Francis Ford Coppolas classic adaptation of Mario Puzos The Godfather could have been a very different film.
The Godfatheris one of the greatest movies of all time.
It was nominated for 11 Oscars, won three, and changed cinema forever.
That seismic cinematic shift would never have happened if Paramount had their way.
They didnt like the actors, the director, the setting, the tunes, or the tone.
The studio didnt even like the puppet strings logo that graphic designer S. Neil Fujita made for the book.
Nobody expected the book to be a hit, but it whacked the competition.The Godfatheroffered something nobody could refuse.
Italian-American households throughout the country could already see exactly what the characters looked like.
Not by a long shot.
Robert Evans, Paramounts head of production wantedThe Godfatherto be directed by an Italian-American.
Paramount then approached Peter Bogdanovich, who said the mafia didnt interest him.
Coppola got the job on September 28, 1970 for $125,000 and a vig of six percent.
But his cut rate wasnt the only reason he got the job.
Coppola had a vowel at the end of his name.
Italian-Americans were continually portrayed as criminals in the movies and they were fed up.
In 1960, in the first known Mafia rebellion, Gallo made a run against Joe Profaci.
Gallo was convicted of extortion and sentenced for 7 to 14 years on December 21, 1961.
Profaci had avoided the public spotlight.
Colombo formed civil rights groups.
The Genovese, Bonanno, and Lucchese gangs agreed because it put a temporary stop to the Gallo wars.
Gallo told them to make it $100,000.
Paramount had to evacuate its offices in New Yorks Gulf and Western Building twice for bomb scares.
Thousands of people joined.
The Godfatherproducer Al Ruddy and Colombo had a sit down at the Park Sheraton Hotel.
After Colombo gave the film his blessing, gangsters started showing up on the set to meet the cast.
Caan got friendly enough with Carmine The Snake Persico that he asked why gangsters were always touching themselves.
Years later, Caan would stand bail for Colombo crime family member Andrew Andy Mush Russo.
Brando got elocution lessons from Joe Bufalino on Mott Street.
That part is perfect.
Itll make him a big star.
Im gonna run him out of the movies.
That was an easy part of casting.
Today it is impossible to see anyone but acting legend Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone.
At the time, executives could see anyone but.
Robinson even got to go all Rico on Puzos manager, threateningly telling him he should love his clients.
Puzo had sent Marlon Brando a letter saying he was the only actor who can play the Godfather.
The studio was especially pushing for Laurence Olivier, who went on to star inSleuthlater that year.
During the filming, he wore a mouth piece that a dentist made for him.
In the book Michael is tall and blond.
Paramount Pictures wanted Robert Redford or Ryan ONeal to play the returning World War II vet and college graduate.
Warren Beatty turned down the role.
Coppola wanted theater actorAl Pacino, who had only starred in the filmThe Panic in Needle Parkat that point.
Even Puzo didnt support Pacino after seeing his audition.
The actor was unprepared and hadnt memorized the scene.
Good thing, too, because it would have made him ineligible to play Vito inThe Godfather Part II.
John Cazale got the part of Fredo Corleone after Coppola saw him perform in an Off Broadway play.
John Cassavetes and Peter Falk were both approached to play consigliere Tom Hagen.
The role of Sonny Corleone was originally awarded to Carmine Caridi.
James Caan and Robert Duvall both acted in CoppolasThe Rain People(1969).
Caans breakthrough role as Brian Piccolo inBrians Songcame out asThe Godfatherwas in post-production.
Caan tested for Michael and Tom Hagen.
Coppola wanted Italian singer Vic Damone to play Johnny Fontane.
Coppola didnt just fight the studio.
He fought his own mother.
Coppola thought his sister, Talia Shire, was too pretty to play Connie Corleone.
Coppolas wife, mother, and two sons all appeared as extras in the picture.
The score was composed by Nino Rota.
The studio didnt like it.
They still didnt like a lot of things.
Paramount hired Puzo to write the script on April 14, 1970.
He got $100,000 and some of the vig.
His first draft was finished on August 10, 1970.
A second draft was written with Coppola.
They finished the final screenplay on March 29, 1971.
It was 40 pages longer than Paramount wanted.
Robert Towne did uncredited work on the screenplay.
The directors refused and demanded a $5 million budget and an 80 day shooting schedule.
Paramount gave him 53 days to shoot.
Coppola was constantly undermined during filming.
Paramount Vice President Jack Ballard kept a close eye on production costs.
Paramount threatened Coppola with a violence coach.
The studio kept Elia Kazan on standby until the Sollozzo scene came.
They even scrapped the intermission.
read more: The Real History of Goodfellas
The Godfatherwas the highest-grossing film of 1972.
For a while, it was the highest-grossing film ever made.
Pacino, Caan and Robert Duvall were all nominated for Best Supporting Actor Oscars.
Coppola was nominated for Best Director.
Brando won the Oscar for Best Actor.
Puzo and Coppola won the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar.
The movie won the Academy Awards for Best Picture.
