As a movie enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the rich tapestry of cinematic history, I find myself captivated by Al Pacino‘s memoir “Sonny Boy.” The story of his ankle injury on the set of “The Godfather” and the subsequent relief he felt at the prospect of being fired is a poignant reminder of the pressures that actors face.
On the set of “The Godfather,” directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino sustained an ankle injury. In his recently published memoir, he confesses that he secretly welcomed this mishap as a potential reason for being let go from the role. At that point in time, the studio was uncertain if Pacino was suitable to play the mobster Michael Corleone, and he felt tremendous pressure to deliver a convincing performance.
From a fresh segment of the book “Sonny Boy”, as reported by The Guardian, Pacino reveals that a gossip circulated on set suggesting his dismissal. “I sensed unease among the cast and crew during my performances,” Pacino recounts. “There were whispers that I was going to be let go, and so was the director. It wasn’t that Francis wasn’t performing well – it was me who wasn’t delivering.” However, he clarifies that Francis was the one held accountable for his inclusion in the film.
One evening, Coppola invited Pacino to dinner and informed him that he wasn’t meeting expectations. Upon Coppola’s recommendation, they screened footage of the movie in progress. Recalling the moment, Pacino stated, “I didn’t think there was anything particularly impressive about it.” Fortunately for him, a crucial scene – depicting Michael taking revenge against Sollozzo and McCluskey in an Italian restaurant – had been scheduled to be filmed soon. This was Pacino’s chance to demonstrate his abilities.
However, everything took a turn for the worse during the scene where Michael was supposed to leap onto a moving vehicle. Without a stuntman, Pacino had to take matters into his own hands, but unfortunately, he fell short of the mark.
In the passage, Pacino describes his situation as follows: “I injured my ankle so severely that I was unable to walk,” he explains. “The entire crew gathered around me, attempting to help me stand up and inquiring about my condition. They asked if my ankle was fractured and if I could walk, but at the time, I wasn’t sure.
Secretly, Pacino felt relieved that his time on “The Godfather” might be over. “I lay there thinking, This is a miracle. Oh God, you’re saving me. I don’t have to do this picture any more. I was shocked by the feeling of relief that passed over me,” he writes. “Showing up for work every day, feeling unwanted, feeling like an underling, was an oppressive experience, and this injury could be my release from that prison. At least now they could fire me, recast another actor as Michael, and not lose every dime they’d already put into the picture.”
However, contrary to expectations, the incident didn’t occur. Regardless of his injury, Pacino’s captivating performance during the restaurant scene persuaded the studio that he was their ideal choice for the lead role.
Pacino explains that he wasn’t let go from ‘The Godfather’ due to the pivotal scene he played. He had a specific strategy for portraying his character, one he was confident aligned with Francis’ vision.
After earning an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor due to his exceptional performance, Pacino reprised his role in the sequels “The Godfather: Part II” and “The Godfather: Part III.
Pacino’s memoir “Sonny Boy” is out now.
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2024-10-14 16:16