‘The Godfather’ (particularly parts one and two), ‘Scarface’, ‘Heat’, and other classics are the first films that spring to mind when you think of Al Pacino’s work. However, Pacino’s personal favourite, the love drama ‘Bobby Deerfield’ (1977), is not much remembered. ‘Bobby Deerfield’ was Pacino’s favourite film as he disclosed in a 2019 interview. Despite the negative reviews and lack of popularity, Bobby Deerfield was my favourite movie. According to Pacino, the film struck a deep chord with him since it mirrored a situation he was going through at the time.
In ‘Bobby Deerfield’, Pacino portrays a race car driver in Europe who, after seeing a deadly collision on the track, struggles with the frailty of life. His character, Bobby, develops a romantic relationship with the enigmatic Lillian Morelli (Marthe Keller), who is suffering from terminal cancer. Bobby is forced to confront the truth of his own life and death when Lillian faces her mortality.
Image Courtesy: People
With Pacino enjoying the success of Oscar-nominated performances in ‘Serpico’, ‘Dog Day Afternoon’, and the first two ‘Godfather’ films, ‘Bobby Deerfield’ was released in 1977 to high expectations. In addition, director Sydney Pollack has several successful films, such as ‘Three Days of the Condor’ and ‘They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?’ Despite earning Pacino a Golden Globe nomination, the picture was met with a lacklustre review from critics.
Pacino brought up one particularly notable scene during the Q&A, where his character, unable to relate to Lillian, reverts to a childish impersonation of 1930s comedian Mae West. Pacino remembered that he was asked why he acted like Mae West by some critics, who questioned his decision. However, Pacino saw this as his character’s attempt to convey a feeling that he was unable to adequately convey. He clarified the significance of this sequence for him by saying, “I was playing a character that couldn’t remember his past, and he couldn’t get through.”
Image Courtesy: People
‘Bobby Deerfield’ reflects Pacino’s personal experience in many ways. Pacino’s character struggles with popularity, loss, and an increasing preoccupation with his mortality, much like Bobby, who grows estranged from people near him. Given that it captures the emotional struggles Pacino encountered as an actor at the height of his career, it is simple to understand why he was drawn to this part.
–Farheen Ali