When Al Pacino Realized The Godfather Would Be A Great Movie
Al Pacino reveals the moment he realized The Godfather would be a great movie. The film from director Francis Ford Coppola released in 1972 to the rare combination of rapturous reviews and box-office success, for a time holding the record as the highest-grossing film in history. 2022 marks The Godfather's 50th anniversary, which has been commemorated with a new restoration and a temporary return of the film to theaters.
Frequently cited among the greatest films ever made, Coppola's adaptation of the novel by Mario Puzo remains incredibly influential, and traces of its impact can be seen throughout the entertainment industry and popular culture at large. One such example is the screen career of Pacino, a widely revered performer whose turn as protagonist Michael Corleone was only his second-ever movie role. While he had already found success on the stage, Pacino's casting was initially met with resistance from Paramount executives, who only relented in the face of unwavering insistence on Coppola's part.
Related: Why The Godfather Is Still The King Of Gangster Movies After 50 Years
In an interview with NYT looking back at his experience with The Godfather, Pacino reveals the exact moment during the movie's making when he realized it would be great. On the day they filmed the funeral of Marlon Brando's Vito Corleone, he remembers being on his way to his trailer when he came across a weeping Coppola. Having believed the day of shooting a good one, Pacino asked his director what was the matter, to which Coppola replied that he had been denied the opportunity to film another setup that day. It was this display of passion, Pacino says, that convinced him he was in good hands:
You remember the funeral scene for Marlon, when
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