Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
It’s been over half a century sinceThe Godfatherhit the cinema halls and yet the Francis Ford Coppola classic gets talked about on different platforms and in different contexts. This year’s biggest hit,Barbie, attracted plenty of headlines for making multipleThe Godfatherreferences.
The greatest gangster franchise of all time ended up defining the careers of stars like Marlon Brando, James Caan, Diane Keaton, and Robert De Niro. Many ofThe Godfatheractors enjoyed plenty of success elsewhere, but such is the movie’s grip on popular culture that often their other acting credits are overshadowed by Coppola’s masterpiece.
This phenomenon – for the lack of a better word – applies to Al Pacino’s career more than anyone else. However, he wasn’t even part of the original plan forThe Godfather.
Read more:“How could Pacino get eight nominations and not win?”: Denzel Washington Knew He Was Going to Lose to Al Pacino in the Oscars Race
Why Captain America 2 Star Missed Out on The Godfather Role to Al Pacino
Marlon Brando’s Vito Corleone was the absolute star ofThe Godfather, with Francis Ford Coppola givingAl Pacino‘s character time to grow at the start of the movie. However, byThe Godfather Part II, Pacino’s Michael Corleone becomes the face of the franchise, as he attempts to expand his family’s criminal empire.
Pacino was a fairly inexperienced actor at the time, especially compared to his co-stars. However, he didn’t look out of place at all, much like the character (Michael cements himself as the head of the mafia family despite growing away from it) he portrayed. Such was his performance that despite going on to do brilliant movies likeScarface, Scent of a Woman, andDog Day Afternoonamong others, he’s still seen only as Michael Corleone by many of his fans. But this all happened only because of Coppola’s determination.
The studio behindThe GodfatherwantedRobert Redford, who’s now popular among young fans for his role as Alexander Pierce inCaptain America 2, to portray Michael. During the 70s, only a few actors were more in demand than theButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kidsuperstar.
Coppola, however, had different ideas. He was convinced young actor Pacino was more suitable for the role because he would allow viewers to see Michael as a clean slate. The studio ultimately accepted his demand, and the rest as they say is history.
Read more:“That’s become my challenge”: Al Pacino’s Strange Addiction Might Ruin His Glorious Legacy as ‘The Godfather’ Star Aims to Restore His Glory Days
Captain America 2 Star Didn’t Get in The Graduate Because of His Looks
Such is Redford’s charisma that even in his 80s his presence overshadowed other actors a few times inCaptain America: The Winter Soldier.In the late 60s and 70s, movie posters with his charming face on them would seamlessly attract long queues for tickets. However, those same looks led to him missing out on another classic,The Graduate.
When director Mike Nichols was scouting talents for the role of Benjamin Braddock, a bit reserved and awkward college graduate who is lured into a seductive affair with the wife of his father’s business partner, Redford offered to fill the void. However, Nichols ended up turning him down because he felt the superstar could never play a loser on the screen [viaVanity Fair]. He was too good-looking for that part.
It’s tough to imagine how Redford felt after missing out onThe Godfatherbecause of being too popular andThe Graduatebecause of being too handsome!
Read more:“He just has issues with women”: Jane Fonda Reveals Marvel Star Robert Redford Hates Kissing Women That Left Her Bewildered
Source:Looper,Vanity Fair
Vishal Singh
Articles Published :513
Vishal Singh is a Content Writer at FandomWire. Having spent more than half a decade in the digital media space, Vishal specializes in crafting engaging entertainment- and sports-focused stories. He graduated from university with an honors degree in English Literature.
