Posted on 06/06/2024 7:10:44 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Diane Keaton's surprising journey to starring in the iconic The Godfather trilogy.
-Diane Keaton landed her first major role in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather trilogy.
-However, the actress has shared that she never expected to land the part, as she had no knowledge about The Godfather.
-She was surprised when she got the call back about the role, as she did not expect to land a dramatic part. Featured Video
Diane Keaton, a celebrated Hollywood actress known for her remarkable talent and extensive career in the industry, has graced the screen in several hits such as Sleeper and Annie Hall. However, the first major part that earned her significant recognition came with that of Kay Adams-Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather.
After starring alongside Al Pacino in the first film, she would reprise her role in the subsequent sequels. However, the actress later acknowledged that she did not expect to land the part when she went in for the auditions.
Diane Keaton Had no Expectations About Landing The Godfather Role Diane Keaton took on the role of Kay Adams-Corleone, second wife of Michael Corleone, in The Godfather trilogy. While the actress seamlessly transformed into her character, Kay Admas has not been immune to criticism.
Fans have shared their criticism of the character calling her bland and uninteresting compared to the other members of the Corleone family. And the actress certainly wouldn’t have anticipated such a response to her character, considering she didn’t even expect to land the part.
In an interview, the Oscar winner shared insights into her casting process for the 1972 film. The actress shared that after making her Broadway debut and starring in films like Lovers and Other Strangers, she was advised to seek more opportunities through auditions.
SUGGESTED“1977 was her year”: Diane Keaton Looked Unbeatable at the Biggest Stage With 2 Oscar-Worthy Performances in 1 Year “1977 was her year”: Diane Keaton Looked Unbeatable at the Biggest Stage With 2 Oscar-Worthy Performances in 1 Year “Someone said to me, ‘You’ve got to go and audition for things,” she recalled as per AARP. After which, she went in and auditioned for Francis Ford Coppola’s acclaimed trilogy. However, Keaton entered the process without knowledge of the film’s premise or its literary source.
“So, I auditioned for the film, and I got the role of Kay Corleone,” she said while revealing, “I didn’t even know what The Godfather was.” The actress later reflected on the experience of securing a dramatic role despite her background in comedy, describing it as the “strangest thing” that ever happened to her.
Diane Keaton Described Landing The Godfather Role as “Strangest Thing” Ever Celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Godfather, Diane Keaton reflected on her audition for the 1972 film. Keaton, whose work mostly included comedy both on Broadway and in movies at the time, shared that she would constantly audition for several jobs when she went in for Francis Ford Coppola’s film as well.
The actress also shared that she was surprised when she got the call back about the role, as she did not expect to land a dramatic part. “I didn’t know what the movie was or anything,” she said in an Instagram post before adding, “I performed the script… and then I left.”
Admitted that she never envisioned herself in the role, the actress said,
Later, I heard that Francis Coppola wanted me to play the part. That’s when I realized that that was the strangest thing to ever happen to me in my whole life.”
After Giving Al Pacino a “Get Married or Break Up” Ultimatum, Diane Keaton Chose “More Adventurous Things” Over a Married Life The 78-year-old actress’ role in the movie might not be a fan favorite, but Keaton has enjoyed a remarkable and prolific career, having starred in numerous films and earning multiple accolades, including an Oscar for the 1977 film Annie Hall.
I agree it was the point. And, even if another actress had played the part, I still might not have liked the portrayal of Kay. To be fair to Keaton, Coppola must have directed her to play the role the way she did. Kay came across as bland, whiny, weak, and gullible. I found a site that claims Mia Farrow, Blythe Danner, and Michelle Phillips also were considered for the part, and I'd imagine they would have portrayed Kay pretty close to the way Keaton did, as Coppola must have wanted.
No offense to Keaton. I'm just expressing an opinion here. Her tone of voice and mannerisms are more suitable in other movies.
It's fun to think of other actors and actresses in these roles. At the moment, I cannot think of another actress in the 1970's who might have fit the role of Kay, but I can think of a few actresses who fit the picture of an upper-crust WASP. Sigourney Weaver is one example, although she would not have been suitable for the part of the vulnerable Kay, either. But, an actress like Robin Wright or Suzy Amis might have worked. They were still children when The Godfather was filmed, but an actress with their tone of voice and temperament would have served as a stark contrast to Pacino's portrayal of Michael.
As a side note, many people on this forum talk about "white culture," and they want the word "white" to be capitalized. The Godfather illustrates there is no such thing. There are big differences among European cultures.
Speaking of the wrong actor in a part, I've never gotten over Pacino in Scent of a Woman—a role that absolutely, positively should have gone to Robert Duvall, I don't care how long they would have to wait for him. Duvall is even married to a South American tango instructor. Al just didn't carry off the military officer thing, IMO.
And I totally agree with you about “white” culture. There are marked differences from one of the original tribes to another -- the Celts, the Normans, the Etruscans, the Romans, the Scots, the Angles, the Saxons, the Slavs, the Teutons, the Norse, etc. Even today, the Catalonians are trying to break away from the rest of Spain.
However, the same is true of African-descended folks. Their tribal differences and ethnicities run a wide gamut, but they are all lumped under one label, “black.” Just goes to show that skin color is not the issue. Culture is.
Not just Michael, but Vito, too.
I was only referring to Part III, in which Michael's struggle reached a culmination. Vito did not figure into the plot of III in any direct way. I never got the impression that Vito searched for redemption with God, as Michael did in confessing to the future pope in the garden of the Vatican. We are shown nothing about any of Vito's fear of God. He remained a localized strongman whose sense of self-justification was as a family and community boss and protector.
Michael, however, took on building up a national entertainment mecca, assumed national coordination with the east and west coasts and Cuban outposts of the mafia, and manipulating the global finances of the Vatican. Vito was never shown killing his own blood nor having searing regret over what he regarded as necessary evils; even when Sonny was killed, he regarded him as a reckless hothead (to Tom Hagen: “I never thought you were a bad consiglieri—I thought Santino was a bad don”), and his concern was mainly to shield his wife from excessive grief (“I want you to use all your powers and all your skills. I don't want his mother to see him this way...”).
Michael, on the other hand, suffered enormously from feeling trapped in the life he originally was not intended for, and the death of his daughter and resulting permanent estrangement from Kay because of his rage- and ego-driven life choices. He lied to his blood constantly, repudiated his ultra-loyal consigliere Tom Hagen, and killed his own brother. His moral conflict and guilt were profound. He could not be what his father had been because of his overblown ambitions and the mafia's unexpectedly massive expansion, which pushed him in over his head and his tortured heart. As he had said to his mother, “Tempi cambi’.” Times change.
You are obviously a student of the series. I would add that Michael didn’t remember his own instruction to Kay . . . that Senators have people killed too. The idea of going to Vegas was to launded the entire Corleone operation and go clean. But now, instead of some other Italian families to contend with, there were U.S. politicians, and at the too level, Old World Old Money bankers who STILL didn’t give respect. You take them on because there is always one more level of power to achieve go get that elusive “security”, and you ruin yourself AND your family in the process.
Yep. A Siciian Greek tragedy...
Other examples are the Asian and Hispanic/Latino categories - each with many unique cultures thrown together into one box. On the other hand, some families have lived in the U.S. for so many generations, they cannot trace their origins to a single country, so they identify as a color. They do not understand those of us whose ancestry traces back a few generations at most to one country. Then again, the same could be said for Italians in America. I remember the older Italians identified with their own regional groups.
Back to the movie, yes, I can picture Katherine Ross as Kay. I never watched Scent of a Woman - only a scene or two - but I could picture Duvall in that part, too.
Also, I agree with you that Sofia Coppola fit the role of Mary, at least much better than Winona Ryder ever could have.
The scene with Mary (Sofia) and her cousin (Andy Garcia) making gnocchi or cavatelli with their entwined hands was so sensual—they were falling in love—or at least in lust. Unforgettable.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.