Italian conversation at Louie's between Michael and what's his name in The Godfather? • Home Theater Forum

I don’t speak Italian, and since there are no English subtitles, what’s being said?

p.s. I didn’t have a clue how to spell the other guy’s name.

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Adam Gregorich

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View thread (20 replies)

Jan 22, 2002

#2 of 21

Michael Reuben

Senior HTF Member

You're not supposed to know. The viewer is in the same position as Capt. McCluskey, who doesn't speak Italian.

The other guy's name is Virgil Solozzo a/k/a "The Turk".

M.

Jan 22, 2002

#3 of 21

Richard Travale

Senior HTF Member

Beleive it or not, they were talking about the Rangers and how they are only trying to buy the Stanley Cup

By the way, just kidding.

Jan 22, 2002

#4 of 21

Scott Weinberg

Senior HTF Member

Whether or nor we're supposed to know what they're saying, I'd also be very curious to know. Any Italian speaking individuals out there who could translate that scene for us?

Jan 22, 2002

#5 of 21

Michael Reuben

Senior HTF Member

As I recall, Solozzo tells Michael: "Listen, I have great respect for your father, but his ideas are out-of-date." There are a few more lines, but that's the longest single speech. Michael is struggling with his Italian and quickly switches to English.

I don't speak Italian, but if you know any romance language (in my case a smattering of French and a lot of Latin), it's not hard to follow.

M.

Jan 22, 2002

#6 of 21

Mike Broadman

Senior HTF Member

He also tells Michael not to take the assasination attempt on his father personally, that it was just "business," this word spoken in English to convey the idea that this was common practice in the mafia.

Jan 22, 2002

#7 of 21

Richard Kim

Senior HTF Member

Richard Travale from Nanaimo, BC, Canada wrote:

Beleive it or not, they were talking about the Rangers and how they are only trying to buy the Stanley Cup.

By the way, just kidding.

You still sore about the Canucks losing to the Rangers in the '94 Cup Finals?

Anyway, back on topic, if you want to know what they're saying, Mario Puzo's novel translates it into English.

Click to expand...

Jan 22, 2002

#8 of 21

Richard Travale

Senior HTF Member

of course I'm sore, wouldn't you be if it was Messier that hit the crossbar near the end of the game instead of Nathan Lafayette?

Actually I'm a habs fan so it made no real difference to me either way.

Jan 22, 2002

#9 of 21

Tom-G

Screenwriter

I can get the conversation translated. In fact, I have had it translated, but I'm not sharing until someone has made me an offer...

Being from Italy, my mother has translated it for me. The Turk told Michael that his (Michael's) father is doing business the old way and Vito needs to change for the better of the Corleone family. Sollozo also said that what he did to the Don was business and that he has great respect for Don Corleone.
I'm pretty sure that was the gist of the conversation. It's been about five years or so since I had it translated, but I will have it translated again.

Sep 26, 2004

#10 of 21

Rob P S

Senior HTF Member

From IMDb:

When Sollozo speaks Italian to Mike in the restaurant there are no subtitles. After telling McCluskey that he wants to speak Italian to Mike this is what he says, "I am sorry. What happened to your father was business. I have much respect for your father, but your father... his thinking is old fashioned. You must understand why I had to do that. Now let's work through where we go from here." After Mike comes out of the restroom Sollozo speaks Italian again without subtitles this time saying, "Everything all right? I respect myself, understand? And cannot allow another man to hold me back. What happened was unavoidable. I had the unspoken support of the other Family Dons. If your father were in better health, without his eldest son running things, no disrespect intended, we wouldn't have this nonsense. We will stop fighting until your father is well and can resume bargaining. No vengeance will be taken. We will have peace, but your family should interfere no longer."

Sep 27, 2004

#11 of 21

JonZ

Senior HTF Member

Even though I dont speak the language its pretty easy to figure out the beginning when he said he respected his father but his way of doing things was outdated,etc,etc.

Sep 27, 2004

#12 of 21

Angelo.M

Senior HTF Member

If someone provides the Italian text, I will translate it.

--Angelo

Sep 27, 2004

#13 of 21

george kaplan

Senior HTF Member

The conversation is detailed in the book, though it is probably longer than what's in the movie. It is like what was quoted above, only with quite a bit more (too much for me to type it here).

Sep 27, 2004

#14 of 21

Lew Crippen

Senior HTF Member

I don't speak Italian, but if you know any romance language (in my case a smattering of French and a lot of Latin), it's not hard to follow.

Same here—but substitute a smattering of Spanish for French. Both my wife and son have the smattering of French.

My imperfect understanding is as has been detailed.

A sign of the times that Latin is no longer studied in school.

Click to expand...

Dec 31, 2020

#15 of 21

antoniobiz1

Stunt Coordinator

First in sicilian as they speak it, than in current italian, then in english.

Sollozzo:
Mi dispiace.
Mi dispiace.
I'm sorry.

Michael:
Fissarie.
Fesserie.
It's nothing.

Sollozzo:
Tu hai sapiri ca chiddu ch'ha successu tra me e tu patri fu 'na cosa di bisinisse.
Devi sapere che quello che e' successo tra me e tuo padre e' stata una questione di affari.
You have to know that what happened between me and your father was a business thing.
Eo hai un grosso rispetto pe tu patri, ma tu patri pensa all'antica.
Io ho un grande rispetto per tuo padre, ma tuo padre pensa all'antica.
I have a lot of respect for your father, but his way of thinking is outdated.
Iddu nu lo vo capiri che eo sono un uomo di onori.
Egli non vuole capire che io sono un uomo d'onore.
He does not want to understand that I am a man of honor.
Tu non m'a deve diri sti cosi. I sacciu.
Non devi dirmi queste cose. Le so.

Michael:
You don't have to tell me this things. I know them.
Lo sai?
Le sai?
Do you?

Sollozzo:
E tu ha sapiri che eo ho aiutato a famiglia Tattaglia.
E tu devi sapere che io ho aiutato la famiglia Tattaglia.
And you have to know that I helped the Tattaglia family.
Io prego che si mettono d'accordo. Io voglio pace.
Io prego che si mettano d'accordo. Io voglio pace.
I really hope they find an agreement. I want peace.
E lasciamo perdere co tutti sti cazzati.
E lasciamo perdere tutte queste cazzate.
And let's forget about all this bullshit.

Michael:
Ma vogghio ca... - Che e'?
Ma voglio che... - Cosa?
But I want that.. - What?
Come si dice?
Come si dice?
How do you say it?

Al Lettieri sounds like someone born in America, but whose parents were italian and spoke dialect at home. Al Pacino has no clue about what he's saying.

Last edited: Dec 31, 2020

Dec 31, 2020

#16 of 21

Tino

Premium

Senior HTF Member

antoniobiz1 said:
You have to know that what happened between me and my father was a business thing.

Not my father. Your father.

Dec 31, 2020

#17 of 21

antoniobiz1

Stunt Coordinator

Of course, sorry

Jan 1, 2021

#18 of 21

roxy1927

Second Unit

But my understanding is that Al Pacino spoke Sicilian as a boy. His father is from Sicily.

Jan 1, 2021

#19 of 21

Tino

Premium

Senior HTF Member

roxy1927 said:
But my understanding is that Al Pacino spoke Sicilian as a boy. His father is from Sicily.

Correct. I think he was referring to Al Pacino the actor.

Jan 2, 2021

#20 of 21

Carlo Medina

Senior HTF Member

Nothing to add re: the language issue, but just wanted to say I'll never be able to watch this movie and not think of Sollozzo as "what's his name". lol