20 Things You Probably Didn't Know About The Godfather
17. Creating Vito's Iconic Look
More thought went into Don Vito Corleone's distinctive look than you would imagine. First off, the bulging jowls he sports was Brando's idea. When the Omaha-born actor auditioned for the role, he stuffed his cheeks with cotton wool to make Vito 'look like a bulldog'. Francis Ford Coppola liked Vito's puffy face and so, had Brando wear a mouthpiece during filming.
The crew also had to take measures so the 47-year-old Brando looked older since Vito was meant to be 60. To age him up, Brando wore latex makeup and had his hair styled so it appeared receded. Because Brando was known for being a handsome man, most of the film crew hadn't a clue they were in the presence of the Oscar-winning actor the first time they saw him as Vito.