It made the movie even more emotional for me.
But we always have the memories of making it, which nobody can ever take away from us.
Were you surprised that Francis wanted to go back to it?
Andy Garcia as Vincent Mancini in ‘The Godfather: Part III’.Everett Collection
So to get a chance to play with Al in that way was a very special time for me.
Going back, what is your memory ofGodfather Part IIIcoming into your life?
I felt, “Well, that’s my part.”
Everett Collection
I felt like I could deliver that part.
But my career had not gotten started yet, I was struggling to find agents and to get work.
I’d like to talk to Francis."
Paramount
This was like in May.
“I’d like you to play Vincent in the new series.”
I was like, “I’ll check my schedule and get back to you right away.”
[Laughs] And then it became this whole process.
But, you know, Francis goes through his process.
I was the last person to screen-test.
Rehearsals started the Monday after Labor Day, I screen-tested the Friday before.
The studio wants me but Francis is going to make the choice.
I need to meet Francis.
I need to show what I can do with the part."
They kept saying, “Be patient, be patient.”
I was like, “I’m going to lose this opportunity.
So I felt good about what I did and there was nothing I could do any more about it.
I knew who this family was, I knew this world.
I felt that I was ready to play him.
I felt confident, and once I got the opportunity I just jumped in.
The first day of a rehearsal in Napa, Francis cooked for us that night.
You have to help the godfather out and ingratiate yourself into the family.
He’s your creation.”
And I said, “Thanks a lot, I’ll go work on that.”
Al Pacino as Michael Corleone is one of the greatest performances and characters in film history.
We played a lot of tennis together.
You’ve got to come ready to do your thing.
You’ve got to look after your character, with all respects.
The better the parts, the better the whole.
The other person you were working with closely onscreen was Sofia.
This was essentially a first-time actor who was only here because Winona Ryder dropped out at the last minute.
The critics were pretty harsh with their reviews.Yeah, I thought the reaction to her performance was very unjust.
I think her performance is extremely soulful and honest and courageous.
So when she stepped in, to me, it was beautiful.
She was like 16 or 17 years old, and that is who she is in the movie.
What do you remember of conversations about there being a fourthGodfatherfilm?
It got announced in the papers andVarietyand stuff like that.
At the end of the day, it’s really Francis' call if he wants to explore that.
He doesn’t seem like that’s a thing he wants to do.
I think he did want to explore this.
I needed to really deal with it.
AndThe Godfatherwas the movie that did that.
I don’t know how else to describe it.
It was a calling.
So be careful what you wish for!
