In a revelation that surprises both for its intimate tone and the level of detail, Al Pacino shared how he experienced the moment when he knew he would be chosen for the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather. The story, told in his new memoir titled Sonny Boyprovides an unprecedented perspective of the beginnings of production of the iconic film directed by Francis Ford Coppolawhich marked a before and after both in the actor’s career and in the history of cinema.
The story begins with an anecdote almost taken from a film script: a young Pacino, who was then a relatively unknown actor outside the Broadway stage, receives an unexpected phone call that would change his life. On the other side of the line was Coppola, a director who had been deeply impressed by his theatrical performance and was determined to include him in one of the most ambitious projects of his career.
“I’m going to direct The Godfather and I want you to be Michael Corleone”the actor recalled in his book, remembering Coppola’s exact words. At that moment, the actor couldn’t believe what he was hearing. The novel of Mario Puzoon which the film was based, was already a bestseller, and the role of Michael Corleone promised to become one of the most coveted in Hollywood. However, for Pacino, this seemed like a fantasy, something completely out of his reach. “For a director to offer you a role over the phone, without intermediaries, and this role in particular… it was like a million to one stroke of luck,” he writes in his memoirs.
But, as Pacino himself reveals, the path to obtaining the role was not easy. Paramount Picturesthe studio behind the film, did not see him as a viable option to play the youngest son of the Don Vito Corleoneperformed by Marlon Brando. Studio executives had much more established and popular actors in mind at the time, such as Jack Nicholson, Robert Redford, Warren Beatty y Ryan O’Neal. These names represented the type of image that the studio considered ideal for the character of Michael: attractive, charismatic and with a fame that guaranteed box office success.
“Michael had to be small, dark and attractive in a delicate way, someone who didn’t seem like a threat.”Pacino detailed, referring to how Mario Puzo had described the character in his novel. This contrast between the author’s description and the studio’s preferences made the idea of an actor like him being cast seem even more unlikely.
Despite resistance from executives, Coppola did not relent. According to Pacino, the director had already faced refusal from the studio when he wanted to hire other key actors for the film. In his memoirs, Al mentions that Paramount had rejected James Caan y Robert Duvall for other important roles, and had even shown reluctance at the idea of having Brando, who would later win the Oscar for his interpretation of Vito Corleone.
“The studio didn’t want me, but Francis did. And there is nothing more powerful than a director who wants you in his film.”, noted the actor, emphasizing the importance of Coppola’s unconditional support in his selection for the role.
The emotional turning point in this story comes when Pacino decided to share the news with his family. Full of emotion, the actor called his grandmother to tell her that he had been chosen to play Michael Corleone. The woman, without fully knowing what this news implied, responded with a surprising revelation: her grandfather had been born in Corleonethe small Sicilian town that had inspired the surname of the fictional family in Puzo’s novel. This fact, unknown to Pacino until that moment, filled him with a feeling of destiny fulfilled.
“I thought I must be getting help from somewhere, because how could something as impossible as this happen?” he reflected in his book.
The actor has commented on several occasions that The Godfather It was a turning point in his career, but he had rarely spoken about the uncertainty and wonder he felt when he was chosen for the role. The film, which was finally released in 1972, not only became a smash hit, but also cemented Pacino’s place in film history. The film received multiple awards Oscarincluding statuettes Best Movie y Best Actor for Marlon Brando, while Pacino was nominated in the category of Best Supporting Actor.
Over the years, Pacino has continued to reflect on the impact he had Michael Corleone in your life. In his new book, the actor revealed not only the details behind his unexpected casting, but also his emotions around what it meant to be part of one of the biggest film projects of all time.