Nic Gianino

QMCS 425-02           

11—19—00

 

Al Pacino: A Man of Many Hats

 

            Today, when I look in the local newspapers at the entertainment guide I rarely find any films that are worth the price of admission.  The fact is most of the current films in theaters now are just not exciting and inspiring enough to sit through.  My philosophy has always been if a movie is sketchy, wait until it comes out on video and rent it for $2.00.  This way if it really is terrible, you didn’t have to waste $7.25 at the theater to find this out.

           

            Now, consider an Al Pacino film.  Rarely has he been in anything that has flopped.  Before 1972 he was not a star.  In fact, he was not even well known in his hometown of New York as a Broadway actor.  Francis Ford Coppola rapidly changed this with his epic, “The Godfather”.  Since his days as Michael Corleone, Pacino has found nothing but success. 

 

            In this report, I would like you to become more acquainted with Al Pacino and his endless array of talents.  My intention is that you will respect him more as an accomplished actor, or at the very least, find yourself compelled to rent his movies on a night when you have nothing else better to do.

 

Bio: Where did Al Pacino come from?

 

            Al was born in East Harlem, New York, to Salvatore and Rose Pacino.  At the age of two, his parents divorced and he went with his mother to live at his grandparent’s home in the Bronx.   It has been said that Al’s grandparents were so protective that he was not allowed to leave the house until he reached the age of seven.  Because of his over-protective grandparents, his days were spent simply reenacting films that he had seen for his grandmother.  When his junior high teachers noticed his raw talent and special knack for acting, they encouraged him to become involved in school plays.  Since Al failed miserably in the classroom, their encouragement was welcome. 

 

            At fourteen, he dropped out of high school to pursue a career in drama.  Upon attending The Seagull, a play by Chekhov, he enrolled in the High School for the Performing Arts in New York.  Again, he found himself failing and opted to call it quits—for good.

 

            He was seventeen with little education.  He took on several odd jobs such as mail deliverer, messenger, usher, and building superintendent.  Although these jobs did not pay well, he managed to make some extra money performing in “basement-staged” plays that were not well publicized.  He had put enough money aside by this time to attend the Herbert Berghof Studio, where he was taken under the wing of Charlie Laughton.  Through his diligence and his apprenticeship in acting, directing, and writing, he was received into the prestigious Actors Studio in 1966.  Here he would receive further training from Lee Strasberg, one of Broadway’s elite. 

 

            From this tutelage, he was given the opportunity to perform beside such actors as James Earl Jones in The Peace Creeps.  He also found himself acting on other sets such as Indian Wants the Bronx and Does the Tiger Wear a Necktie?  Upon success with each of these two stints, Pacino decided to try his luck with Hollywood.  His first two film debuts were Me, Natalie and The Panic in Needle Park, in which he played a junkie. 

 

            From here his next foray would be as Michael Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola’s, The Godfather.  He literally took on the role of a war-hero-turned-underworld-lord.  For his prowess, he received his first major award—an Oscar for best supporting actor.  He followed this success with Serpico, The Godfather II, and Dog Day Afternoon.  He would again receive the applause of critics and fans in Scarface, Sea of Love, and Frankie and Johnny.

 

            He continued to straddle between Broadway and Hollywood.  He received a Tony award for his title role in The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel.  He also found himself in Julius Caesar as Antony, and in American Buffalo as Walter Cole. 

 

            The 1990’s found Pacino in yet another Coppola epic, The Godfather, III.  He was also cast in Glengarry Glen Ross as a real estate salesman and in Scent of a Woman as a retired war veteran without the ability to see.  He played Puerto Rican bad-boy Carlito Brigante in Carlito’s Way, and also a cop in 1995’s Heat.

 

            All in all, Pacino has been nominated for seven Oscar awards—a feat not topped by many other members of Hollywood.  While he stands as one of Hollywood’s greatest stars, he still finds himself attached to theater.  He is not only an actor in Hollywood and on Broadway, but also an established director and playwright.  He can do it all—and well.

 

Some of Pacino’s Past Work

 

            Here is an exhaustive list of Pacino’s work in Hollywood and on Broadway.  As you can see, he does not portray one-dimensional characters.  He is capable of several molds.  He has played everything from mobster (Godfather Trilogy, Carlito’s Way, Donnie Brasco) to New York cop (Serpico) to blind war veteran (Scent of a Woman).  He has even played the devil in 1997’s thriller Devil’s Advocate.  Take a moment to look through some of his roles.

 

 

 

           

           

Conclusion

 

            Al Pacino can do it all.  He has proven himself as an accomplished actor, director, and playwright.  Although I was somewhat downtrodden by his role in Oliver Stone’s Any Given Sunday, he still manages to attract large audiences to his efforts. 

 

            What will he do next?  His upcoming projects include directing the Broadway play Amedeo Modigliani, producing The Cincinnati Kid, and starring in Simone as a producer who must replace his star actress who walks off the set.  One thing is for sure; he knows how to keep busy.  As long as he continues to retain the enthusiasm of a 20 year old, Pacino will remain a staple in Hollywood and in the entertainment world as a whole.

 

Resources

(1).  www.alpacinosloft.com

(2).  www.resoftlinks.com/alpacino

(3).  Interview with LA Times Calendar magazine, June 27, 1999

(4).  Interview with Mr. Showbiz entertainment magazine, prior to 1997’s Donnie Brasco