The Godfather’s Al Pacino explains why he waited decades to watch the acclaimed film

On October 23, 2024By Yukito

To say Godfather hailed as one of the greatest films of all time would be an understatement. In Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece, Al Pacino played Michael Corleone, who, after suffering life-threatening injuries, eventually takes over his father’s duties as head of the mafia family. Pacino’s polished performance impressed, and he became a movie star after the film’s release in 1972. Despite the acclaim, Pacino waited decades to see the film anyway, and now he explains why.

Pacino, who is now 84, recently sat down with Entertainment Weekly to talk about his life and legacy in conjunction with the release of his new book, Sonny Boy: A Memoir. The legendary actor discussed his role Godfather played in his career and how it shaped him as an actor. Despite the praise he received for his role from critics and audiences alike, Pacino avoided watching the film at all costs. He explained that he even missed the film’s premiere before seeing it:

I went to the premiere of “The Godfather” at Loew’s State Theater in Times Square with a bow tie the size of my head. I just remember standing on the podium with my costumes and the press asking me questions that I couldn’t answer. Then we sat down in our seats, but I didn’t watch the movie. I didn’t want to see the finished product. As soon as the light went out, I left.

The A face with a scar the icon isn’t the only one who avoids watching her own performances. Adam Driver used to miss his premieres before he felt more comfortable with the idea and Denzel Washington said he would never visit again his own creation. Although Al Pacino tried to avoid this film, it was difficult for him not to be drawn in, especially since the film was frequently broadcast on television in the following years. When discussing this issue, he gave a personal reason why it took him so long to watch the film:

I haven’t watched The Godfather in its entirety in almost my entire life. I don’t know why. Maybe I felt that because I was in it, I wouldn’t be a good audience for him. Of course, I’ve caught bits of it here and there on TV over the years, and once you watch it, it’s hard to turn it off.

I understand that he didn’t feel like he was the right audience for his own film. It’s hard to remain objective about something you’re so closely a part of, especially if you tend to be self-critical about your own work. Charm though Godfather is almost undeniable, and the near-flawless execution makes the film objectively great. Pacino’s performance is exceptional, and the Oscar-winning drama is one of them Warm the actor’s best films. He may have been a biased viewer, but almost everyone who has seen the American classic will agree that it is one of the greatest and most important watches of the 20th century.

After watching Pacino’s movie he thinks it’s even better than the beloved sequel. It was a famously tense production, with studio struggling to cast Pacino and Marlon Brando in the lead roles and giving the young filmmaker Coppola the budget he asked for. After the film’s premiere, the unrest subsided and the film became a global success and one of… most popular films of the 70s.

While it may have taken some time to achieve this goal, it’s great that Al Pacino can now appreciate what he helped create and enjoy the film as a viewer and not just a performer. You can visit again Godfather movies that can now be streamed in the format Paramount+ subscription. Pacino fans should check it out too Sonny Boy: The Notebook which can now be purchased at Amazon.