“Godfather”: 10 facts about the movie that almost failed.

1972: Francis Ford Coppola filmed a murder scene in a restaurant, while just four blocks away, the real-life mafioso Joe Colombo was killed by a hitman. Was it a coincidence? Probably not. “The Godfather” became one of the greatest films in cinema history, but few know the challenges its creators faced. The real mafia threatened the filming crew; the studio constantly wanted to fire the director; and Al Pacino almost lost the lead role due to his height.

• Paramount Studios was firmly against casting Marlon Brando due to his reputation and his poor box office record in the 1960s;
• Al Pacino was considered “too short” and inexperienced, with studios preferring stars like Warren Beatty or Robert Redford;
• The real mafia forced the removal of any references to “mafia” and “La Cosa Nostra” from the script;
• Mafioso Joe Colombo was actually shot and killed just four blocks away from the filming location;
• In fact, some mafiosi were hired for the film and got to work with the actors during production.

Paramount didn’t want Brando: “A commercial liability”

When Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola suggested Marlon Brando for the role of Don Vito Corleone, Paramount management was opposed. In the late 1960s, Brando had suffered a series of box office failures: “Candy,” “Apalusa,” “The Countess of Hong Kong,” “Night of Tomorrow”—all quickly disappeared from theaters.

Moreover, Brando had a reputation for being difficult to work with. He was known for his temper and his clashes with studio executives. For Paramount, which had invested millions in this high-risk project, Brando seemed more like a “commercial liability” than a star.

Ultimately, Studio President Stanley Jeff agreed to consider Brando, but only on three conditions: he would undergo auditions, accept a reduced salary, and sign a financial guarantee ensuring he wouldn’t disrupt production.

Coppola didn’t want to offend someone as influential as Brando by asking him to attend auditions, so he arranged mock auditions instead. Brando dyed his hair black, stuffed cotton in his mouth to make himself sound like a bulldog, and altered his voice to sound hoarse. When Paramount saw the results, they barely recognized him—his transformation was stunning.

Al Pacino: “Too short” for the role

In 1971, Al Pacino was a well-known Broadway actor, but he had only one film on his resume: “ Panic in Needle Park.” Paramount’s Production Director, Robert Evans, was under huge pressure to boost the studio’s declining box office fortunes, and he wasn’t interested in the idea of casting Pacino.

Evans wasn’t impressed by Pacino’s auditions and thought he was “too short” (his height was reported as 5’7″). Moreover, he preferred established stars like Warren Beatty, Robert Redford, or Jack Nicholson for the role.

Pacino almost lost the role before filming even began. The MGM studio, where he was contracted, refused to let him leave to work on this competing project. Rumor has it that the decision was made after influential individuals intervened—producer Albert Ruddy approached Sidney Korshak, a lawyer with connections in both Hollywood and the organized crime world.

According to Robert Evans’ memoirs, the negotiation took only twenty minutes. Then MGM’s head called Evans and said, “Keep him.” When Evans asked Korshak what he had said to convince Kirk Kerkorian, MGM’s owner, Korshak replied, “I asked him if he wanted to finish building his hotel."

The real mafia opposed the film

Even before filming began, the project faced strong resistance from the Italian-American Civil Rights League, led by Joe Colombo himself, who was also the head of one of New York’s five major mafioso families. Colombo publicly denied the existence of the mafia and feared that the film would attract unwanted attention from the FBI.

The league launched a threat campaign. Producer Albert Ruddy had his car windows smashed, and a note was left on the dashboard: “Stop making this movie—or face worse consequences.” Robert Evans and his wife, Ali McGraw, also received death threats. There were even reports of bombs planted at Gulf & Western’s headquarters, Paramount’s parent company, forcing the building to be evacuated.

Ultimately, Ruddy met with Colombo to negotiate. As a result, all references to “mafia” and “La Cosa Nostra” were removed from the script; a portion of the film’s profits was donated to the league, and some mafiosi were hired for extra roles in the production.

Ironically, according to Coppola, Puzo’s original script only used the word “mafia” twice and never mentioned “La Cosa Nostra.” These terms were replaced without affecting the story.

Mafiosi on the set

After reaching this agreement with Colombo, some of his people not only stopped interfering with filming but also participated actively in it. They got to know the actors and the production team, adding authenticity to the film.

Leni Montana, who played Luca Brasi, had previously worked as a boxer in the 1950s and later as a bodyguard for the Colombo family. His intimidating appearance and behavior were perfect for the role of a ruthless gangster.

Gianni Russo, who played Carlo Rizzi, claimed in his 2020 memoir “The Hollywood Godfather” that he had connections with the mafia that helped him get the role. He said he knew Colombo, Frank Costello, and Carlo Gambino.

During the wedding scene filming, Marlon Brando, dressed as Don Corleone, allegedly showed his naked buttocks to 500 extras, including Montana and other people associated with the Bufalino family.The tragic end of the mafioso

On June 28, 1971, while Coppola was filming a murder scene, an actual assassination attempt took place just four blocks away. Joe Colombo was speaking at a Columbus Circle event celebrating Italian-American unity when photographer Jerome Johnson shot him in the head.

Colombo survived but fell into a coma and never fully recovered. The attempt was due to his excessive exposure in the public eye, which angered other mafio leaders. They felt he was attracting too much attention to their activities.

This event effectively ended the Italian-American Civil Rights League and removed the film’s main opponent. Filming continued without further interference from the mafia.

Coppola on the verge of being fired

Throughout the production process, Francis Ford Coppola was constantly on the brink of getting fired. Paramount management disapproved of the film’s style—they found it too dark and more akin to an art film than a commercial blockbuster.

They were also dissatisfied with the cast selection. They considered Pacino unsuitable and strongly opposed Brando’s participation. Executives wanted better-known stars who could guarantee high box office returns.

Coppola insisted on his vision for the film and ultimately fired several members of the production team whom he suspected of plotting against him. This “mafioso-like” move turned out to be successful—the film earned between $250 and $291 million, becoming the highest-grossing film of its time.

Unexpected connections to reality

Russell Bufalino, a powerful mafioso from Pennsylvania, reportedly influenced the casting of Al Martino for the role of Johnny Fontaine after putting pressure on Vic Damone, forcing him to withdraw his nomination.This situation strikingly resembles an event in the film itself—where lawyer Tom Hagen travels to Hollywood to persuade a producer to give Johnny Fontaine a role in a war film. In reality, all that was needed was a phone call, not a need to actually kill a horse!

James Caan, who played the burned Sonny Corleone, attracted the FBI’s attention because of his connections with real mafiosi on set. Agents noticed that this unfamiliar actor spent time with several mafiosi members.The impact that changed the mafia

Pironically, “The Godfather” not only told the story of the mafia but also influenced how real mafiosi behaved afterward. After its release, many members of the organized crime world began to adopt the Hollywood-style image of gangsters, changing their behavior and manners.

The film became a cultural phenomenon that surpassed all expectations. It won three Oscars out of ten nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Brando (who refused to accept the award), and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Today, it’s hard to imagine that this masterpiece could have ever been created despite studio opposition, mafia threats, and constant attempts to change the director’s vision. “The Godfather” proved that sometimes the most risky decisions lead to the greatest results—and that real life can be even more dramatic than fiction.

Cover image from: concreteplayground.com