Continuity mistake: In the first "Godfather" film, we see Vito Corleone's tombstone, and it says there that he was born on April 29. In this movie, however, Sonny curses the Japanese for bombing Pearl Harbor on Vito's birthday. The attack on Pearl Harbor happened on December 7, 1941.
Continuity mistake: Shortly after assassins try to kill Michael at his home, he meets privately with Tom Hagen. As Tom enters the room, the table is empty. Then, after they are talking for a few moments, Michael offers Tom a drink from a bottle of courvoisier that has magically appeared. (00:37:20)
Continuity mistake: Al Pacino is accused of killing the 5 family leaders in 1950. In "Godfather part I" the killing of the 5 family leaders took place in 1955. (00:15:20)
Suggested correction: Michael is accused of "devising" the murder of the heads of the five families in 1950. Devising means planning, so while it may have taken about 5 years to successfully carry out, Michael begin planning the murders in 1950.
How is Michael accused of plotting the murder of the heads of the five families, as he himself is head of one of the families, yes five people die but Moe Green is not head of a New York family. It's been a long time since I have seen the film but that always stuck.
For alliteration purposes, five families seems to sound better then four families. Vito also asks for a meeting with the heads of the five families to stop the war, but he is one of the heads so he does not need to say five families, as if Tom would not think to include Vito in the meeting.
This is a common mistake made by viewers. Although there were, in actuality, 5 families in real life, there were 6 families. The script should have said "the other five families..." (or, better yet, just "the other families..." to make it clearer.
Continuity mistake: In the Senate delegtion hearings, Michael made his speech saying he was awarded the Navy Cross. When you see Michael in uniform in Godfather I, he is wearing a Silver Star ribbon. (00:17:25)
Continuity mistake: In the scene where Roth's symbolic birthday cake is divided among his partners, we see a shot in which Michael is seen, in long-shot, putting a forkful of cake into his mouth while talking about the rebels. The thing is, it does not sound as if he is talking through a mouthful of cake. What is more, when the scene cuts to closeup, he is not chewing anything, even though it's just seconds later.
Continuity mistake: During the parade, young Vito sits down with baby Michael. A kid behind plays with a flag and when the angle changes to a close-shot his position and the flag's are totally different.
Continuity mistake: In the scene where Michael tries to explain to Tom why he has to keep things secret from him, Tom is wearing different pyjamas under his bathrobe in alternating shots. (00:36:50)
Continuity mistake: When Michael and Fredo sit on a restaurant terrace in Havana there's a lady sitting at a table behind Fredo who switches seats back and forth. (01:24:50)
Continuity mistake: When Senator Geary talks to Michael in his Lake Tahoe office and the camera is on Michael there's an older couple (the woman is wearing a fur jacket) walking by outside. The camera cuts to Geary for a while, and when it cuts back to Michael the same couple is still walking by. (00:16:15)
Continuity mistake: On the porch in one of the flashback scenes, young Vito is holding baby Michael. Behind them is a guy playing a Gibson-style flat-top guitar that hadn't been invented yet. (02:00:30)
Continuity mistake: When the talk between Senator Geary and Michael gets tense the water in Geary's glass doubles. (00:17:15)
Continuity mistake: When Vito's mother asks Don Ciccio to spare her son's life the Don's collar is folded narrow and close to his neck. When the camera cuts to a wide shot before he gets up the collar is wide and flat on his vest. (00:04:20)
Continuity mistake: When Michael tells Fredo that he doesn't want to see him again Fredo is lying shattered in his reclining chair with his arm hanging down. When the camera angle changes Fredo's arm is lying on the armrest. (00:24:45)
Continuity mistake: At the beginning of the second part Michael returns to his wintry estate. When he enters the house a cigarette appears in his mouth. (00:01:05)
Continuity mistake: When Fredo and Michael are talking at a Café, the red adjuster handle of the parasol is sometimes intact and sometimes it is broken. (01:28:10 - 01:31:10)
