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Al Pacino is one of the veterans in the movie industry who is now considered a legend. With a career spanning over five decades, he is undoubtedly a national treasure. It’s hard to imagine that his acting skill was once doubted by people, especially by a movie crew that he previously worked with.
One of his most unforgettable projects is Francis Ford Coppola’sThe Godfather, and fans will be surprised to know that he was almost fired from the production because they weren’t satisfied with his performance. What’s more annoying was that some of the crew members laughed at him, as revealed by the actor in an interview.
Al Pacino Recalls Horrible Experience on the Set ofThe Godfather
In an excerpt from his memoirSonny Boypublished byThe Guardian, renowned actorAl Pacinorecounts his experience on the set ofThe Godfatherand how he was almost let go.Francis Ford Coppolavouched for him to play the role of Michael Corleone, but just after shooting his first few scenes, he already received a negative reaction.
His performance was criticized, and the bosses at Paramount doubted if he was truly the right actor for the job. The report about his getting fired from the project circulated within the production. He described in his book how he could feel the loss of momentum and that “there was a discomfort among people, even the crew, when I was working.” He was very much aware of it.
While guesting atTeam Cocopodcast, he toldConan O’Brienthat “they were giggling” — referring to the people on set who doubted his acting skills. The host could not help but be surprised at the revelation. After seeing Pacino’s outstanding performance and watching those iconic onscreen moments, the truth revealed was that the people behind the scenes were wishing they could get another actor for the role.
Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘The Godfather’ Used Al Pacino to Send a Message to The US That We Missed: ‘I feel, almost a hypocrisy’
Of course, if they were to let go of Pacino, Coppola would also be fired because he was responsible for casting him. The director also noticed that it was not working, something the actor later realized. He was not doing anything spectacular in the picture and he needed redemption.
In the end, he took advantage of the restaurant scene where his character exacted revenge on two of his enemies. He saw it as his chance to prove himself — and he did! Because of this scene, they decided not to fire him anymore.
Al Pacino Had No Choice But to Play Michael Corleone
Al Pacino surprisingly did not plan to joinThe Godfather. He claimed his head was in another space, though he admitted to theNew York Timesthat he was just there to play a part. “At that time in my life, I didn’t have a choice. Francis wanted me,” he recalled.
“How does a story like that get out?”: Al Pacino Was Disturbed by Rumors of His Hatred for Marlon Brando Over Unfair Treatment After The Godfather Success
The director only had the actor in mind when he was reading Mario Puzo’s novel, a fact that Pacino did not believe at first. In fact, he also did not want to regard that Coppola was adapting the famous book. In the end, he decided to do it and the rest is history.
The Godfatheris currently available to watch on Prime Video.
Ariane Cruz
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3533
Ariane Cruz is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 3,000 articles published. Her love for pop culture and the creative arts fuels her passion to deliver engaging and informative stories. Her daily consumption of films, shows, and books keeps her energized for the day, along with her mission to serve as the bridge between fans and their favorite franchises.
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Al PacinoFrancis Ford CoppolaThe Godfather
