Marlon Brando Actually Played Vito Corleone Twice, The Second Time In 1990

Did you realize Marlon Brando revisited his legendary Godfather position in 1990? In what, a deleted scene filmed for The Godfather III? No, that may be too apparent. Make an excessive amount of sense. What if I instructed you as a substitute that Vito Corleone returned to the display screen, kind of, in a wacky buddy comedy referred to as The Freshman?

The Freshman is a significant occasion of “how did that get made?” Yet surprisingly, the film was a crucial darling in 1990. Unlike Godfather III.

In truth, on Rotten Tomatoes, The Freshman holds an virtually 30% benefit over the third movie in the Godfather trilogy, with the comedy boasting a near-perfect rating.

Marlon Brando Revisited His Career-Defining Role As Vito Corleone In Off-Beat 1990 Comedy “The Freshman”

A Sort Of Reprisal Of The Godfather

If you have been taking part in a recreation of film trivia, and you bought the query “how many times did Marlon Brando play Vito Corleone?,” you would not technically be mistaken for answering “just once.” But actually, the reply is extra like 1.5 instances. Despite its optimistic reception in 1990, The Freshman is a fairly obscure film 35 years after its launch.

Marlon Brando was initially speculated to return as Vito Corleone in the ultimate scene of The Godfather IIhowever he didn’t present the manufacturing on the day of filming.

It’s the type of film some ’90s children may need hardcore nostalgia for if, say, their household owned the VHS again in the day. Beyond that, although, it is probably not a film that comes up lots. It would not precisely rank amongst the greatest comedies of the ’90s. It’s clearly overshadowed by many different roles in each Brando and Matthew Broderick’s careers.

Even upon its launch, Brando’s position as a Godfather lookedalike was The Freshman’s massive novelty, and it’s what makes it exceptional all these years later. Especially when you think about that The Godfather trilogy concluded ignominiously with Part III simply half a yr later The Freshman It was launched in the summer time of 1990.

Late-Career Marlon Brando Is Perfect As A Godfather Lookalike In “The Freshman”

Brando Returns To His Vito Corleone Roots With A Twist

The bit at the coronary heart of The Freshman is that Marlon Brando’s character is a lifeless ringer for Vito Corleone in The Godfather. Brando is sort of 30 years older, however he flawlessly recreates the Don’s jowly look, his mannerisms, and his iconic raspy voice. Yet he is additionally clearly a definite character. A clone, however not a replica, so to talk.

Marlon Brando as Don Corleone in The Godfather

1 Of Don Corleone’s Most Iconic Traits In The Godfather Was Invented At Marlon Brando’s Audition

Marlon Brando was identified for including his personal particulars to characters that he performed, and he influenced The Godfather’s Don Vito Corleone in a number of methods.

The humorous factor is, Brando was 48 when he made The Godfathertaking part in a person in his 50s-60s. Almost three many years later, he aged completely into the position of Carmine Sabitini in The Freshman. He appears to be like like a real-life doppleganger of Vito Corleone, not a precise duplicate. And like his Godfather efficiency, Brando’s flip as Sabitini legit awed movie critics in 1990.

The fact is, there was no place for Brando in The Godfather IIIeven when he’d wished to be in it. But The Freshman proved to be the good alternative for the actor to retrospectively “do the thing” another time. And doing it in a comedy proved to be the good charming spin on the traditional archetype Brando helped set up.

35 Years Later, “The Freshman” Has A Better Reputation Than “Godfather III,” Even If It’s More Obscure

Critics & Audiences Preferred The Comedy Over The Gangster Trilogy’s third Installment

The Godfather III has a 66% Rotten Tomatoes score. It’s a divisive movie, to say the least. The Freshman is at 94%. Funnily sufficient, Roger Ebert gave each films 3 1/2 stars. They’re two very completely different films, in fact, however they’re tied collectively by the means each are merchandise of The Godfather’s legacy.

35 years later, what’s the largest distinction between the two? The Freshman is the most rewatchable film. It’s a captivating mixture of “odd couple” comedy, crime caper, and coming of age story. It’s a “one joke” film, to a sure diploma, nevertheless it’s a memorable joke, and the film will get sufficient mileage out of it in the finish,

It could be a footnote in the career of Matthew Broderickand particularly Marlon Brandohowever The Freshman is a film it’s best to give a shot when it is obtainable on streaming. It’s a lighthearted homage to The Godfather’s place in popular culture historical past, and if nothing else, it is a piece of movie trivia to maintain in your hip pocket for future use.

What do you suppose, readers? Have you seen The Freshman? Is it higher than The Godfather III?