The Godfather - Facts Behind The Fiction

Rumours and Reports Surrounding The Filming of This Classic

Oct 6, 2009

Although viewed as one of the best American films ever made, The Godfather also earned infamy for its mafia ties as well as controversial castng decisions, and nepotism.

Here are a few examples of some outlandish improvisations that helped to create some of the film’s classic moments.

John Marley, who plays big time Hollywood producer Jack Waltz in the film, no doubt had less-than-fond memories long after his scenes were completed. Apparently during rehearsals for the infamous "horse's head in a bed" scene, a false horse’s head was used. When it came to filming the scene, Marley gave a very convincing frightened reaction, since the false head was replaced with a very real and blood soaked head acquired from a nearby glue factory.

In one scene Don Corleone’s godson, crooner Johnny Fontaine (played by Al Martino) starts crying whilst pouring his heart out to the Don. Suddenly, Corleone takes hold of his sobbing godson, shakes him violently and then smacks him hard across the face, shouting at him to act like a man. Apparently, Brando improvised the whole scene, hence Martino’s very convincing and confused reaction.

During the opening wedding scene, Sonny Corleone (James Cann) whose hot temper had already risen with the appearance of the FBI at his sister’s wedding, takes out his frustrations on a photographer. Caan improvised the whole segment where he snatches the camera and after throwing it to the floor shakes the photographer violently by his lapels. The extras look genuinely terrified because they are.

Personnel Issues

Had it not been for the tenacity of Francis Ford Coppola and studio head Robert Evans, the eventual line up might have looked very different. Imagine The Godfather without Michael Corleone if Paramount bosses had been able to dismiss Al Pacino mid way through filming.

Many stars were considered for the role of Michael Corleone. These included Martin Sheen, Dean Stockwell, Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson and Dustin Hoffman. Al Pacino was originally rejected as he had apparently auditioned poorly. However after gaining positive reviews for his performance in The Panic in Needle Park (1971), Pacino was offered the role.

A host of larger than life actors were approached for the role of Vito Corelone including, Ernest Borgnine, Edward G Robinson, Orson Welles, Anthony Quinn and George C. Scott. However Coppola wanted either Laurence Olivier (since he was considered to have the likeness of real-life gangster Vito Genovese) or Brando.

Sergio Leone and Peter Bogdanovic were approached to direct. Although Coppola was finally given the job, he still faced a multitude of difficulties dealing with some of the studio executives They were unhappy with the early rushes of the film and considered replacing him with Elias Kazon. However Brando refused to work with Kazon on the count of his testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Mob Mentality

A film about the mafia was bound to attract negative reactions, and rumours of alleged mob influence over various aspects of the project including casting.

Actors including Gianni Russo (Carlo Rizzi) and Al Matino (Johnny Fontaine) were rumoured to have used their connections with organised crime to secure themselves roles in the film. In an interview with radio shock jock, Howard Stern, Francis Ford Coppola denied claims of any connections between the film’s cast and the mafia. He did however point out that Lenny Montana (Vito Corleone’s most vicious enforcer, Luca Brasi) was employed as a body guard to an unnamed crime boss.

Real life Mafiosi also greatly influenced not only the author of the book, Mario Puzo (who based the character of Vito Corleone on Joe Profaci and Vito Genovese) but also the actors in their performances. Marlon Brando’s distinctive husky whisper was based on mobster Frank Costello after watching his televised testimony.

Yet the greatest and most sinister stories surround efforts allegedly instigated by the mafia to end the film’s production. The most famous involves Joe Columbo who, through his organisation, The Italian-American Civil Rights League, started a campaign against the film. It seemed perfectly legitimate, with talks of protests aimed at disrupting filming as well as numerous letters from prominent Italian-Americans (some of them politicians) denouncing the film as anti-Italian.

The methods soon became very sinister with rumours of intimidation and death threats, as well as confirmed reports of a producer’s assistant’s car windows being shot out. Eventually Coppola relented and allowed Columbo to review and approve the final script, which included the removal of the terms “Mafia” and “Cosa Nostra”.

Exercise of Nepotism

For Coppola, working on the film was very much a family affair. Cast included his Sister Talia Shire (Connie Corleone), and mother Italia Coppola as well as his children Gian-Carlo, Roman and Sofia Coppola, all of whom appeared as extras. The ever familiar soundtrack was composed and performed by a partnership between Nino Rota, and the director’s father Carmine Coppola, a well respected songwriter, musician and musical director.

Sources

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