Al Pacino has opened up about the financial reasons behind his decision to star in ‘The Godfather: Part III’. In his new memoir ‘Sonny Boy’, the 84-year-old actor admits that unlike his hesitation to return for ‘The Godfather: Part II’, taking the role in the third film was an easy choice. “I was broke. Francis [Ford Coppola] was broke. We both needed the bread,” Pacino wrote.
‘The Godfather: Part III’, released 16 years after the critically acclaimed second instalment, didn’t receive the same praise as its predecessors, earning a 66% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Pacino, who reprised his role as Michael Corleone, also reflected on the challenges that arose during production, including key cast changes and rewrites.
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Robert Duvall’s decision not to return and Winona Ryder’s dropping out of the role of Michael’s daughter led to Francis’ own daughter, Sofia Coppola, stepping in, which added to the complications.
Despite these issues, Pacino still appreciated the original script and found the film’s story intriguing, especially the ending, which he praised as “phenomenal” for echoing the first ‘Godfather’ film. However, he noted that the film’s portrayal of Michael seeking redemption wasn’t what audiences wanted. Fans, he explained, expected Michael to remain the same hardened figure from ‘Part II’, not someone looking for forgiveness.
‘Sonny Boy’ is now available, offering more personal insights from Pacino’s storied career.
–Farheen Ali