De Niro had previously auditioned for the first installment, The Godfather (1972), but quit the project in favor of doing The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight. Coppola, having remembered him, gave De Niro a role in Part II instead.

Why wasn't Robert De Niro in The First Godfather?

Having seen De Niro's significant acting capabilities, the casting team invited him in for the role. Fortunately, for everyone involved, De Niro dropped out of playing the part of Paulie Gatto to shoot The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight instead.

Why did Robert De Niro turn down The Godfather?

Robert De Niro originally was given the part of Paulie Gatto. A spot in The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight opened up after Al Pacino quit the project in favor of The Godfather, which led De Niro to audition for the role and leave The Godfather after receiving the part.

What happened to Robert De Niro in The Godfather?

Robert De Niro auditioned for the role of Sonny Corleone in The Godfather. He was given the role of Paulie Gatto, but was traded to the film The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight for Al Pacino.

Who were the actors in the first Godfather?

The Godfather - 1972 - If You Touch My Sister Again, I'll Kill You - HD WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES

Who turned down the lead role in Godfather?

The primary reason why Jack Nicholson turned down the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather was that the presently retired Nicholson, who identified himself as being Irish throughout his career, felt that the role of the Italian-American Michael should be played by an Italian actor.

Who was the first choice to play Michael Corleone in The Godfather?

However, since Pacino wasn't Coppola's first option for the role, things could've followed a different course. The part of Michael Corleone was first offered to Dustin Hoffman, who turned it down due to his involvement in Bob Fosse's Lenny.

Why did Marlon Brando not do Godfather 2?

Casting. Several actors from the first film did not return for the sequel. Marlon Brando initially agreed to return for the birthday flashback sequence, but the actor, feeling mistreated by the board at Paramount, failed to show up for the single day's shooting. Coppola then rewrote the scene that same day.

How old was Al Pacino in The Original Godfather?

Al Pacino was 31 when he played Michael Corleone in The Godfather, but the character was only 25. In The Godfather Part III, Pacino was 49 while the character, Michael Corleone, was 59 years old.

Was Al Pacino's big break The Godfather?

Al Pacino in 'The Godfather'

His big break, though, came in 1972 when he stepped into the role of Michael Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather.

Did Robert De Niro really speak Italian in The Godfather?

Robert De Niro spent four months learning to speak the Sicilian dialect of Italian in order to play Vito Corleone. Nearly all of the dialogue that his character speaks in the film was in Sicilian. Originally, the actors in the flashback scenes wore pants with zippers.

What actor turned down the role of Michael Corleone?

Dustin Hoffman and Jack Nicholson both turned down the role of Michael. There were many actors considered for role of Michael. Robert Redford…he was too WASPish, Martin Sheen who actually auditioned for the role.

Who almost played Sonny in The Godfather?

Anthony Perkins not only auditioned for Sonny, but also for Tom Hagen. Originally Caan was to be cast as the main character Michael Corleone (Sonny's youngest brother), while Carmine Caridi was signed as Sonny. However Coppola demanded that the role of Michael be played by Al Pacino instead.

Did Al Pacino and Robert De Niro get along?

Al and Robert met for the first time in Manhattan through mutual friends more than 50 years ago. Their acting careers were just getting into full swing at the time but there was a special bond that formed between them right away.

What did Robert De Niro have to do with The Godfather?

1974–1980: Scorsese collaboration and acclaim. De Niro had a pivotal role in Francis Ford Coppola's crime epic The Godfather Part II (1974), playing the young Vito Corleone.

Did Al Pacino learn Italian for Godfather?

While his character may have spoken Italian on screen, Pacino himself did not speak fluent Italian during those iconic scenes [2]. Instead, he skillfully delivered his lines in the Sicilian dialect, adding a layer of authenticity and depth to the character [2].

Who turned down the role of Johnny Fontane?

Damone eventually declined the role because of a salary dispute and also because he did not want to provoke the mob or anger Frank Sinatra, whom Damone profoundly respected. Ultimately, the part of Johnny Fontane was given to Martino.

Who didn't want Al Pacino in The Godfather?

Diane Keaton said she was cast before Al Pacino in the 1972 classic gangster flick "The Godfather." The actress said Pacino was not the first choice to star as Michael Corleone in the Francis Ford Coppola film. "Nobody wanted Al Pacino.

How old was James Caan when he made The Godfather?

James Caan was born March 26th, 1940. Filming of The Godfather began on March 29th, 1971 and completed that August. James Caan was 31 years old when he filmed the movie.

Which actor did the studio not want in The Godfather?

Paramount Didn't Want Marlon Brando In The Godfather Due To His Reputation & Box Office Flops. Paramount gave Francis Ford Coppola the task of adapting Mario Puzo's bestselling novel to film because they wanted an Italian-American attached to it, but fought him about his methodology.

Why did Marlon Brando talk like he did in The Godfather?

He put tissue paper in his mouth to give himself jowls, and he spoke with a weak mumbling voice because the character's backstory included being shot in the throat.

What did Fredo do wrong in The Godfather 2?

Fredo betrayed his brother to rival gangster Hyman Roth, who used him as a pawn in a plot to destroy the Corleone Family. Fredo provided unspecified information on the Corleone family in return for receiving compensation (what kind is never specified) independently of the family.

Why did Jack Nicholson refuse The Godfather?

Summary. Jack Nicholson turned down the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather because he believed that Italians should play Italians and Indians should play Indians.

Was Paul Newman in The Godfather?

Paul Newman As Tom Hagen

Both Newman and Steve McQueen were considered for the role, but Robert Duvall was eventually chosen to portray Tom Hagen.

Did Al Pacino want to do Godfather III?

Al Pacino was offered $5 million to reprise his role as Michael. But Pacino wanted $7 million plus a percentage of the gross. Francis Ford Coppola refused. He threatened to rewrite the script by starting the story with Michael's funeral sequence instead of the film's introduction.