• The Godfather was released in 1972 to wonderful reviews and soared to the top of the box office list.
• Francis Ford Coppola’s film grossed approximately USD 86 million.
• Pacino plays Michael Corleone, the youngest son of crime boss Vito Corleones.

Al Pacino now talks about being nearly fired from The Godfather during a Tribeca Film Festival panel. The seasoned actor recalls being threatened with dismissal on a regular basis. He admits that Coppola rescued his character by reworking a crucial scene in which Michael murders Virgil Sollozzo (Al Lettieri) and Officer McCluskey (Sterling Hayden) in a restaurant.

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According to media, Al Pacino stated,  “They were going to let me go. Francis said, ‘I want you to know, I believe in you.’ Francis pushes that scene forward. The studio liked it.”

However, given how iconic The Godfather has been since its debut decades ago, it’s tough to imagine another actor playing the deliciously timid Corleone son who must stoop to crime to save his family.

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Robert DeNiro was considered for the role but was passed up, only to return in the Oscar-winning sequel The Godfather Part II to play a younger Vito Corleone.

Pacino’s portrayal of Michael has cemented his place in Hollywood history, with The Godfather regarded as one of the best films ever made, a status that does not appear to be changing anytime soon.