The Godfather (Paramount, 1972), Fred Roos' Extensive Casting Archive. ...

Description

The Godfather (Paramount, 1972), Fred Roos' Extensive Casting Archive. One industry adage says that casting is 90% of filmmaking. If that is the case, then honors are overdue for Fred Roos' instrumental role in assembling the cast for one of the best American films ever. Offered here is a vintage original comprehensive casting archive for The Godfather, a landmark in American cinema. After acquiring the rights to Mario Puzo's bestselling novel, Paramount executive Robert Evans insisted the film be directed by an Italian American, leading to the hiring of Francis Ford Coppola. Coppola, in turn, enlisted his trusted collaborator Fred Roos-then serving as both producer and casting director-to source authentically Italian actors and assemble a cast that would come to define cinematic excellence. This archive offers a rare window into that process, with handwritten notes, memos, and documents detailing the intense casting search. Roos' lists reveal that Marlon Brando was one among several actors considered for Don Vito Corleone, alongside George C. Scott, Laurence Olivier, and John Huston. The casting of Michael Corleone was equally fraught, with Al Pacino undergoing multiple rounds of auditions before securing the part. Other candidates included Robert De Niro, Martin Sheen, Dean Stockwell, Tommy Lee Jones, and Jack Nicholson. The role of Kay Adams also evolved through rigorous testing, with Diane Keaton ultimately emerging as a surprise choice over finalists such as Candice Bergen, Lauren Hutton, Olivia Hussey, and Margot Kidder. A memo dated January 31, 1971, confirms that both roles were still awaiting test results just weeks before production. Included in the archive are casting session records, notes from Roos' meetings with Evans, Peter Bart, Albert S. Ruddy, and Gray Frederickson, Xeroxed tape logs from screen tests attended by Coppola and colleagues (including a young George Lucas), and official paperwork related to Roos' duties and compensation. Together, these materials provide a remarkable behind-the-scenes chronicle of how The Godfather's legendary cast came to be. Items range between 8" x 11" and 8" x 14" and exhibit expected age, fading and storage wear, including bumped corners, creasing, folds, oxidation to staples and light tearing. The poster is for reference only and is not included with this lot. Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions. From the Estate of Fred Roos.

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