Gianni Russo, actor and author of “Hollywood Godfather”: My life in the Movie and the Mob,” spoke with Brian Kilmeade on James Caan’s passing and how his troubles with Caan on the Godfather set lasted until his death. Russo also explained how he got the part of Carlo and why he won’t watch ‘ The offer’ because of how they represent him.
Gianni Russo, who played Carlo Rizzi in “The Godfather,” claimed that he had no contact with James Caan after production ended, or even before that until the late actor begged for a role in one of his films.
Russo,78, told the post about the Al Pacino-led film,” He remarked,” You Know, Jimmy would be fantastic in this movie ” He’s a huge sports fan.”I asked,’ Do you think I’d employ James Caan?” Russo said. I wouldn’t cast Jimmy Caan in anything.’ He is quite disrespectful to me”. Russo claims that Caan, who played Sonny Corleone, the character’s brother-in-law, was hostile to him from the first “Godfather” rehearsal at Patsy’s restaurant on west 119th Street.
“Sonny and I had a problem all throughout the movie, on and off set,” Russo tells people and Entertainment Weekly Network, saying that his acquaintance with the area (and its people) likely irritated before the camera rolled. ” The moment took approximately a day and a half to choreograph … Jimmy became a little violent, in my opinion, and invented a few things, such as the miniature Billy club he tossed at me as I stepped off the stoop. He smacked me square in the skull with it, then tossed me over the railing and bites my hands… He really hoisted me up with his boot as I crawled out… None of that was planned.”