Al Pacino Confesses How He Wanted To Leave The Godfather
Released in 1972, The Godfather has become one of the most quintessential films of all time, helping catapult iconic actors like Al Pacino to stardom. Hence, it’s surprising to learn that the 84-year-old wanted to opt out of the production at one point!
In an exclusive teaser of the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast, the Hollywood great confessed that he was looking for an easy out during filming.
When he was wounded on set while acting out that famous scene at the restaurant, Pacino hoped that it would allow him to excuse himself from the rest of the motion picture.
If you’ll recall, Pacino’s character Michael goes to the bathroom where he kills Sollozzo and McCluskey with a concealed gun. The veteran actor recalled the scene, saying, “Well, you have to understand one thing, because after I shoot these two guys—who I really loved, by the way—I shoot them and I’m running out and I sort of drop the gun and I go into the street and jump in a moving car.”
He told O’Brien that they didn’t have a stuntman for him, adding “maybe they assumed that I would jump and get hurt, and I’d be outta the film.”
Pacino Hopes for Easy Out
“My ankle was hurt, somehow it slipped,” he narrated. “The car had one of those side things that you could jump on and then jump in. So I was just looking up at the sky and I said, ‘Thank you, God.’ This was my thought. I actually said, ‘Thank you, God. You’re gonna get me out of this film.’ That’s how much I wanted to leave it. I said, ‘This is from heaven.”
It’s strange to think of the multi-awarded performer wanting to bail, especially since the gangster film turned out to be such a success. So, what were his reasons?
Apparently, Pacino, who has become known for his explosive and intense performances, faced a lot of pressure and struggled to meet expectations. When he found himself injured, he thought that perhaps the studio would allow him to abandon his contract.
Fortunately for The Godfather fans and Pacino, he wasn’t going to get away that easily!
As the filming crew gathered around him, he recounted how he was given a quick injection and was expected to carry on. “And people just swallowed, got around me and they said, ‘He’s hurt,” Pacino said, continuing his story.
“… And then they put one of these big fat needles in my ankle so I could finish the day, and they kept me.”
Over 50 years later, Pacino’s performance in The Godfather remains one of his most unforgettable roles and we can’t imagine anyone else playing Michael Corleone!
