FFC was the first of the great group of emerging directors (Lucas and Spielberg to name two) who got a big break from a studio to handle a project as large in scope as The Godfather. It is well known that he took all kinds of flack for a number of his decisions, including the ones to cast Brando as Vito, and to cast Pacino as Michael. The studio was wary that Brando would pull his usual antics of showing up late, not showing up, and otherwise delaying the production. Supposedly the line "Johnny Fontaine doesn't get that picture," was a shot at the studio bosses who used words to that effect about Brando. They also wanted Robert Redford of all actors to be Michael so they would get some bang at the box office, and as most of you know, Al Pacino spent the first month or so on the set waiting to get fired every day. FFC also had the wisdom not to cast James Caan as Michaeand also (as hindsight shows)the intelligence not to case DeNiro as Sonny notwithstanding De Niro's brilliant reading of that part. If De Niro had been who could have played the young Vito in GFII? He also had the guts to cast his sister as Connie, and supposedly when he first submitted the name Talia Shire, it did not register on anyone that her real last name was Coppola. So here goes the poll....

I voted for Pacino, to make Lavinia comfortable, of course.

Amica mia!!!!!!!!

I too voted Pacino, because he was an outsider at the time he was casted and FFC had the courage to give him the role in spite of all.

I voted for Al Pacino.