The Godfather is a dramatic masterpiece about the patriarch of an organized crime family handing the power of his mob empire to his youngest son. Based on Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel of the same name, it was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the auteur who would helm some of Hollywood’s greatest dramas. Released 50 years ago on March 24, 1972, the movie was a critical success, winning Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay to Puzo and Coppola, Best Actor to Marlon Brando, and Best Picture.

The Godfather stars some of the greatest actors of their generation who filled the meaty roles so well that all four male leads were up for Oscars. Some of the roles were filled fairly easily, while others got their parts through a dramatic process and, in at least one case, a little pressure from the mob.

Puzo envisioned Brando in the role of Don Vito Corleone, but Paramount was reluctant to cast him because of his reputation for having a short temper. Coppola was also interested in Brando, as well as Laurence Olivier (who denied the role), and the studio pushed for Ernest Borgnine, Orson Welles, and George C. Scott. Coppola convinced Paramount to screen test Brando, but he didn’t want to offend Brando by requiring the actor to audition, so he suggested that they test equipment together. Paramount was impressed with the tape Coppola recorded and gave him the role over their other favorite, Borgnine.

The pivotal role of Michael Corleone was one of the last ones to be cast. Coppola was interested in Al Pacino, but Paramount had several others in mind, starting with Robert Redford and Warren Beatty. They were also interested in Jack Nicholson, Dustin Hoffman, James Caan, Martin Sheen, and Burt Reynolds (Brando threatened to quit if Reynolds was cast). Producer Robert Evans cast Caan as Michael, but Coppola kept pushing hard for Pacino. Eventually, Evans suggested the comprise that Pacino could play Michael if Caan was cast as Sonny Corleone and Coppola agreed.

Some of Coppola’s choices for lead roles went smoothly, including Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen (who was the director’s first choice), and Diane Keaton as Kay Adams (because Coppola had heard that she was eccentric).

Al Martino, who was a famous nightclub singer, contacted producer Albert S. Ruddy about playing Johnny Fontane, and was awarded the part early in production. However, when Coppola became director, he gave the part to singer Vic Damone. When he lost the role, Martino contacted his godfather and real mafia crime boss Russell Bufalino, who orchestrated news articles about Ruddy having cast Fontane. To avoid provoking the mob, Damone quit the film and Fontane got the part.