The Godfather Analysis

Sound is used in the Godfather effectively in a number of ways. Firstly the train sound is used both while Michael is in the bathroom retrieving his gun. As he leaves the diegetic sound of the train fills all of the sound that the audience can hear. it is all consuming. This was done to reflect his mood and to show the fear and overwhelming panic that is consuming Michael.
The sound of the train is used again, just before Michael shoots Solozo. The sound of the movement of the train is getting closer and closer as the scene progressed building up tension towards Michael eventually shooting Solozo. As this is happening we can also hear the train whistle becoming louder and louder, as well as creating tension, this sound reflects Michael's emotions as they before executing the two men,.


The lack of sound too, is also used to great effect, when Michael first enters the restaurant and sits down with Solozo, there is hardly any sound apart from the waiter opening the bottle of wine. Because of the lack of any other sound here, the bottle opening sounds very loud and amplified, as well as this, it also creates a tense atmosphere.
When Michael and Solozo talk Italian to each other, there are no subtitles. This is done to enforce the subject matter of the film. Gangsters are always about secrecy. The fact that we can't understand the conversation that the two men are having means we are excluded from the conversation and that their secrecy remains intact.