October 14, 2009

"I don't know what to do, Godfather. My voice is weak, it's weak."

"Anyway, if I had this part in the picture, it puts me right back on top, you know. But this... this man out there. He won't give it to me, the head of the studio."

Johnny Fontane, whining to the Godfather, played by Al Martino. Here he is, singing in the movie.

And here's video of his disco version of "Volare."

Al Martino, dead at 82.

6 comments:

Brent said...

Loved him. Great voice.

appropriate Word Verification: untake

ricpic said...

I grew up in like an 85% Italian neighborhood and Al Martino's were all over the place. Most of them worked in factories and warehouses but on Sunday after church you'd see them standing on the corner in their natty suits giving the bedroom eye to the passing madonnas. Ah youth.

Bissage said...

(1) There are two kinds of people in this world, those who think Marlon Brando unexpectedly sprung that slap on Al Martino, and those who do not.

(2) From the Obituary: The character, loosely based on Frank Sinatra, is a famous crooner and washed-up movie star.

That’s not true. Johnny Fontane foresaw his singing decline and wanted to save his career by getting into the motion picture business . . .

(3) . . . with a little help from his friends:

I have a special practice. I handle one client. Now you have my number. I'll wait for your call. By the way, I admire your pictures very much.

(4) wv = domov, as in, "Domov arigato, Mr. Robotov!"

John said...

I read the other day that Haya Harareet, the beautiful Isreali actress who played Esther, is the last living actor who played a major role in Ben Hur. Ben Hur was made 13 years before the Godfather. That means that in about 20 years all or nearly all of the actors in the Godfather will have passed. God that makes me feel old.

Fred4Pres said...

I heard rumors that Frank Sinatra worked to hurt his career after the Godfather. Frank was known to carry a grudge.

Wince said...

Found the video!

"Oh, Godfather, I don't know what to do."

"Boo hoo, what can i do, what can I do...

You could act like a man!

...I gonna make him an offer he can't refuse."