There are a hundred topics to get into on The Godfather. One of the most interesting is the battle over casting.
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, written by Mario Puzo and Coppola (screenplay), based on the novel by Puzo.
The studio didn't want Al Pacino. They didn't think he was hard enough, didn't think he was convincing in the roll,didn't think he had the look of a man who could kill.
Coppola strongly disagreed, and after the studio seemed to demand Pacino's removal, Francis changed the production schedule. He moved the Diner Shooting Scene up in the shoot, they did the scene, Pacino crushed it, and Coppola seemed to get them off his back, in that regard at least.
What a classic. Cheers to the whole team (especially cinematographer Gordon Willis).
Be well. http://www.LionSuit.com
