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.

Why did the studio not want Marlon Brando in The Godfather?

Marlon Brando had a reputation for being a difficult actor to work with. It was one of the reasons the studio executives did not want him to star in Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 film. The poor performance of some of his previous movies was also one of the reasons for the same.

Who turned down roles in The Godfather?

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 turned down the Godfather role?

Was Marlon Brando first choice for The Godfather?

Marlon Brando's portrayal of Don Vito Corleone in "The Godfather" is considered one of his best performances, despite not being the first choice for the role.

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

His vision for Kurtz clashed with Coppola's, notably the character's physicality, as Brando's heavy physique compromised Coppola's interpretation of a scrawny AWOL soldier trapped in the woods. Brando would often improvise his lines, which consisted of various rambling tangents.

Why Did Marlon Brando Not Return For The Godfather: Part II?

How much did Al Pacino get paid for The Godfather 2?

How much did Al Pacino get paid for The Godfather 2? For his part in the sequel to 1972's The Godfather, 1974's The Godfather: Part II, Al Pacino's salary was upped from $35,000 to $500,000 ($3.18 million today)—as well as 10% of the film's profits.

What famous line was improvised in The Godfather?

Yet one of its most memorable lines -- “Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.” -- was entirely improvised and, but for a moment of inspiration, might not have happened. The scene in which it appears encapsulates so much of what makes The Godfather such a triumph.

Who was originally supposed to play Michael Corleone?

Numerous actors, many of whom were bankable stars, were considered to play Michael. From Jack Nicholson to Warren Beatty and Robert Redford, some of Hollywood's biggest stars were either offered the role or turned it down. Coppola held out for Pacino, but Paramount made a move to cast James Caan as Michael.

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.

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.

Who was Jack Nicholson going to play in The Godfather?

He believed Chinatown and The Last Detail had stronger scripts than The Godfather and The Sting. Although initially interested in playing Michael Corleone, Nicholson felt he was the wrong choice for the role.

Who is the real villain in The Godfather?

Emilio "The Wolf" Barzini is a fictional character and the main antagonist in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather and in its 1972 film adaptation, in which he is portrayed by Richard Conte. The Barzini crime family was inspired by the Genovese crime family.

Who was the highest paid actor in The Godfather?

And the person who was paid the highest and played one key character ended up getting fired from the franchise when the turn for The Godfather 2 came. This actor was none other than Richard Castellano, who was riding high waves of fame during the time of the first installment of the franchise.

Did Al Pacino not want to be in The Godfather?

“There was a movement not to have me in the part,” Pacino acknowledged. “I didn't want me in the part.” Coppola threatened to quit if Pacino didn't get the role; Evans finally agreed as long as Caan was cast as Sonny. A few weeks into production, Coppola had second thoughts.

Why wasn't Robert De Niro in The Godfather?

Robert De Niro was almost in “The Godfather”

De Niro had originally been cast in the role of Paulie, but left the movie to take a role in the film “The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight.” The reason there was an opening in that film? Pacino had left the movie to play Michael.

How much did Marlon Brando get paid for Godfather?

Marlon Brando portrayed the iconic character of Vito Corleone in the first installment of The Godfather. Brando earned a salary of at least $250,000 for his role in the film [1].

Who was the first choice to play Vito Corleone?

Despite Francis Ford Coppola's obsession with the famed actor, Marlon Brando was far from studio's first choice to play Vito Corleone. Rather, they wanted nearly anyone else, considering other well-regarded actors such as George C. Scott, Anthony Quinn and Ernest Borgnine.

Who killed Sonny Corleone?

Sonny being shot by Barzini hitmen.

Who was the first choice for Sonny Corleone?

According to studio executive Robert Evans in his 1994 memoir The Kid Stays in the Picture, Caridi was director Francis Ford Coppola's first choice for the role of Sonny Corleone, but Evans insisted on James Caan because Caridi was too tall to play opposite Al Pacino.

Who was meant to play Mary Corleone?

Sofia Coppola, the daughter of director Francis Ford Coppola, was cast in the role of Mary Corleone after several choices dropped out: Winona Ryder discontinued her involvement with the film due to nervous exhaustion, Julia Roberts due to scheduling conflicts, and Madonna was deemed too old for the part by some.

How long were Michael and Apollonia married?

They would have been married for almost a year. She would have been pregnant with his child and would have learned how to drive. Sadly once she was killed, Michael was never the same after that.

Who was Hyman Roth in The Godfather based on?

Roth is a Jewish mobster and investor, and a business partner of Vito Corleone and later his son Michael Corleone. He is based on notorious mobster and gambling kingpin Meyer Lansky. It was Al Pacino who suggested Lee Strasberg, his former acting teacher, for the role.

What word was intentionally omitted from the film The Godfather?

A civil-rights league ensured the words "mafia" and "Cosa Nostra" were excluded from the film. With concern that the film would portray harmful Italian stereotypes, the Italian-American Civil Rights League held a rally in 1970 to protest and halt the production.

What word was omitted from The Godfather?

The Italian American Civil Rights League was concerned about the depiction of Italian Americans in The Godfather. What one word was omitted from the script that allowed the filmmakers to reach a settlement with the group? That one word is “Mafia,” which is never mentioned in any of the three Godfather movies.

What word was never said in The Godfather?

In 1971, The New York Times reported that Ruddy removed the words mafia and la cosa nostra from the film's script, which was written by Puzo and director Francis Ford Coppola.