First castings: Robert De Niro, 27, for The Godfather
Robert De Niro had auditioned for several roles before getting the role of Vito.
Robert De Niro will be this Sunday evening on Arte in The Godfather 2 (also watch in streaming on the channel’s website). The opportunity to go back in time to the time when the legend of American cinema, a two-time Oscar winner, was just an unknown person attending casting calls. In 1970, the New Yorker had already played in The Wedding Party by Brian De Palma but has not yet made a name for himself. Francis Ford Coppola conducts castings for The Godfatherwhich will become the absolute reference for gangster films, and Robert De Niro absolutely wants to be there. He auditioned for the roles of Michael, Sonny, Carlo and driver Paulie Gatto, without success since these characters were respectively assigned to Al Pacino, James Caan, Gianni Russo and John Martino.
Discover the legendary actors who almost starred in The Godfather
But all is not lost for Robert De Niro, who can be seen doing a test run, voluble and forcing an Italian accent, for the character of Sonny in this video dated 1970 (see above). Two years later, Coppola offered him the role of young Vito Corleone in The Godfather 2. And while Marlon Brando was crowned Best Actor for his interpretation of Don Vito in The GodfatherDe Niro followed in the footsteps of the legend and in turn received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 1975.
The rest, we know it.
Trailer for Godfather 2 :
