An iconic scene in the hit Hollywood classic, The Godfather, was an unscripted moment that was captured on camera by chance.
The famous scene is well-remembered by fans of the film, with many pointing to it as one of the most iconic moments in the movie. But the filming of the scene was sudden, and not even star Marlon Brando had expected it.
Brando would go on to win the Academy Award for his role in the film – but did not attend the awards ceremony.
His work on the film is considered one of the best performances in history. And while there were many moments that relied on his incredible skill as an actor, this part of the film appeared to be a completely random chance.
It was thanks to Coppola’s instinct as to what fit the scene that the moment feels that much better, saying he did not say a word to Brando when the chance encounter occurred.
The cat, which can be seen in the lap of Brando’s Don Corleone, was not meant to be there. Apparently, a stray had wandered onto the set and eventually found itself starring in one of the biggest movies in Hollywood history.
Coppola recalled the moment he decided to place the cat in the scene – and the disastrous results of filming the cat for the first time.
He said: “The cat in Marlon’s hands was not planned for. I saw the cat running around the studio, and took it and put it in his hands without a word.” According to Insider, the production team could not hear a word Brando said during the take as the cat was purring so loudly.
Fans were thrilled by the little detail, while others say the cat had taken to Brando in-between takes and the decision to use it was eventually made.
An r/TodayILearned subreddit user suggested both Brando and director Coppola were fond of the cat. They wrote: “I had heard the same story, but the cat wasn’t just any stray. The director and Marlon had both taken a liking to the cat, who had been hanging around the set for days. Then when the scene was being shot the cat jumped up on Brando’s lap and he just rolled with it. Super classy, makes the scene so much more alive.”
The scene in question, between Brando’s Don Corleone and Salvatore Corsitto’s Bonasera, has gone down in movie history as one of the all-time greatest moments.
Comments left on a YouTube video of the scene were also delighted with the cat’s presence, as some suggested the feline had no idea it was about to make movie history.
One comment reads: “The cat has no idea he’s in the greatest film of all time.” Another joked: “The cat never broke character, stunning self-control.” A third added: “That cat gave one hell of a performance.”
It comes as people are only just realising nobody utters one specific word in The Godfather. You learn something new every day!