Francis Ford Coppola directed one of the most epic and influential films in the history of cinema, The Godfather. While numerous famed actors were considered for the roles in the film, there was one unconventional casting choice. Talia Shire, Coppola’s sister, was cast in the role of Connie Corleone in the film. Shire did not have any major acting experience which made Coppola doubtful of her casting.
However, the Dreamland actress proved Coppola wrong when she convincingly portrayed a troubled woman in the film. Shire received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Godfather.
Francis Ford Coppola Did Not Want To Cast His Sister In The Godfather
While Mario Puzo’s novel already made the crime story popular, it was the direction and performances of the actors that solidified The Godfather as a must-watch classic. Talia Shire gave an exceptional performance as the troubled Connie who faces abuse from her husband. However, Francis Ford Coppola was initially hesitant to cast his sister in the film.
During a reunion of the cast at the 45th anniversary of the film held during the Tribeca Film Festival in 2017, The Rainmaker director revealed to Vanity Fair the reasons behind his initial reluctance. The Apocalypse Now director wanted someone with a more “homely” appearance to play the character, and his sister did not fit that description in real life. Also, Shire had only taken on a few minor roles in films, which didn’t constitute significant acting experience.
Despite these reservations, the I Heart Huckabees actress fought her way into the role. Shire recalled that her journey in the film did not have a smooth start, as she accidentally knocked down a camera in one of her first scenes. But she gained confidence after the great Marlon Brando, known for being an unpleasant person to work with, came to her defense. Shire shared with Vanity Fair:
“One of my first scenes, I walked into the camera and knocked it down. It was Marlon Brando who said ’That’s O.K.’”
Shire surprised Coppola with her acting range in the film. After her Oscar-nominated role in The Godfather, Talia Shire starred alongside Sylvester Stallone in Rocky as his wife, Adrian Balboa. For Rocky, Shire received another Oscar nomination, this time for Best Actress.
Francis Ford Coppola’s Daughter Was A Casting Misfire In The Godfather III
While Coppola had hesitated to cast his sister in The Godfather, it was his daughter, Sofia Coppola, who proved to be a casting misfire in The Godfather III. Sofia Coppola infamously portrayed the role of Mary Corleone in the third installment, which is often regarded as the weakest of the trilogy. American film critic, Leonard Maltin, called Coppola’s casting in the film as an “almost fatal flaw”.
Coppola received two awards at the 11th Golden Raspberry Awards — one for Worst Supporting Actress and another for Worst New Star. Despite the misstep in her acting career, Sofia Coppola later established herself as a successful writer and director. Interestingly, she later received an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for her movie, Lost in Translation.
All the movies in The Godfather trilogy are now available for rent on Apple TV+.
