Stories

Oscars Celebrates 50 Years Of The Godfather With Al Pacino, Ford Coppola, & Robert De Niro

ADVERTISEMENT

The 2022 Oscars celebrated 50 years of The Godfather with its stars, Al Pacino, director Francis Ford Coppola, and Robert De Niro. All three took the stage after Sean “Diddy” Combs introduced the crew, thanking the “legends” who brought us such fantastic films through the years.

“I feel moments like this should be sincere and brief, and I’m so grateful for my wonderful friends to come here to help me celebrate with you,” Coppola said about his comrades, Pacino and De Niro.

ADVERTISEMENT

Al Pacino, Francis Ford Coppola, and Robert De Niro commemorate 50 years of ‘The Godfather’

Al Pacino, Francis Ford Coppola, Robert De Niro / YouTube Screenshot

“This project that we began 50 years ago with really the most extraordinary collaborators, many of them legends and so many of them that I can’t take the time to list them all, but you know them all well,” he continues on. Coppola also went on to recognize Maria Puzo, author of the Godfather novels, and the late producer, Robert Evans. “So I’m going to only thank two from the bottom of my heart.”

ADVERTISEMENT

RELATED: Iconic Quotes From ‘The Godfather’ We’ll Never Forget

THE GODFATHER, Marlon Brando, 1972 / Everett Collection

Coppola concluded his speech with, “Thank you. Viva Ukraine!” Coppola recently received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Ahead of the induction ceremony, Coppola recently told Variety that he wasn’t overly excited about the film and what it would eventually turn out to be, the impact it would go on to make—he didn’t know it at the time.

“I thought it was going to be a special failure,” he said. “When you make a film going against the grain of what’s going on at the time, those kind of films are tough. You’re not doing what everyone expects or wants you to do.”

THE GODFATHER, Al Pacino (right), 1972 / Everett Collection

Coppola also said that if it were up to him, he’d give away that Walk of Fame star to his fellow filmmaking pal, George Lucas, the mastermind behind Star Wars.

Talking more about The Godfather films, he says, “I can remember so intimately all that went on… You’re always so anxious when these movies come out because of those first opinions; you hope it will go well, and it’s not in your control. But by far the greatest treasure is the test of time. When people are looking at what you did 50 years later, that’s an award in and of itself.”

THE GODFATHER, from left: Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, 1972 / Everett Collection

As for the film’s stars? Well, Pacino was originally not going to take on the role of Michael Corleone. “It just seemed so outrageous. Here I am, talking to somebody who I think is flipped out. I said, ‘What train am I on?’ OK. Humor the guy. And he wanted me to do Michael. I thought, ‘OK, I’ll go along with this.’ I said, ‘Yes, Francis, good.’ You know how they talk to you when you’re slipping? They say, ‘Yes! Of course! Yes!’ But he wasn’t. It was the truth. And then I was given the part,” he told The New York Times.

Imagine if Al Pacino didn’t take on that role, what the movie would’ve been, how it would’ve changed. Here’s to 50 years.

Show comments
Share
Published by

Recent Posts

Bruce Springsteen Gets Honest About Future Of His Career After Health Battle

After a brief hiatus, Bruce Springsteen returned to the stage last week. With a dynamic…

11 hours ago

McDonald’s Will Start Selling Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Nationwide

It's the alliance of two giants in their respective fields. On Tuesday, both McDonald's and…

14 hours ago

‘Titanic’ Prop That Kept Rose Afloat Sells For Over $700,000

When one door closes, a decades-long debate begins. 1997's Titanic featured one iconic scene after…

16 hours ago

‘Petticoat Junction’ Cast Then And Now 2024

*FAQs at the bottom of article* UPDATED 3/27/2024 Forget about your cares, it is time…

16 hours ago

This Original ‘Beetlejuice’ Star Won’t Return For Sequel

Among the original Beetlejuice cast members was Jeffrey Jones, who played Winona Ryder’s on-screen dad,…

18 hours ago

Diana Ross’ Children Celebrate The Legendary Singer On Her 80th Birthday

The supreme career of Motown powerhouse Diana Ross began 65 years ago, and Tuesday marks…

19 hours ago