Al Pacino Reflects on 'The Godfather' Struggles

In a candid reflection, Al Pacino revealed that he hoped his injury on the set of 'The Godfather' would provide an escape from the film, which he felt immense pressure to succeed in. While filming a pivotal scene, he twisted his ankle and, lying in pain, thought, 'Thank you, God. I’m gonna get out of this film!' Despite initial doubts from studio executives about his casting, Pacino ultimately secured an Oscar nomination for his role as Michael Corleone. He expressed that Paramount initially preferred other actors for the part, as they envisioned a different character than what he embodied. The actor's memoir, 'Sonny Boy', details these experiences and the challenges he faced during production. Ultimately, he completed the film, which became a cinematic classic.