The Godfather Part II Clemenza does not appear in the present timeline of the film due to a disagreement between Castellano and Paramount Pictures over the character's dialogue and the amount of weight Castellano was expected to gain for the part.

Why did Richard Castellano turn down Godfather 2?

According to Castellano's widow, Ardell Sheridan, Castellano was dropped by Coppola because he refused to regain the weight to play Clemenza due to health reasons. Richard's widow, Ardell Sheridan, published a book in 2002 detailing his contributions in the making of The Godfather (1972).

What happened to the actor that played Clemenza in The Godfather?

Castellano died from a heart attack at his home in North Bergen, New Jersey, in 1988 at age 55.

Why didn t Marlon Brando play Vito in Godfather 2?

There were just two problems: The studio didn't want Brando, and Brando didn't want the role. An excerpt from a new book reveals how flattery, a fake seizure, and a stealth screen test changed the course of cinematic history. Marlon Brando in The Godfather. From Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock.

Why wasn t James Caan in Godfather 2?

Coppola offered James Cagney a part in the film, but he refused. James Caan agreed to reprise the role of Sonny in the birthday flashback sequence, demanding he be paid the same amount he received for the entire previous film for the single scene in Part II, which he received.

Why Was Clemenza Not In The Godfather: Part II?

Who was Hyman Roth based on?

Hyman Roth is based on real casino mogul Meyer Lansky.

Hyman Roth, played in The Godfather: Part II by actor Lee Strasberg, was based on real-life mobster Meyer Lansky. Lansky is widely credited for coming up with some of the key innovations upon which the casino and gambling industry is built today.

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.

Did Robert De Niro really speak Italian in Godfather 2?

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.

Why was Robert De Niro not 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.

Who was supposed to play Don Corleone in The Godfather?

The studio had a laundry list of potential Vito Corleones ranging from Laurence Olivier to Ernest Borgnine, but the audacious Coppola remained unwavering in his quest to secure the 47-year-old actor. After much persistence, Paramount relented and agreed to take a chance on Brando.

Who turned down the role of Michael Corleone?

Jack Nicholson turned down the role of Michael Corleone because he believed that actors should stick to playing characters of their own ethnicity. While it is fun to imagine Jack Nicholson in the role, it is impossible to improve upon Al Pacino's perfect performance as Michael Corleone.

What happened to Tom Hagen in The Godfather?

According to The Godfather Part III, Hagen has already died before the time frame of the film, which is 1979–1980. There is no specific indication in the film as to when or how he died, except that it was prior to his son, Andrew (John Savage), being ordained a Roman Catholic priest.

Who murdered Sonny Corleone?

At the Long Beach Causeway toll plaza, Barzini's men trap Sonny and shoot him to death. During a meeting with the other crime family dons to establish peace, Vito realizes that Barzini masterminded Sonny's murder. After Michael returns from Sicily, he assumes Sonny's place as Vito's heir apparent.

Who killed Hyman Roth in The Godfather 2?

Michael arranges to have Roth killed at the airport where he is about to be taken into U.S. federal custody. Minutes after disembarking the plane, he is fatally shot by Michael's caporegime Rocco Lampone, posing as a reporter. Rocco himself is killed by federal agents as he tries to escape.

Why was there such a big gap between Godfather 2 and 3?

The main reason behind The Godfather Part III's long journey to the big screen is Coppola's reluctance to make it. After finishing up with his epic 1974 sequel, Coppola was content to leave the Corleone story alone, with no burning desire to revisit that world again.

Was Frank Pentangeli supposed to be Clemenza?

The Godfather Part II

After Castellano bowed out of the film, Clemenza was written out of the script and replaced by Frank Pentangeli.

Why did Frank Sinatra not want The Godfather?

It does, however, help explain why he took issue with the character of Johnny Fontaine in The Godfather – a performer who only achieved stardom thanks to a Mob boss pulling strings. As The Offer illustrates, Sinatra took this insinuation as a personal insult.

Who didn t want Al Pacino for Godfather?

"The studio didn't want Al Pacino at all," Keaton said, noting that she was cast before him in the Francis Ford Coppola classic. She then explained what caused the studio to change their opinion: their chemistry read.

Who was originally cast as Sonny Corleone?

Producer Robert Evans referred to Pacino as “that little dwarf.” He told Coppola “a runt will not play Michael.” Evans was concerned that Pacino's short stature would be a problem since Sonny Corleone was originally to be played by six foot four actor Carmine Caridi.

How much did Al Pacino get paid for Godfather 2?

The Godfather Part II saw Pacino's salary jump to $500,000 ($2.6 million in today's dollars), and he earned 10% of the film's gross on the back-end. However, things got a little sticky when it came time to film the last part of the franchise's trilogy, as Pacino wanted $7 million plus a percentage of the gross.

Who was Vito Corleone modeled after?

Vito Corleone is based on a composite of mid-20th-century New York Mafia figures Carlo Gambino, Frank Costello, Joe Bonanno, and Joe Profaci. The character's story begins as Vito Andolini in Corleone, Sicily, in the Kingdom of Italy.

Who was the highest paid actor in The Godfather?

A distinguished character actor, Richard S. Castellano was the highest earning actor in The Godfather, whose fame outside the saga included playing Joe Girelli in The Super. He also received an Academy Award nomination for his role in Love and Other Strangers.

What did Frank Sinatra think of the movie The Godfather?

The Chairman of the Board was not a fan of "The Godfather," an opinion Sinatra made abundantly clear as Mario Puzo's 1969 novel was being adapted for film. In a legendary blowup at Hollywood eatery Chasen's, Sinatra snarled, "Choke.

Did Dean Martin like The Godfather?

A staunch civil-rights advocate who refused to entertain in venues that discriminated against African Americans and Jews, Martin was fiercely proud of his Italian heritage. Indeed, he abhorred “The Godfather”: “I hated that movie, what it did to the Italian people. There was no call for that.”

What role did Jack Nicholson turn down in The Godfather?

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.