The True Story Behind How 'Leave The Gun, Take The Cannoli' Actually Came About On The Godfather (2024)

The True Story Behind How 'Leave The Gun, Take The Cannoli' Actually Came About On The Godfather (1)

"Watch out we don’t exterminate you!" Spoken by Richard Castellano's Corleogne capo Peter Clemenza, this jokey line foreshadowed one of The Godfather's many deaths, but it was a line from earlier in the film that set up the most memorable quote from Paulie Gatto's death scene: "Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

While perhaps not as easily applicable in life as "an offer he can't refuse" or "sleeping with the fishes," it's brilliant all the same, and legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola joined ReelBlend to talk his passion project Megalopolis and shine some light on what inspired that dessert-infused line. As it turns out, it came from Castellano himself, but only because of the ally oop that Coppola added to an earlier scene. As he put it:

You know the great line that Clemenza says, 'Leave the gun, take the cannoli.' He made that line up. I did the part where his wife says, 'Don't forget the cannoli,' so they wouldn't have been a cannoli without me. But he said that line. . . . A lot of great things that happen in your films is not because you did it - [laughs] - unfortunately,

Some of the in the funniest TV shows and movies of all time have been ad-libbed on the spot, but it wouldn't outwardly seem like that would also be the case for one of The Godfather's most quotable moments. I guess it helps that it's a funny one. Had he just improvised the line: "Be sure and grab that there dessert after making haste to dispose of your handgun, my friend," that probably wouldn't have made the final cut.

RELIVE ALL THE BEST GODFATHER QUOTES

How To Watch The Godfather Movies Streaming

Even as small of a moment as that probably was on the day there were filming it, Coppola's anecdote is a solid example of how one choice can have such a massive effect for decades to come. I can imagine fans constantly asked Richard Castellano to say that line ahead of his 1988 death.

It's the kind of line that's makes Best Movie Quotes lists regularly, and has also inspired myriad variations and, of course, a Family Guy cutaway gag.

It's not clear at this point whether Megalopolis will spawn any repeatable lines with the longevity of "Leave the gun, take the cannoli," but it will almost definitely live in infamy for various other reasons. Time will make those reasons more obvious.

Check out Francis Ford Coppola himself sharing the story with ReelBlend below!

CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER

Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News

The Godfather will forever be a classic film that deserves rewatching and re-examining for new generations. We happen to think it deserves the top slot amongst all of Francis Ford Coppola's best films, and it's an opinion shared by star Al Pacino, so there's no arguing it, hoo-ahhh.

Megalopolis is currently in theaters around the country, though its box office take is unfortunately nowhere near the reported $160 million spent to make it.

The True Story Behind How 'Leave The Gun, Take The Cannoli' Actually Came About On The Godfather (2)

Nick Venable

Assistant Managing Editor

Nick is a Cajun Country native and an Assistant Managing Editor with a focus on TV and features. His humble origin story with CinemaBlend began all the way back in the pre-streaming era, circa 2009, as a freelancing DVD reviewer and TV recapper. Nick leapfrogged over to the small screen to cover more and more television news and interviews, eventually taking over the section for the current era and covering topics like Yellowstone, The Walking Dead and horror. Born in Louisiana and currently living in Texas — Who Dat Nation over America’s Team all day, all night — Nick spent several years in the hospitality industry, and also worked as a 911 operator. If you ever happened to hear his music or read his comics/short stories, you have his sympathy.

More about interviews

Elsbeth’s Showrunner And Carrie Preston Told Me The Story Behind Bringing Back A Good Wife Actor And Why Filming Their Scene Was Surprisingly ChaoticFire Country’s Showrunner Opens Up About How Diego Confronting Bode And Gabriela Will Impact The Rest Of Season 3 And Make Things Even ‘Messier’

Latest

The Penguin’s Michael Kelly Tells Us The ‘Weird’ Aspect Of His Final Scene, But I Think It Shows How Intense This DC Show Can Be
See more latest►

TOPICS

Most Popular
Fire Country’s Showrunner Opens Up About How Diego Confronting Bode And Gabriela Will Impact The Rest Of Season 3 And Make Things Even ‘Messier’
How Smile 2 Brought In A Horror Legend For That Early Cameo
It's Always Sunny's Rob McElhenney Shared Update On Season 17 Scene Being Censored Over 'Graphic Bestiality Simulation'
‘Role Of A Lifetime’: Tom Holland Shares Excited Reaction To Landing Christopher Nolan Movie Role
Martha Stewart’s Non-Hot Take On Golden Bachelorette’s Male Contestants Lit A Fire Under Star Joan Vassos: ‘What’s Wrong With You, Martha?’
Stevie Nicks Shared Her Incredibly Sweet Hopes For Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce's Relationship, And I Think Most Swifties Would Agree With Her
Star Wars Is Exploring Kylo Ren’s Life Between The Last Jedi And The Rise Of Skywalker, And This Is Great News For Reylo Shippers
'I Was Angry:' Lorne Michaels Clarifies His Stance On Shane Gillis Being Fired From Saturday Night Live
‘It’s Broke, Man’: Barack Obama Shared A Big Gripe He Has With The Modern NBA, And I Totally Agree
Netflix Has A Holiday Movie With Chad Michael Murray That Looks Like Hallmark Meets Magic Mike, And The Internet Is Having A Field Day
Dancing With The Stars' Ilona Maher Tried (And Failed) To Replicate Danny Amendola's Viral And Complicated Dance Move, But I Love The Effort
The True Story Behind How 'Leave The Gun, Take The Cannoli' Actually Came About On The Godfather (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Kerri Lueilwitz

Last Updated:

Views: 6584

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kerri Lueilwitz

Birthday: 1992-10-31

Address: Suite 878 3699 Chantelle Roads, Colebury, NC 68599

Phone: +6111989609516

Job: Chief Farming Manager

Hobby: Mycology, Stone skipping, Dowsing, Whittling, Taxidermy, Sand art, Roller skating

Introduction: My name is Kerri Lueilwitz, I am a courageous, gentle, quaint, thankful, outstanding, brave, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.