Viewer Reaction to The Godfather

Rating: 10/10 (1 November 2001)

SPOILERS (kind of... this is a comment on viewer reaction to certain scenes, and how they've changed. If you haven't seen the film, please don't read this. It wouldn't make much sense anyways.)
I had the opportunity to see The Godfather last night on a large screen for the first time. The film was as powerful and beautiful full size as you would expect, but what really struck me was the viewer reactions.
Many people in the audience were seeing the film for the first time and a lot of scenes which I remember as being downright chilling or foreboding got laughs. Granted there are some genuinely funny moments in The Godfather ("Leave the gun, take the cannoli" "We don't talk business at the table."), but there were some laughs at what would be considered some very inappropriate places.
For instance, the infamous horsehead in the bed got some chuckles. When the scene of the house fades to Don Corleone, it gets an outright belly laugh. I really don't remember this as being funny. Also, the scene in Sicily where Michael's bodyguard leaves so skittishly, forecasting some bad things happening to Michael's car... outright laughter.
The American viewing audience has changed since 1972. I don't believe that these scenes were intended to illicit laughter, and I would guess they did not when the film was released. If any one could tell me what viewer reaction to those scenes in theaters when the films were released were, I'd be very interested.