a "blonde Northern Italian" look a la O'Neal or Redford would have been a major blunder. Italians are dark-haired. The public would not have bought a blonde. Pacino's coloring added automatic authenticity.
@@Fidozo15 The stars would never align to such a perfect degree. Danny DeVito is probably what most would consider _too_ ideal for such a role. I don't think people would have been able to handle the level of seriousness, intensity, gravitas that Danny DeVito would have brought to the film.
Sonny and James Caan were like a pair of gloves .You cannot replace him with anyone else. If you ever had an elder brother who is short tempered but who also loves you,you would totally identify Mikey's relation with Sonny.
@Kim Numero Uno Maybe because the only son that Michael had that wasn't aborted was a singer and had no interest in Da Family Bizness. So a male 'heir' had to be created.
bigpapasmurf Z I’m sorry but Talia is dreadful at some parts. She kind of ruined the ending scene in the first one when she confronts Michael about killing her husband. The dry spitting was hilariously bad.
Al Pacino was the perfect Michael Corleone.#1- He looked the part with those big soulful brown eyes. And he seemed so young, idealistic and innocent- the perfect college kid from the 40's. Loved him in the role!❤
@@treasurehunteruk2047They were just the big star draws of the time,guaranteed to get people in to see the film,so the studio bosses would want a real star as the lead,unlike an unknown like Pacino was then.The way Pacino did the tests wasn’t very good,but he had real charisma and boyish appeal and really by looks and character he was ideal for the part and in the end he acted the part in the film brilliantly,Francis Ford Coppola really had vision to stick to his guns and cast him!
Would have been absolutely incredible if he played Sonny... As great as James Caan was, it would have been astounding to have a triangle of Brando, Pacino and DeNiro... As close to perfect as The Godfather is, I think that one change could have made it truly immaculate.
Diz nah I’m glad that they casted Jamie as great is de Niro is I don’t think he could have done as good of a job (plus we wouldn’t have de Niro as Vito in part 2)
Al Pacino was perfect face for this movie. Young innocent beautiful men on the beginning and then also gangster who always want to live normal life. I cannot imagine somebody else to play instead.
It’s interesting to see that during the testing, Pacino doesn’t strike me as particularly impressive, yet in the movie there’s absolutely nobody who could’ve done it better. He IS Michael Corleone…
That was the best part. He literally grown into Michael right on the screen. Michael's character grow into the Godfather as a result of fate and circumstances.
Wow, shows you how great these actors are when you see them do the role they weren’t cast for, and realizing what an important process casting really is.
Pacino was perfect. Diane Keaton was so emotive in the screen tests. They should have duplicated that in the movie. She is so alive and flirtatious. DeNiro as Sonny was interesting.
She blows. Terrible actress...."No, Michael, no.... It was an ABORTION, Michael. An abortion! Because this has all got to end!!" Worst line reading in the history of movies.
can tell when Diane with Al she is so happy got stars in her eyes and so do Al they were clicked,and Jimmy really can't play the Cold Mike,he is always good for happy,funny,positive,sunny boy character
3:44 Al Pacino's delivery is exquisite, but Diane Keaton's reaction makes the scene. That look of restrained shock. And consider this: she's heard Pacino and other fine actors say this line to her over and over again through countless screen tests followed by rehearsals and separate "takes". Being the actress that Keaton is, she's hearing it "for the first time." No anticipation. No "indicating"
Legendary casting. In spite of all the practical and political controversies, it is actually rare to get the original first choices for all the major characters in a major production (in this case, Pacino, DuVall, Caan, Brando, Keaton). Coppola deserves HUGE credit for persevering with his artistic first choices in face of gigantic resistance from Paramount. And hence the phenomenal quality of these two movies, since the casting and acting are based purely on artistic values rather than studio appeasement.
There is no one on planet earth at that time nor is there now that could play Michael Corleone better than Pacino. He literally is the character. The GF movies are packed with legends and great actors but if they picked the wrong Michael, I don’t think it would be what it is today.
Anyone who doubts the work that actors and directors do need only compare the feckless, downright silly reading that Pacino and Keaton give in their audition, to the taut, controlled performance of the wedding reception scene that made it into the movie. A simply amazing transformation that was wrought upon every frame of the picture. I don't think anyone in that film ever went on to do anything better ever again.
In the early scenes, the Michael character was a spectator, not an active participant in organized crime. It was too soon for him to "assert" himself, that was going to be part of his character arc.
that why the directors get most of the credit, they gotta defend their cast selection against the producers and whatnot, i cant imagine someone else playing mike
If I hadn't watched godfather and was to select one of these guys I would straightway select al Pacino as Michael because he perfectly fits the character described in the novel. Full marks to Francis ford's conviction
The casting for The Godfather was perfect, even with the benefit of hindsight. Although both producer Bob Evans and director Coppola wanted ethnic authenticity, the 3 major exceptions--with Jews Jimmy Caan and Abe Vigoda playing Italians and Italian Alex Rocco playing a Jew--were still brilliant casting. From this clip, I can imagine Martin Sheen competently playing Fredo, perhaps, but John Cazale was perfect, and if that weren't obvious in The Godfather, it was certainly obvious in The Godfather II. Incidentally, one of my great memories was running into John Cazale. In the early 1970s, I was 17 years old and taking a walk in Greenwich Village, New York, where I lived, heading east on 8th Street from University Place toward 2nd Avenue. At the southeast corner of 8th and Greene Streets, suddenly, I recognized John walking the opposite direction on 8th. I was so star stuck that I could only inarticularly express how much I enjoyed his work. But John was gracious and seemed to appreciate me acknowledging him and saying hello.
March 1st JAMES CANN WAS GORGEOUS AND GREAT IN THE GOD FATHER OMG THE PART WAS PERFECT FOR AL PACINO. JAMES CANN WAS AWESOME TOUGH GUY OMG WAS A GREAT CAST ❤❤❤
Pacino's voice was so high pitched during godfather he lost his voice by mid 80s .. He used to look cutiepid during godfather but in 80s he started looking like a hot daddy material
That same non assertive attitude that they at first DIDNT WANT FROM AL, actually in the end play perfect for the plot! We seeing eventually this quiet non assertive Michael become a cold ruthless DON! Perfect 💢 it help make the movie great!!!!
They were right ..those eyes of Pacino are unmatched when he gets that look of evil..when he became the Don and in Part 2 when Kay tells him she had an abortion.." The eyes chico, they never lie"
That wasn't look of evil dumbass. That was anger. A woman he loved so much he ordered his brother's death just out of fear of losing her tells him she killed his baby.... how would you react. And he still wanted her at his mother's funeral. And when he lost her he got diabetes, aged over night, stopped smoking drinking killing, never took the ring of his finger or touched another woman for the rest of his life
When James Caan reads his first line as “Michael “ I was expecting him to immediately stop in the middle and say “Sorry sorry, this just ain’t working. It ain’t right. I feel it. You feel it? This doesn’t fit.”
And Al Pacino proceeds to deliver 1 of the all-time great performances. Him as Michael Corleone is the absolute pinnacle of acting! Just goes to show you how much Hollywood producers know. Smh. Leave the casting to the director!
Just when Pacino thought he was out, they pulled him back in.
lmaoo!!!
A moment of silence for the genius that was John Cazale as Fredo.
Sopranos 😁
Underrated comment
@@kovusi5806 Godfather III!
They're damn lucky that someone had the stones to cast Pacino.
Fredo C. Too bad that you broke his heart the way you did though.
Arian Behnami Damn do you have something against him?😭 lmao he’s a traitor but unknowingly and innocent
Having fun with the fishes huh?
a "blonde Northern Italian" look a la O'Neal or Redford would have been a major blunder. Italians are dark-haired. The public would not have bought a blonde. Pacino's coloring added automatic authenticity.
@@Ringoffire506 Players couldn't get a drink authentic tables!!
nobody could have done it better than pacino
I actually would have liked to seen tony montana play the part of michael corleon
Marton Sheen would have been ok
What about danny devito?
i could... pfff
@@Fidozo15 The stars would never align to such a perfect degree. Danny DeVito is probably what most would consider _too_ ideal for such a role. I don't think people would have been able to handle the level of seriousness, intensity, gravitas that Danny DeVito would have brought to the film.
Sonny and James Caan were like a pair of gloves .You cannot replace him with anyone else.
If you ever had an elder brother who is short tempered but who also loves you,you would totally identify Mikey's relation with Sonny.
As someone who has an older brother. The dynamic between Pacino and Caan is just 100% spot on.
I love it ❤❤❤❤❤
Coppola's casting was genius.
@Kim Numero Uno Talia was good in the role.
Sofia..............ay yay yay yay.
@Kim Numero Uno Connie was ordering dudes wiped out in the Bastard Child!!!(thats what my friends and I call part 3).
Like, WTF.
@Kim Numero Uno Maybe because the only son that Michael had that wasn't aborted was a singer and had no interest in Da Family Bizness.
So a male 'heir' had to be created.
bigpapasmurf Z I’m sorry but Talia is dreadful at some parts. She kind of ruined the ending scene in the first one when she confronts Michael about killing her husband. The dry spitting was hilariously bad.
@@EddieMachetti Never cringed at any point in that scene.
It was OK.
Not everybody can be Vivien Leigh, you know.
Pacino is the perfect Michael. Compared to the others, Al had a youthful spirit but a haunting quality when he needed to be serious
Al Pacino is Michael Corleone!
Ryan O'Neil and Redford are far too fair for this role. Wonder who thought they were suitable.
He's also Tony Montana
Al Pacino was the perfect Michael Corleone.#1- He looked the part with those big soulful brown eyes. And he seemed so young, idealistic and innocent- the perfect college kid from the 40's. Loved him in the role!❤
Stallone could have done the role.
@@treasurehunteruk2047They were just the big star draws of the time,guaranteed to get people in to see the film,so the studio bosses would want a real star as the lead,unlike an unknown like Pacino was then.The way Pacino did the tests wasn’t very good,but he had real charisma and boyish appeal and really by looks and character he was ideal for the part and in the end he acted the part in the film brilliantly,Francis Ford Coppola really had vision to stick to his guns and cast him!
Oh my God when De Niro goes on camera, what a natural mobster he is just flawless.
Would have been absolutely incredible if he played Sonny... As great as James Caan was, it would have been astounding to have a triangle of Brando, Pacino and DeNiro... As close to perfect as The Godfather is, I think that one change could have made it truly immaculate.
Diz nah I’m glad that they casted Jamie as great is de Niro is I don’t think he could have done as good of a job (plus we wouldn’t have de Niro as Vito in part 2)
Randy White btw why do people call de Niro Bob? I’ve noticed Scorsese and others calls him that.
DeNiro nailed it...WTF....big mistake there.
@@JG-dt3of bloody hell what question do you want answering next? Why do people call William Gates Bill?
godfather is a piece of art.
2:09 James Caan was just born to play Sonny
Oh yeah!
James caan playing Michael looks like Louis prima 😂
And Johnathan E !!!
Nahh De Niro would've been better. James Caan just looks like a typical jew with his afro
@@grayninja9958 De Niro is Jewish. He just plays Italians and Irishmen.
i cant fucking get over how gorgeous al pacino was
Pacino was so good lookin! Incredible actor too. He had it all and then some. I don't get it that they thought he was dull. He was so good in this.
And Dianne makes a beautifull Kay ❤❤
Diane's reaction when Al is Micheal, compared to James playing Micheal is hilarious
She couldn't concentrate 😅😅😅
damn shes just like me fr
What's the difference I can't tell lol
@@josephkim3223 she was not vibing when james caan was playing Michael
When Diane Keaton smiles, it’s something else.
She asks too many nagging questions…why…why?
@maryc530 no way , she , like the film , perfectamundo 😚🤌
Al Pacino was perfect face for this movie. Young innocent beautiful men on the beginning and then also gangster who always want to live normal life. I cannot imagine somebody else to play instead.
Yes that's it 💯
His father's son
The world would have been a different place today if someone other than Al Pacino played Michael
Martha Stewart would be president or some shit like that
The Godfather Multiverse
Nope..you would have thought that with anyone…Martin Sheen looked good…Sonny didn’t look Italian 😮
@@maryc530he was a wild child and a GOOD 👍 one
It’s interesting to see that during the testing, Pacino doesn’t strike me as particularly impressive, yet in the movie there’s absolutely nobody who could’ve done it better. He IS Michael Corleone…
💯💯💯
Nobody except Pacino could play Michael. He just fit the part so well
Been crushing on Young Al Pacino in GF1 aka Micheal Corleone. He looked very handsome 😍
That was the best part. He literally grown into Michael right on the screen. Michael's character grow into the Godfather as a result of fate and circumstances.
You gotta trust. Point is, Pacino was not ready, he rose to the occasion and stayed there.
Wow, shows you how great these actors are when you see them do the role they weren’t cast for, and realizing what an important process casting really is.
Perfect choices all around; a timeless masterpiece...Coppola is a genius...
AL not being michael sounds crazy
How gorgeous Al Pacino was! So cute and adorable.
Pacino was perfect. Diane Keaton was so emotive in the screen tests. They should have duplicated that in the movie. She is so alive and flirtatious. DeNiro as Sonny was interesting.
Over the top .
Not serious enough .
I'm hoping he flopped the reading on purpose so that they would get Al to read again ❤
Diane Keaton... Wow.. She is so natural.
Ugly then and crazy now
@@gdc615 Why are you talking about your mom?
She blows. Terrible actress...."No, Michael, no.... It was an ABORTION, Michael. An abortion! Because this has all got to end!!" Worst line reading in the history of movies.
@@sportsmediaamerica Ahhhhh................no.
Keaton's an Oscar winner, and deservedly so.
So, no.
Martin Brady I have to agree. The women in Godfather are pretty terrible actors.
“Bada-bing! All over your nice Ivy League suit.”
Always loved that line. He was really trying to put Michael in his place.
that restaurant scene WAS indeed one of his best acting part.
Can you imagine having to fight the studio and put your career on the line to have Al Pacino on your movie
I would put my career on the line to fight for him to get the spot too lol
Pacino was beautiful. And no one could have done it better. However would have loved to see deniro in it as well.
@@marieonno4205 ?
I'm glad he wasn't
can tell when Diane with Al she is so happy got stars in her eyes and so do Al they were clicked,and Jimmy really can't play the Cold Mike,he is always good for happy,funny,positive,sunny boy character
He was fucking her
I initially thought Martin Sheen was John Cazale.
StuUngar same here!
same !
Daaamn Diane Keaton was soooo beautiful
"he undresses you with his eyes..." that's exactly right.. (fainting here)
So true❤️
Fainting here in Egypt
Exactly
Addresses not undresses
Young Al could have his way with me anytime!
I'm glad James Caan didn't get cast as Michael. He was way too charming in that audition footage, his personality was perfect for Sonny.
James Caan is far too energetic and twitchy to play a controlled, introverted character like Michael. Great actor, but just not his style.
Al Pacino was so gorgeous 😍
God yes...especially in Godfather Part Two
3:44 Al Pacino's delivery is exquisite, but Diane Keaton's reaction makes the scene. That look of restrained shock.
And consider this: she's heard Pacino and other fine actors say this line to her over and over again through countless screen tests followed by rehearsals and separate "takes".
Being the actress that Keaton is, she's hearing it "for the first time." No anticipation. No "indicating"
Legendary casting. In spite of all the practical and political controversies, it is actually rare to get the original first choices for all the major characters in a major production (in this case, Pacino, DuVall, Caan, Brando, Keaton). Coppola deserves HUGE credit for persevering with his artistic first choices in face of gigantic resistance from Paramount. And hence the phenomenal quality of these two movies, since the casting and acting are based purely on artistic values rather than studio appeasement.
At the time of the production, none of them would have thought that The Godfather would turn into a cinematic icon in the entire film history.
There is no one on planet earth at that time nor is there now that could play Michael Corleone better than Pacino. He literally is the character. The GF movies are packed with legends and great actors but if they picked the wrong Michael, I don’t think it would be what it is today.
Alpacino is just FLAWLESS
Every time I watch this masterpiece it becomes more and more a loved family member. It is perfection. Rare.
Love the tracking problems with the video. That takes me back!!
Anyone who doubts the work that actors and directors do need only compare the feckless, downright silly reading that Pacino and Keaton give in their audition, to the taut, controlled performance of the wedding reception scene that made it into the movie. A simply amazing transformation that was wrought upon every frame of the picture. I don't think anyone in that film ever went on to do anything better ever again.
Diane Keaton has bedroom eyes. So beautiful.
DeNiro was so good that you had to bring him back.
Pacino's voice changed so much
Diane Keaton was a mesmerizing cutie - an innocent beauty
I can't imagine never ever the godfadher without Al Pacino as Michele Corleone
In the early scenes, the Michael character was a spectator, not an active participant in organized crime. It was too soon for him to "assert" himself, that was going to be part of his character arc.
Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, my two moooooost favourite actors by far.........
that why the directors get most of the credit, they gotta defend their cast selection against the producers and whatnot, i cant imagine someone else playing mike
i cant imagine Martin Sheen playing Michael Corleone
I could imagine him playing fredo, definitely not Micheal.
MARTIN SHEEN had his own restaurant scene and killed with "extreme prejudice" in FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA's other masterpiece, APOCALYPSE NOW!
Omg I know!!
Its the theme music that help elevated this movie
Salozo character had the best accent. The others sounded forced. When he's speaking in dialect its spot on.
Pacino was perfect. My older brother looked just like him. And we are Sicilian. And I am prejudiced.
Wow
If I hadn't watched godfather and was to select one of these guys I would straightway select al Pacino as Michael because he perfectly fits the character described in the novel. Full marks to Francis ford's conviction
Diane added a stark contrast to the basic Italian woman, she wasn’t dark or short she was tall thin blond and she stood out.
Pacino was mesmerizing in part I.
The casting for The Godfather was perfect, even with the benefit of hindsight. Although both producer Bob Evans and director Coppola wanted ethnic authenticity, the 3 major exceptions--with Jews Jimmy Caan and Abe Vigoda playing Italians and Italian Alex Rocco playing a Jew--were still brilliant casting. From this clip, I can imagine Martin Sheen competently playing Fredo, perhaps, but John Cazale was perfect, and if that weren't obvious in The Godfather, it was certainly obvious in The Godfather II. Incidentally, one of my great memories was running into John Cazale. In the early 1970s, I was 17 years old and taking a walk in Greenwich Village, New York, where I lived, heading east on 8th Street from University Place toward 2nd Avenue. At the southeast corner of 8th and Greene Streets, suddenly, I recognized John walking the opposite direction on 8th. I was so star stuck that I could only inarticularly express how much I enjoyed his work. But John was gracious and seemed to appreciate me acknowledging him and saying hello.
Al was a rough painting in Godfather 1. In Godfather 2 and 3, he was a work of art.
They only made 2 godfather movies. I know nothing of the mob action movie from the 90s bearing the same name.
@@drdre4397 The third isn't bad but its a poor way to conclude the trilogy.
@@drdre4397ha ha. I know it has hurt us all mate but its more than okay actually on its own. But yeah forgettable without a shadow of doubt
Godfathe 3, whatever happened there…
Al Pacino, the best actor of the last 50 years.
Casting in Godfather I and II was superbly done!!
1:53 what a smile
8:21 The movement of Bob's eyes.... Some anxiety if he was finally the chosen for FFC cast....
can't believe James Caan and Al Pacino are of the same age! James Caan looked like 10 years older!
Al definitely looked more like the clean cut Ivy League educated war hero.
Parts 1 and 2 still havent been topped. And the way movies are now i cant see them ever being topped
Diane Keaton.....wow!!!!!!
4:06 Such an amazing observation from Marcia😊
March 1st JAMES CANN WAS GORGEOUS AND GREAT IN THE GOD FATHER OMG THE PART WAS PERFECT FOR AL PACINO. JAMES CANN WAS AWESOME TOUGH GUY OMG WAS A GREAT CAST ❤❤❤
Pacino's voice was so high pitched during godfather he lost his voice by mid 80s ..
He used to look cutiepid during godfather but in 80s he started looking like a hot daddy material
That same non assertive attitude that they at first DIDNT WANT FROM AL, actually in the end play perfect for the plot! We seeing eventually this quiet non assertive Michael become a cold ruthless DON! Perfect 💢 it help make the movie great!!!!
I never knew how badly I wanted Martin sheen to play Michael until I saw this video. God what an underrated actor.
Sonny as Michael is a cursed timeline for sure
Just adore young Al Pacino. And De Niro, too! 💪💪💪
Diane Keaton was real cute back then in the early 1970’s.
Ugly then but crazy now
Christopher S. O'
She’s still cute. Love her.
DIANE KEATON will always be cute...
Nope. She looked like a passive-aggressive flake. Still does.
They were right ..those eyes of Pacino are unmatched when he gets that look of evil..when he became the Don and in Part 2 when Kay tells him she had an abortion.." The eyes chico, they never lie"
That wasn't look of evil dumbass.
That was anger. A woman he loved so much he ordered his brother's death just out of fear of losing her tells him she killed his baby.... how would you react.
And he still wanted her at his mother's funeral.
And when he lost her he got diabetes, aged over night, stopped smoking drinking killing, never took the ring of his finger or touched another woman for the rest of his life
Such a beautiful couple
Al Pacino ... the best EVER 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
This is gold. Thank you!
I could watch this for three hours. no one no but Al Pacino could play Micheal .
One of the best movies ever made
Al Pacino❤
Al Pacino made his trademark in the trilogy...with his gaze still...fixed...unblinking...
I can’t even see anyone but Al Pacino as Michael. Or James Caan as Sonny
This is fantastic
Thank you for sharing
That is why Cappola was King. He knew what he wanted.
all 4 brothers sure LOOKED like "brothers" didn't they?
Keaton, Duvall, Caan and Coppola knew that Pacino was perfect for the roll...
Anykne else think young diane keaton is just adorable😀😍
Diane Keaton....such adorable and beauty woman...
Diane Keaton was adorable back in the day.
Damn it, now I have to go see all three parts again
She's wonderful!
When James Caan reads his first line as “Michael “ I was expecting him to immediately stop in the middle and say “Sorry sorry, this just ain’t working. It ain’t right. I feel it. You feel it? This doesn’t fit.”
And Al Pacino proceeds to deliver 1 of the all-time great performances. Him as Michael Corleone is the absolute pinnacle of acting! Just goes to show you how much Hollywood producers know. Smh. Leave the casting to the director!
Pacino on the movie : " I was out"
Pacino in the movie : You're out ,Tom"
Diane Keaten is adorable
Diane Keaton es súper talentosa.