Al Pacino has made a frank admission about his time engaged on legendary film The Godfather.
Al Pacino has made a frank confession about engaged on The Godfather (Picture: Monica Schipper, Getty Photographs)
The Godfather (1972) is sort of universally thought of one of many most interesting and most influential photos in cinematic historical past – but not each member of the forged shared that view whereas cameras have been rolling.
The American crime drama was helmed by Francis Ford Coppola, who collaborated with Mario Puzo on the screenplay, adapting Puzo’s bestselling 1969 novel.
We use your sign-up to offer content material in methods you have consented to and to enhance our understanding of you. This will embody adverts from us and third events primarily based on our understanding. You may unsubscribe at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage
The image boasted an ensemble forged that includes Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte and Diane Keaton. Pacino has confessed that in the course of the preliminary levels of manufacturing, he believed The Godfather can be the ‘worst film ever made’ and feared it will destroy his profession.
The US actor, who celebrates his 86th birthday on Saturday (April 25), discovered his misgivings sparked by the turbulent expertise of taking pictures the opening marriage ceremony sequence alongside co-star Diane Keaton.
As detailed in his memoir Sonny Boy (2024) and at varied public appearances, following the filming of that scene, Pacino and Keaton have been so sure the manufacturing was doomed that they returned to Manhattan and proceeded to get drunk.
Throughout that interval, Paramount executives have been overtly questioning his casting and considering his dismissal, believing his efficiency lacked the requisite depth for the a part of Michael Corleone.
Pacino’s outlook, together with the studio’s, shifted dramatically after he shot the Italian restaurant sequence during which Michael murders Sollozzo and McCluskey. The uncooked energy of his efficiency in that second persuaded the studio to retain him, in the end reworking the manufacturing right into a cinematic triumph.
Paradoxically, removed from destroying his profession, the movie elevated him to Hollywood legend standing and secured him an Academy Award nomination for Greatest Supporting Actor.
However Pacino’s early reservations, The Godfather at present holds the place of primary finest movie of all time on Rotten Tomatoes as of 2026 and occupies second place on IMDb’s Prime 250 record.
The American Movie Institute has additionally positioned it because the second-greatest American movie, second solely to Citizen Kane.
READ MORE: ‘Terrible’ Harry Potter experiences Emma Watson needed to endure corresponding to awkward kiss
Al Pacino relaxes in backyard as Michael Corleone in a scene from The Godfather (Picture: Getty Photographs)
Critics laud its “excellent” execution of storytelling, cinematography, and route. It’s celebrated for its wealthy, atmospheric lighting by Gordon Willis and an iconic rating by Nino Rota.
It secured three Academy Awards on the forty fifth Oscars, together with Greatest Image, Greatest Actor (Brando), and Greatest Tailored Screenplay.
Regardless of this, some movie fanatics nonetheless regard it because the ‘worst’ image, as one individual wrote on Reddit: “The Godfather is the WORST movie ever made, and do not get me began on the second. Simply watched it for the hype and other people have the WORST TATSTE, WTF was that.”
One other individual admitted: “I believe that The Godfather is lengthy, laborious to comply with, typically boring and in the end overrated.”
A 3rd additionally chimed in: “The Godfather wasn’t all that nice, truthfully.” But many others rushed to defend the movie, with one writing: “Al Pacino provides one of many biggest performing performances of all time. That alone makes it not the worst, despite the fact that that is clearly rage bait, what are your prime movies in case your style is clearly so superior to us mere mortals.”
One other added: “Assuming this is not trolling, I believe you are very fortunate in case you assume The Godfather is the worst movie ever made.”
Leave a Reply