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1972’sThe Godfatheris undoubtedly one of the best films of all time. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the film stands as an iconic Hollywood classic that has left an indelible mark on both cinema and pop culture. One of the most brutal fights in the film was between Sonny Corleone (James Caan) and his brother-in-law Carlo Rizzi (Gianni Russo).
The scene is mostly known for its fluffs, but the fight was so authentic that Caan actually broke Russo’s ribs while fighting him. The scene reportedly took four days to shoot and featured more than 700 extras. Using the trashcan lid to beat up Russo was improvised by James Caan.
James Caan broke Gianni Russo’s ribs during a fight scene
While watchingThe Godfather(1972) if you feel like the fight between Sonny Corleone (James Caan) and his brother-in-law, Carlo Rizzi (Gianni Russo) feels too authentic, it’s because the two actually didn’t hold back any punches.
It was once revealed that there were tensions between James Caan and Gianni Russo on the sets of the movie, so the two decided to let out their rage with the fight scene. Caan beats Russo up with a trashcan, breaking two of Russo’s ribs and cracking his elbow in the process.
As per VladTV, Caan also got Russo in trouble with one of the local gangsters as he set him up with the girlfriend of the gangster he thought was his daughter. “He hated me,” Russo later recounted.
Also read:“He undresses you with his eyes”: Star Wars Director George Lucas’ Wife Fell in Love With Al Pacino During ‘The Godfather’ Screen Tests
There were rumors that the two stars fought off-screen as well
For a very long time, there was a rumor that James Caan and Gianni Russo also fought off-screen on the sets of the movie, however, Caan cleared this rumor out and explained how the on-screen fight went down,
“Jimmy [Gianni Russo] got a little aggressive. He improvised a few things like that little billy club he threw at me when I came off the stoop. He hit me right in the head with that, and then he throws me over the railing and he’s biting my hands when I crawl out, he literally lifted me up with his kick none of that was supposed to happen. Jimmy and I are not friends at all, believe me. The guy’s nuts. He had a fight with someone else. Not me. I did the fight scene with stuntman Paul Baxley. He came in, and we made up the whole fight. And everything you saw in there is something that Paul and I created the day before.”
James Caan was paid $35,000 for the role of Sonny Corleone, which made him a superstar around the globe. The actor passed away last year at the age of 82.
Also read:Marlon Brando’s Unforgettable Intro in ‘The Godfather’ Was Almost Ruined Because of a Stray Cat on Set
The Godfatherwas a cinematic masterpiece
The Godfatherwas widely released in the United States on August 11, 2025. It was the highest-grossing film of 1972, and at one point, it was the highest-grossing film ever made, earning between $250 and $291 million at the box office. A few things that were particularly praised were the direction, screenplay, writing, story, cinematography, editing, and portrayal of the mafia.
The film’s iconic quotes, memorable scenes, and complex characters continue to influence modern cinema, cementingThe Godfatheras a timeless masterpiece that redefined American cinema.
Related:“Send us the head”: The Godfather’s Disturbing Horse Head Scene Traumatized the Fans as Much as the Crew on Set
Source:Time
Farhan Asif
Articles Published :1696
Farhan Asif is a gaming writer at FandomWire who specializes in video games/franchises like Helldivers 2, GTA, and Call of Duty. Apart from 1600+ published articles for FandomWire, he has also written more than 750 articles for AnimatedTimes. He has a passion for coding and is pursuing a degree in computer science. During his free time, Farhan loves to play video games and hopes to create a video game of his own one day.
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