Almost half a century ago, a cinematic juggernaut stormed into theaters, heavily transforming the landscape of Hollywood. Released in 1972, Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather swiftly rose to the pinnacle of box office success, sealing its fate as one of the most influential films ever produced.
Also spotlighting James Caan as Santino ‘Sonny’ Corleone, the film catapulted its stars into phenomenal stardom. Yet, it’s a real head-scratcher that, despite the movie’s sky-high acclaim, Caan found himself under a dark cloud of dissatisfaction.
A decision by Coppola to cut an extended scene has left Caan perpetually miffed. It’s like cutting the cloth according to your coat. But sometimes the trim leaves you with more than just fabric scraps—it can slice through your soul as well. When Caan realized a scene that held deep meaning for him was left on the cutting room floor, his frustration boiled over, leading him to walk out of the screening.
James Caan’s Frustration with The Godfather’s Cut: A Scene That Got the Ax
A few films hold as much sway as Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather, which was nearly three hours long. Yet, amid its appreciable narrative and iconic scenes, one of its stars had a bone to pick with how the final cut turned out.
James Caan, who portrayed Sonny Corleone, aired his grievances about a key scene that ended up being axed from the flick. In a candid interview with THR, the actor, who died in 2022, revealed that he was so steamed about the missing footage that he walked out of an early screening of the film:
When Michael [Al Pacino] tells me he is going to take care of the cop and Sollozzo [Al Lettieri], I say, ‘You’ll get brains all over your nice Ivy League suit.’ There was a scene before in the same room that I had with Bobby [Duvall] that was like 10 pages long — and Francis [Ford Coppola] cut all of it out!
Caan’s frustration was clear when he said:
I was so pissed off, I couldn’t watch the rest of the film.
Despite his grumbling, Caan acknowledged Coppola’s role in shaping the film’s legacy, adding a silver lining to his gripes. “Otherwise, he gave me a great honor,” the late actor said with a wry smile, reflecting on the director’s contribution to cinema.
And that’s why, with a box office haul between $250 and $291 million (Box Office Mojo), it not only topped the charts in 1972 but also held the title of the highest-grossing film ever made.
James Caan’s Unforgettable Insights on The Godfather: Must-Read Statements
Despite this bump in the road, James Caan showed his lighter side when he spoke to The Guardian in 1999. He admitted with a wink that his passion for the role wasn’t purely for the art:
I wouldn’t have done it if there hadn’t been so many girls around the set to impress.
So, while Caan’s acting chops are undeniable, it seems he also had a little extra motivation to shine on set. When the question of The Godfather’s iconic status in popular culture came up, the actor’s expression turned as impenetrable as a stone wall.
For many, the film has morphed from a mere piece of cinema into a veritable holy grail. So, did Caan think that the cast was creating a cultural juggernaut at the time?
Caan’s response was as offbeat as a broken clock. He said:
The studio thought it was a piece of garbage. Sure, I was surrounded by top-notch talent, and Francis was at the zenith of his craft. But when it first hit the screens, it got stinking reviews and was pulled from theaters.
Alas, on July 6, 2022, Caan passed away at 82 due to a heart attack triggered by coronary artery disease (via PEOPLE). At the time of his death, he was also battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure.
Well, the film was followed by sequels, The Godfather Part II (1974) and The Godfather Part III (1990), which kept the saga rolling and the audience on the edge of their seats.
The Godfather is streaming on Paramount +.
