Explaining The Sicilian: The Unofficial Fourth Movie of The Godfather Franchise

While the The Godfather trilogy remains a cornerstone of cinematic achievement, many viewers might be unfamiliar with its fourth connection—the 1987 film The Sicilian. This movie, adapted from Mario Puzo’s novel, often falls under the radar compared to the iconic trilogy. Despite the mixed reception of The Godfather Part III, the first two installments by director Francis Ford Coppola hold an esteemed place in film history. Interestingly, even though the series has faced criticism, it continues to be recognized as a vital aspect of American cinema.

The absence of a true The Godfather Part 4 may come as a surprise, given the rich narrative potential inherent in Puzo’s works. Although some actors might have been deemed too aged to reprise their characters, the franchise’s popularity could have inspired various spin-offs and prequels. The original trilogy was derived from Puzo’s acclaimed novel series, which includes several other notable works such as The Family and Omertà. However, the lack of further adaptations from Puzo’s narratives raises questions about the limitations placed on subsequent projects.

Mario Puzo’s The Sicilian: A Quasi-Sequel to The Godfather

Puzo’s Original Novel as a Follow-up

Directed by Michael Cimino, The Sicilian was adapted from Puzo’s novel and released in 1987. Unfortunately, the film’s troubled production process led to a convoluted narrative receiving unfavorable reviews at the box office. Set in the time between the sixth and seventh books in The Godfather saga, the plot revolves around Michael Corleone’s involvement with the infamous Sicilian bandit, Salvatore Giuliano. Both the novel and its film adaptation depict Giuliano’s rise within organized crime and his aspirations for Sicilian independence. The story paints Giuliano as a notorious figure in the 1940s, deeply entangled in Sicilian political affairs and the black market.

This adaptation narrates Giuliano’s struggle against his patron, the Mafia Don Masino Croce, portrayed by Joss Ackland. However, due to legal constraints regarding character rights, Cimino’s film omitted all references to Don Corleone and the rich tapestry of characters from The Godfather trilogy. With Highlander star Christopher Lambert in the role of Salvatore Giuliano, the movie maintained a certain fidelity to Puzo’s narrative aside from its disconnection from the original series. The impressive supporting cast featured notable actors such as Terence Stamp and John Turturro, sparking potential for a successful film.

The Sicilian: An Adaptation Severed from The Corleone Family

Excised Links to The Godfather

Regrettably, the decision to have Cimino direct The Sicilian did not yield the anticipated results. While Cimino’s The Deer Hunter is widely revered, his subsequent productions—including the notorious bomb Heaven’s Gate—suffered at the box office. His inclination to emphasize Western themes in The Sicilian complicated the film’s reception further. Compounding the issue was a long dispute regarding the film’s length, as Cimino resisted cuts to the runtime exceeding 150 minutes, ultimately leading producers to reduce it to 115 minutes without his input.

The outcome was disastrous, with critics sharply panning the film. In a damning review for The New York Times, Vincent Candy described The Sicilian as “A garbled synopsis of the Puzo novel.” Meanwhile, film critic Leonard Maltin harshly categorized it as a “BOMB.” Additionally, Hal Hinson of The Washington Post remarked on its “unambiguously atrocious” quality, and Roger Ebert of The Chicago Sun Times deeply criticized it as “an incomprehensible mess.”

The Sicilian vs. The Godfather: Critical Reception

Discrepancies in Reception: Film vs. Book

Despite Cimino’s previous accolades, the harsh criticism aimed at The Sicilian was noteworthy, especially as it fared worse than the flawed The Godfather Part III. Notably, the source material for The Sicilian received a more favorable reception, with The New York Times praising the novel as “fun and compelling.” The publication suggested that the book’s deep ties to Puzo’s original trilogy warranted its alternate title, “The Godfather Part IIII.” This distinction underscores the challenges faced by Cimino in adapting the narrative.

Movie	Box Office Total
The Godfather	$270,007,394
The Godfather: Part II	$57,386,952
The Sicilian	$5,400,000

Even before the problematic decision to bring Cimino on board, the producers of The Sicilian made a critical error by attempting to detach it from the iconic The Godfather trilogy. Given that the original novel serves as an interquel, this misstep resulted in a disjointed and incomplete narrative. In essence, the film’s ambitions fell short because The Sicilian was never able to integrate fully into the franchise’s established legacy.

Sources:
The Washington Post,
The Chicago Sun Times (Via RogerEbert.com),
The New York Times

Source & Images