The Godfather was released in 1972 and paved the way for future mafia dramas, which would become one of the most popular sub-genres today. The all-star cast, including Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan, and Marlon Brando, would lead the crime flick into cinematic history, regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. However, Diane Keaton, who plays up-and-coming mafia boss Michael Corleone’s wife Kay, played an integral role in the film.

At the start of The Godfather, Michael shows love and admiration toward Kay as she’s clearly the most crucial thing in his life at the time. However, as the film continues and her husband is put under more stress by the conflicts with his family, Kay becomes an afterthought for Michael. By the end, we see just how far the pair have strayed from each other.

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Keaton realizes the significance of her role on the 50th anniversary of The Godfather, however, she didn’t quite understand the importance when she auditioned. Believe it or not, the actress had not read Mario Puzo’s bestseller, The Godfather, before her audition. She admits to People magazine that she knew nothing about the role or the journey she was about to embark on.

Despite practically no knowledge surrounding The Godfather, Keaton nailed her part in the movie and subsequent sequels.

“I think the kindest thing that someone’s ever done for me… is that I got cast to be in The Godfather and I didn’t even read it. I didn’t know a single thing. I just was going around auditioning. I think that was amazing for me. And then I had to kind of read the book… I think about how lucky I am. That’s what I think. And the way I think about things, like I auditioned for The Godfather, not having ever read The Godfather or caring about The Godfather or anything, because all I was doing was auditioning. I needed to get work. So I was there and so he had me come back and then [Coppola] cast me and then Al Pacino.”

Diane Keaton Says the Studio Didn’t Want Al Pacino

     Paramount Pictures

Al Pacino’s performance in The Godfather trilogy is regarded as one of the best performances in film history, setting a precedent for crime movies. However, the first film was notoriously tricky to make, detailed in the Paramount+ new series, The Offer. Director Francis Ford Coppola had trouble getting his casting decisions approved, and the studio was adamant they didn’t want Al Pacino. Diane Keaton shares a brief recollection of the controversy, telling People they ‘didn’t want Al Pacino at all.’

Indeed Al Pacino’s career, and the movie industry, may look very different today had the young actor not received his role as Michael Corleone. But luckily for cinema lovers, he was cast, and Coppola was able to make his epic crime drama, The Godfather, and two sequels. Keaton would also have a successful career, reprising her role in The Godfather Part II and III, with Annie Hall, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Reds, and Mrs. Soffell credits to her name.

“The studio didn’t want Al Pacino at all. So he brought Al Pacino in and we did [the audition] together for some reason that helped them cast him. Can you imagine if [they] hadn’t cast him? So a lot of these experiences that you have come and you’re just surprised, like today, this was a surprise.'