Frank Sinatra Had Nothing But Hatred For The Greatest Gangster Story Ever Made

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Francis Ford Coppola was astir fired during accumulation of "The Godfather" owed to his contentious narration pinch shaper Bob Evans. What nan head couldn't person anticipated, however, is that he'd besides stoke nan ire of 1 of nan awesome philharmonic artists of nan 20th Century. It seems Frank Sinatra wasn't a instrumentality of Coppola's film, aliases nan 1969 Mario Puzo caller connected which it was based. Why? Well, mostly because nan characteristic of Johnny Fontane seemed to beryllium an avatar for nan singer, depicting him arsenic personification pinch important mob ties who indulged successful immoderate shady Hollywood dealings.

The legendary crooner was well-known to person been affiliated pinch organized crime groups successful what was 1 of nan awesome ironies of a man known for his delicate renditions of specified beloved standards arsenic "In nan Wee Small Hours of nan Morning" and "One for My Baby." He besides delivered 1 of nan all-time great acting performances by musicians successful 1953's "From Here to Eternity." But conscionable because Sinatra was an artist, doesn't mean he didn't person a acheronian side. In fact, his casting successful "From Here to Eternity" was allegedly 1 illustration of that acheronian broadside manifesting successful his show business career, and yet 1 of nan reasons Ol' Blue Eyes wasn't a instrumentality of either Puzo's book aliases Coppola's adaptation.

Sinatra ever played down his relationship to organized crime, but arsenic revealed successful his extensive FBI file — which covers 40 years of surveillance — he was astatine slightest friends pinch aggregate high-ranking members. As noted by History.com, that record includes accounts of "a Godfather-style appearance" astatine nan wedding of Jean Bruno, girl of Philadelphia mob leader Angelo Bruno. But conscionable because he was friends pinch mobsters, doesn't mean Sinatra liked advertizing it.

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In his 1972 effort "The Making of nan Godfather," Mario Puzo recounted really his publishers received a missive from Frank Sinatra's lawyers anterior to nan original novel's release. The attorneys were demanding to spot a manuscript. As Puzo put it, Johnny Fontane had been "assumed by galore group to beryllium based connected Frank Sinatra," and it seems connection had gotten backmost to nan Chairman of nan Board. Nevertheless, Puzo and his publishers responded pinch a polite refusal. When news emerged that nan book was being adapted into a movie, however, Sinatra became moreover much persistent.

Puzo claimed to person primitively written Fontane "with complete sympathy for nan man and his life-style and his hang-ups." Evidently, Sinatra didn't agree. During an infamous conflict astatine legendary West Hollywood edifice Chasen's, nan vocalist fto Puzo cognize really he felt successful a infinitesimal that was captured successful the constricted bid "The Offer." "Sinatra started to outcry abuse," recalled Puzo. "I retrieve that, contrary to his reputation, he did not usage foul connection astatine all. The worst point he called maine was a pimp." In nan author's recollection, Sinatra besides threatened to "beat hellhole retired of" Puzo had he been younger.

This wasn't nan only problem Sinatra caused, either. Singer Al Martino, who played Fontane successful "The Godfather," said to writer Mark Seal for nan book "Leave nan Gun, Take nan Cannoli: The Epic Story of nan Making of The Godfather" (via USA Today). He recalled really Sinatra's displeasure loomed ample complete production. "If you return nan role, Sinatra will barroom you from Las Vegas," Martino was warned. "I'm nan past feline you could threaten. I sewage hard-nosed astir it. I took nan bull by nan horns!"

Paramount Pictures

As Francis Ford Coppola told USA Today, erstwhile he ran into Frank Sinatra, nan vocalist was a batch much jovial than he'd been pinch Mario Puzo. "He benignant of jokingly said, 'Why don't we bargain this (movie) from Paramount and I'll play nan godfather,'" recalled Coppola. It whitethorn person been a joke, but was intelligibly animated by Sinatra's dislike for Puzo's original vision.

In nan film, Al Martino's Johnny Fontane is important for not only being a celebrated vocalist but besides nan godson of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando). After his profession starts to return a downward slide, Fontane visits his godfather and asks for thief being formed successful a awesome feature. The mob leader obliges, threatening nan caput of nan workplace producing nan film, Jack Woltz (John Marley) and, successful 1 of nan astir memorable scenes from "The Godfather," leaving nan severed caput of Woltz's ain equine successful his bed.

According to Hollywood legend, this segment from "The Godfather" was inspired by a rumour astir "From Here to Eternity," the movie successful which Sinatra played Private Maggio, a domiciled that won him a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. That triumph was somewhat sullied by nan rumor that nan vocalist utilized his mob connections to onshore nan domiciled successful nan first place. With its Johnny Fontane storyline, "The Godfather" seemed to backmost up those claims, and that didn't spell complete good pinch nan man himself.

Things were only made worse by nan truth that Sinatra had antecedently worked pinch Brando connected "Guys and Dolls" and made nan full point a slog for nan actor. Their narration was tumultuous to opportunity nan least. With each that successful mind, it's nary astonishment Sinatra wasn't a instrumentality of "The Godfather."