Classic American films: The Godfather - the best lines from 1972 mafia saga real gangsters have quoted ever since

In this regular feature series on some of the most talked-about films, we examine the legacy of classics, re-evaluate modern blockbusters, and revisit some of the most memorable lines in film. We continue this week with the best quotes from 1972 classic The Godfather .

1. Don Corleone (Marlon Brando): “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

2. Peter Clemenza (Richard S. Castellano): “Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.”

3. Michael Corleone (Al Pacino): “My father assured him that either his brains or his signature would be on the contract.”

4. Don Corleone: “Some day, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, accept this justice as a gift on my daughter’s wedding day.”

5. Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall): “Mr Corleone never asks a second favour once he’s refused the first, understood?”

6. Clemenza: “It’s a Sicilian message. It means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.”

7. Michael Corleone: “Fredo, you’re my older brother, and I love you. But don’t ever take sides with anyone against the family again. Ever.”

8. Sonny Corleone (James Caan): “Hey, listen, I want somebody good – and I mean very good – to plant that gun. I don’t want my brother coming out of that toilet with just his d*** in his hands, all right?”

9. Jack Woltz (John Marley): “Now you listen to me, you smooth-talking son-of-a-bitch, let me lay it on the line for you and your boss, whoever he is! Johnny Fontane will never get that movie! I don’t care how many dago guinea wop greaseball goombahs come out of the woodwork!”

10. Tessio (Abe Vigoda): “Tell Mike it was only business. I always liked him.”

11. Sonny Corleone: “What do you think this is – the army, where you shoot ’em a mile away? You’ve gotta get up close like this and – bada-BING! – you blow their brains all over your nice Ivy League suit.”

Want more articles like this? Follow SCMP Film on Facebook