Sonny Corleone's Masculinity: The Avoidable Death 

If Sonny had managed to calm down he'd have realised something was up because Carlo wouldn't have beaten up Connie again after Sonny threatened to kill him unless someone bigger was behind Carlo.

Correction, carlo made sonny an enemy of his by beating his sister. A coward who beat his wife to project his jealously of the corleone family upon her. He deserved what he got but sonny did not seem to have much common sense.

What bothers me about this scene is that the bodyguards left right afterwards. Yet they showed up after he was dead. So either he was driving extremely fast or they were driving extremely slow.

Deleted scene adds a bit more nuance to Sonny, as after assassination attempt on Vito's life he is visibly seen fighting his impulses in order to get situation under control. Also let's not forgot that Sony wasn't all brawn, he did lead the family during rather tumultuous total war between Corleone and remaigning 4 families which lasted for a while.

Both Sonny and Fredo were careless. Sonny was tough and Fredo was a weakling. However, Sonny was the only one who seemed upset when Connie was being assaulted by Carlo Rizzi. I'll give him props for that.

Sonny was a reactive hot head and it just didn't occur to him that Carlo could have the balls to set him up like that when he was his brother in law. Even after Sonny gave him a beating for hitting his sister it didn't occur to him that he would try to maneuver with another family like that.

It's extremely hard to narrow down, but to me James Caan and Sonny are the most interesting parts of the whole story.

Sonny's wife was actually relieved that he had Mistresses on the side because she had virtually no libido while his was insatiable. And so she saw the Mistresses as a way of relieving her from him and his drives. 😏

Sonny was 100 percent LEGIT in that first beatdown. Second beatdown he should have been more patient. Especially with him knowing that the beef in the streets were on!

Sorry, I’m not sure I agree with your conclusions here. The set up was not in retaliation to the beating, but rather the beating became the pretense for the setup, as in he revealed his carelessness. Carlo wouldn’t have been beating up Connie if he felt he’d have long term repercussions. He was counting on the corleones losing the war, or at least hoping for it. As for the actual hit, I don’t think it would’ve made too much difference if he had four more guy with him. With that many Thompsons directed at the car, it would’ve made little difference. The set up wasn’t about having him alone, but controlling where he would be. Of course it would’ve been risky if he took multiple cars, but there’s little reason to think he would for something as simple as a family matter, so whether he had more people in that one car wouldn’t have mattered.

Honestly it's amazing that plan worked. The girl has to call at the right time. Connie has to pick up the phone. Her reaction has to be as it was. She has to call her mom. The baby has to be crying so mom puts Sonny on the phone. Sonny has to run off alone rather than take his guys. He has to take that route and arrive while the assassins were there. His bodyguards had to be trailing far enough behind. It's pure luck that everything worked out according to plan.

I seem to remember in the movie Sonny's death wasn't that 'Sudden', he is riddled with slugs while in the car but manages to get out of the car walk several feet while under a constant hail of bullets, then he does a short dance routine and tells a few jokes before finally succumbing to the 210 .45 inch holes in his body - Gee what a man! More impressive than Sean Connery dragging himself 25 feet along a hallway with a magazine full buried in his chest .

Sonny should have waited a few weeks, then invite Carlo to a remote location to discuss giving him more responsibility. And at that time deal with the wife beating. Unfortunately, it was Michael who had to straighten out that mess. Even though Sonny was a fictional character, I can appreciate his mind set. When much younger, that would have been me. In fact it was. As I was once lured into a fight where I was out numbered. Unlike Sonny, I lived to tell the story. And the lesson. Think first, fight later. If you must.

his good quality was he's a good brother to Connie

If Sonny hadn't got whacked what would've happened when Michael came back to America? Would Sonny willingly stepped aside for his youngest brother to be the heir to the family? I mean Michael had much more of a better temperment to be Don then Sonny. But would Sonny's ego have allowed him to step aside for his youngest brother?

Good job, Spanky... 8-} Keep up the good work.

Got you brother! Great video

With all the things that Sonny must have seen as the son of the Godfather, it has always puzzled me why Sonny didn't recognize a trap like the trip on the causeway and the predictable path that he would take to his sister's house. This happened at the time when the families were at war; a war that Sonny started with his hit on Bruno Tataglia. Surely Sonny would know that he was a priority target in this battle!! In the entire story line of this trilogy this is a glaring incongruity - one that I forgive only because the rest of the story is such a masterpiece.

Sonny Corleone was The Ultimate Underboss. Resting in Power

In the novel the Godfather there is a passage where Vito reproaches Johnny Fontaine for breaking down. It states that Johnny actually listens to Vito, whereas his other three sons would react differently. "Sonny would have sulked, Fredo would have cringed, and Michael would have smiled coldly, got up out of the room, and not be seen for three weeks." I think it wasn't so much his masculinity but his impulsiveness that got him killed. Considering how Michael dealt with Carlo the only difference is Michael is not impulsive, he's calculative in his actions; he keeps Carlo close by so he can watch him, and it seems that Carlo knows not to be abusive around Michael. Case in point after the baptism scene where Connie essentially butts in Carlo isn't as brutish with her as he was around Sonny. Instead of telling Connie "shut-up" he says "Connie please." In a way he's more afraid of Michael than he was of Sonny despite Michael not using force against him. To illustrate further (sorry) in the novel Michael suggests he'd like to be a math professor. In a way that goes along with his character.

It's amazing how he manage to stay under vito thumb

As important as the scene was, it is also probably the least realistic: the Mafia prefer to kill at close range and as quietly as possible. Moreover, Sonny took a lot of hits before he succumbed to his wounds; unrealistic, but for movie's sake, and dramatics concerned it blends in quite well though.

A quick tempered man acts foolishly, and a man with wicked intentions is despised!!!! -Proverbs 14:17

If Sonny had "E-Z Pass", he would have lived to be an old man.

I have the same reaction to Death of a Salesman. Willy Loman and his neurotic sons were never general illustrations of American manhood.

It’s crazy because Vito has a lot to do with this temper and somewhat thirst for blood. In the book Sonny saw his father Kill Don Fauci and he also played a huge part in the war that they had prior to what we see in the film. Something to think about but Mario Puzo created some of the most complex and interesting characters in cinema and literature just f&$@$ing crazy

I have always thought of Carlo as one of the other families planted guys to have there to pull strings with.

He had an army of goons to do the dirty work for him, and he thought to go head first before his men were even with him? What a rookie mistake.

Barzini target Sonny because he was easy.

Jesus Christ at least you didn't call his masculinity 'toxic'.

It's ALLWAYS about Respect. Sonny gave Carlo a beating in public in front of his crew, in his neighborhood. Carlo was completely emasculated. Which infuriated him to eventually betray the family just to get his revenge. Sonny could have handled it in private & have put the fear in him to never lay a hand on his sister again.

The G in Tataglia is not pronounced. Do you also pronounce the G in Consigliere?

It was the restraint that got him killed. He should’ve killed Carlo the first time

interesting definition of masculinity. not prejudiced at all.

Vito had hands full w Sonny Fredo Connie

It's pronounced Tah-tal-e-uh family

i never bought the scenario. Carlo beats her just at the right time when he knows she will call Sonny who is conveniently home, bites his fist and a whole professional hit-team is in waiting. what incredible timing what incredible bullshit

The other way around Carlo made an enemy of Sonny when he abuses his sister I mean tf would u expect a good brother would do? and also if u read the Godfather books after the shooting of Vito It was up to Sonny to take care of the family and at that he passed with flying colors waging war with other families united against them many to one and he was actually winning but then he made a mistake but then again he was a good tactical wartime mafioso so I don't think u know him too well

Sonny was too hot-headed and brash, Fredo was too dumb and weak so Michael was the natural choice to take over.

When you stop at the toll plaza at Jones Beach and somebody unloads a tommy gun into your car, Death is NOT avoidable.

If Vito was still in charge I actually don't think he would of done anything to Carlo apart from talk to him about it. Fathers didn't get involved in their children's marriages in those days.

Rather than taking after his Father Vito, Sonny took more after his Godfather Clemenza ! Sonny is actually Clemenza 2.0

It's a movie.

Doesn't work like that babbbyyyy

Nice video but you are wrong. Sonny's death was not unavoidable. Something they cut out of the film was how Sonny became a gangster. In the Book Sonny saw his father commit his first kill when he murdered the New York gangster. Vito basically said that there are some paths that are unavoidable and he believes in fate. He then has Luca Brassi begin to train Sonny. Both of Sonny's role models where bad people. One was a gangster and the other was a monster. When you grow up in an environment like that with role models like that it's only a matter of time before someone or something gets you. He's a bit more sympathetic in the book than the film. Or maybe I am just thinking too much about.

Sonny isn't a man though. He is at best an adolescent who never grew up. He let's his emotions drive his actions which makes him a liability to himself and others. He would never be able to be a good don, which is why Vito is constantly shown to be frustrated with him. He refuses to listen and would rather first and reflect later. He is the opposite of Vito, which means he has all the fault Vito lacks.

I hate Connie in this movie lol she needs to take her ass back to rocky she got sonny killed for sure why no one mention this at all in none of the movies

This video revealed nothing. And what's with the mispronunciation of Tattaglia? It's said throughout the film. How do you get that wrong? It's "tuh-TALIA."

I love Sonny's wife. Come to Butthead.

Would've never happened to Michael.

Carlo beat his wife as an act to provoke Santino from the start.

Lit sonny ass up at that tollbooth 😂

Sonny should have delegated Carlo's murder. That would be the calculated move.

Sonny had to much drive to fight the other family's. That's why Barzini had to use Carlo to kill Sonny at the causeway in an ambush. 12.10.2022

Sonny would've been like one of those sons of the Don's that waits for their old man to bide their time

Oh Shut Up. Sonny was my favorite character in the whole movie. He SUCCCESSFULLY led the war against the other 4 Families which takes balls & talent & he was the ONLY one who stuck up for his sister.

Santino was brainless , impulsive and overestimated, he never was really Don’s material.

i think the death of anyone doesnt rely on themselves because if its realy youre turn to die even the most cunning and inteligent mafia leader will die im sorry but i dont believe sonny died because of his atitude its only a movie even a calculated leader will also die in the right place and the right time

Paeter baelish a man with no motive is a man no one suspects at all translation your greatest advantage is to be underestimated sonny underestimated Carlo

I disagree completely ye sonny had a temper but wat kind of brother would let that happen to his sister, the answer is a brother that doesn't care about his sister or family. Yes sonny did drive off by himself but the guy never had any reason to suspect a assassination attempt on his life, even the likes of vito and Michael would never have suspected that.

This was stupid you had me till the end

A lot of Godfather pimping going around youtube

Can't teach a old dog new tricks lol

Sonny IS reckless, but he can't illustrate either traditional masculinity or a crisis of masculinity. He is one kind of masculine temperament, but then so are Michael, Vito and all the other male characters in the movie. The full range of masculine possibility, or a decent chunk, all of it around since the beginning of the species. The reckless man, the ruthless planner, the patriarch, and many other trad masc types are all in these films. To a lesser extent, even the honest family man shows up. Bonasera is weak, but he has integrity and he loves his family and his work. Sonny is a type of man as old as men, but no more representative than any of the others. He has the weaknesses and strengths of his type. Nor is he a crisis, precisely because his type has always been with us, with all its pros and cons. He'd be excellent in a secondary role, but he needs counsel and tempering to be the heir. An old story. Nothing unique to the Corleone family or the late 20th century. I can't decide about the bridesmaid. It does show his recklessness and indulgence, like countless princes of the past, but of a sort that does not have any likely real consequences and he knows it. If one is going to be reckless, that's the recklessness to get into. Much, much better than charging off into battle by yourself. Into an obvious trap. THAT is what a mistake looks like.

Why’s he mansplaining Sonny, like all of these scenes don’t exist on YT?

if u have a sister i feel sorry for her. what do u expect sonny to do???? let that slide. there was no way that is morally acceptable. unless ur alternative is to suggest killing him right then and there then there was no other option bar kicking his ass

A wimp wouldn’t last long in the Mafia either.

So he shouldn't have wanted to protect his sister.he should have killed Carlo instead of just beating him up.

Sonny going alone is not relevant to the success of the hit... the toll booth ambush was designed to kill two carloads of men. By taking off by himself, Sonny inadvertently saved the lives of 7 or more of his men, but he would have been just as dead.

Wrong. Being emotional and doing stupid actions base on emotion is a feminine trait, not Masculine. So Sonny being Gangster, Fearless and defending or protecting his sister had nothing to do with him getting killed because he could've easily still had a cool enough head to have his men bring Carlo to him after he beat on his sister because he can beat on him, not go to their home unprotected (like a Chick) during a war. That's just Emotional and extremely stupid. Like the Godfather said within the movie to Michael. Woman and Children can be careless, but not men. That's the True Masculinity you Feminuts or Alphabet People try to attack and totally fail to do everytime.

Even the Godfather Don Vito Corleone said that sunny was a "bad Don". This means that Michael destroyed the family when he chose Sonny's hot headed son to succeed him in G3.

Going how I came 🦍 Y'all wanted my true colors lol

Part of the suite of masculine traits is an ability to step back and think calmly and clearly before taking action, whenever possible. And the ability to consider the situation at hand, with emotion removed, as emotion clouds your judgment, and in some cases, blocks all ability of sound judgment. Sonny's penchant for flying off the handle came from his inability to control his emotions, which is typically part of the suite of effeminate traits. It's a bit odd to reference Sonny's inappropriate effeminism as hyper masculinity. It's highly inaccurate.

Thumbs down. I watched the first three minutes of your video and my brain kept saying, "thank you, Mr. Obvious." You present nothing new AT ALL in this video. Anyone that watched the film knows everything you put in this video. What a waste of time, both yours and mine.

that's not what the script said......

the baptsim of fire was sonny plan