They were checking for a disease called trachoma, a chronic infection of the eye. Signs of this disease are bumps under the eyelids. It can cause blindness and is highly contagious. If an immigrant had it, they would be sent back to their home country.

Why is Vito's jaw like that?

Marlon Brando envisaged the character to have bulldog-like jowls (hanging cheeks). In his auditions, he stuffed Kleenex tissues between his lower lips and teeth to create this appearance, which were replaced by a custom-made "plumper" oral prosthetic during filming.

Why is Vito Corleone's face like that?

Cotton-Balls and Mouthpiece: During his audition for the role, Marlon Brando decided to stuff his cheeks with cotton-balls to give Vito Corleone a puffy appearance [1]. However, for the actual filming, Brando used a custom-made mouthpiece created by a dentist to create the sagging jowls effect .

What's in The Godfather's mouth?

Marlon Brando wanted to make Don Corleone “look like a bulldog,” so he stuffed his cheeks with cotton wool for the audition. For the actual filming, he wore a mouthpiece made by a dentist. This appliance is on display in the American Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, New York.

Why does Vito Corleone speak like that?

As the previous answers mentioned, he was attempting to appear older (and did a good job, I think). But nobody has mentioned his voice. In the book, Vito had smallpox, and the illness damaged his throat, making him forever speak more quietly and scratchily than would otherwise be the norm.

What Exactly did Fredo Do to Betray Michael Corleone? | The Godfather 2 Explained

What is Don Vito Corleone's famous line?

“Revenge is a dish best served cold.” – Don Vito Corleone

If there's anyone who understands revenge, it's a mobster.

Who was Vito Corleone's favorite child?

Connie is Vito's only daughter and has been described as his favorite child, next to Michael.

Why do they eat oranges in The Godfather?

Summary. Oranges are a powerful symbol in The Godfather, foreshadowing tragedy when they appear before a character's death. Initially meant to brighten up the set, oranges became an ominous motif throughout The Godfather trilogy.

What does cannoli mean godfather?

In the world of The Godfather, your word is your bond. He might have pushed away his wife with “Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,” but he wouldn't dare forget her beloved cannolis. His conscientiousness lightly suggests the follow-through necessary to survive this film's world (Michael is expert at follow-through).

Who is the weakest Corleone?

Original question: “What is the weakest Corleone brother?” Obvious answer: Alfredo. The characteristics of all three: Alfredo: Not very smart, in fact probably very stupid. Sonny: Somewhat street smart, but lacked control of his temper and reacted from emotion rather than thought out planning.

What happened to Fredo Corleone's body?

He would do this because he wouldn't want it to look like he was at all involved in Fredo's death. Fredo drowned while fishing and his body was never recovered.

Who did Vito Corleone fear?

Luca Brasi is Don Vito Corleone's personal enforcer and the only man Vito himself fears. While slow-witted and brutish, Brasi is fiercely loyal with a reputation as a savage and remorseless killer.

Why was Vito loved and Michael hated?

Unfortunately for him, he lacked Vito's warmth and talent for forming a rapport with others (which is why Vito was beloved and Michael was not). Vito was the rare leader who inspired fear, respect, and love in those around him. Michael could command fear and respect but he was not a beloved figure.

Is Vito Corleone a psychopath?

He's Generous And Kind

By helping those he felt were oppressed, Vito differentiated himself from other mob bosses. It was clear that he wasn't the sadistic psychopath type of criminal, like Virgil "The Turk" Sollozzo. He was a criminal because this was the life he was born into.

What word was omitted from The Godfather?

"The Godfather's" producer Albert Ruddy attended a meeting with League members, including New York mob boss and founder Joseph Colombo Sr. Ruddy made a deal with the League to omit the words "mafia and "Cosa Nostra" – a term used for the broad grouping of mafia "families" – from the script.

What word was intentionally omitted from The Godfather?

The word "mafia" is never mentioned in "The Godfather" movie because the term mafia was primarily used in Italy before it became widespread in the United States.

What became of Clemenza in The Godfather?

Peter Clemenza was scheduled to return in The Godfather Part II, but due to a disagreement between Richard Castellano and Paramount, his character was killed off and was replaced by Frank Pentangeli.

What alcohol do they drink in The Godfather?

There are three dominant drinks in the film—scotch, red wine, and white wine—and each type of drink correlates to a distinct role in the film. Scotch is a “man's drink”; red wine a family drink; and white wine a party drink.

Why was Mary Corleone killed?

Toward the end of the film, Michael names Vincent as his successor, on condition that he break off his relationship with Mary. After her brother's debut concert, the assassin Mosca tries to kill Michael. One bullet grazes Michael's shoulder, but the other accidentally hits Mary in the chest, fatally wounding her.

Why did they shot Sonny in The Godfather?

Furious, Sonny finds and beats Rizzi up in the street, threatening to kill him if he ever hurts Connie again. Humiliated, Rizzi seeks revenge by secretly making a deal with the Corleones' chief rival, Emilio Barzini, to murder Sonny.

Why does Kay hate Michael?

By The Godfather Part II, Kay has decided that Michael is a cold, distant, inattentive husband and father, but only after an attempt is made on his life in the family home does she resolve to rebel against him. At first, Kay's rebellion is silent and private: she aborts the child she is carrying.

What happened to Connie's baby in The Godfather?

Victor Rizzi was the son of Connie Corleone and Carlo Rizzi. He was at Anthony Corleone's first communion and seen with his brother Michael Rizzi coming in the door at Carmela Corleone's funeral. Victor was arrested in Reno for theft some time shortly before Anthony's first communion.

Who was originally cast as Michael Corleone's daughter?

Coppola returned to her father's Godfather trilogy in both the second and third Godfather films, playing an immigrant child in The Godfather Part II and playing Michael Corleone's daughter in The Godfather Part III after the originally cast actress, Winona Ryder, dropped out of the film at the last minute due to ...