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One of cinema’s most memorable lines comes from a mob capo instructing his associate to “leave the gun, take the cannoli” following a hit in the 1972 film The Godfather. This phrase wasn’t part of the original script. Ironically, the actor who improvised it may have sealed his own fate with his quick wit.
In the recently released book, “You Talkin’ to Me?": The Definitive Guide to Iconic Movie Quotes, author Brian Abrams meticulously traces the origins of this famous line. Delivered by Richard Castellano, who portrayed Peter Clemenza, a loyal henchman to mob boss Don Corleone (Marlon Brando
That was the scripted version. However, inspired by his wife, Ardell Sheridan, who also played his on-screen spouse, Castellano improvised the addition of “take the cannoli.”
The character of Clemenza survived the events of the first film, which led to Castellano being invited to return for the 1974 sequel, The Godfather Part II. However, rather than appreciating the opportunity, the actor reportedly pushed for a better deal, demanding higher pay and control over his dialogue—a rare request for a supporting actor. Director Francis Ford Coppola declined, resulting in Clemenza’s offscreen demise.
In the sequel, a younger version of Clemenza was portrayed by Bruno Kirby in flashback scenes, while the character was replaced by a new capo, Frank Pentangeli, played by Michael V. Gazzo, who received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Castellano later disputed the claims, arguing that his issue wasn’t about money or dialogue but how Clemenza was depicted in the sequel—as a congressional witness testifying against organized crime. “I saw Clemenza as a mentor,” he explained. “He teaches how to cook spaghetti and handle a gun. Coppola couldn’t convince me that Clemenza, after years of loyalty, would betray the family unless it was shown he had become fearful or disloyal.”
Castellano also mentioned he declined the role due to the physical demands of gaining and losing weight to portray Clemenza at different ages. “I had slimmed down to 194 pounds, but the script suddenly required me to weigh 300 pounds,” he said.
Castellano passed away in 1988 at 55 from a heart attack. Coppola, now 84, recently completed his ambitious sci-fi project, Megalopolis. Their disagreement is just one of many tales from The Godfather, including the production’s tense relationship with the real mafia, a feud between author Mario Puzo and Frank Sinatra, and Sylvester Stallone’s brief consideration of creating his own version of The Godfather Part III.
