The Godfather - Baptism/Murder Scene - Parallel action - Cut shots - Montage

As the baptism's happening there are many shots cutting back and forth that depict gangsters going about their daily lives and also shows us the double life Micheal will lead as head of the family (The Godfather). This type of editing (Continuous action) continues throughout the movie to show how the action is a major part of this movie and of the life of the Godfather. Another editing style is the Parallel action, (The Godfather II used more parallel action, The Godfather uses more continuous action editing). The most famous use of parallel action is in this baptism scene.
Montage, (a rapid succession of images that links different scenes) is the most dramatic form of the parallel editing. It is used many times in the Godfather trilogy, most famously in this baptism scene.
As Connie and Carlo’s son is baptized, the film cuts to images showing the murders of the heads of the five Mafia families, murders that Michael (now the Godfather) has ordered. The use of montage implies that the murders and the baptism occur at the same time, and the juxtaposition of the calm, peaceful, and religious church ceremony and the frantic, violent murders gives each an unexpected new meaning.
The vast irony between the different scenes is striking. During this baptism ceremony, the godparents (Michael) must respond to questions such as "Do you reject the glamour of evil?" and "Do you reject Satan and all his works?" by saying "I do." Michael’s sincere "I do’s" and denouncement of Satan, cement his position as godfather to Connie’s baby, but the murders he ordered form a ceremony of their own from which Michael emerges as a Godfather of an entirely different sort.
This montage / parallel shots captures the nature of Michael’s new life, as Godfather, he will be in charge of two very different families. But at the same time the montage signals Michael’s full accession to the title of Godfather, it also shows how he will differ from his father's role of Godfather. By carrying out such violent acts during his nephew’s baptism, just as he is declaring his belief in God and denouncing Satan, Michael spoils the service and brings violence into the family. Michael’s deceit, his ability to lie, and his ruthlessness are all highlighted by this dramatic sequence of images. But also apparent is his willingness to allow violence into the home, something Vito would have prevented.