Sure, there’s no shortage of gravelly-voiced icons in Tinseltown, but if there’s one name that rings a bell louder than a Las Vegas jackpot, it’s Alex Rocco. Ever wondered how he got convinced to play a bespectacled Jewish casino owner in The Godfather?
The late, great Alex Rocco, who rose to fame with his cocky portrayal of Moe Greene in a 1972 Mafia classic, actually just left us with indelible lines like “You don’t buy me out. I buy you out.” Oh wait, he also taught us that sometimes a nudge from a visionary director like Francis Ford Coppola can turn an initial ‘no’ into a Hollywood legend.
Yes, landing the role of Moe Greene wasn’t as plain as it might seem. Initially, Rocco was hesitant to take on the part, especially given the character’s Jewish background. However, Coppola, the mastermind behind The Godfather, had other plans.
The Godfather: How Francis Ford Coppola Convinced Alex Rocco to Play a Jewish Mobster
Alex Rocco, the Emmy-winning actor celebrated for his unforgettable turn as the Las Vegas casino mogul Moe Greene in The Godfather, passed away at the age of 79 (via THR).
In one of the film’s most memorable scenes, Greene gets a bullet through his glasses while lounging on a massage table, his bravado turning into a grim punchline. His line, “I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders!” remains a classic example of his sharp delivery and undeniable flair.
But snagging the role of Moe Greene wasn’t as easy as pie. But enter Francis Ford Coppola, who had his own plans up his sleeve. With the finesse of a master puppeteer, Coppola turned Rocco’s doubts into one of his most defining roles.
As Rocco recounted (via THR):
When I got the part, I went in to Francis Ford Coppola, and in those days, the word was, ‘Read [Mazio Puzo’s] book,’ which I already did, and then the actor would suggest to him which part they would like.
Well, I went for … I dunno, one of the Italian parts. Maybe the Richard Bright part [Al Neri]. But Coppola goes, ‘I got my Jew!’ And I went, ‘Oh no, Mr. Coppola, I’m Italian.
Coppola’s response was dismissive of Rocco’s concerns. He demonstrated a simple gesture to differentiate between Italian and Jewish mannerisms, using his hand movements as a way to convey the difference. Rocco added:
And he goes, ‘Oh, shut up.’ [Laughs.] He says, ‘The Italians do this,’ and he punches his fingers up. ‘And the Jews do this,’ and his hand’s extended, the palm flat. Greatest piece of direction I ever got. I’ve been playing Jews ever since.
Coppola’s casual direction, despite Rocco’s reservations, turned out to be a pivotal moment for him. Rocco considered this guidance the “greatest piece of direction” he ever received, and it ultimately shaped his career, leading him to portray Jewish characters with confidence and success from then on.
The Scene in The Godfather That James Caan Wanted to Keep
Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather is a cinematic heavyweight. But even with its legendary status, not everyone was singing its praises behind the scenes.
James Caan, who electrified audiences as Sonny Corleone, had a bone to pick with the final cut of the film. In a no-holds-barred interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Caan, who passed away in 2022, spilled the beans about a scene that didn’t make the cut. He was so steamed about the missing footage that he walked out of an early screening:
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 evident as he added:
I was so pissed off, I couldn’t watch the rest of the film.
It was clear that he felt like he’d been left high and dry, his hard work reduced to a mere footnote in Coppola’s grand vision.
Despite his grumbling, Caan didn’t let his sour grapes spoil the party entirely; he did acknowledge Coppola’s role in shaping the film’s legacy.
And what a history it made! With a box office haul between $250 and $291 million (Box Office Mojo), The Godfather not only ruled the roost in 1972 but also clinched the title of the highest-grossing film of its time.
The Godfather is streaming on Paramount+ as of August 19, 2024.
