there were many different real shooting locations. the opening wedding scene was shot on staten island. the scene with a beheaded horse used a real horse. the horse had already been beheaded before the film used it. the scene was filmed at sands point preserve on long island. the murder of sonny was filmed at mitchel field in uniondale, new york. sonny's car was a 1941 lincoln continental. several scenes were filmed at filmways in east harlem. the corleone olive oil business was on mott street in new york city. there were over 120 locations in new york city. the scenes in las vegas were filmed on location. in sicily, scenes were in savoca and forza d'agrò.