The Godfather was released in 1972 and has since been hailed as one of the greatest movies of all time – but fans are only just learning about one behind-the-scenes detail
The Godfather has been a crucial piece of Hollywood history since its release in 1972.
The iconic movie features performances from some of Hollywood’s biggest names at the time, including Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and James Caan. It boasts an impressive 9.2/10 rating on IMDb.
However, fans of this legendary movie have only recently learnt a fascinating fact about the filming process. It concerns Marlon Brando’s unique method of delivering his lines.
However, fans of this legendary movie have only recently learnt a fascinating fact about the filming process. It concerns Marlon Brando’s unique method of delivering his lines.
A photo circulating on X, posted by All The Right Movies, captures Robert Duvall with Brando’s lines against his chest, concealed from the camera’s view while filming.
The caption from All The Right Movies reads: “One of the most famous behind-the-scenes shots from THE GODFATHER (1972), Robert Duvall holding up Marlon Brando’s lines, mid-scene.”
While it is not certain which scene was being shot when the photo was taken, it seems likely that it was right after the infamous horse’s head scene in California as they prepare for a meeting with Virgil Sollozzo, played by Al Lettieri.
The image was also shared on Reddit, where it left utterly astonished, as many were clueless about the unconventional methods used to film certain scenes.
One user exclaimed: “That’s awesome. It’s well-known that Brando wouldn’t memorise lines, and cue cards had to be held up off-camera, but that’s a whole different level.
“To Brando’s credit, while memorisation wasn’t his thing for whatever reason, he was able to still deliver his consistently phenomenal performances while secretly and invisibly glancing at the cards for his next lines.”
Another added: “Great actor but quite a nightmare to work with, from what I’ve heard.”
But Marlon Brando’s notorious difficulty with memorizing lines might not have been entirely his fault. A Reddit user cited excerpts from assistant producer Ira Zuckerman’s detailed chronicle of the shoot, The Godfather Journal, suggesting that last-minute script alterations were to blame.
A passage from the book, recounting the 28th day on set, revealed: “Because script changes are made every day, cue cards are being prepared for Brando. Between takes now, he often mouths his lines and walks through the action, trying to get the feel of the scene, while director and crew attend to technical problems.”
An entry from the 33rd day of production reveals a hectic behind-the-scenes glimpse: “Last-minute script revisions of the scenes to be filmed today are still being typed; they are distributed immediately after lunch. Again, cue cards must be made for Brando as the changes are too numerous for him to commit to memory in the time available.”
A Reddit user chimed in with their take: “I’m not saying that Brando is blame-free himself. There’s no mention in the book of any other actors needing cue cards. But the rewrites were also clearly a factor.”
