The Godfather Part II
Movie, 1974, The Corleones, Set in 1901–1925 & 1958–1959
The Godfather Part II is #2 of 3 in release order and #2 of 3 in chronological order in the The Godfather.
The story
In the continuing saga of the Corleone crime family, a young Vito Corleone grows up in Sicily and in 1910s New York. In the 1950s, Michael Corleone attempts to expand the family business into Las Vegas, Hollywood and Cuba.
The Godfather Part II recap
The film tells two stories. In 1901, nine-year-old Vito Andolini flees Sicily after the local don kills his family, and arrives in New York, where he is named Vito Corleone. As a young man in Little Italy in the 1910s and 1920s, he kills Fanucci, the neighbourhood's Black Hand extortionist, and earns the respect of the community, building the family business with Clemenza and Tessio. In 1958, Michael, now running the family from Lake Tahoe, survives an attempt on his life in his own bedroom. He suspects Hyman Roth, a Jewish gangster and old partner of Vito's, and travels to Havana for a business deal with Roth just as the Cuban revolution breaks out. There he learns that his older brother Fredo helped set up the hit. A Senate committee investigates the family, and Frank Pentangeli, a capo who believes Michael betrayed him, agrees to testify.
The Godfather Part II ending explained
Pentangeli recants after Michael brings his brother from Sicily to the hearing. Kay reveals that her miscarriage was really an abortion and leaves Michael. Michael has Roth killed at the airport and Pentangeli kill himself, and has Fredo shot dead while fishing on the lake. The young Vito returns to Sicily and kills the don who murdered his family. Michael sits alone, remembering the day he told his family he had enlisted.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II is streaming on Prime Video and Paramount+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 9.0/10, Rotten Tomatoes 96%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Godfather, before The Godfather Part III.
- Chronological order: after The Godfather, before The Godfather Part III.
What to watch before The Godfather Part II
The Godfather (1972), which The Godfather Part II (1974) continues.
Cast
- Al Pacino as Don Michael Corleone
- Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen
- Diane Keaton as Kay Corleone
- Robert De Niro as Vito Corleone
- John Cazale as Frederico 'Fredo' Corleone
- Talia Shire as Constanzia 'Connie' Corleone
- Lee Strasberg as Hyman Roth
- Michael V. Gazzo as Frank Pentangeli
- G.D. Spradlin as Senator Pat Geary
- Richard Bright as Al Neri
- Gastone Moschin as Don Fanucci
- Tom Rosqui as Rocco Lampone
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola.