The Godfather is regarded as one of the most influential and greatest films of all time. At the closing night of De Niro’s Tribeca Film Festival the director and cast got together for the 45 anniversary of The Godfather. This included Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, James Caan, and Robert De Niro.
The event lasted 9 hours as people watched The Godfather I and II. This was followed by a discussion that was moderated by the director, Taylor Hackford, the theme was about how difficult it was to make these classic films.
Coppola talked about how there were roadblocks at every turn. Paramount just wanted a quick movie based off of Mario Puzo’s novel. Paramount fought to cast someone else as Michael Corleone. This was a career defining role for Pacino. When he got the part he considered it greatly “ I used to live 90th and Broadway and used to walk to the Village and back everyday and I did it thinking about this role. I was trying to figure out where I could go with it” he said.
There was even trouble casting Marlon Brando, the Godfather himself. The executives though casting brando wouldn’t be “commercially beneficial”. They even forbid Coppola from mentioning brando’s name.
The Radio City screening was the first time the cast and crew have seen the first two films in years. Keaton said “I haven’t seen it in about 30 years and I couldn’t get over it, It was so astonishing”.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/apr/30/an-offer-they-couldnt-refuse-the-godfather-cast-reunite-45-years-on#img-1
The event lasted 9 hours as people watched The Godfather I and II. This was followed by a discussion that was moderated by the director, Taylor Hackford, the theme was about how difficult it was to make these classic films.
Coppola talked about how there were roadblocks at every turn. Paramount just wanted a quick movie based off of Mario Puzo’s novel. Paramount fought to cast someone else as Michael Corleone. This was a career defining role for Pacino. When he got the part he considered it greatly “ I used to live 90th and Broadway and used to walk to the Village and back everyday and I did it thinking about this role. I was trying to figure out where I could go with it” he said.
There was even trouble casting Marlon Brando, the Godfather himself. The executives though casting brando wouldn’t be “commercially beneficial”. They even forbid Coppola from mentioning brando’s name.
The Radio City screening was the first time the cast and crew have seen the first two films in years. Keaton said “I haven’t seen it in about 30 years and I couldn’t get over it, It was so astonishing”.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/apr/30/an-offer-they-couldnt-refuse-the-godfather-cast-reunite-45-years-on#img-1