Robert Redford stars in a classic crime caper of the 1970s, Sting, before Paramount Pictures considered him playing the Italian-American mafioso in Godfather.
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Robert Redford stars in a classic crime caper of the 1970s, Sting, before Paramount Pictures considered him playing the Italian-American mafioso in Godfather.
Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images
Today it is impossible to imagine any other actor playing the role of Don Vito Corleone. But Marlon Brando is seen as a moody and clean diva in Paramount Picture suits.
Mark Seal, author of Drop the gun, get the cannon: The epic story of the creation of the godfather. In fact, he said, studio executives were deeply opposed to the entire cast chosen by director Francis Ford Coppola. “They wanted Ernest Borgnine or Carlo Ponti, husband of Sophia Loren. Danny Thomas wanted to buy the project from Paramount and star himself.”
It is perhaps not difficult to imagine Ernest Borgnine, pictured here in 1957, as Don Corleone in Godfather.
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It is perhaps not difficult to imagine Ernest Borgnine, pictured here in 1957, as Don Corleone in Godfather.
AW Cox / Getty Images
Other names are floating around to play the Godfather, from Charles Bronson, Burt Lancaster to Orson Welles, who tried to convince Mario Puzo that he was the perfect man for the role. “The author of Godfather wrote a letter to Brando saying, “You are the only actor who can play this part with the quiet intensity it deserves or demands,” Seal added.
It’s interesting to imagine Orson Welles, who is in charge of directing Citizen Kane at the tender age of 25, continue GodfatherThe film was shot with Coppola, who was 29 years old when the movie started. Coppola died for directors Al Pacino and Diane Keaton in what would become their first major roles, as well as famous screen actors Robert Duvall and James Caan (who were originally considered by Paramount for the role of Michael). Corleone).
During his research, Seal found the studio’s original casting list. Potential candidates for Michael include some of the most bankable stars of the era, including Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford, Warren Beatty, Ryan O’Neal and Jack Nicholson. “Martin Sheen has been considered,” Seal said. “Frank Langella. No one wants Al Pacino, except Coppola. Coppola said that every time he thinks about those scenes in Sicily, he sees Al Pacino’s face in front of his mind.”
But back then, Pacino was primarily known as a New York theater actor. He’s too obscure and at 5’6″, the studio deemed, too short – shorter than Diane Keaton, who ended up playing his love interest, Kay. Danner and Michelle Phillips instead.)
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“This was the hottest movie of the day, even though Paramount didn’t know at first — and no one expected it — this rock,” Seal explained. “But at the same time, a lot of people want to play all these roles because Mario Puzo’s novel is racing to the bestseller list.”
In a way, Seal added, that novel is the real star. But that didn’t stop Paramount from spending about $400,000 on on-screen tests in New York and Los Angeles to see who would be the best fit for the role – although the studio has since rolled back the selection. Coppola’s original. For the price of four beef burgers, James Caan once cracked, Paramount could have been perfect for their movie in the first place.
