3. The Godfather: Part III
Originally, Francis Ford Coppola felt Michael Corleones story was effectively told with
The Godfather Part II, but Paramount had a long-standing offer for Coppola to make a third film if he so desired. In a dire financial situation, Coppola accepted the offer and he and Mario Puzo wanted six months to write a script. Paramount gave them six weeks. The story was going to be essentially a showdown between Michael Corleone and family consiglieri Tom Hagen.
The Godfather Part II had tensions between the two increasing. The scenes of dissent were well-planted, leading to a massive split between the two that would have made the third film an epic conclusion (Coppolas original title for it was
The Death of Michael Corleone). All that was ruined when Robert Duvall refused to reprise his role. His reasoning was that Pacinos salary was three or four times that of his, and he felt that was unfair. Without a Tom Hagen, the film instead got a story about Michael trying to legitimize his businesses and Michaels nephew Vincent and daughter Mary being involved romantically. This story wasnt that bad in retrospect, and probably could have been salvaged, if not for one key, last-minute change. And that change was when Winona Ryder, who was originally cast as Mary,
had to drop out at the last minute due to suddenly falling ill. She was replaced by Coppolas daughter, Sofia Coppola. And while shes proven with
Lost In Translation and
The Virgin Suicides that good directing apparently runs in her family, she was definitely not much of an actress. Her performance was so badly received that her father was slammed with accusations of nepotism.