I’ve watched The Godfather numerous times, as I’m sure many of you have. To me it features in childhood memories of watching films with grown-ups and getting sent to bed partway through. By the way, this post is riddled with spoilers.
So, the other week I saw it was on Prime or somewhere, and flicked it on to watch the first few minutes while I waited for Lucy to join me. Just a few minutes of the wedding party scene. Of course, I was soon hooked, and we watched the whole film. There’s an enjoyable homeliness to the film. Like when Clemenza teaches Michael to cook.
I often find after watching a movie that I think about how it might be in a roleplaying game. I figure other roleplayers do this too. I consider how the mechanics might handle a combat or chase, things like that.
So, what would happen in an RPG that modelled The Godfather? The obvious answer is that you’d play smartly suited gangsters getting into car chases, fist fights and shootouts. But none of that happens in The Godfather. It really struck me this time: the total lack of ‘action scenes’.
There are no car chases. There’s the bit where Michael is picked up and driven to the meeting at the restaurant. The driver does a U-turn against the traffic to throw off possible followers. But it’s not a car chase.
There are no fist fights. There’s Connie getting beaten by her husband Carlo, it’s a fight, but a very one-sided one. Same with the scene where Carlo gets his comeuppance; a beating of his own, in the street at the hands of Sonny, Connie’s brother. Again, it’s a one-sided affair—Carlo barely defends himself; he can’t, not against Sonny (who clearly outranks him).
There are no shoot-outs: Oh, people get shot, but there’s no exchange of fire. Like Sonny at the checkpoint; he gets mown down, he’s not shooting back. Or Paulie in the driver’s seat, shot from behind.
Don’t get me wrong, there is violence a plenty. But there’s an inevitability to events. The deaths are assassinations rather than fights.
Fight: to take part in a violent struggle involving the exchange of physical blows or the use of weapons.
There’s no uncertainty about the outcome of the violence—but there are surprises in how it is delivered. The horse’s head for example. It’s a done deal; there’s no conflict. The guy wakes up in bed—we just witness the distress it causes—a failed Sanity roll there for sure! Luca Brasi barely has chance to struggle, both his hands pinned to the bar as he is garrotted. Sollozzo and McCluskey are shot in cold blood in the cafe (remember, drop the gun). It’s all assassinations. Oh, and don’t forget Michael’s wife and the car bomb.
Contrast this with other movies, like James Bond or Indiana Jones. When they get into a chase or a fight, there’s a back and forth—there’s a struggle, and either side might win—there’s action! Sure, we know neither of those characters is going to die, but they might get beaten or captured (and both do, regularly). The action scenes with 007 and Indie involve a back-and-forth, in a way that I can imagine each side is rolling dice. Dice are used in RPGs to decide who wins a fight. But I don’t think there’s ever any doubt about the outcome of violence in The Godfather. Maybe Luca Brasi failed some dice rolls, but it feels to me like he wasn’t even allowed to touch the dice.
Cards on the table, I love a good combat in an RPG. Not all game sessions need to feature combat. What interests me is the lack of what I think of as ‘traditional combat scenes’ in a film that includes so much death and violence.
There’s a vast number of RPGs out there, and there probably is at least one that is designed to do exactly the type of drama that we see in The Godfather. I’ve certainly played some that aspire to do so. Yeah, you can hear it in my keystrokes that I’m not a fan of the ones I’ve tried. The argument for removing combat mechanics in order to focus on other forms of drama doesn’t wash with me. Sure, if the game doesn’t feature violence, leave out the combat rules. But part of the drama in The Godfather comes from the threat of violence, and the restraint. That loss of restraint is what leads Sonny to his death as he rushes, hot-headed, to take vengeance on Carlo.
The film maybe suits a board game better than an RPG. The players take the roles of Barzini and the other families. I can imagine players throwing down their cards in despair as the Baptism scene plays out. Game, set and match to Michael. I’d play that. A quick search finds, ‘The Godfather Game’ from 1971 (predating the film) among others—looks cool, but not an RPG.
The Godfather setting and story elements would be fun in a roleplaying game—that heavily romanticised mafia world that we see on the screen. It provides rich pickings for a Call of Cthulhu game for example. I just don’t think I would attempt to recreate the way The Godfather tells its story. Ultimately, I’m happy to love The Godfather and love RPGs and not attempt to make them one and the same. Films and RPGs are two different things.
I enjoy cannoli and I enjoy pizza, but I don't want them in the same mouthful.
Footnote: No, I’ve not read the book. Obviously I should. I’ve not played Gangbusters either.
Yeah I feel like in a Godfather RPG everyone would have assassination cards. They would always be successful but you would gain or lose them based on your actions and reputation. Maybe you make peace and horde your cards till you have enough to burn it all down. Maybe you use them as soon as you get them. Everyone tries to make nice until they know they can move with impunity.