up in the "final scene" from part 2, that's misplaced in the tv cut. i was shocked and saddened he doesn't make an appearance but that's just on me

[@ogto]

@@EyebrowCinema thinking back, the version i saw was in 2 parts. not sure how long they were, maybe 2 or 3 hours each. they must've also cut stuff to fit the time slots... now im curios to seek out a version.

[@sandranorman5469]

@@ogtoMarlon Brando was supposed to show up and Coppola knew he would be there, but Brando never showed.

[@corbinmarkey466]

The deleted scenes from The Godfather are so good (and many of them straight from the book) that they've become part of my head canon.

[@ReallyGoodandKind]

This was how I first saw the godfather on HBO in 2015. So when I watched the actual movies I was thrown for a real loop.

[@EyebrowCinema]

@@ReallyGoodandKind That's a very unique way to be introduced to the series.

[@ReallyGoodandKind]

@@EyebrowCinema like I know the movies are objectively a better made product. But I have such a soft spot for the chronological version. When I finally did watch the movies it really showed me the importance of editing and how that alone changes the tone of a feature presentation

[@Swashbuckler332]

The theatrical cuts are indeed masterfully edited. What’s interesting is that they often cut entire subplots out instead of messing with the natural pace in a scene… moments like the look between Michael and Solluzzo as the waiter pours the wine, which on paper sounds like something easy enough to trim, but leaving it intact in the theatrical cut was the right move because it is so important to establishing the tone and characters in the scene.

[@Louie_The_Dago]

Man, I do wanna see these 2 in a linear fashion with any and all deleted scenes. Especially the deleted scene of Sonny hesitating to sit in his father's chair after he takes over

[@Swashbuckler332]

@@Louie_The_Dago A lot of the extra stuff with Sonny does a lot to round out the character. He’s got quite a few more dimensions in the longer version, and Caan has a few moments more where he really gets to show what he can do. While I feel that the theatrical cuts are the best versions of these films - and definitely what anyone new to the movies should see definitely see first - but a lot of this extra stuff is really good too, and crafted with the same level of mastery that the rest of the movies are.

[@jconmemes]

The part when Kay prays for Michael’s soul makes more sense to be at the end of the first movie.

[@kencoakley8366]

I saw The Godfather Part II at a drive-in in 1974. I was 8 at the time and couldn't understand it. I remember being bored. My then 14 year old brother, 18 year old sister and 19 year old brother in law saw it. I was bored and fidgety. My brother in law kept saying the movie will end when Fredo dies. I was impatiently waiting for Fredo to die. I watched The Godfather : The Complete Novel For Television in 1977, and, 3 years after hating Part II, ended up with both movies sharing the #1 spot as my favorite movie. In 1976, indoor movie theaters ran both movies on one bill. It was all over Massachusetts at the time. The extra scenes were done to replace the violence in both films and nudity in the first one. The same thing happened with Jaws and Jaws 2 when they had their respective airings on ABC. Saturday Night Fever, which was rated a very hard R had clean reshoots after the R rated shoots. Director John Badham was worried that the R cut couldn't be cleaned up for tv because of the constant profanity so he had the idea for the alternate clean cuts. The Actors were initially against it because a lot of the actors hadn't worked on a theatrical film before so they had no idea about residuals and when Badham told them that they wouldn't get residuals because the film wouldn't air on tv. Then they rallied around and did the clean takes. The clean version was also in the can so Paramount re-released it as a PG film in early 1979 and played in drive-ins and hard tops as a co-feature with Grease. Back to the Godfather deleted scenes, I couldn't find a weak link in any of them. The scene with the dying Genco served to show that Vito was so ruthless and powerful that Genco was certain that Vito would terrify the grim reaper and that Genco's life would be spared. There was a scene that was shot, but is presumably lost forever. There were photos of it in a book about the making. It showed Michael walking into a pizzeria with his coat over his arm covering something. It was a shotgun. Michael goes in , finds Fabrizio, then kills him. They scrapped that for the deleted scene in Part II, when Fabrizio gets killed when his car blows up. I also notice that in the Part II deleted scenes, Clemenza speaks English. Frank Sivero, who played Genco in Part II, was an extra in Part I, when Sonny attacks Carlo. He also played Carbone in Goodfellas.

[@EnergyFocus834]

It's not just the novel for television. As far as I know, this fan project contains every single scene present in every single version of the movie available to the public. All in chronological order. It's a thing to behold

[@DwRockett]

Excellent video. The concept of putting the first two godfather films in order reminds me a bit of that “how to watch The Irishman as a mini series” image that spread around a bit when that film was first released (for better or worse). Might make an interesting comparison if you ever want to do a follow up to this one

[@EyebrowCinema]

That is a potentially fun idea. I was definitely thinking of that image when working on this.

[@jonathanswift2251]

Hi! I was 11 years old in 1977. In April of 1977, I saw 2001: A Space Odyssey on NBC. Memorable. In August of 1977, I saw Star Wars in the theater. Only once. My father didn't believe in paying to see a movie more than once. It was too intense for my 11-year-old mind to see it once. It was a blur. A joyous, exciting blur (like a quick roller coaster ride), but just a blur. In the fall of 1977 (still 11), I saw the Godfather saga on TV with my parents. It was captivating; it was intense; it was entertaining. Over multiple nights, I was able to take it all in. It wasn't until the mid-80s that I would see the theatrical versions on VHS. And then I taped them off of CINEMAX on cable. Seeing it on TV was the perfect way to show it to an 11-year-old, since it was a PG TV NETWORK acceptable version, and therefore SOMEWHAT age appropriate. Thank you.

[@300thNPC]

Damn you old

[@VermilionStreet]

@@300thNPC 💀

[@jonathanswift2251]

@@300thNPC Damn, YOU need to learn grammar. It's YOU'RE old, not YOU old. Bad, illiterate English. Damn, you're uneducated.

[@kirbosomething]

how did they make the godfather pg?

[@SnapperChannel]

You could say Coppola turning Godfather into a TV miniseries wasn’t *One From the Heart* *drum roll rimshot*

[@Trekpanther]

Really like these kind of thought experiments (well not just thought, but you know what I mean) because to me it shows how important editing is to a film.

[@EyebrowCinema]

Thank you! That's what I was hoping this project would demonstrate.

[@jackpayne1861]

the opening of two and the ending of two are not 40 years apart, but over 70. edit: true, 70 is wrong. closer to 63-4.

[@samuelbarber6177]

The film takes place from 1901 to about 1959, so closer to 60

[@bobcobb3654]

Part 2 ends in the mid-60s. The New Year’s Eve scene in the movie (the “You broke my heart” scene) was December of ‘59 (a goof by the production since Castro took over Cuba the previous New Year’s Eve). Then, Michael waited until after his mother was dead to kill Fredo, which happened right after Hyman Roth was killed. Before Roth was shot, he joked about wanting to vote in the upcoming Presidential election. Since the last scene where Michael sees his kids, they don’t look noticeably older than they did in ‘59, I’m guessing Part 2 ends in 1964.

[@henrymandler7370]

Coppla was considering making a Godfather 4. And it would be much like two and then it would be simultaneously showcase events that previously happened and move the story forward. It would be about Young Sunny and young-ish Vito building up the Corleone empire. Sunny would be played by DiCaprio and De Niro would come back as Vito. It would also feature Vincent Corleone trying to reestablish the crime family empire after michael’s retirement and death. The plans fell apart after Mario Puzo’s tragic death.

[@grantg6855]

Video ideas are always next level! Great stuff

[@EyebrowCinema]

@@grantg6855 cheers! Thank you.

[@ROL4NDpkmnguide]

So, you made a Sergio Leone movie

[@seanmgunn1342]

As in once upon a time in America?

[@samuelbarber6177]

@@seanmgunn1342not really, that was out of chronological order

[@benjamincox4211]

@@samuelbarber6177not the original American release lol

[@seansmith6255]

​@benjamincox4211 Funny story A critic watched the original American release And called it the worst movie of the year Then after watching the original cut He called it the best movie of the decade

[@DJMavis]

Would the films have been better or worse with a Morricone musical score? The Nino Rota stuff is amazing, but Morricone is a genius.

[@PrivateIvan]

My folks had taken me with them to see Godfather II in 1974; I was nine, hadn't seen the first film, and the flashbacks confused me, especially because I was too short to see the subtitles. Only the scenes of violence kept me in my seat. So I was really glad to see the Godfather Novel for TV--and when I finally saw the films and could appreciate them, I was surprised at how much stuff had been edited from the theatrical release (and added to the TV program later, but I didn't know what was cut or not; it's not like they flashed a card saying "not in theatrical cut originally"--but you're right: for the longest time, I was like "where's that scene of them in the hotel?"). Thanks for this great video!

[@samuelbarber6177]

I’m disappointed that this video isn’t at least 3 hours long, Daniel. In all seriousness, I think you really did hit on something with how interesting it can be to see a movie one knows so well in a slightly (or even vastly) different form. A couple weeks back, I watched L.A. Confidential in black and white and had a great time, and I’m somewhat curious as to what that Steven Soderbergh re-edit of Raiders of the Lost Ark actually looks like.

[@WitchApprentice]

This is so strange, I actually did almost the same thing just a couple weeks ago after failing to find the chronological version. I haven't watched it yet, but I'm interested to see what it's like, and particularly how the flashback material feels as its own entity rather than intercut with the Godfather II material. The one scene I left out of chronological order was that scene at the end of Part II, since I saw that more as Michael reminiscing rather than a true flashback.

[@Swashbuckler332]

@@WitchApprentice As far as I know, that scene was always kept at the end (even in the chronological edits) for that very reason. It’s Michael’s train of thought.

[@gregbors8364]

Scene: Michael sits alone in his villa on the shore of Lake Tahoe. Shot is heard in the background. Laugh track ensues.

[@KamenSentaiMetalHero]

Seinfeld theme kick in

[@moonmannd7501]

Making the comparison between Vito and Michael's rises/reigns one complete linear work draws an interesting comparison to me to how historical empires would decline as the crown passes further down the bloodline with time. It reminds me of the saying how an empire will likely be fine with the one who established it and their son, because they'll know from experience and be directly taught what it took to establish. But the grandson, even if taught as well, will likely do more poorly for the empire because it was a fact that they were born into and always existed as fact in their world, and the teaching of their father will be more impersonal than what they were given. How it's existence itself is necessarily taken for granted, and how that changes their personality.

[@owaisthegamer240]

I think the imperfections of episode one's closing makes it even better, because looking at it through our removed pre-conceptions of the original theatrical cut episode one serves as Vito's story and his struggles that lay the ground works for future episodes. From his relationship with his partners in crime to the creation of Genco Olive Oil to his relationships with his family and community. From foreshadowing like how he holds Michael after killing Fanucci and holds hims throughout the Sicily section all allude to something much greater ahead. My point is that it doesn't matter that the prominent characters of future episodes aren't properly introduced at the end as it's not their turn to lead and take the reins. It is still Vito's story and the closing resembles a kind of celebration for what he has accomplished, they are the fruits from his labour, the family he had longed for all this time. Family was always Vito's driving motivation and it wasn't throughly fleshed out in the beginning so it's understandable if it's not at the end. It's very poetic how we don't get to see Vito at the end. We get to see his accomplishments, but not him, not our protagonist. Still, as viewers we intimately know what it had cost him to achieve what we see in front of us. We see his children at the table, the scene almost resembling a stage play, in a way we see them through his gaze, and they're oblivious to all the hardships that had brought this prosperity.

[@Kh3micalX8]

I hope The Godfather Saga gets a well-done proper home media release someday.

[@GREGWATSON-lc8cc]

Too many copyright infringements

[@JuvyThaKid]

Man, I would love to watch this format for the story! At first I was thinking, "Why would want to change the movies format?", then as you laid out how you put it together I was sold more and more. This would be a really cool way to experience the Corleone Saga!

[@KansasViking]

This is an incredible video! Thank you for your work and analysis. This was so cool, gotta do a Godfather rewatch this weekend now!

[@teddyfurstman1997]

I need to watch this Interesting TV Edit of The Godfather.

[@EyebrowCinema]

@@teddyfurstman1997 it's definitely worth a look.

[@zaidlacksalastname4905]

Pirate it

[@xp7575]

Release The​ @@EyebrowCinemaCut ✊️

[@teddyfurstman1997]

@@EyebrowCinemathanks.

[@jonathanaldecoa1099]

You can find bootlegs online fairly easily.

[@mckeldin1961]

I'll have to double check with my copy of the HBO edition of the Saga, but I'm pretty sure the 1941 birthday scene was still used as a flashback in the linearized TV cut. My memory is that there's a fade out from young Vito leaving Coreleone Sicily by train with his family and then a hard cut to old Vito and Amerigo Bonasera. But I'll check to make sure (it wouldn't be the first time my memory has played tricks on me!). Incidentally, I'm old enough to have seen the Saga on its original broadcast (I'm even old enough to have seen Part II in the theaters... but not Part I)

[@ogto]

yeah, somehow i also vaguely remember that it was placed at the end. but i also misremembered that brando makes an appearance so what the hell do i know

[@EyebrowCinema]

Second person to report this and that has some very interesting implications. Thanks for sharing. It's good to hear from someone who saw the HBO broadcast.

[@bobcobb3654]

It still is at the end for a good reason. It’s Michael remembering the family he had that are now gone, and many of them are gone as a direct result of Michael himself. It emphasizes the closing shot of Michael, victorious, but empty.

[@jonathanaldecoa1099]

I have a bootleg of the HBO version on the way to me and can’t wait to see it.

[@beejls]

I loved the 70s linear version on TV. Much more Robert de Niro in it, his young Don Corleone was superb.

[@EyebrowCinema]

More De Niro is always a fair argument.

[@beejls]

@@EyebrowCinema I love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love love the linear TV version.

[@SamAronow]

1:00 Obligatory mention that the "forced anglicization" thing is a myth largely perpetuated by _The Godfather_ itself. Nobody's name was changed at Ellis Island because names were simply copied from ship manifests. People merely heard their parents/grandparents saying "our names were changed at Ellis Island" in the passive voice and assumed it was an involuntary procedure, when in fact it was something immigrants did themselves.

[@shinyagumon7015]

It's kinda funny actually how loose the regulations were back then. Like you just needed to start using your new name on legal documents and boom.

[@SamAronow]

@@shinyagumon7015 Yep! That's what my great-grandparents did. My grandmother even colloquialy anglicized her name so hard it went fully past English and into Italian.

[@windycitykitty]

wow, thank you for this in-depth, well thought out video. Great work on your part. Many thanks!

[@samuelstensgaard4828]

I've never seen a video of yours before, definitely a strong first impression.

[@gary-f2m]

Someone on here once put a fan edit on youtube of pulp fiction in chronological order

[@michaeld5]

Well done commentary. You put a lot of work into this and it shows.

[@TakinErEasyHere]

I had a VHS copy of this, it was called "The Complete Epic". Wish I could find it on Blu-Ray. It is really, really good.

[@rebelusray]

Great video!!! I love the way that you took the time to really break down the whole "saga". I've always wanted to see & own this mini-series, but never got the chance. I've owned the "Godfather" films in one form or another since the VHS, THX mastered days; (I currently have the 2008 blu-rays and digital versions in 4K UHD streaming quality) and I've made peace with the fact that I'll never see this version; your video helped me realize that I don't need see this version, I can enjoy part 1 and 2 as is and that I'm not missing too much. The heart and soul of the story is the same. Thank you again for a great video!!!😀

[@wutangkang]

Awesome video as always my man!

[@erwinquiachon8054]

Ingmar Bergman was already doing this with his films for Swedish TV. The TV versions added a bunch of deleted scene to make it them multi episode miniseries, like Godfather Saga.

[@PartTimeBuddhist]

The Godfather Part I & II, upon watching The Godfather Saga: "Look how they massacred my boy..."

[@bobcobb3654]

Coppola didn’t care. He needed the money. By the time this came out, his house and savings had been put up as collateral to get the money to finish Apocalypse Now.

[@mikehamers3470]

I watched this while eating lasagna. It felt appropriate.

[@michaeledwards6683]

episode 1 ending with a single scene of characters we don’t know yet but will become important later sounds just like a normal television show thing

[@moondog96_]

This is such a well-written and thoughtful video. Subbed

[@Armakk]

A fascinating and worthy experiment. GREAT WORK.

[@PaceFilmsProductions]

I watched the Saga version for my first time and I enjoyed it. If I remember right the flashback at the end of Godfather Part II was still at the end as a flashback.

[@bobcobb3654]

The image was cropped because television sets in 1977 were 4:3 and screens were a lot smaller (a 25-inch screen could cost upwards of 2-grand in today’s dollars).

[@two_owls]

I've never seen any of the Godfathers but I've now seen both your analysis of Part 3 *and* your analysis of your fan edit of the made-for-TV edit of Parts 1 and 2

[@Dench999or911]

The deleted scenes really make me want to see the episodic version of the Godfather. Good video!

[@onemoreminute0543]

9:31 OH WOW. If that scene with Roth was kept in the theatrical cut, it would have made the Vito and Michael storylines connected beyond the thematic contrast.

[@herbyragan8686]

FYI. The final scene from Godfather 2 is also the fi al scene of The Godfather: The Complete Epic. Like you pointed out the power of the scene is amplified after going on the journey with The Corleone family.

[@lash570]

@@herbyragan8686 better that Brando wasn’t in it- he was implied off screen when he walked in to his party-

[@bensneb360]

My dad first showed me The Godfather trilogy around 2006, and it took us about 6 nights to do so, since the movies were so long and I was in school, so this reviewing was reminiscent of my first time

[@GrizzlyDipper614]

This NBC miniseries version was the first way I ever saw the Godfather. I understood that it was parts 1 & 2 cut together. But,I didn’t realize that they had changed the sequence of scenes until years later when I finally saw the 2 OG movies. Always liked the CNFT cut better even though it was edited for television. Wish this version would be released on Blu-ray.

[@bobcobb3654]

In 1977, this was an easy way to squeeze more money out of the story. Mini series’s were already popular in the 70s, but when Roots came out in January of ‘77, there was a frenzy. The producer of The Godfather, Albert Ruddy, came from a TV background and thought they’ve already got six and a half hours of content in the can and another hour of deleted scenes, so why not reassemble it as a miniseries? NBC liked it too, they had a story they knew would be popular and they could bill it as “in a way you’ve never seen.” It wasn’t Roots level ratings, but it was a hit (enough of a hit for Paramount to put it out on video) and all it cost to make was postproduction fees.

[@sneakyskunk1]

Breaking Thrones? Yeah, I would watch that.

[@sonnyhale]

It was funny seeing my playlist of videos haha, I've got access to pretty much all of the different cuts and can provide them if you'd like.

[@EyebrowCinema]

@@sonnyhale that playlist was a godsend. The deleted scenes included in the blu-ray are all low quality and in the wrong aspect ratio. I was delighted to see high quality uploads on KZbin so thank you very much.

[@YesOkayButWhy]

How can I find then? Does it have a name or specific number of videos in it to help me identify it? Thanks!

[@tbc9096]

I have both The Godfather Epic (1902-1959) and The Godfather Trilogy (1901-1980) on VHS and they are glorious.

[@Ringothetankengine-qy1vl]

One thing I'd love to see is a version of the films as they are but with some of the better deleted scenes from "The Saga" thrown in. It might make the films feel a bit less pacy, but it'd still be interesting.

[@gavinmillar816]

Superb as ever. I'd love to get my hands onnyour edit!

[@SeanWhitmore]

Very interesting project you undertook! I might suggest that the best ending for the series would be to leave the flashback in place. That might seem like it flies in the face of the linearity conceit, but I'd argue there's a difference between this flashback being specifically Michael's memory, as opposed to the Vito backstory he wasn't actually present for. And like you said, that scene doesn't work terribly well as a bridge between the Vito origin and the Godfather 1 opening anyway.

[@EyebrowCinema]

The ending is definitely better with flashback, and some commenters are reporting the versions of Saga they saw on TV (AMC, HBO) or on VHS kept the scene as the end. I do wonder if that defeats the purpose of the project though. If the whole point is to tell the story chronologically, why make the exception here.

[@SeanWhitmore]

@@EyebrowCinema I think it just comes down to that last flashback being inextricably linked to Michael's specific thoughts at that moment. Removing one also takes away the other, which isn't the case for the other flashbacks.

[@EmilyKeane-h3k]

This guy is a legend for editing his own version of " The Godfather Saga". " The Godfather 1901-1959: The Complete Epic is a reduced, 386 minute version of " The Godfather Saga" which is 434 minutes that was released on Vhs in 1981. The HBO version known as "Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901-1959" has had the removed scenes restored, giving it a runtime of 423 minutes. I searched Amazon and Ebay and was able to find the 423 minute version quite easily. Sadly though it appears that the 434 minute version is lost to time unless someone taped it back when it first aired.

[@t.wilson9432]

Pluto had the Godfather saga on not long ago..i didn't watch as i had seen it on TV and both films separately (,many times)

[@MosesWine]

I've always wanted to see this version and have been tempted to purchase the VHS and laserdisc collections on several occasions but I cant justify the price. It would be excellent if Paramount allowed Zoetrope to release it on disc. Im sure one of the boutique labels would love to release it. Also regarding your note about framing, even when The Godfather Part I was shot, Coppola, Willis, et al were very savvy and knew from the get go that there was a possibility that it could be sold for TV broadcast rights, which were HUGE back in those days. Literally millions of viewers and ad revenues. For that reason, the films were shot open matte intended for 1.85 theatrical viewing BUT the full image was protected for home 4x3 television sets. So in this case, the 4x3 TV image was not cropped from the theatrical 1.85 but actually OPENED up to reveal more information on the top and bottom with only slight cropping on the sides. The movie actually looks terrific in 4x3. You could argue that there are 2 approved aspect ratios for these films. I still have my VHS copies for this reason but would gladly ditch them to buy HD copies. So you could not achieve the 4x3 image in HD from the blu rays anyway. You would need to source the 4x3 SD copies or, as you said, go the piracy route.

[@TheRoyalFino]

I always thought in a different world; The Godfather would have been a terrific prestige mini-series. I think the flashback format has worked in Breaking Bad and other shows, so that's probably something that would need to be utilized instead of avoided like in The Godfather Saga. But it's hard to argue against what it is. The GOAT movie(s).

[@samuelbarber6177]

If The Godfather came out as a tv show today, is there any chance Michael wouldn’t be played by Timothée Chalamet?

[@ashtonlikes9443]

A very high chance lol, Timmy doesn’t do tv

[@henryglennon3864]

"I'm going to speak television to Michael." "Go ahead." [leans in] "ALL THIS FOR ONLY ONE EASY PAYMENT OF $19.99! IF YOU CALL NOW WE'LL THROW IN ANOTHER CONTAINER OF OXYCLEAN FREE!"

[@Swashbuckler332]

@@henryglennon3864 What I want… what's most important to me is that I have a guarantee: six to eight weeks for delivery.

[@MarkyMatey]

Part 2 has great collection of deleted scenes, however I can see why they were cut.

[@chloecat08]

this is my first time watching your channel, this is a really cool video! i will def be checking out more:)

[@xander8756]

I’ve been looking for this! And only found one on Blu-ray for 60

[@stardogbillionaire]

Thanks man I remember being a little kid at my Grandmother’s house and I saw this scene of a woman praying before candles. That image always stood with me despite not knowing anything else that what was going on. Now I know it’s Kay praying, my Grandmother had that VHS Box Set of the Godfather Saga so I know I’m not just misremembering.

[@mihirsaksena2727]

You Always post a banger. All your videos are ❤

[@thENDweDIE]

How did you feel, if anything at all... ...about the contrast between Vito and Clemenza's living conditions as older men..?? Especially because it was Clemenza that opened the door for Vito in the first place. It was somewhat of an eye opener when we get a glimpse of what I believed to be Clemenza's home, and how little and lonely it seemed, when we see him awake to get ready to take care of a thing.

[@roberthewes3148]

I’ve watched it this way, and it just doesn’t work for me. For me, Micheal’s arc in Part II really is “He continues being a bad person” and when you don’t have Vito’s rise contrasting that in a constantly clashing fashion, the entire point of Part II’s structure, it loses so much depth and becomes a very typical gangster story. Diet Scarface

[@mckeldin1961]

More trivia (or more false memories... ;) ). When THE GODFATHER (Part I) originally aired on television in 1974 (my first viewing) it was shown in two parts. My memory is that the movie was split at the end of the Solozzo murder sequence. One other curious thing about that two part airing is that it was shown on Saturday and Monday evenings (rather than consecutive nights which was more common for 2 part feature film airings).

[@Modenut]

I have a 7 hour TV edit of this somewhere I think. Called The Complete Epic or some such. Edit: found it - "The Godfather - The Complete Epic, 1901-1959". Appears to be in 16:9. Not sure if it is some official thing or a fan edit, though lol

[@sansbudget]

The dinner scene from part 2 is, more than a flashback, a memory Michael has while sitting alone at the end of the movie. So I don't think it needs to be in its chronological position

[@volodymyrbilyk555]

One of the three movie configurations was actually how I first saw the Godfather movies on Ukrainian TV back in the 90s. Each episode was further broken in half and it was our weekly viewing for a couple of weeks. My parents actually read the novel and argued a lot with what was shown on the screen. Because of that I stayed away from the series up until a decade later when it was shown in the university's film club in its original form with proper film critic introduction.

[@jordil6152]

I found that the A/B structure of Godfather 2 disruptive. Both are great but the Michael story is more intriguing and should be shown uninterrupted.

[@Dmnthygtshlds2]

I have the vhs collection and never understood until now why it wasn’t just the three movies.. can’t wait to go watch it now

[@poogmaster1]

I've wanted to see this for so long. I thought the HBO edit was the original kinda shocked it was allowed on NBC.

[@jkeegan154]

I got the deleted scenes on the DVD box set.

[@yurtthesilentgod1225]

This is fantastic!

[@nateds7326]

Your bit about The Godfather being made as a prestige tv show made me realize how Succession is basically Godfather without the murder.

[@bacarandii]

"The Godfather Part II" is the only sequel I can think of that managed to actually make the original a better movie. (Come to think of it, "Back to the Future II," which actually takes characters and viewers back inside the first movie, does that, too. I never even liked the hokey "Back to the Future" until the second installment reimagined it.) Of course the thing that makes "Godfather II" a great film is the musical counterpoint between young Vito and Michael. The first movie takes place in the middle (temporally speaking) of the second one, which creates rhymes and associations that weren't there before. Straightening it out for TV flattened the whole thing -- like ironing out the folds in a piece of exquisite origami. The only real reason to watch it was to look for the tantalizing "missing scenes" for glimpses of an Expanded Godfather Universe. But the first VHS recorders didn't arrive in the US until August-September of 1977, so it was a one-shot deal. Good work on your assembly, though. If I hadn't seen it when it aired in 1977 (I was 19), I would have wanted to have the experience, too, just to see what it felt like...

[@excellentestevan4488]

You should review/ talk about Paramount + The Offer because I would love to see the difference from the miniseries from reality and also the fact I always believed the show was lying to me 80% of the time and I never had felt that way when I watched a historical show or movie before

[@EyebrowCinema]

I have considered it but I thus far have not watched the show.

[@excellentestevan4488]

@@EyebrowCinema well I'll tell ya, it's very interesting how much they much they got wrong and how little of right. (Something tells me that the show was made to make Al Ruddy look good, especially when he was supposed to be played by Armie Hammer) (No joke)

[@santiagoledesma2224]

The Godfather: 1+2

[@EpizodesHorizons]

Yes, I remember seeing the TV version on NBC all those years ago. I was too young to see the original theatrical releases, but I distinctly remember the TV version, and especially the introduction by FFC himself. Just as the studio execs were afraid of any Italian-American backlash, the NBC execs were concerned too. So they had FFC introduce the TV version, with an explicit explanation that the movie is NOT anti Italian-American. This does not seem to be an issue now, but back then they were afraid of getting angry letters, boycotts etc... I guess having famous Italian-American actors like De Niro and Pacino didn't hurt.

[@greenjoseph4]

I saw the 2012 broadcast… and it was dope…

[@sahelanthropus84]

Michael's a Marine, he's not in the army. I mention this not to nitpick your video, but because the social and cultural standing of a Marine captain is entirely different from some schmuck enlisting into the army

[@EyebrowCinema]

I appreciate the correction.

[@Bannerman1903]

Release the Eyebrow cut!

[@GREGWATSON-lc8cc]

Yeah I can edit the films myself too

[@OORagnar1976]

So did you put a link or upload it so we can watch it too?

[@paulzenev4346]

Very nice work Dan..👍.. Though I did get confused at places. BTW, wasn't there a time, back aways, when it seemed like this was on cable channels like USA network once a month..??🙃

[@jackmccullough3991]

How do I get to watch the godfather a novel for Television?

[@raczedvard]

The Godfather trilogy perfectly summed up in a sentence: The sins of the fathers...

[@gadini7662]

what about the part 3? wouldn't it be an important part of the saga

[@sean9920]

Sometimes you just gotta take things into your own hands 😂 I reedited Pulp Fiction in chronological order and burned it to a blu-ray disc to add to my movie collection. Have yet to watch it other than watching the parts I recut while editing.

[@tajrichardson9454]

Took me literally 5 seconds to search the godfather and find all the tv show versions

[@YesOkayButWhy]

On Google or KZbin or...?

[@c.nelson3747]

On the topic of heinous fan-edits of classic movies: Have you ever considered making a version of Citizen Kane that's in chronological order? The structure of that film is so reliant on flashbacks that it'd almost certainly be a complete mess-Thompson interviewing his subjects and their answers to him taking place in two different halves of the movie, or stuff like Mary's death happening off-screen-but it'd be interesting to watch Kane age in order rather than jumping back and forth from young to old (and it might make for another entertaining KZbin video, nudge nudge).