Known for portraying Sonny Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, the late actor James Cann considered himself similar to his iconic character, asserting that it has been the reason he enjoyed playing roles in Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic film trilogy.
It could also be deemed as the reason why he did not hesitate when it came to negotiating the financial details with the legendary filmmaker upon being offered his 1979 film Apocalypse Now. The Oscar-nominated film was initially offered to Caan, as he later revealed in an interview. But he turned down the offer after failing to reach an agreement with Coppola regarding his compensation for the movie.
James Caan Turned Down Apocalypse Now Due to Financial Concerns
In a 1981 interview, James Cann highlighted the complexities that come with balancing artistic integrity and financial considerations, while reflecting on his collaboration with the acclaimed filmmaker on The Godfather and missed opportunities like Apocalypse Now.
The Oscar-nominated filmmaker shared that he had a great experience working with the filmmaker on The Godfather, saying, “I had a ball making The Godfather because the character was this real ball-breaker.”
However, he also highlighted Coppola’s assertiveness, as he revealed that the filmmaker had offered him the 1979 hit film. “Francis is one of the greatest directors. I would work with him in a second,” he said before adding, “But he thinks he’s God.” Caan further said, as per Rolling Stone,
He wanted to cast me in Apocalypse Now — He said, ‘All you guys are interested in is money.’ I said, ‘Well, shit, Francis, you made a lot of money, why shouldn’t we?’
When the filmmaker affirmed that he does good things with money, Caan retorted, saying, “I do good things with my money, too; I eat in good restaurants, drive good cars.” While he turned down the offer, Marlon Brando would go on to lead the film to its success, which has since become one of the greatest films ever made.
Francis Ford Coppola Honored the Late The Godfather Star
The filmmaker and frequent collaborator of James Caan, Francis Ford Coppola honored the actor after he passed away two years ago after suffering a heart attack. “Jimmy was someone who stretched through my life longer and closer than any motion picture figure I’ve ever known,” he told Deadline.
He recalled working with the actor on the 1969 film The Rain People, stating that the late actor has had an enduring impact on his life and career and that he will never be forgotten.
He said,
From those earlier times working together on The Rain People, and throughout all the milestones of my life, his films and the many great roles he played will never be forgotten. He will always be my old friend from Sunnyside, my collaborator and one of the funniest people I’ve ever known.
James Caan and Francis Ford Coppola have collaborated on several projects, starting with the 1969 film The Rain People. The duo later went on to collaborate on the legendary The Godfather trilogy along with the 1987 war drama film, Gardens of Stone.
The Godfather trilogy is available to stream on Paramount+.
Apocalypse Now is available to stream on Prime Video.
The post “Francis you made a lot of money, why shouldn’t we?”: James Caan Did Not Want to Work With Francis Ford Coppola For Less Money in Apocalypse Now appeared first on FandomWire.