The_Film_That_Changed_My_Life

The Godfather
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appetite, and you don’t even imagine it can ever live up to part one, and
yet, in some ways it does, right?
I understand when he says there should’ve only been one movie, that it
was complete. I think it’s a miracle they made Part II work. Maybe he’s more
referring to the greed, what happened with Part III—we love those people
so much, but in many ways it can’t really go on and on and on because the
story is complete.
It’s like trying to do a follow-up to Oedipus Rex or The Searchers. I mean,
there’s a reason that they aren’t serialized.
It’s very interesting that it was so hard to make and so hard fought.
Even years later Coppola talks about how it was just miserable. Even
the death sequence with Brando—he had to talk people into shooting
that sequence during a lunch break.
Peirce: It’s total testament to his brilliance and his timeliness, particularly if
he’s not getting support, and he’s fighting for these scenes. There’s a simplicity
and a brilliance to them, and you can tell by the way they’re shot.
Let’s take a minute to talk about the casting. The studio did not want
Pacino . . .
Peirce: Having looked at the outtakes of The Godfather, it was just so clear
no matter what you did, the people who he cast—the way he cast them—
had to be done that way.
The studio wanted James Caan to play Michael. He’s great, but there’s
no way, no way, no way. He’s so perfect as Sonny, biting his hand when he’s
frustrated. That’s the humor that I just fucking love. It’s so great.
The only other thing that I really love, which I think does speak to it
being a quintessential American movie: I always love how the Italians are
racist against the blacks, the Wasps are racist against the Italians. It’s always
wanting to be accepted, right? And Michael thinks if he earns enough money
and if he gives money to the right people, he won’t be a wop.
There’s something so lovely and deep and American about that, particularly
because it’s a culture that’s such a melting pot. Coppola captured that so
beautifully, but with humor. That’s just something I love over and over and
over—the outsiders trying to become the insiders.