Al Pacino Rehearsed a 21-Page Scene for ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ With Leonardo DiCaprio, Then Tarantino Cut It to Two Minutes: ‘I’m Not Faulting Him’

As a devoted cinephile, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of admiration for Al Pacino and his extraordinary journey in Hollywood. His latest memoir, “Sonny Boy,” offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of an actor who has graced our screens with some of the most memorable performances in cinema history.


In his recently published memoir titled “Sonny Boy”, Al Pacino reveals an interesting tidbit about his work with Leonardo DiCaprio on Quentin Tarantino’s film, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”. Originally, a 21-page scene they filmed together was intended for the movie. However, during the editing process, this extensive sequence was drastically reduced to only two minutes of screen time. Despite this significant reduction, Pacino expresses no criticism towards Tarantino, acknowledging his gratitude instead. He considers “Hollywood” as one of the later projects in his career that have significantly boosted his fame, making him more recognized than ever before.

Although I’m well-known for reasons beyond just my work, such as my connections with numerous individuals, being featured in various projects, and residing in Hollywood, Pacino admits. He acknowledges his good fortune, having starred in three consecutive films that left a lasting impression, beginning with ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.’ Although he didn’t earn a substantial salary for it, he found himself collaborating with Quentin Tarantino, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie. He enjoyed the role, which is why he took it on. However, he asked his lawyer, ‘How can I take this role without being compensated?’

Originally, Leo and I worked through a 21-page sequence together. In this sequence, Leo delivered an exceptional monologue that encapsulated the essence of the film industry in 1969, as Pacino points out. However, when Tarantino was finished editing, the scene was trimmed down to just two minutes. I want to make it clear that I don’t blame him for this decision; he had valid reasons for making these changes.

In “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Al Pacino portrayed Marvin Schwarz, a cunning Hollywood agent who represented Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Rick Dalton. The actor himself expressed admiration for Tarantino’s movie, stating that being part of it added a certain level of prestige to his career.

Following is ‘The Irishman.’ For years, Bob De Niro and Scorsese approached me with their plans, and I was eagerly on board. Eventually, a script arrived, and I took it upon myself to bring the role to life. My performance earned an Oscar nomination, pitting me against heavyweights like Brad Pitt, Joe Pesci, Anthony Hopkins, and Tom Hanks. On that night, I was content in my loss amidst such esteemed company. When I received a nod for ‘The Irishman,’ I shared the moment with my children at the Oscars. Can anything be more gratifying than that?

Alchemist-level directors like Quentin Tarantino (for “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) and Martin Scorsese (“The Irishman”) once again collaborated with Al Pacino, who had previously worked with them. However, after reaching the age of 70, he found himself accepting roles that paid well because he was financially strapped. Before this, Pacino chose acting jobs only if he felt connected to the character and believed he could add something unique. Fortunately, “Hollywood” and “The Irishman” rekindled his previous mindset of selecting roles based on personal connection.

Pacino’s memoir “Sonny Boy” is now available to purchase.

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2024-10-19 00:16