Fun facts about ‘The Godfather Part II’
On a budget of only $13 million, “The Godfather Part II” made a reported $93 million. A huge profit and, over time, it has gone on to be widely regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made. Director Francis Ford Copolla, who had also worked the original with Marlon Brando, was reluctant to do the sequel unless Brando would come back to play the young Vito Corleone. Copolla wrote the actor a flattering letter saying he could pull off the role. But Brando refused and Robert DeNiro, got the role partly because of his unsuccessful try for the role of Sonny in the original that was played by James Caan.
Until 2012, the decennial Sight & Sound list of the best movies ever made treated The Godfather and The Godfather Part II as a single entry in order to leave room for other masterpieces in its coveted top 10. Maybe it seems unfair that a single franchise would gobble up so much of the list, but both are deeply beloved by critics and filmmakers alike.
Yet Part II almost didn’t happen at all. Beleaguered by the first
film’s shoot, writer/director Francis Ford Coppola was not interested in diving back into the studio-led chaos with sparring partner and uber-producer Robert Evans. Fortunately, Paramount changed Coppola’s mind and gave him the artistic freedom to create an enduring classic about organized crime, family loyalty, and the American Dream.
To celebrate the 45th anniversary of what is arguably the greatest movie sequel ever made, here are 12 facts about keeping your friends close, but your enemies closer.
