Al Pacino: Nobody wanted me in 'The Godfather'
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- Al Pacino sat down with USA TODAY's Bryan Alexander and reveals that he had an uphill battle to be part of 'The Godfather' movie franchise.
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Al Pacino was the perfect choice for Michael. He killed it.
+Matt Williams He hit it out of the ball park! Francis Coppola has excellent instincts and very good taste in choosing his actors.
Except his choice of casting his own daughter :( ... her looks and acting were horrendous in the Godfather III.
The "suits" wanted Ryan O'Neal to play Michael Corleone-believe it or not!
+Point Maker Her looks are beautiful. I want to suck her nose.
Amen...
I never get tired of Al.
He is a legend. He's gonna live forever.
+Isa ias i got tired in jack and jill
That was douche baggy sarcasm, he died less than a month after this video was posted
Wait I'm not sure, that could be false
Yeah I was wrong, the article was exposing a fake tweet, the title was the tweet, sorry
+Bradley Allen Lang shut up braindead 1d fan
The Godfather 1 & 2 are my two favorite movies of all-time, but some of Pacino's other performances in the 70s, 80s, and 90s were just as mind-blowing. I mean you look at him in Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, Scarface, Scent of Woman, Heat -- in every one of those roles Pacino just disappears into the character, almost like no other actor I can think of. His voice changes, his speech cadence and accent changes, his posture, his gait and swagger... the guy's a chameleon and an absolute pro.
+Ryan Capper That's what you call a real actor.
I just watched Dog Day Afternoon yesterday and I loved it! Was not expecting it to be that good.
+Jim Biafra Yep, it's a genuine classic. It really captured that sweaty 1970s New York feel, and populated it with some of the most interesting and flawed characters ever seen on film. Pacino and Cazale were great and so was Charles Durning as the sympathetic cop. Being directed by Sidney Lumet didn't hurt it either.
+Jaegar Ultima I don't know who he was portraying in The Godfather part 3, but it certainly wasn't Michael Corleone. I prefer to treat it as apocryphal.
+Ryan Capper Pacino is one of the greatest actor of all time
No one else could've portrayed Michael Corleone. Pacino hit a grand slam as Michael Corleone.
I think Alain Delon would have been good, but he wasn't well-enough known to American audiences. Of course, his French accent wouldn't have been a good fit, but hey. ;-)
Wow! Great story! Francis Ford Coppola made Al Pacino an offer he couldn't refuse.
....but he did try to refuse it.........soooooooo yeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaah
Joseph Scaduto hahaha actually poor pacino didn't get paid for The Godfather
that scene in the cafe when he killed solozzo and mccloskey must be one of the greatest scenes in movie history for acting, tension, dramatics, lighting, atmosphere....after seeing it i became a lover of veal wine italian food. the actor playing solozzo must be one of the scariest guys ever...charming, hypnotic, menacing. but pacino was the man.
It was Al Lettieri who was a very good character actor playing the part of violent hard nosed criminals. He was also the one of the antagonist in the Steve McQueen, Ali McGraw crime "The Getaway" directed by Sam Peckinpah and who menaces the actor who played the veterinarian he forces to treat a gunshot wound McQueen has given him when he tries to double cross McQueen. This same actor also portrayed Howard Sprague on the old "Andy Griffith Show". His wife in that movie was Sally Struthers who played Gloria in the old Archie Bunker series. She begins to have a relationship with Lettieri's character until he hangs himself in a motel room they are occupying. Sadly Lettieri died in his early forties of a heart attack.
In that scene, Michael became Michael and Al Pacino officially became Michael.
Willie Finn The tension in the scene between solozzo and michael is fantastic.
you said it.
solozzo
Al Pacino suits the character. He's beautiful, innocent, yet has dark aura surrounds him.
Al is a cool down to earth guy. Really nice celeb and a legend
Agree. I quite like him.
pacino is a boss. how can anyone not like this guy?
Ur the boss
Ironically, I think the only other guy that could have done it was the guy they already got to play Vito in the flashbacks, De Niro, and even then I don't even think he would have portrayed Michael as well and as accurately as Al did.
Michael wasn't a brave, strong headed leading man full of bravado like Robert Redford was, who Paramount wanted for the part. Michael was an extremely calculating and extremely intelligent man that was, by far, the most educated of his brothers (which was his father's wish), and a man that had also seen and fought valiantly in war, one that had seen horrible atrocities and faced extraordinary adversity, thus also making him a man that was calm under extreme pressure and was capable of making hard, deadly decisions very quickly.
Michael looked like he was playing chess in every conversation he ever had, and he radiated an aura of power and danger, not unlike a lion or a tiger or other predator constantly sizing up potential threats and prey. Al performed it masterfully, and I very much doubt many others could have done it as iconic and as excellent as him.
The subtle way he exudes power and fear was brilliant
He has been a working actor since 17. He started street theater, school acting, play acting, and then films. He even did street comedy where performed at restaurants writing his own lines.
Yeah Robert was a strong, looked like one. Michael trascends from being cute and boyish to a cold serial killer. His eyes too, did all the work. Imagine, if redford was selected, how different wouldve been his career. He does many 2 heroed movies, and less solo.
He wouldnt look cold and savage, more of a young man, having fun.
No, Robert de Niro has got those Italian laughing eyes. Michael had to be more puzzling, problematic, cold, difficult to guess. Even for himself
@I'm just a worm He has laughing eyes, just watch "Taxi Driver". That's a distinctive feature of him. Very Italian like.
When I saw the movie in 1972, people left the theatre saying "Who WAS that guy?" I'll never forget that.
Shallow executives. I'm glad Pacino got the part. Talent won the day.
he still has his Tony Montana voice !!
"When a director really wants you for a part, that means something."
WOW, great message from a master of Hollywood cinema! It strikes a chord in me as well being the longtime aspiring actor that I am.
Pacino was the only true choice for the role Micheal in Godfather I & II. He was born to play that role. Had anyone else done that role, it might of been a lesser film. Coppola cast his movie well. That is why it was and still is the best film ever made.
A complete movie from start to finish. I have seen it many, many times in my life and, I am still enthralled every time
I view it.
One of the greatest actors along with Robert Deniro of this generation.
Also Gary oldman and Daniel day Lewis
+sharky H you are so right' i did forget to mention Gary Oldman and Daniel day Lewis also two great actors.
I think you have to add Tom Hanks to any list of great actors.
The greatest actor of all time Al Pacino and Robert Deniro.The order is optional who is 1st or 2nd
Joe Pesci has em all beat, tho. Mostly for his role in Home Alone.
Michael was smarter even than the old man. He had five times his enemies and beat them all. But he lost his soul and his family along the way. Part two is like the Empire Strikes Back.
His handsome At Godfather 1 , 2
Times change ..perhaps it's not a matter of smarts, the old man was just getting behind the times
you should watch the godfather 2 again and pay more attention to the story of Vito and how he managed to build his empire from zero. Michael had it easy in comparison
disco desanti Not smarter. Mike did all this at the cost of losing his family which Vito protected for years.
disco desanti Not even close. He could never keep business and family both totally successful. At the most he was fifty percent of the boss his father was.
He sure knows why Francis wanted him to play Michael. Al Pacino was raised in New York by his grandfather, who was an italian inmigrant...from Corleone, Sicily (he revealed it himself on Inside the Actor's studio). Francis knew Al WAS Michael Corleone.
+Fer Abra Al is Albanian...
+docmarc36 His mother's family was from Sicily, and his maternal grandparents came from Corleone. His father was also from Sicily: San Fratello. Some people say that the Pacino surname is related to the Albanian surname Pacini, but Al Pacino's family is almost entirely Sicilian.
+docmarc36 Where the hell did you get he is an Albanian?
+docmarc36 Closest he has been to Albania was Albania, New York
+Mike K shows you dont know geography... even if he WAS from Italy... if ya know where Albania is... oh... nevermind.
It's not even conceivable now that anyone else could have played Michael Corleone. Ditto Vito of course, and also Sonny and everyone else... Bravo Mr. Coppola for standing by your instincts and not wavering on the Michael character. Forty plus years and the film (and GF2) is still brilliant.
JAB5625 absolutely
50 plus years.
Al Pacino one of the greatest actors ever, his voice alone is so powerful, one moment he's soft spoken making you feel welcomed and in an instant he can intimidate you by raising it
I love how he still sounds a little surprised that directors want him for parts. Awesome testament to his humility.
Al did amazing in The Godfather. He nailed it! Totally amazing
I have such a deep respect for Al Pacino. I know that he's a great actor and all but when you listen to his interviews you find out that there's a lot of depth to him as a person that can only come from experience in life and in the arts.
He was phenomenal in the godfather.. scarface was great too
wow! Tony Montana is still alive after all those bullets he took.
He become an actor after that
Easy on the spoilers....
Al Pacino was born to play the role. I can't imagine any other actor who can play the role.
"senator, you can have my answer now if you like"
COLDER THAN DRY ICE!!
"Nothing"
“My offer is this..... Nothing.” - Always loved that quote and the delivery.
1972 and 1974. We're still talking about these amazing films!
Pacino seems like such a stand up guy!
...The thing about Pacino is he became a different actor at some point. His style, his manner of speaking is totally different in his earlier films. There's the Pacino of Dog Day Afternoon or Serpico...and there's the Pacino of Glengarry Glen Ross or Scent of a Woman
Glengarry: Amazing scene, and so well written, when he makes the sale to Pryce's character. Carlito's Way: Christ, he had his Puerto Rican down. Such a subtle master chameleon.
I think Scent of a Woman is the line. That's where he kind of hammed it up a bit too much. Chewed a bunch of scenery and won an Oscar (which was almost certainly a makeup Oscar) and that reinforced the over the top demonstrative style that he's had sense.
To me, Michael Corleone was his best performance - a perfect combination of subtlety and intensity.
Tommy Haynes He had to have his throat operated on which changed its sound and tone, made him sound rougher, less nasal.
He looks good for his age. Just think about it, in 5 years he'll be 80. Damn.
he is a vegan dude
+Project 16 first time hearing that, where did u hear that?
Mike Hunt Some ink in the the hair always helps.
@usher luck I got white hair since i was young like 16
@usher luck? Nobody said anything about hiding it, i was agreeing with your comment so no need to be a ass k?
My all time favorite actor -Alfredo James Pacino
Mr. Al Pacino....Italy should be proud of a fine actor like him
Thats my favorite actor. Al pacino. He acts with so much passion.
Just a week ago, I watched “the heat” 1995 Hollywood movie. Constellation of talented actors in one spot. Al Pacino, Robert de Niro and other stars. Just amazing action.
The way he speaks is phenomenal
He had that machiavellian quality some italians have that was needed for the character, imagine robert redford, who the executives wanted, to play the Michael role. Hed been so boring and predictable. You needed someone who you could believe was continually plotting something but in a very sophisticated way, like the medicis or the borgias
Lol I didn't know who Robert Redford was so I copied and pasted his name on google and I was thinking in my head of some white guy and well...
Blue-eyed fair-haired Redford could never have swung it as an Italian godfather, I'm surprised the studio even considered it...Even Robert Duvall didn't exactly fit in among all the Italian characters..:)
@@tungstenkid2271 that's because he played Vito Corleone's adopted son and actually had Irish ancestry. This is all explained in the film when his character talks to Michael, because after Sonny's death, Thomas (Robert Duvall) could not be a Godfather, being only the family's trusted lawyer
I know, but Tom Hagen stands out like a sore thumb in an Italian family, I bet the Hollywood moguls insisted a white Anglo-Saxon should be in it.
@@tungstenkid2271 But in the movie, Duvall was the adopted son who was Irish something -- and he says that in the movie. With that background, he fit in well.
Lee Strasburg played Hyman Roth,
had an actors studio workshop, that
Al Pacino attended. Whenever Pacino
would get a script, he would immerse
himself, deeply into that character role,
in preparation of filming, to achieve the
most success in that role.
In his research for Scent of a Woman,
Al spent a great deal of time with blind
people, to study their tendencies to best
portray his role as a blind Army Veteran.
Lee Strasburg portrayed Al Pacino's
Grandfather in the movie Liberty and Justice For All.
Pacino and DeNiro ... great actors, yes. But don't forget George C. Scott.
I was a waiter in the 80’s and waited on Al Pacino. He was super cool and down to earth. He asked me what was good and took my recommendation. Another famous actor he was dining with who I won’t name was a complete douche. Al Pacino Legend nuff said!
Slick Tiger now that you said that you have to say his/her name
It's not entirely true that nobody wanted him, actually. George Lucas' wife, Marcia Lucas, editor of Star Wars, also edited Al Pacino's screen tests and vouched for him enthusiastically: "He undresses you with his eyes". It's about the most accurate description ever given of Pacino's quiet, understated Michael Corleone performance.
Always trust editors, people. They see what happens with everything in its final form.
Al Pacino's performance in Dog Day is also memorably classic
Gorgeous eyes!
Lucky for paramount Al Pacino was chosen. Perfect actor for the perfect role. He did more justice to the character he played.
Brilliant very hard working actor.
I JUST LOVE HIM! He is the reason why i am an actress and I thank you him for that! ❤️
The best Actor of All Time.🙌💙💙💙💙
I'm so obsessed with Al Pacino ❤
Pacino as Michael totally nailed it!!! should have won Oscar or at least Bafta
Good interview skills by Alexander. Keeping it flowing, letting him speak without leading, and gliding smoothly past the small errors.
Al..you're the legend with great films
The stories about the creation of The Godfather are lessons about standing up for and sticking with your vision. No matter Francis Ford Coppola constant issues with paramount he stood by his artistic vision and decisions. Everybody in the movie was born to be in The Godfather. If it's worth it fight for it.
SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND
I do not understand this; WHY did they not want him? He was SUPERB in that movie. Absolutely AMAZING. He stole the movie. His subtle transformation of his character as the movie progressed was fascinating and a work of art. It was beyond compare.
Damn straight!! No one else could've performed that character. Al was the best! He suited Tony Motana too.
Al needn’t doubt himself. He is one of the besr actors of all time. 😍
Amazing actor ! :)
Al Pacino was perfectly cast.Great movies need good casting.Nowadays filmmakers find whose available mostly.
I got to meet Al Pacinos father in the 1980s in Covina CA. He had his own restaurant called Pacino's the raviolis were pretty good. My mom worked next door at this money saver store and she would go to his restaurant and talk to him but he said Al Pacino wouldn't talk to him or visit him because he left when he was a baby so sad.
I cherish Al for so many things, including Michael and of course Sonny in DOG DAY AFTERNOON.
couldn't off got anyone better..the man is just a naturallll.
his voice is so unique.
Al looks more real here than he did as Michael in Godfather III
wow he looks fenomenal good for his age !
i don't think anything better then this legend
He isn't blinking his eyes while talking.. Damn he can't be more honest
Al Pacino The BEST
Send Regard from Indonesia
Pacino looks like an unmade bed.
Storm Warning your mom too
I wааatcheeеed ТTТThe Godfaаther full mоviе herе twitter.com/bbbe3cc28fdc67fff/status/795841323588730881 Al Рaсinо Nоbody wanteееd me in The Gоdfathеr
Storm Warning lmfao hahahaha
Best comment ever!
Storm Warning because he is rich enough to look like that
I am very glad that they kept Al Pacino in that role. He was fantastic 👏😀
.
still love him....😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
Al Pacino succeeded to do the trilogy based on his great performance from the first godfather.
"I am really happy I did it" SO ARE WE AL - so are we. Thank you!
Pacino and De Niro. Both epic actors.
The godfather trilogy without Al Pacino can't be a perfect trilogy
Al Pacino, is in one word, "Magnificent"! Bravisimo! 👍👍🇮🇹🇺🇸
I personally think Al Pacino's Michael Corleone is the best performance of all times Cinema. Sorry my bad english
Al is the most down to earth guy!
He said,"Paramount didn't want me or Brando." The interview took it as, "Paramount didn't want me, nor did Brando."
I've read that Sinatra wanted badly to play the part of "Don Corleone". I think it was Paul Anka who wrote about it in his autobiography. He said that, even years later, Frank would go on and on about it, obsessively. But no way, they casted Brando.
Tony Montana: "First chu get the director...then chu get the film.
his voice is still amazing at this age....
It is terrible for me to see him too old, he was so handsome and smart all his performance, we missed him in the movies ...
Marlon Knew Al was the best for the role..
He doesn't look old, still looks young
Michael's gradual transition (in part 1) from noble soldier into the new Ice-Cold Godfather was amazing. (Like Serpico to Satan).
Godfather 2 is my absolutely Number One movie of all times, and Al Pacino was... If I knew the term "male crush" back then... :))
However, the third installment was one of my biggest disappointments
+PrZemek44 Male crush? If you're also a guy, it's called a "broner". I don't know who coined the term, but I heard it from David Duchovny. I think it was in Californication or something.
PrZemek44 I’ve only seen the first 2 movies and I like them both. Omg Al back then, 😍😍😍! What a babe!
But the great sadness in the dead scene of his daughter is ever heart-touching
Nope part 3 was really good just misunderstood by folks. It was awesome as well. 2, 1 then 3. Is how I rank them
A beautiful Italian actor!
Al performance in the Godfather 2 is simply the greatest in history
Ive never known any other actor who physically changes so much from God 1 and 2 to his later years and who changed his style. You just cant see Michael in Pacino anymore (not even in God 3). if i was a director today casting him, I would plead with Al to play the charácter understated, because that is where he shines. Michael was played understated. Ever since, Pacino has been over hamming his roles. BIG ACTOR. He never needed to, ok except Scarface where he was just as brilliant.
I'm patiently waiting for the stage of my life when I can confidently wake up every morning with the conviction that I no longer need to comb my hair ever again. You go Al.
He was the perfect choice for Michael.
He acted with his eyes. If Michael was played by anyone else, The Godfather wouldn't be as good.
Al, you did a great job! The best!
Marlon Brando also had to "screen test" for his role as Vito, that was insulting...
A LEGEND
Watch The Real Godfather. Paramount were not willing to risk funding a gangster movie after the Kirk Douglas movie The Brotherhood. They didn't want Francis Brando or Pacino, but Francis persuaded them. Movie was almost never made due to pressure from Joe Columbo and the Italian civil rights league.
Nobody wanted Brando either, even more ha. Pacino is one of my favorite actors of all time and of course his rolls have been far and wide.
I'm just super happy that Francis Ford Coppola picked al Pacino for Michael Corleone role
Francis made an offer to alpacino that he cannot deny!
FANTASTIC Actor...
When you got an interview at 8pm and have to play a just-woke-up scene at 8:30pm...
the interviewer got it jumbled up when al said the studio didnt want him and brando
assuming brando didnt want pacino, but it was that the studio REALLY didnt want brando to the point where they tried to not pay him
Fredo.....you're my older brother, and I love you. But don't ever takes sides with anyone against the family again. Ever.
Al Pacino did a Good Job in "The Godfather' movies.
I love his role as Tony Montana