The Godfather series directed by Francis Ford Coppola is still regarded as one of the iconic trilogies of Hollywood. While the first two films were runaway blockbusters, the 3rd film did not fare as well at the box office and also received lukewarm responses from critics. Nevertheless, the franchise became a cult classic thanks to memorable performances from Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, and others.
While the actors were defining factors in the success of the films, Coppola’s decision to include his daughter Sofia Coppola in The Godfather 3 ironically proved to be a mistake. Having replaced Winona Ryder for the role, the filmmaker received a lot of criticism for her performance, but did not get disheartened as she was fully aware that her future did not lie in acting.
Francis Ford Coppola’s Error In Casting Sofia Coppola For The Godfather 3
While The Godfather films directed by Francis Ford Coppola are benchmarks in superlative filmmaking, even the veteran director couldn’t escape criticism when it came to the 3rd installment. With Al Pacino reprising his role as Michael Corleone, the Oscar winner cast his daughter Sofia Coppola as the protagonist’s daughter Mary Corleone.
Originally, the role was offered to Winona Ryder who stepped down from the part amidst a lot of speculation regarding her personal life, which included rumors about health issues and a mental breakdown.
The star was quick to clarify these speculations with LA Times and stated that while she had become extremely sick due to excessive work and hence had decided not to do the film, rumors about her emotional state were being blown out of proportion.
Following Ryder’s exit, Julia Roberts and Madonna were suggested as replacements. While the pop star was considered too old for the role, Roberts’ unavailability at the time meant that filming would have had to be pushed forward to a later schedule.
This prompted Coppola to suggest his daughter’s name as he felt that she was a perfect fit for the part age-wise well. Paramount Pictures though, did not agree with the director’s choice as they believed she did not have the experience or stardom to take on the role while also not being prepared to live up to the expectations of her famous father.
The veteran though, was insistent and ultimately cast Sofia Coppola as Mary Corleone. This, in retrospect, turned out to be the wrong decision judging by the criticism that the Priscilla filmmaker got for her performance. While anyone in her place would have been disheartened, the celebrity took the backlash in her stride.
In an interview with New York Times, Coppola elaborated on her future dreams in Hollywood which played a significant part in why she was able to handle the negative reviews without taking them to heart.
“It was embarrassing to be thrown out to the public in that kind of way. But it wasn’t my dream to be an actress, so I wasn’t crushed. I had other interests. It didn’t destroy me.”
As it turned out, Sofia Coppola’s instinct and vision for her future was spot on. As she had predicted, she went on to make her name as an award-winning writer and director, thereby putting her forgettable acting gig behind her.
Francis Ford Coppola Showed His Greatness In This Scene From The Godfather
While his instincts about Sofia Coppola for the role of Mary Corleone may have been wrong, there is no denying the fact that Francis Ford Coppola’s vision and brilliance made The Godfather films cult classics in Hollywood. It was his ability to intricately understand scenes and characters that actually saved the director from losing his job.
In one of the most iconic scenes in The Godfather, Michael Corleone played by Al Pacino shoots down corrupt police officer Mark McCluskey and drug dealer Virgil Solozzo in cold blood at a busy New York restaurant.
This scene masterfully orchestrated by Coppola, is memorable not just for the ruthless murder, but also for the subtext that reveals the ‘awakening’ of Michael Corleone as the fitting heir to his father’s legacy. The terror was heightened by the tense silence that preceded the event along with the lack of background score, which the director incorporated to perfection.
Incidentally, this arresting segment in the film was the saving grace for Coppola to retain his job in the project. Following his appointment as director, Paramount Pictures began to express their concerns about his vision for the film according to Far Out Magazine.
While the production house was looking for an extravagant gangster drama with all guns blazing, The Rainmaker director’s verbose script and nuanced approach to violence left the bankrollers wondering if a colossal flop was on the way.
The doubts about Coppola’s capability to deliver almost led to him being fired from the project. But the veteran mitigated all fears with the iconic Michael Corleone scene that floored the producers and audiences. The rest as they say, is history.
The Godfather 3 can be streamed on Showtime.
