The Godfather, by Mario Puzo
Here is one of the best examples of the movie being better than the book. The book isn’t bad, but it reads like a typical melodramatic best-seller. The movie takes that story and turns it into true American art.
There are some differences between the book and the movie. For one, the book includes Vito’s backstory. The movie didn’t have time for that, so the flashback sections would later be used in the sequel, The Godfather: Part II. But the biggest difference is that the book contains a subplot about vaginal reconstructive surgery. This is not a joke. I’m not being silly.
Why did the movie omit the vaginal reconstructive surgery? Maybe it’s because audiences were not yet ready for open and frank discussions about vaginal reconstructive surgery. Or, maybe filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola thought an epic story about an American crime family didn’t need a random section in which a third-tier character has her vagina reconstructed surgically. For those who have not yet read the book, the subplot about vaginal reconstructive surgery involves one of Sonny’s mistresses, Lucy. (She’s in the opening of the movie, but then disappears from the cinematic story until she appears briefly in Part III as Vincent’s mom.) Sonny is known to have a large penis, which works well for Lucy who seemingly has a large vagina. However, when she’s no longer with Sonny, her vagina is too large. Normal men can’t satisfy her. Thus, she seeks vaginal reconstructive surgery. And then she has satisfying sex with the doctor who assists with the surgery.
Where would you put this happy ending in the movie? I assume during the tense baptism scene in which Michael wraps up all the family business there could be a section in the montage of Lucy looking at the camera and saying, “My vagina is now normal-sized.” Cinema!
When you love a movie and see it multiple times and know it by heart, it’s strange to read the book and come across something like his. It’s a bit like finding out the original sketch for the Mona Lisa included a speech bubble in which Mona states, “My vagina is the normal amount.”
I am sorry if I spoiled the vaginal reconstructive surgery part of this book. But, honestly, if I have to know all this, it’s only fair that you do too.
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