Ellen M. Lerner
3 min readApr 9, 2024

Why Oranges are significant in the Godfather Movies.

Photo by Melanie Kanzler via Unsplash.

This is the very question I asked my Father one of the many times we sat down and watched The Godfather together when I was a little girl.

His theory was that is was a warning, or a sign of danger.

The first time we see this is when Vito is buying oranges and there is an attempt made on his life. He was a bit older by this point, was shot several times, but he manages to survive. You see the oranges spill to the ground after you hear the gunshots, and his son Fredo in a state of panic.

Tom Hagen’s dinner with Jack Woltz, while trying to convince him to put Vito’s God son Johnny Fontaine in the movie, and Jack’s famous line…”I didn’t know who you were with…” shows a bowl of oranges on the table. Woltz later wakes up with his prize race horse’s head lying next to him in his bed.

Then, you see this again when Vito passes away. Though he does die, it is a peaceful ending. He is with his beloved grandson, playing with him and eating an orange. He actually puts a piece in his mouth and tries to have a little fun with him, but he winds up scaring him. He smiles and laughs to reassure his little grandson that he was only joking, and his grandson is fine. Playing and having a good time with his Grandfather. Vito passes away minutes later in the scene.

I should add, there are many examples, even if they are extremely obscure or introduced in the scene so quickly, you might have missed it. The examples I have chosen are more than likely because I remember being quite small, and talking to my very wise Father about specific scenes. I loved these two movies not only for their brilliance, but the memory of me and my Father spending time together, while he was trying to teach me something. He was always teaching me something, even if everyone else around us did not understand. I always understood. My Father taught me more in fourteen years than in my 40 + years combined (so far…)

Though I only saw The Godfather Part 3 once in my life (because it was an utter disappointment as far as I’m concerned) if I remember correctly, Michael is also eating an orange at the time of his death. Though he wasn’t assassinated, he dies all alone, due to the person he has become…his personal demons and his inability to let go.

I’d like to point out something interesting though…fruit actually was a running theme with these brilliant two movies. One of the most loving scenes I remember is in the Godfather Part 2. Vito and his wife were quite young. They didn’t have much. He brings her home a pear as a sweet gesture and something to eat. They look at each other and she knows the love he feels inside for her. She loves him too. She tells him it’s a “nice pear" and lovingly puts her hand on his arm, if I remember correctly.

Ellen M. Lerner
Ellen M. Lerner

Written by Ellen M. Lerner

My name is Ellen. I am a Composer. A Pianist and Vocalist. A Student. A Writer and most of all...I'm a Survivor.

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