Al Pacino, 81, is 'so fortunate' to have scored breakthrough role in The Godfather
dailymail.co.ukThis coming week the universally acclaimed film - The Godfather - turns 50.And for Al Pacino, one of the leading men of the mafioso classic, it's taken him nearly a lifetime to come to terms with the enormity of its impact, andthe notoriety he's received for playing the career breakthrough role of Michael Corleone.While Pacino was 31 at the time of the shoot, in a new interview with The New York Times, he readily admits he had a tough time coping with the superstardom that followed his Oscar-nominated performance, considering he had only had one film on his resume when director Francis Ford Coppola approached him about playing Michael.
Breakthrough role; Al Pacino, now 81, is opening up about how his role as Michael Corleone in The Godfather has had on his life and career, now that the classic mafioso film turns 50; Pacino pictured in 2020Michael Corleone's character arc was as good as it gets for an actor - going from the shy son and reluctant family outsider who served his country honorably in World War II, to unsuspecting hitman, and eventually the ruthless mob boss of the Corleone family.But for Pacino, now 81, he didn't take Coppola's interest in him too seriously, being that he was so green, in terms of film, although he was considered a rising star of the theater at the time. 'It just seemed so outrageous.
Here I am, talking to somebody who I think is flipped out. I said, "what train am I on? OK. Humor the guy." And he wanted me to do Michael.
I thought, "OK, I'll go along with this." I said, yes, Francis, good,' Pacino said of Coppola's interest in him, which ended up becoming a reality when he offered him the part.
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