Al Pacino has reached a stage in his life where he looks back, which is an essential part of writing a memoir.
After publicly confessing that he’s basically been writing about his life and career lately, the legendary actor sat down for an interview with David Rubenstein at the 92NY New York where he once again looked back.
As part of the People Who Inspire Us series, The Godfather and Scarface star opened up about some behind the scenes facts that are perfect examples of the power of cause and effect even when it comes to one decision in life.
When asked if there were any roles he regretted giving up during his storied career, he replied, “I turned down Star Wars (1977).”
His decision came at a time when Pacino was offered just about every leading role after starring in a string of classics: The Godfather (1972), Serpico (1973), The Godfather Part II (1974), and Dog Day Afternoon (1975). .
Looking back: Al Pacino. who turns 83 on April 25, reflected on his long and storied career as an A-list actor in an interview with David Rubenstein on the 92NY New York
“So I was there and all of a sudden they gave me a script called Star Wars,” he said of the role playing Han Solo. “I said, ‘I have the script, they offered me so much money, but I don’t understand.'”
In the end, it was his lack of understanding of the story that played a part in why he passed on the role, which eventually went to Harrison Ford, who was more than happy to play Han Solo as his career up to that point had mostly consisted of supporting roles and supporting roles.
“I gave Harrison Ford a career he never thanked me for,” Pacino joked during the interview. The Hollywood Reporter.
As fans around the world know, Star Wars became a cultural phenomenon, with the original film grossing $775.8 million at the global box office against only an $11 million budget.
And it didn’t stop there. Ford could play Han Solo again in The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of The Jedi (1983), and again in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015).
While Pacino would miss a huge movie franchise like Star Wars, he did experience one with The Godfather, which has the distinction of delivering a sequel that many believe is as good or even better than the original.
But despite being director Francis For Coppola’s first choice to play Michael Corleone, there was a time during the filming of The Godfather when Pacino almost got fired.
Recalling a conversation he and Coppola had at the time, and the dailies coming off the movie set, some studio execs were impressed with his performance and wanted to replace him before it was too late.
“He said, ‘You know, I had a lot of faith in you. And you let me down,'” the actor said. “I’m standing there thinking, ‘What the f**k, what have I done?'”
Career regrets: During the conversation that was part of the People Who Inspire Us series, Pacino revealed that he turned down the role of Han Solo in Star Wars which went to Harrison Ford, which he would later regret,
Role in jeopardy: Pacino’s breakthrough role as Michael Corleone came in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather (1972), but early on in filming some studio executives were eager to replace him. the cast included James Cann, Marlon Brado, John Cazale (all photos), as well as Robert Duvall, Talia Shire and Diane Keaton
No faith: Pacino dismissed the long-held rumor that he was upset he wasn’t nominated for an Oscar for The Godfather in the Best Actor category, instead of Best Supporting Actor: “How does a story like that get out? ‘ said Pacino in a tone of disbelief. “I wasn’t upset – are you kidding me?”
His early detractors were simply unimpressed with his development and early incarnation of Michael Corleone shown in the dailies, which are raw and unedited images taken during the making of a movie.
“I wanted to come out of nowhere and create some sort of conundrum towards the end of the movie,” he explained of his thought process. “His transition interested me and I thought I couldn’t make it. After the first day of shooting, Diane Keaton and I got drunk. We thought, “This is it, our careers are over. This is a mess.”
He credits Coppola with helping him avoid being fired from the film by changing the sequence of the shooting schedule to feature Pacino in one of the film’s iconic and dramatic scenes.
“The Solozzo scene, where Michael shoots the cop. Coppola pushed that up because he thought Paramount was about to fire me,” he said, adding, “I’m doing the scene, they liked it, and they kept me in because I shot someone.”
Not only did Pacino save his role in The Godfather, he would go on to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, one of 11 the film received.
Smart move: The old Hollywood mainman who presented David Rubenstein that Francis Ford pushed forward Michael Corleone’s filming of a police scene in The Godfather to quell all talk of replacing Pacino with another actor in the original
While looking back at his breakout silver screen role, Pacino was also asked to clear up a long-standing rumor that he was upset about getting a Best Supporting Actor nomination despite having more lines than Brando, who Best Actor won for his role. incredible performance as the head of the family, Vito Corleone.
“How does such a story get out?” said Pacino in a tone of disbelief. “I wasn’t upset – are you kidding me?”
In addition to Brando’s Oscar win, the crime drama classic also scored wins for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.
The Godfather, with its screenplay by Mario Puzo and Coppola, was also a hit at the box office, grossing $250-291 million against a budget of $6-7.2 million, while at the same time being considered one of the best and most influential films. ever made.
Two years later, many of the stars who weren’t “slapped” in the original reprized their roles to star in The Godfather II (1974), alongside Robert De Niro, who played a young Vito Corleone as he emigrated from Sicily. Italy to New York City, and its rise to prominence in the organized crime world.
This film now has the distinction of being the first sequel to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, which was just one of six Oscar wins, including De Niro for Best Actor and Coppola for Best Director.
Long-running debate: “The Godfather is more fun,” Pacino declared when asked which of the first two films in the franchise is superior
Scarface’s leading man also weighed in on another long-running debate that often comes up during trivia games and conversations about movies. Which is the superior movie: The Godfather or The Godfather II?
The Godfather is more fun. Godfather II is this study, this personal thing for Francis [Ford Coppola]the New York City resident explained. “Godfather I, I saw it the other day, two or three things always happen in a scene. You’re always in the story, you’re going…,” he explained, before praising both films.
He continued, “You don’t know what’s going to happen next, it’s storytelling, it’s real storytelling at its best.” Godfather II more or less linearizes, and [it’s] a little different, gloomy, moving slowly. But it’s a great movie, I must say.’
Pacino thought the sequel was “artistic” and also described it as a “different” film compared to the original film.
Pacino went on to say that he is currently writing a memoir with a co-author.
“When you get to that age, you start doing things like that. I stayed away from it, but I think I need to talk about certain things,” Pacino said. “It’s fine, I have kids and stuff, it would be a good idea, and I’m working on it.”
Iconic: The Godfather II (1974) is the first sequel to win the Academy Award for Best Picture