The Godfather is one of the most popular and successful films of all time. It charts the rise of a mafia clan in the United States as they extend their criminal empire and pass the mantle down through the generations like a ruling dynasty of old. It was first released in 1972 and smashed box office records. The film was based on the best selling Mario Puzo novel of the same name and director Francis Ford Coppola managed to assemble one of the best casts ever to bring the film to the screen. It could have been a very different film and in this article we are going to take a look at some of the actors who auditioned and the problems which cropped up during production. First let’s take a look at the actors who were considered for perhaps the most famous role in cinema history, Vito Corleone, the Godfather himself. The first batch to be considered and rejected included Edward G. Robinson, Orson Welles and George C. Scott. Reportedly both Burt Lancaster and Frank Sinatra wanted the role but neither was a serious contender. Eventually the studio pushed for Danny Thomas or Ernest Borgnine while Coppola was holding out for Marlon Brando or Laurence Olivier. When Olivier rejected the part due to ill health Coppola stuck to his guns in the face of much studio resistance and eventually got them to agree to Brando. The great actor was considered washed up at the time and many of the studio executives were against him, they refused to pay a large fee for his services and reports on his pay for the movie vary from $30,000 up to $100,000. The next headache was over who would play Michael Corleone and many actors were considered for the part including Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson and Dustin Hoffman who all rejected it. Martin Sheen, Rod Steiger and Dean Stockwell all wanted the part and the studio suggested Robert Redford, Burt Reynolds and Ryan O’ Neal. Once again Coppola stuck to his guns insisting on Al Pacino. He wasn’t well known and the studio execs were unimpressed by his screen tests. Coppola had to threaten to walk to get his way. Even Coppola himself was not the first choice of director and Sergio Leone turned down the job although he later admitted regretting the decision. Coppola took some persuading to get onboard but studio head Robert Evans was determined the film should be directed by someone with Italian heritage and he pursued him relentlessly. With the cast finally in place the production began but those troublesome execs at Paramount were still unhappy and after seeing early rushes they decided to replace Coppola with Elia Kazan. Brando reportedly threatened to walk this time and the studio backed down and allowed Coppola to continue. The studio continued to complain about Coppola and he claims they had a shadow director ready to step in at any moment. Apparently they were concerned over the lack of action and Coppola was forced to add some more violent scenes such as the sequence where Connie smashes crockery when she finds out her husband is cheating. When the film was finally finished it surpassed all expectations and proved to be one of the greatest ever made. By the time it was released there were already advanced plans to make the sequel and everyone involved was blasted to new heights of fame.