Original artwork, not a still
Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.
— The Godfather • 1972
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The joke is that a murder is treated as a chore, with the real worry being the dessert. That clash of horror and routine is the Corleones' whole tone, and it is why the line is so quotable: it is the film's darkest laugh and a perfect phrase for leaving the mess and taking the good bit. Fans quote it for anything from pizza to a heist.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for The GodfatherShow the scene
In The Godfather (1972), Paulie Gatto, one of Peter Clemenza's men, has turned to work for the rival Sollozzo. Clemenza takes him on a drive with another Corleone man, Rocco Lampone. After Lampone shoots Gatto in the back of the head, Clemenza returns to the car from relieving himself and says the line to Lampone, as the routine of cleaning up begins. It is Clemenza's most famous line, and Richard Castellano, who played him, is said by his wife to have partly ad-libbed it.
Sources (3)
- Wikipedia: ClemenzaCharacter description, Godfather sectionReference checked
- Wikipedia: Richard S. CastellanoCareer, The GodfatherReference checked
- Wikipedia: List of The Godfather charactersRocco Lampone and Clemenza entriesReference checked
Context reviewed
