Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you.
Posted on 08/25/2026 7:11:44 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Few movies have made an impact on the world of cinema quite like Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather. Widely and unequivocally regarded as one of the most influential films of all time, the first installment in Coppola's famed crime drama trilogy made waves in the year of its release. It skyrocketed to No. 1 at the box office and became the highest-grossing movie of 1972.
Beyond the critical and audience acclaim, The Godfather also scored 10 Oscar nominations and took home three of those coveted golden statues at the 45th Academy Awards. One of those nominations was for Best Supporting Actor for Al Pacino, who had second billing under Marlon Brando. Pacino wouldn't have been recognized by the Academy if the Powers That Be had actually fired him, since he was almost recast mere weeks into filming.
The Road to 'The Godfather' Was Rough for Al Pacino
Initially, Paramount wanted the role of Michael Corleone to go to an A-lister like Robert Redford, Warren Beatty, Ryan O'Neal, or Alain Delon. Pacino was Coppola's pick, but the studio thought he was too short. Other big names like Dustin Hoffman, Dean Stockwell, Martin Sheen, and even James Caan (who played Sonny, of course) auditioned for Michael. Burt Reynolds was offered the part, but Brando threatened to walk. Jack Nicholson declined the offer to play Michael because he wasn't Italian-American. At the urging of Coppola, producers Robert Evans and Al Ruddy watched 1971's The Panic in Needle Park, Pacino's first starring role. It was enough to tip the scales in Pacino's favor. Unfortunately, Pacino couldn't picture himself as Michael. He didn't fare well during his screen tests and improvised dialogue because he would forget his lines.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
|
|
Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
The shooting in the restaurant is the best scene in the movie.
Thank goodness Robert Redford wasn’t chosen. A pretty-boy like him would have ruined the character.
That’s just amazing.
Sonny getting attacked and murdered on the Causeway was quite a dramatic scene also.
Reportedly the dailies including that scene wowed the suits and saved Pacino’s gig.
Production for that particular scene was hastily moved up on the calendar to within the first two weeks of shooting for that very reason. It being thought that Pacino would shine and impress, and therefore save himself, which he of course did!
“The Making of Godfather” starring Miles Teller as Al Ruddy is fascinating.
Sonny getting attacked and murdered on the Causeway was quite a dramatic scene also.
If only he had an EZ-Pass.
I didn’t see the movie until it was re-released on the big screen for the 25th Anniversary.
I knew next to nothing about it, so when I saw the restaurant scene, I had no idea if Michael was going to come out alive. After all, the movie was titled “The Godfather”, and up until that point that meant Vito Corleone, so Michael might have been disposable for all I knew.
Great casting up and down. Even smaller parts like Connie gave me flashbacks to a former Italian fianceé (I never hit her, though).
The ending where becomes the Godfather to his sister’s baby and murders his rivals to become the Mafia Godfather is chilling. On of the greatest scenes ever filmed.
You are correct, to pretty, to white, and not menacing. He is a great actor but would have been totally wrong for this role as Micheal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KDS_NuXYHI
That scene was shot close to my home. It’s sacred ground to GF fanatics.
.
The whole Vegas visit with Moe Green is my favorite.
“Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.”
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.