If there is one quintessential actor from the 1970s that deserves more recognition it’s John Cazale.
John Cazale: Video Essay | The Godfather | The Conversation | Dog Day Afternoon | The Deer Hunter |
John Cazale was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1935. He only made five feature films – all considered classics – in his all-too-short career.
Cazale won the role of Fredo Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola‘s The Godfather (1972), after his long-time friend, Al Pacino, invited him to audition. He reprised his role as the troubled Fredo in The Godfather: Part II (1974), creating one of the most infamous movie moments in the history of cinema.
The Godfather
A chilling portrait of the Corleone family’s rise and near fall from power in America along with balancing the story of the Sicilian clan’s ugly crime business in which they are engaged.
This definitive saga of the Corleone family, based on the bestselling novel by Mario Puzo, is a global cultural touchstone captivating fans across generations. The enduring cinematic legacy of “The Godfather” has immeasurably influenced popular culture. It has rightfully earned its legacy as one of the greatest in the history of motion pictures.
The Conversation
Next, Cazale starred with Gene Hackman and Harrison Ford in the thriller, “The Conversation” (1974), as Hackman’s assistant, Stan. The Godfather’s director, Francis Ford Coppola, also directed the movie. Both movies were Oscars that year.
Francis Ford Coppola’s provoking mystery/thriller stars Gene Hackman as Harry Caul, an expert surveillance man. Cazale stars as Stan, Harry’s assistant. A routine wiretapping job turns into a nightmare when Harry hears something disturbing in his recording of a young couple in a park. His investigation of the tape and how it might be used sends Harry spiraling into a web of secrecy, murder, and paranoia. Set against the backdrop of San Francisco, “The Conversation” is a harrowing psychological thriller that costars Cindy Williams, Frederic Forrest and Harrison Ford and symbolizes the uneasy line where technology and privacy cross
Dog Day Afternoon
John Cazale starred in his fourth feature film, “Dog Day Afternoon” (1975), alongside friend and Godfather co-star, Al Pacino.
Based on the true story of a 1972 bank heist gone wrong, this Oscar®-winning masterwork showcases Al Pacino as one of the most unusual bank robbers ever to appear on film, with the Golden Globe®-nominated John Cazale as his inscrutable partner in crime.
The Deer Hunter
He filmed his final film, “The Deer Hunter” (1978), while he was ill with cancer. Winner of five Academy Awards®, The Deer Hunter stars Cazale, Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken in an unforgettable saga of friendship and courage set during the Vietnam War. The director, Michael Cimino, knew about his condition and filmed Cazale’s scenes first. But when the studio found out about his weakened state, they threated to remove him from the film. His co-star and girlfriend, Meryl Streep, threatened to quit if he was fired.
John Cazale died on March 13, 1978, shortly after the filming of The Deer Hunter was completed.