In retrospect, it’s almost unfathomable that a cast as strong as “The Godfather’s” could have been assembled. Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, James Caan, and Robert Duvall are all considered legends of the screen today, but back in the early 1970s, most of these actors were unknown and starred in the film for relatively low pay. And Brando, once Hollywood’s prince, was thought to be an unreliable, washed-up shell of his “On the Waterfront” self. Francis Ford Coppola, however, knew precisely who he wanted for “The Godfather,” and he fought for them tooth and nail, even in the face of Paramount executives who were intent on casting proven stars like Robert Redford and Ryan O’Neill. In Episode Five, Mark and Nathan talk about Brando’s legendary screen test, how Coppola ended up hiring real mobsters to star in the film, and why Pacino and Brando almost couldn’t join the film. 

In retrospect, it&rsquo;s almost unfathomable that a cast as strong as&nbsp;&ldquo;The Godfather&rsquo;s&rdquo; could have been assembled. Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, James Caan, and Robert Duvall are all considered legends of the screen today, but back in the early 1970s, most of these actors were unknown and starred in the film for relatively low pay. And Brando, once Hollywood&rsquo;s prince, was thought to be an unreliable, washed-up&nbsp;shell of his&nbsp;&ldquo;On the Waterfront&rdquo;&nbsp;self. Francis Ford Coppola, however, knew precisely who he wanted for &ldquo;The Godfather,&rdquo; and he fought for them tooth and nail, even in the face of Paramount executives who were intent on casting proven stars like Robert Redford and Ryan O&rsquo;Neill. In Episode Five, Mark and Nathan talk about Brando&rsquo;s legendary screen test, how&nbsp;Coppola ended up hiring real mobsters to star in the film, and why Pacino and Brando almost couldn&rsquo;t join the film.&nbsp;

What’s left to say about “The Godfather"? Upon the film’s release in 1972, it almost instantly became a byword for the best Hollywood has to offer. It minted a new generation of stars, earned hundreds of millions of dollars, established Francis Ford Coppola as one of the best directors of his generation, and changed the way Americans viewed the mafia—and cinema—forever. 

 

And yet, “The Godfather” almost never got made, with meddling studio executives and vindictive members of the real-life mafia trying to smother the movie at every turn. During production, location permits were revoked, war was waged over casting decisions, author Mario Puzo got into a public brawl with Frank Sinatra, a producer’s car was riddled with bullets, and “connected” men auditioned for—and in some cases landed—parts in the film. 

 

On “Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli,” Mark Seal, author of the 2021 book by the same title, and Nathan King, a deputy editor of AIR MAIL, present new and archival interviews with Coppola, James Caan, Robert Evans, Talia Shire, Al Ruddy, and many others, stripping back the varnish of movie history to reveal the complicated genesis of a modern masterpiece.

What&rsquo;s left to say about&nbsp;&ldquo;The Godfather"? Upon the film&rsquo;s release in&nbsp;1972, it almost instantly became a byword for the best Hollywood has to offer. It minted a new generation of stars, earned hundreds of millions of dollars, established Francis Ford Coppola as one of the best directors of his generation, and changed the way Americans viewed the mafia&mdash;and cinema&mdash;forever.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
And yet, &ldquo;The Godfather&rdquo; almost never got made, with meddling studio executives and vindictive members of the real-life mafia trying to smother the movie at every turn. During production, location permits were revoked, war was waged over casting decisions, author Mario Puzo got into a public brawl with Frank Sinatra, a producer&rsquo;s car was riddled with bullets, and &ldquo;connected&rdquo; men auditioned for&mdash;and in some cases landed&mdash;parts in the film.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
On &ldquo;Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli,&rdquo; Mark Seal, author of the 2021 book by the same title, and Nathan King, a deputy editor of AIR MAIL, present new and archival interviews with Coppola, James Caan, Robert Evans, Talia Shire, Al Ruddy, and many others, stripping back the varnish of movie history to reveal the complicated genesis of a modern masterpiece.

Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli: The Epic Story of the Making of the Godfather

The Cast that Dreams Are Made Of

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/392edc1d-cb16-4ed9-a649-b2a40153352a/transcript

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