Al Pacino Says He Almost Got Fired From The Godfather, But Coppola Helped Him Keep His Job

Godfar is one of greatest movies ever me, and story of making of film has become stuff of legend. behind--scenes shenanigans that went into Francis Ford Coppola's American masterpiece have become so ingrained in popular culture that someone even me an entire TV show about making of film (" Offer," which premiered in 2022). Recently, Al Pacino has talked about almost being fired from Godfar in past, and in his new memoir 'Sonny Boy.' legendary actor goes into more detail, revealing that filming one specific scene probably saved his job in end.

Francis Ford Coppola moved up filming of restaurant scene in Godfar

In Sonny Boy, Al Pacino recalls that Coppola called him a few weeks into filming Godfar and said bluntly, “You’re not cutting it.” Pacino watched some of rushes of his performance. “I went into a screening room next day,” he writes. “I’d alrey been warned that I might be dropped from film. When I saw footage—all scenes from early in movie—I thought, re’s nothing particularly impressive here. I wasn’t sure what to think, but it was effect I wanted. I didn’t want to stand out.”

In or words, Pacino felt he was delivering subtlety needed for character, though studio executives found his performance lacking. According to rumours, Coppola n took charge and justed shooting schedule to bring forward some action scenes. In his book, Pacino mentions that Coppola denies doing this deliberately, stating, “ jury’s out on wher he did that on purpose, and Francis himself has denied arranging it for my sake…” Regardless of intention, Coppola vanced filming of now-iconic restaurant scene.

Godfar restaurant scene saved Al Pacino's job

re is a scene in movie where Michael is understandably on edge throughout, as he’s never killed anyone. tension builds grually, with Coppola and cinematographer Gordon Willis focusing camera closely on Pacino’s face as he waits for right moment to act. Pacino’s expressions reveal internal conflict, his eyes showing thought process and anticipation. Finally, Michael seizes his chance and fires, shooting both men in he. He drops gun as instructed, though for a split second, it seems he might forget and take it with him. He leaves as Nino Rota’s iconic score begins to play.

re’s speculation that Coppola may have vanced filming this scene to keep Pacino on project, which ended up being its effect. As Pacino shares in Sonny Boy, “Because of that scene I just performed, y kept me in film. So I didn’t get fired from Godfar. I just kept doing what I did ... I did have a plan, a direction that I really believed was way to go with this character. And I was certain that Francis felt same way.”

Interestingly, Pacino didn’t alter his performance; he continued portraying Michael as he h from start. However, intensity of restaurant scene underscored that his approach was working. This paid off: Godfar became a cultural landmark, and Pacino would go on to reprise his role as Michael in Godfar Part II and Godfar Part III.