Al Pacino, the 1972 gangster film was directed by Francis Ford Coppola who saw Pacino play Michael Corleone, a young man initiated into the ‘family business’.
The 75-year-old actor, whose career has spanned five decades, revealed that Michael Corleone is still his most challenging part.
“Michael Corleone in The Godfather was and still is the most difficult role I’ve played. I didn’t see him as a gangster; I felt his power was his enigmatic quality,” he told The Guardian.
Pacino continued, “Unfortunately the studio couldn’t see that at first and were thinking of firing me. It was during my early career, a major movie with Marlon Brando, and no one other than Francis [Ford Coppola] wanted me for the part.”
The film is based on Mario Puzo’s novel of the same name and sees the development of Michael Corleone from an unwilling outsider to a key part of his mafia family and eventually taking over from his father Don Vito, played by Marlon Brando in the film.
The Godfather is considered to be one of the greatest Hollywood films of all time and the sequel The Godfather Part II is often cited as the best sequel.
The star also explained that despite what people think, there is no rivalry between himself and his Godfather II co-star Robert De Niro. The pair starred together in Heat and Righteous Kill.
“I know Bobby pretty well. He’s a friend and he and I have gone through similar things. I love what he does with comedy; it’s pure genius.”
This article originally appeared in the Guardian.