Al Pacino Had A Tough Time Coping With The Fame He Achieved Via The Godfather
Al Pacino is such a legendary name in Hollywood, you’d never guess that at one point he was somewhat of a recluse. In the ’80s, the actor receded from the spotlight as much as he could, forcing one producer to file suit against him, claiming he dropped out of “Carlito’s Way” after promising to star. Pacino only appeared in one movie between 1983’s “Scarface” and 1989’s “Sea of Love” — a historical drama and box office disaster called “Revolution.” Otherwise, he was resigned to staying under the radar.
The young Pacino was so removed from Hollywood that a few people, Oliver Stone included, opined that the actor’s career was essentially over. In the decades since, his name became ubiquitous, making it hard to believe that at one point he was trying hard to make sure that didn’t happen. So why, considering the storied career he would go on to have, was Pacino seemingly so desperate to forestall it?
Well, it turns out Francis Ford Coppola and “The Godfather” are to blame. The director’s celebrated portrait of the Corleone crime family, which unbelievably turned 50 in 2022, was an instant classic that smashed box office records upon its 1972 debut and has only increased in esteem since. That meant the film’s stars, including Al Pacino, instantly gained the full attention of the public. For actors such as Marlon Brando and Diane Keaton, that was nothing new. But for Pacino, who’s role as Michael Corleone in the movie was only his third film appearance, it was a whole new world — one that he wasn’t entirely ready for.
