Synopses & Reviews
For more than a quarter century, Al Pacino has spoken freely and deeply with acclaimed journalist and bestselling author Lawrence Grobel on subjects as diverse as childhood, acting, and fatherhood. Here, for the first time, are the complete conversations and shared observations between the actor and the writer; the result is an intimate and revealing look at one of the most accomplished, and private, artists in the world. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; Pacino grew up sharing a three-room apartment in the Bronx with nine people in what he describes as his "New York Huckleberry Finn" childhood. Raised mostly by his grandparents and his mother, Pacino began drinking at age thirteen. Shortly after he was admitted to the renowned High School for Performing Arts, his classmates nicknamed him "Marlon," after Marlon Brando, even though Pacino didn't know who Brando was. Renowned acting coach Charlie Laughton saw Pacino when he was nineteen in the stairwell of a Bronx tenement, and the first words out of Laughton's mouth were "You are going to be a star." And so began a fabled, lifelong friendship that nurtured Al through years of not knowing where his next meal would come from until finally -- at age twenty-six -- he landed his first salaried acting job. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; Grobel and Pacino leave few stones unturned, touching on the times when Pacino played piano in jazz clubs until four a.m. before showing up on the set of Scarecrow a few hours later for a full day's work; when he ate Valium like candy at the Academy Awards; and when he realized he had been in a long pattern of work and drink. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; As the pivotal character in andlt;iandgt;The Godfatherandlt;/iandgt; trilogy and the cult classic andlt;iandgt;Scarfaceandlt;/iandgt;, Pacino has enshrined himself in film history. He's worked with most of Hollywood's brightest luminaries such as Francis Ford Coppola, Sidney Lumet, Michael Mann, Norman Jewison, Brian De Palma, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Gene Hackman, Sean Penn, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hilary Swank, and Robin Williams, among many others. He was nominated for eight Academy Awards before winning the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in andlt;iandgt;Scent of a Womanandlt;/iandgt;. Pacino still seems to prefer his work onstage to film and, if he's moved by a script or play, is quick to take parts in independent productions. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;iandgt;Al Pacinoandlt;/iandgt; is an intensely personal window into the life of an artist concerned more with the process of his art than with the fruits of his labor, a creative genius at the peak of his artistic powers who, after all these years, still longs to grow and learn more about his craft. And, for now, it's as close to a memoir as we're likely to get.
Synopsis
Lawrence Grobel's intensely personal conversations with A1 Pacino here reveal insights into the life of one of the most accomplished and private artists in the world. The pivotal character in The Godfather trilogy and the cult classic Scarface, Pacino has been nominated for eight Academy Awards, and won the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in Scent Of A Woman. Raised by his grandparents and mother, Pacino grew up sharing a small apartment in the Bronx with nine people. Having made it to The Herbert Berghof Studio, and acting school, he forged an enduring friendship with his mentor, renowned acting coach Charlie Laughton. It was Laughton who first recognized Pacino's potential, and prophetically informed the nineteen-year-old youth, 'You're going to be a star...'
About the Author
andlt;bandgt;Lawrence Grobelandlt;/bandgt; is the andlt;Iandgt;New York Timesandlt;/iandgt; bestselling coauthor with Montel Williams of andlt;Iandgt;Climbing Higherandlt;/iandgt;, as well as the author of the national bestseller andlt;Iandgt;Conversations with Capoteandlt;/iandgt; and andlt;Iandgt;Conversations with Brandoandlt;/iandgt;. A contributing editor at andlt;Iandgt;Playboyandlt;/iandgt; and andlt;Iandgt;Movieline's Hollywood Lifeandlt;/iandgt;, he has written for the andlt;Iandgt;New York Timesandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;Iandgt;Rolling Stoneandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;Iandgt;Detailsandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;Iandgt;Entertainment Weeklyandlt;/iandgt;, and many others. The winner of a PEN Special Achievement Award, he is also the author of andlt;Iandgt;The Art of the Interviewandlt;/iandgt;. He teaches at UCLA.
Table of Contents
FOREWORD, BY AL PACINO
INTRODUCTION
1979 GETTING TO KNOW YOU
1983 THE DEATH OF AN ACTOR AND THE BIRTH OF A CULT CHARACTER
1990 THE RETURN OF MICHAEL CORLEONE
1996 LOOKING FOR AL
1998 THE CENSURE OF THE WHICH
2001 THE NIGHT PACINO CAME TO CLASS
2002 AL'S CALLING
2004 THE OPERATIVE WORD, DEAR SHYLOCK, IS SOBER
2005 "YOU CAN'T DO GONE WITH THE WIND WITH A NEW YORK ACCENT"
EPILOGUE: TO BEE OR NOT TO BE
A LAST WORD
THE FILMS
THE PLAYS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INDEX