Vic Damone Godfather - The Untold Story
Have you ever thought about the famous movie "The Godfather" and wondered about the people who almost played its memorable parts? It's a tale as rich and winding as the film itself, full of surprising turns and behind-the-scenes drama. One particular name often comes up in these conversations: Vic Damone. He was a singer of great renown, and his connection to the role of Johnny Fontane, the crooner with ties to powerful figures, is quite interesting, you know.
The story of how the role of Johnny Fontane came to be, and who nearly stepped into those shoes, is actually a bit more involved than many realize. It's a fascinating look at how Hollywood works, and how other forces, perhaps less visible, can shape what we see on the big screen. The journey of the character, from initial idea to the person who finally played him, really shows how many things can influence a major film project, and that, is that.
We're going to talk about Vic Damone's life, his early days, and then get into the whole story of how he almost became Johnny Fontane in "The Godfather." We will also look at the different reasons why he chose not to take the part and how another performer, Al Martino, ended up getting the role instead. It's a pretty remarkable sequence of events, in some respects, and it shines a light on a truly iconic movie.
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Table of Contents
- The Early Life of Vic Damone
- Personal Details of Vic Damone
- Was Vic Damone The First Choice For Johnny Fontane?
- The Initial Casting of Vic Damone in The Godfather Role
- Why Did Vic Damone Turn Down The Godfather?
- The Real Reasons Behind Vic Damone's Godfather Decision
- How Did Al Martino End Up As Johnny Fontane?
- The Dramatic Shift in The Vic Damone Godfather Casting
The Early Life of Vic Damone
Vic Damone, whose birth name was Vito Rocco Farinola, had humble beginnings, to be honest. His family life seems to have been quite musical, with his father, an electrician by trade, also being a guitar player. His mother, for her part, was a piano teacher, so music was surely a constant presence in their home. Young Vito spent his early school days at PS 163 and lent his voice to the St. Finbar's choir, which is a bit of a start for a singer, you know.
As he grew older, he attended Alexander Hamilton Vocational High School and then Lafayette High School, both in Brooklyn. However, his formal schooling came to an end rather early. At the age of sixteen, he made the decision to leave school. This choice was made to help provide for his family, which shows a strong sense of commitment at such a young age. Before his singing career truly took off, he even worked as someone who showed people to their seats at the NYC Paramount Theatre, so he was around the entertainment world even then, in a way.
Personal Details of Vic Damone
Here are some details about Vic Damone, gathered from various accounts:
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| Birth Name | Vito Rocco Farinola |
| Early Occupation | Usher at NYC Paramount Theatre |
| Family Background | Father played guitar, Mother taught piano |
| Early Education | PS 163, St. Finbar's choir, Alexander Hamilton Vocational High School, Lafayette High School |
| Left School At | Sixteen, to support family |
| Later Career | Singer, appeared in films in the 1950s and 1960s |
Was Vic Damone The First Choice For Johnny Fontane?
The story behind who would play Johnny Fontane in "The Godfather" is actually quite a tangled one, you see. It seems that the director, Francis Ford Coppola, was really quite taken with Vic Damone's abilities as a performer. Because of this admiration, Coppola actually gave the role to Damone. This happened after Al Martino, who had initially been chosen by the producers, found himself in a difficult spot, as a matter of fact.
It was a situation where the director and the producers had different ideas about who should play the part. Coppola, it appears, saw something special in Damone that made him the ideal choice for the character of Johnny Fontane. So, for a time, it was Vic Damone who was set to portray the famous singer in the film, which, you know, is a pretty big deal for any performer.
The Initial Casting of Vic Damone in The Godfather Role
In 1972, the opportunity came for Vic Damone to take on the character of Johnny Fontane in the much-talked-about film adaptation of Mario Puzo's very popular book, "The Godfather." This was a significant offer for him, as the movie was already creating quite a stir. Francis Ford Coppola, the director, was, frankly, very impressed with Damone's singing and his overall presence. This led Coppola to hand the part over to Damone, which, honestly, seemed like a solid choice at the time, given Damone's talents.
However, the journey to the screen for the Johnny Fontane character was far from simple. It appears there was some disagreement behind the scenes regarding who should play the part. While Coppola favored Damone, the producers had originally selected Al Martino for the role. This difference of opinion would, as you might guess, lead to some pretty intense back-and-forth, making the casting of the Vic Damone Godfather character quite a saga in itself.
Why Did Vic Damone Turn Down The Godfather?
It's a question many people ask: why did Vic Damone ultimately choose not to take on the part of Johnny Fontane in "The Godfather," especially after he had been offered it by the director? The decision was not based on just one thing, but rather a mix of different reasons, so it's not a simple answer. One significant point was that he and the people making the movie could not find common ground on how much he would be paid. Money, as you know, can often be a sticking point in these kinds of deals.
Beyond the financial aspect, there were other, perhaps more sensitive, concerns. It is said that Vic Damone did not want to cause displeasure to certain powerful groups or to Frank Sinatra, a person he held in very high regard. The character of Johnny Fontane was thought by some to be inspired by Sinatra, and Damone, it seems, wanted to avoid any potential awkwardness or trouble that might come from playing a role so closely linked to someone he admired so much. This shows a very thoughtful approach to his career choices, in a way, beyond just the pay.
The Real Reasons Behind Vic Damone's Godfather Decision
The story goes that Vic Damone withdrew from the film once filming had actually started. He even made it known that he felt the project was not good for people of Italian American heritage, which is a pretty strong statement to make about a movie, you know. This public stance added another layer to his decision to step away from the Vic Damone Godfather part. It suggests that his reasons went beyond just personal gain or avoiding trouble, touching on a broader cultural concern.
According to various accounts, including some old newspaper clippings, Damone's choice was a combination of things. There was the disagreement over his pay, as mentioned, but also the reported pressure from certain figures. Al Martino, who was initially chosen by the producers, even claimed to have used similar methods to get the part. It's almost like a mirror of the movie's own themes, where influence and connections play a big part. So, Damone's decision was a result of many elements coming together, making his withdrawal a pretty complex event, really.
How Did Al Martino End Up As Johnny Fontane?
With Vic Damone stepping away from the role of Johnny Fontane, the part eventually went to Al Martino. This wasn't a straightforward process, however. Martino, who had been chosen by the producers from the start, found himself in a rather tricky situation when Francis Ford Coppola decided to give the role to Damone instead. But Martino, it appears, had some powerful connections of his own. He reportedly went to Russell Bufalino, an influential figure in organized groups and, interestingly enough, Martino's godfather, to help him out.
It's a fascinating bit of behind-the-scenes drama that feels like it could have been pulled right from the movie itself. Martino claimed he used similar methods to appear in "The Godfather" after Coppola had chosen Damone. He says his connections even arranged for news reports to appear that helped his cause. So, the part that was nearly Vic Damone's ended up going to Al Martino, thanks to a bit of persuasion and perhaps some influence from unexpected places, as a matter of fact.
The Dramatic Shift in The Vic Damone Godfather Casting
The entire casting process for Johnny Fontane was, in a way, a bit of a power struggle. While Coppola was quite taken with Damone and gave him the role, the producers had already chosen Al Martino. Martino, not one to give up easily, used his ties to certain groups to make sure he kept the part. This led to a situation where Damone reportedly withdrew due to strong persuasion from figures like Bufalino, who was, basically, a crime boss, you know.
It's ironic, too, that the character of Johnny Fontane in the movie sings "I Have But One Heart," which was a song that Vic Damone himself had performed. This little detail adds another layer to the whole story, making the connection between Vic Damone and "The Godfather" even more poignant. The offer for Damone to be in the movie was, it seems, swiftly dealt with, much like certain events in the film itself. So, what started as a simple casting choice turned into a complex tale involving various forces, leading to the dramatic shift in who would play Johnny Fontane, and that, is that.
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