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Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Death / Film RIP Johnny Fontaine

Posted by David Schmader on Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 9:51 AM

Al Martino, the Italian-American baritone who crooned "Volare" and played The Godfather's godson, has died at age 82.

Farewell Johnny Fontaine. If it hadn't been for your fictional philandering, we never would've found that horse head in that bed. (Also, Martino was reportedly as surprised by the slap in the scene below as everyone else.)

Comments (7) RSS

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you mean the premarital philandering on page 28 of the book?

Posted by junior high reader then on October 14, 2009 at 10:05 AM

When the moon hits your eye
Like a big pizza pie
That's Amore!

Posted by Dino, Desi and Billy on October 14, 2009 at 10:09 AM

You can act like a man!!

Posted by SeMe on October 14, 2009 at 11:06 AM

He also crooned the title song for "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte"

Posted by Harry Lime on October 14, 2009 at 11:43 AM

Wasn't his character in "The Godfather" based on Frank Sinatra?

Posted by Keekee on October 14, 2009 at 12:33 PM

ArriverderLa Alfred.

This leaves Jimmy Roselli the last and best crooner standing!

http://www.websterrecords.com/roselli/bi…

Posted by Drawmark

on October 14, 2009 at 1:02 PM

@5 Keekee,
I was just about to mention that. However, my understanding is upon subsequent research by Sinatra biographers that it is largely fabricated. Mario Puzo, the author of "The Godfather" evidently had him in mind. Sinatra did have some mob associates (Jimmy Frattiano was one). But, again from what I know there is no evidence that the mob bullied studio Exec. Harry Cohn into giving Sinatra the eventual Oscar-winning role of Maggio in "From Here To Eternity".

Posted by lark on October 14, 2009 at 1:15 PM