How did Marlon Brando manage to deliver his legendary performance in ‘The Godfather’ without memorizing his dialogue? By the way, this didn’t stop him from winning the Oscar for Best Actor in 1973.
At that time, Brando was emerging from a difficult decade both professionally and personally. His previous two films had flopped, his name no longer carried the same box office power, and his reputation in Hollywood had declined. Rumors had even begun circulating that the actor might leave the film industry altogether. As a result, the opportunity to star in The Godfather likely appeared to be a last chance for the iconic but aging actor.
The role, which was never initially intended for Brando, ultimately went to him — much to the delight of director Francis Ford Coppola. However, that delight didn’t last long, as Brando made the filming process extremely challenging. One of the reasons was his decision not to learn his lines in order to make his performance feel more natural. This forced Coppola to devise clever ways to ensure Brando still followed Don Corleone’s scripted dialogue.
For example, cue cards with his lines were placed everywhere possible depending on the shot, so Brando could glance at them during takes. When that wasn’t possible, his co-stars — including Al Pacino and Robert Duvall — would hold boards with the text while facing him but being filmed from behind. Despite these workarounds, Brando continued to do things his own way. If you rewatch the film, you’ll notice he often touches his cheek. This was his signal to the director that he was deviating from the script — either because he couldn’t find the lines or because he was slipping into improvisation.
For Coppola, filming The Godfather was his own version of Apocalypse Now. But despite all the difficulties, it didn’t stop him from inviting Brando back for the sequel.
