Movie Gazette

This second part to the epic tale of the Corleone crime family stars both Robert De Niro as young Vito Corleone and Al Pacino as his son Michael, in two separate storylines set in different times. Michael's story starts after the events of “The Godfather”. Now becoming an ever-more-capable crime boss, he is attempting to expand his family's influence in Las Vegas, Hollywood and revolutionary Cuba. Problems emerge when there is an attack on Michael and his family, and it appears that the family were betrayed by Michael's older brother Fredo (John Cazale). There are also the inevitable conflicts with other crime bosses to deal with. Michael has been trying to make the family business legitimate, which is what his wife Kay (Diane Keaton) wants, but that is not easy. And now Michael has to find out who really was behind the attack on him

Looking back into the past, Vito's life before the events of “The Godfather” is that of an immigrant trying to make good. Family business in Sicily when Vito is a small boy results in the killing of the rest of his family. The boy immigrates to America, though it is hard to see how he could survive – he is a sickly child on arrival. However, even as a boy Vito is resourceful and learns to get by. Soon he is being noticed by many of the people in his ghetto neighbourhood – they know him as someone who can do almost any favour for those prepared to do him a future favour in return.

It is extremely rare for a sequel to be as good as the film on which it is based, especially when that film may be one of the greatest ever made, but “The Godfather – Part II” very nearly does so. The twin threads of Michael and Vito's stories, which could have been confusing, are each distinct and coherent due to strong direction. The two stories are both interesting, and fill in the background to the Corleone family as well as show the changes life has wrought on Michael. Like its predecessor, it is beautifully made with immaculate attention to detail, and once again the strong cast give the story depth and substance. It may be that “The Godfather” pips this one to the post, but only by the narrowest margin.