This was a tough one. I kept hemming and hawing over the little things, saying in my head “But is it Godfather good?”. I mean The Godfather is legendary. No one messes with The Godfather. I’d hate to look back in a year and think I didn’t do it justice. So I’m taking the cowards way out and only stealing the style of one of my favorite Godfather settings (Corleone, Italy in forties) so I leave room for, umm, future interpretations. A definitive and complete style breakdown of the Godfather is just too much pressure for a Tuesday afternoon, so let’s save some fun for a rainy day.
[image above, clockwise from top left: iron gate $4500,hanging shade $898, wool hat $20, metal table $95, antique bottles $350, electra bicycle at bobbin uk $440, antique wine jugs $300]
The long alfresco dinner parties, bottles of wine, wildly handsome Al Pacino and crumbling Italian mansions all make me want to wimper with greedy wanting. But I’m about 90% sure that my obsession with the Corleone, Italy scenes stem from the mere presence of Apollonia, Micheal Corleone’s albeit brief bride. Hello, girl crush of my life. I have spent many a tearful night begging god to turn me into a 17 year old, rural Italian bombshell, but no. Hence my constant hunt for a bit more godfather bits to add to my life. – amy m.
PS- Someone with a 25 inch waist pluhleese buy that darn dress, already.
[image above, clockwise from top left: ottoman rug $225+,pearls $128, vintage eyelet dress $88, bench $499, vintage carboy $269, oil jug $795, wool blanket $150]
55 Comments
The Godfather is the I-ching. The Godfather is the sum of all wisdom. The Godfather is the answer to any question. What should I pack for my summer vacation? “Leave the gun, take the cannoli.” What day of the week is it? “Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday.” – Joe Fox, You’ve Got Mail (1998)
love, love, love, your selections…perfection! may i ask where you found the movie stills?
That dress is classic! I wish I could fit into it.
I didn’t realize there was actually a J PETERMAN COMPANY. How fun!
Nice “living in” segment…wish it could have featured more!
This is my all-time favorite movie, and Apollonia is also my girl-crush. I used to use her name when I didn’t want to use my own. So as a rabid, foaming-at-the mouth Godfather fan, I have to say you did a great job. I’d love for you to pick other scenes, too, but I’m so happy you started here. I love every second Apollonia is on camera.
Love the black dress. Definitely Godfather good.
I love this column! I’ve never seen the Godfather movies or been remotely interested in them but the selections you’ve made are starting to change my mind.
I especially love that iron gate, as much as one can love an iron gate they have no space for :)
last paragraph typo:
Pacino, not Panico
Thanks, m! (good eye!)
Just a suggestion for a ‘Living In’ column: Vicky Cristina Barcelone.
Love your writing!
Love this feature — do you take requests? I just saw Bright Star, and would love to “live in’ that film!
OMG, I just added that Etsy dress in my favorites last week, hoping it’s still there when my budget gets a breath of fresh air next month. What are the chances of that now? lol I love everything in her store, and everything for this Living In – fab!
Are the movie stills from Part one or two? It’s been a long time since I’ve seen them and I don’t remember Pacino in Italy in the first one. It was designed by Dean Tavoularis who worked with Coppola on Apocolypse Now & One From the Heart. Increadible visual style.
Now all we need is some good Italian wine! Great picks!
ohhh. ..I have a 25″ waste! thanks pointing out the great dress!! I love vintage dresses!
Molto Bello!
I love this series! Oh! Movie I’d love to see a “live in” take on is Hitchcock’s “Marnie”, the yellow bag in the opening scene alone is worth it!
Love the idea, so cool and you seem to be right on the spot too!
@J: All the stills are from Part I when Michael had to leave the US because he murdered Sollozzo and the Police Captain :D
love your selections. Would you believe it if i told you that our 1st dance at our wedding this upcoming month will be the theme from the Godfather “speak softly love” – by father will be playing the accordian!
Well if we’re all confessing today, Apollonia is my girl crush too.
Your selections are a rustic, beautiful way to capture The Godfather essence.
one of my all time favorite movies……beautiful post.
I cannot tell you how much I love this column. I eagerly await the next movie style and I do believe the godfather is my favorite era you’ve covered! I own a Vespa and an Italian bike though, so I”m biased!
what a fun post…i feel that i am back in Italy…love the bicycle
I love the rug and the dress. Hmm..now you have me thinking…maybe it’s time to redecorate.
completely haven’t seen the godfather. i get the impression from this post that i’m missing out on something pretty awesome.
Holy cow! I thought I was the only gal who absolutely loves the Godfather!!!
Awesome ‘Living In’ post, absolutely awesome!
Holy Awesome.
Dancing to an accordion version of the godfather (played by your actual father)?
You are the coolest little thing ever.
this list is brilliant and so clever! so subtle, so spot on.
Expertly assembled. Love it!
I’m dying for you to do Living In “Amelie.” I designed my kitchen around hers and am ready to do her bath now.
It would be nice to fit into that dress with a 25″ waist, but I don’t think I want to be turned into a 17 year old bombshell. I’m so much smarter now than I was at 17!
Bicycle pictured is an Electra Amsterdam, not a bobbin. I can state this with confidence because I own it.
Lovely…so beautiful…this is one of my favorite columns here….and I have to say I saw an amazing movie the other day that was gorgeous and would make a great living in segment. It’s called The Wind That Shakes The Barley and it’s set in 1920′s Ireland….just wonderful…
Your blog is very inspiring!
I gave you a blog award – check out my blog to grab it! :)
Ooh, that dress! I want a whole closet full of ‘em. I just discovered Lesley Evers dresses – they look a lot like that and fit women that don’t have 25′ waists!
i love this series!
Everytime I see a “Living In..” post I say OO! yay! Keep it up..
love the dress and bike
What a brilliant post! I have another suggestion for ‘living in’ what about ‘Stealing Beauty’ starring Liv Tyler and set in Tuscany? Absolute fav movie of all time
This has been so wonderfully put together! I love it! This “Living In…” post is really making me want to go to Italy.
me too! re: appollonia – the first time you see her walking through a field – I remember it as her having a sort of drapey grecian brown dress and sandals but haven’t watched it for at least 10 years. I still want to be her.
p.s. I went to the place they shot the restaurant scenes in Sicily – it’s in the middle of nowhere – can’t remember the name but it’s covered in photos of Al Pacino and they still make a fortune selling overpriced lemon granita to tourists…
I love this look! I want to be in the movie!!!
Love this post! And I love The Godfather. There’s a reason that it’s always at the top of the “Best Films of al Times” lists.
You’ve done this portion of the movie justice. Great picks! And I would love to see what you would pick for the other settings in the movie.
And by the way, you have a tremendous talent for writing!!
Oh, and I’ve been humming the theme song ever since I read this post early this morning. :) Too bad you couldn’t add a clip of the song here to set the mood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAo9nLQwcco
lovely, lovely post!
oh drool. but where can i get the matching al pacino?
Greetings,
During my daily stroll around the web I found my way here. What a charming site. And I’m quite partial to many of your choices. Thank you for featuring some of our unique items. Very J. Peterman of you. Regardless of what you’ve heard we do deny any wrongdoing the economy’s recent upswing:
http://jpeterman.com/wrongdoing.asp
I hope my note finds you well.
Cheers,
Jonathan
Jonathan Sexton | Peterman Gladiator
(drab title – Director of Marketing)
The J. Peterman Company
1001 Primrose Court
Lexington, KY 40511
e: jsexton@jpeterman.com
I feel like it’s weird that this is my favorite “Living In” post so far.
Please do Dr.Zhivago
what a good one…….but why does it remind of under the tuscan sun? lol
I suppose we all dream of living in the italian country side in some semi overgrown 17th century villa…at least I do….
You should do Star Wars, it would be interesting to see what is pulled from that movie…or Titanic, that would be fantastic! ooh funny fun fun.
We need to do some research, apparently Simoneeta Stefanelli, the woman who played Apollonia now designs purses and shoes! I found this online:
“Stefanelli owns and operates a fashion store in Rome called Simo Bloom, where she designs purses and shoes.”
Anyone ever hear of it? Nothing came up online.
I am named after Apollonia so thank you for choosing this part of the movies ;)
I am loving this series muchly. Great taste in movies and design! (I’m still drooling over that Mamma Mia Anthro bedframe).
Movie suggestion: Benny & Joon
Oh this is so great… how many more “Living In’s” do you have? I am making a link to it from my blog if thats ok? Not that anyone reads my blog… haha! I heart them all!
ann
if you click on the “living in” tag above the post title you can scroll through the column’s archives.
zoe- this is a design post focusing on the interior of a movie, not the behavior of its director.
grace
Leave a Comment