Diane Keaton described this 1972 classic as the strangest role of her career

Legendary actress Diane Keaton has sadly passed away at the age of 79But it won’t be forgotten. I first remember seeing Keaton in “The Godfather” films, where she played Michael Corleone’s (Al Pacino) girlfriend to his ex-wife, Kay Adams Corleone. “The Godfather” was only her second credit. She appeared on Broadway in the 1960s, appearing in Allen’s “Hair” and “Play It Again, Sam,” winning a Tony Award for the latter.

As a comedian and theater actress, Keaton never expected to star in a film like “The Godfather.” The only other feature film I’ve been in before was the romantic comedy Lovers and Other Strangers, which is as different from The Godfather as can be. She thought of herself as a comedic actress and had never heard of Mario Puzo’s original novel “The Godfather” before she decided to audition.

talking to the people For the film’s 50th anniversary in 2022, Keaton recalled how it was just one of many auditions she had when she was younger. However, she changed her life:

“I think the nicest thing anyone did for me…was that I got cast in The Godfather and I didn’t even read it. I didn’t know a single thing. I was just walking around auditioning. I think that was great for me. And then I kind of had to read the book.”

In the same year, Keaton shared a video on Instagram She recounts her memories of auditioning for “The Godfather.”

“I did the script that was given to me and then I left. And then I heard that Francis Coppola wanted me to play the part, and that’s when I realized that this was one of the strangest things that had ever happened to me in my entire life, because What the heck?

From there, Coppola auditioned for Keaton with Pacino. The director recognized Keaton’s talent and realized he needed a great actress like Kay to take on his leading man.

One of the most famous phrases from “The Godfather” is “An offer you can’t refuse.” But think about what scene this line comes in? The opening wedding scene, where Michael talks to Kay about how his father Vito (Marlon Brando) got him married Johnny Fontaine is inspired by Frank Sinatra Al Martino makes a musical career by threatening the band leader. Watch how Kai’s face changes during this scene; Michael refrains from sharing details as much as he can, but there’s a strange light in Kay’s eyes, so she keeps pushing forward innocently. then Her smile subtly falls when Michael explains that the “offer” was a gun to the head.

This comes back in about an hour The end of the movie “The Godfather” that Coppola entrusted to Keaton. Michael lies to Kay and declares his innocence for ordering the murder of his treacherous brother-in-law Carlo (Gianni Russo), and Kay believes him…for about 30 seconds. Then she saw Michael’s covers bend over to him before someone closed the door on her. Even with the terror seeping in, Kay won’t look away, so Michael sends her away.

Keaton gets an even more explosive scene in “The Godfather Part II” when her marriage falls apart. She spends the film tired of Michael, who becomes more cruel by the day, and eventually reveals that she had previously had an abortion because she did not want to bring another child into his life.

“The Godfather” is about Michael’s corruption From the Corleone family, the white sheep to the Don. That story Demands Kay’s point of view, any outsider to the underworld loves Michael but has the moral clarity to recognize the monster. You wouldn’t get a Karen Hale, a Carmela Soprano, or a Skylar White without Kai Corleone.

Keaton’s importance in “The Godfather” films is sometimes overshadowed by the high-profile performances of its male stars, especially Pacino, with whom she shares much of her screen time. One must remember that without the right scene partner, even the best actors can fail. No one has ever had this problem working against Diane Keaton.