Al Pacino opens up in regards to the excessive measures he took to bag his iconic position in The Godfather.
Oct. 16 2024, Printed 7:17 p.m. ET
Al Pacino unleashed scandalous revelations in his new memoir, admitting the success of his 1972 mafia basic started with a bottle of whiskey and was tainted by a debilitating on-set damage.
The Oscar winner detailed his time filming The Godfather whereas writing Sonny Boy, confessing he twisted his ankle so badly it almost price him the legendary position, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
Article continues beneath commercial
Pacino twisted his ankle so dangerous on-set whereas filming The Godfather that he was jabbed with needles to numb the ache.
Pacino, who performed mobster Michael Corleone within the Francis Ford Coppola movie, stated he was jabbed with a “fats needle” to numb the ache after his ankle “slipped” whereas filming a getaway scene.
The damage got here because the actor felt immense stress to convey the gangster to life correctly.
Article continues beneath commercial
The Oscar winner’s new memoir reveals he downed a pint of whiskey earlier than his screentest for The Godfather.
Article continues beneath commercial
The actor recounted on the Conan O’Brien Wants a Good friend podcast: “(When it occurred) folks simply swallowed, acquired round me and so they stated, ‘He is harm,’ after which they put one among these massive fats needles in my ankle so I might end the day, and so they stored me.”
Pacino did, nonetheless, really feel reduction after the setback — believing the damage would “get him out of the movie,” which he was hesitant to audition for within the first place.
Article continues beneath commercial
His iconic portrayal finally landed him an Academy Award nomination for Greatest Supporting Actor in 1972.
The Hollywood veteran revealed he was drunk throughout his screentest for The Godfather — a daring transfer after noting how the studio behind the movie did not need him for the position within the first place.
Article continues beneath commercial
He stated: “Paramount didn’t need me to play Michael Corleone. They needed Jack Nicholson. They needed Robert Redford. They needed Warren Beatty or Ryan O’Neal.”
Pacino stated within the authentic e book, creator Mario Puzo had the character of Michael calling himself the “Sissy of the Corleone household.” Micheal was additionally “presupposed to be small, dark-haired, good-looking in a fragile approach, no seen risk to anyone.”
Article continues beneath commercial
He then added: “That didn’t sound like the fellows that the studio needed. However that didn’t imply it needed to be me.”
Pacino stated he was informed he needed to fly out to California to screentest for the half, which he “simply did not wish to do.”
MORE ON:
Al Pacino
DAILY. BREAKING. CELEBRITY NEWS. ALL FREE.
Article continues beneath commercial
Pacino stated he by no means thought he was proper to play Michael in The Godfather and that Paramount needed different actors for the position.
Article continues beneath commercial
He stated: “I didn’t care that it was The Godfather – I used to be a bit afraid of flying and I didn’t wish to go to California.
“However my supervisor, Marty Bregman, stated to me, ‘You’re getting on that f****** airplane.'”
Article continues beneath commercial
Pacino then disclosed the key behind his success — downing a bottle of onerous liquor beforehand.
He stated Bregman introduced him a pint of whiskey so he might drink it on the flight, which was the driving drive behind getting him to the west coast.
Article continues beneath commercial
The actor struggled with alcoholism throughout peak moments in his profession, which he stated was ‘horrible’ at instances.
Article continues beneath commercial
Pacino’s position within the mob drama paved the way in which for his booming profession, which has now spanned greater than 50 years.
The long-lasting actor did, nonetheless, wrestle with alcohol abuse through the top of his fame, RadarOnline.com just lately revealed.
Article continues beneath commercial
He even suffered horrifying “blackouts” and would typically skip awards reveals and press occasions, impacting his status in Hollywood.
Pacino stated after he stopped ingesting, issues acquired “just a little worse for some time” earlier than getting higher.