‘Dog Day Afternoon’, which was released almost 50 years ago, is one of Al Pacino’s biggest hits to date. However, did you know that the famed actor almost did not take up the film’s offer? In a recent interview, Pacino revealed how, at the time, when he was 35 years old, he thought that he would not be able to do the role that was being given to him.Read on to find out what the actor had to say about this.
Al Pacino reveals how he almost rejected ‘Dog Day Afternoon’During one of his recent interviews with The Guardian, the actor celebrated the iconic film completing 50 years, and delved into what went down behind the cameras of the set. Pacino revealed that the role was first offered to him when his manager at the time, Martin Bregman, asked him to audition for it.”He told me he wanted me to do it, and I had read it and thought it was well-written, but I didn’t want to do it,” Pacino said. “I was in London at the time, and I thought, I’m running out of gas. I don’t know if I could do this again,” he added. The actor had filmed ‘The Godfather Part II’ that year as well, which left a heavy mark on him and made him unsure of this project.He revealed that he had qualms about the film since it seemed to be going in a similar direction to his previous project ‘The Godfather Part’, where he played the role of the head of a mafia family. He shared, “Not the actual work (affected him) but everything that had been happening in my personal life was affecting me.”Al Pacino’s second shot at the filmHe shared that while at first, he had rejected the offer and closed the opportunity. Later on, however, he revealed that his manager gave him a second chance. “I read the text and realized this is more than what I even thought it was. This is an interesting, powerful piece of work. I knew [director Sidney Luimet] was involved, who I loved; we did Serpico together,” he shared.He added that after taking the second chance, there were often scenes that made him go think “What am I doing, where am I, who am I, where am I going?” amongst many other things. The film was a big success upon its release, and also helped the actor score his 4th Oscar nomination.
The TOI Entertainment Desk is a dynamic and dedicated team of journalists, working tirelessly to bring the pulse of the entertainment world straight to the readers of The Times of India. No red carpet goes unrolled, no stage goes dark – our team spans the globe, bringing you the latest scoops and insider insights from Bollywood to Hollywood, and every entertainment hotspot in between. We don’t just report; we tell tales of stardom and stories untold. Whether it’s the rise of a new sensation or the seasoned journey of an industry veteran, the TOI Entertainment Desk is your front-row seat to the fascinating narratives that shape the entertainment landscape. Beyond the breaking news, we present a celebration of culture. We explore the intersections of entertainment with society, politics, and everyday life.
Read more on The Times of India
