John Cazale and the Greatest Acting Run of All Time

Happy Napoleon week to those who celebrate.

This Weekend’s Releases

Napoleon

Joaquin Phoenix, Ridley Scott and 200 million dollars: Is this not why you are here? But forget the movie and read these legendary quotes from Ridley in response to criticism of the film’s historical inaccuracy.

“There are 10,000 books on Napoleon, and they’re full of both truth and conjecture. But I left reading the books to the poor bastards who had to write the screenplay.”

“When I have issues with historians, I ask: ‘Excuse me mate, were you there? No? Well shut the f*** up then.”

[When responding to criticism from French nationals]: “The French don’t even like themselves.”

Saltburn

Word on the street? Saltburn is bonkers. It features a scene that goes far beyond Timothee Chalamet’s great peach incident of 2017. It is written and directed by Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) and starring Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi and Rosamund Pike.

Trailer Watch

Maestro

Bradley Cooper stars and directs this film that follows the entire life of American conductor Leonard Bernstein. Cooper said he spent six years learning how to waive his arms properly for a six minute scene. Seems like overkill. Dwayne Johnson would never. The movie is out in select theaters now and comes to Netflix on December 22nd.

Ferrari

Directed by Michael Mann (Heat, Thief, Collateral) and starring Adam Driver as the creator of the iconic car manufacturer, I have high hopes for Ferrari. Huge fan of Mann’s other films (esp. Heat and Thief).

John Cazale and the Greatest Acting Run of All Time

Daniel Day Lewis, Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino; all in the conversation for greatest actors of all time. However, one of cinema’s biggest “what could have been stories” is actor John Cazale, best known for his role as Fredo Corleone in The Godfather movies.

John Cazale starred in only five films released over six years before his tragic passing at age 42. All five films were nominated for Best Picture. Cazale was also a highly regarded stage actor and influenced two highly appraised actors; Al Pacino and Meryl Streep.

Raised in Massachusetts, John studied drama at Boston University and moved to New York after graduating. His goal was to pursue theater. So, as all struggling actors do, John worked side jobs. He was a taxi driver, photographer and a messenger for Standard Oil (alongside Al Pacino).

The careers of both Cazale and Pacino changed course in 1966, when they were cast opposite each other in The Indian Wants the Bronx. It marked the first of many plays they would do together.

Cazale continued to act in theater productions until 1971, when the casting director of Francis Ford Coppola’s upcoming film The Godfather eyed him for the role of Fredo Corleone. This would reunite him with Pacino and provide an opportunity to work with Marlon Brando, Cazale’s idol. The Godfather features few scenes with Fredo, but Cazale still managed to make an impression on audiences and filmmakers alike. The Godfather was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won for Best Picture. 

Francis Ford Coppola was so impressed by Cazale’s performance that a role was written specifically for Cazale in Coppola’s next film, The Conversation, in addition to widely expanding on Fredo’s character in The Godfather II.

The Conversation won the highest prize at Cannes in 1974 and was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

In The Godfather II, Cazale had his greatest performance as the pivotal role in what is one of the most famous depictions of betrayal in film history. The Godfather II was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won for Best Picture. Cazale then starred in yet another film with Al Pacino in 1975, Dog Day Afternoon, where he shined in a more comedic role. The film was again nominated for Best Picture. Cazale was now 4/4.

He then decided to take a break from the screen and return to the theater. He was joined by Al Pacino, who later said, "All I wanted to do was work with John for the rest of my life. He was my acting partner.”

During this time John was cast in a Central Park Shakespeare play opposite a young Meryl Streep. Upon meeting her, Cazale immediately told Pacino that Streep was “the greatest actress in the history of the world”. Within months, the two had fallen in love and moved in together in New York City. Their love story was tragically cut short when Cazale was diagnosed with lung cancer.

Despite his condition, Cazale and Streep managed to work together in John’s final film, The Deer Hunter. His appearance was only possible because of how highly respected he had become in the film community. The director shot all of Cazale’s scenes first (to ensure he was alive to complete them) and Robert De Niro even paid for Cazale’s insurance to keep the dying actor in the film. Cazale passed away prior to the film’s release. The Deer Hunter went on to be nominated for Best Picture. John was a perfect 5 for 5 in his career.

As the cherry on top, Francis Ford Coppola included some old footage of John in The Godfather III, which was also nominated for Best Picture.

To learn more about John Cazale’s incredible acting career and influence check out this amazing 50-minute HBO Documentary.

Spotlight Film: The Handmaiden

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