To Absent Friends - James Caan

James Caan

1940 - 2022

The news of the death of actor James Caan arrives just as I am in the midst of reading a book called "Leave The Gun, Take The Cannoli" by Mark Seal.  It is a book about the making of Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 classic, "The Godfather."  The book is chockfull of great behind the scenes stories revolving around the making of this great movie with stories about James Caan being among the best.   Take this description by author Seal:

"They (the cast and crew) were in love with the Mob.  

"They were in love with their actions, their backgrounds, their families, and most of all, their moves.   And no one loved them more than the Jewish American actor who would embody an Italian American mobster most authentically of them all.

"James Caan as the strutting, bullheaded firecracker of a son, Sonny Corleone.

"'What f---ing transformation?' he would ask later of the role for which he would be paid $35,000 and forever be identified.  'Obviously, I grew up in the neighborhood.'"

Caan's career began long before "The Godfather", of course.  His 137 IMDB acting credits trace back to 1961 with roles in such shows as Naked City, Route 66, and The Untouchables. He became known to me, and I suspect to most audiences, for playing the ill-fated Chicago Bears running back Brian Piccolo in the 1971 TV movie "Brian's Song."  It was "The Godfather", though, that made him a star.  Oh, there were other movies, "Elf" and "Misery" perhaps most notably, but face it, who do you really think of when you think of James Caan?

So many great Sonny scenes in The Godfather.

Like when Sonny busts up the guy's camera at Connie's wedding and then contemptuously tosses a couple of twenties on the ground.  Watch that scene HERE

Or when Sonny mocks Michael for suggesting that he, Michael, should kill Sollozzo and the crooked police captain.  Watch that scene HERE.   Sonny's "BADA BING" was not scripted. Caan ad-libbed it  They kept it in the movie, and it became the inspiration for the name The Bada Bing Club in The Sopranos.

Or when Sonny beats up Carlo, perhaps one of the most brutal beatings ever filmed.  Watch that scene HERE.

And, of course, one of the most memorable death scenes in any movie ever.  Sonny at the tollbooth.  "Look how they massacred my boy."  Watch that scene HERE.

Yes, when a key player in one of the greatest movies ever leaves us, that is worth noting.

RIP James Caan.

 Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, James Caan, John Cazale

The Corleone Family