He was given a suggestion that he refused.
Actor Gianni Russo, who performed Carlo Rizzi in “The Godfather,” stated that when filming on the basic movie wrapped, he had no contact with James Caan — till the late actor wished a component in one in all his films.
When the Little Italy native helped produce the 1999 soccer drama “Any Given Sunday,” he stated he obtained a name from Caan’s agent whereas they had been casting.
“He stated, ‘You understand, Jimmy could be nice on this film. He’s an excellent sports activities buff,’” Russo, 78, informed The Submit of the Al Pacino-led flick, wherein he had a supporting function.
“I stated, ‘Do you suppose I'd rent James Caan? I wouldn’t give Jimmy Caan a component in something.’ He was so impolite to me,” the Higher East Sider defined.
Russo claims that Caan, who performed Sonny Corleone, the brother-in-law of Russo’s character, was not pleasant to him from the primary “Godfather” rehearsal at Patsy’s restaurant on West 119th Avenue.
“The most important thorn in his facet was, ‘Who’s Gianni Russo?’ This man, he studied with Stella Adler, you identify it. He was by no means good to me from day one. However I’m pondering he was in character trigger he’s a thespian,” he stated.
Russo stated he shortly found that he was flawed, as a result of Caan, who grew up in Sunnyside, Queens, actually did have beef along with his castmate.
And it didn’t assist that Russo, who was 27 when he was solid, had ties with real-life mobsters equivalent to Frank Costello, Joe Colombo and Carlo Gambino.
“Trigger he’s hanging round with mob guys, like Carmine Persico, and mob guys all know me already. I got here from Mulberry Avenue, how do you reside on Mulberry Avenue and never know mob guys?” he stated.
He stated that Caan “fell in love with mobsters,” by means of his expertise on the 1972 set. “’Til the day he died, he thought he was a mobster. He thought he was Sonny Corleone,” he stated.
Russo additionally claims that Caan went too far in an notorious “Godfather” battle scene the place Sonny pummels Carlo for hitting his sister.
Though Russo stated that a stunt double was used, significantly when Carlo was thrown over a railing, he additionally was within the scene and was injured by Caan.
“That’s me. He’s biting my hand; he’s banging my elbow with that metal rubbish pail. He chipped my elbow,” he stated. “Once I crawled out and he lifted me within the air, he broke two of my ribs, which was not within the rehearsal. That was me laying there.”
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Caan by no means admitted to hurting his co-star, saying that he labored with a stunt double that day.
“He discredits me even doing the scene. Sadly, we’re speaking a couple of man that’s lifeless, and to his dying day, that’s his story,” he stated. “He took it to his grave as we might say.”
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