I believe Al Pacino was set to play the De Niro part, but was finally Green lighted as Michael in THE GODFATHER and thus Paramount had to buy him out of this movie to take on Corleone.
I believe Al Pacino was set to play the De Niro part, but was finally Green lighted as Michael in THE GODFATHER and thus Paramount had to buy him out of this movie to take on Corleone.
A 17 March 1971 Daily Variety news item about the settlement between Paramount and MGM suggested that the terms most likely included a commitment by Pacino to act in a future MGM production, but Pacino has never appeared in an MGM release.
When Pacino was no longer affiliated with THE GANG THAT COULDN'T SHOOT STRAIGHT, Robert De Niro was offered Pacino's part. De Niro had been signed for the role of "Carlo Rizzi" in THE GODFATHER, but was released by Coppola so that the actor could appear in the much larger role of "Mario" in THE GANG THAT COULDN'T SHOOT STRAIGHT. When the film was released, several critics called his performance the film's standout.
That sure looks like Pacino in the orange suit in the poster Bob posted above. Strange as he did not ultimately appear in the movie.
A release of Grusin's THE GANG WHO COULDN'T SHOOT STRAIGHT might make a nice CD coupled with Grusin's wonderful MR. BILLION Score as of yet still unreleased.
