Oscar-loving John Cazale is the only actor who has only starred in masterpieces. A look back at his too short career which marked the 7th Art.
“He was one of the best actors of our time. This time, any time.“For Al Pacino to say these kinds of things about you, it’s because your career is exemplary. And this is the case of that of the mythical John Cazale, who left too soon, but who had time to shine in the theater, to seduce Meryl Streep and to make each film in which he played a masterpiece named at the Oscars.
As SensaCine reminds us, John Cazale discovers the theater at the age of 24 and never wants to come off the stage again. And it’s not as if his peers are going to let him do it: critics call him “absolutely brilliant, hilarious, moving, exciting”. Long time friend of Al Pacinohe turns in a single television episode (of the series NYPD from 1967) before gradually attracting the attention of casting directors. Especially one who, by chance, works with Francis Ford Coppola.
HIS BIG SCREEN DEBUT
The latter, in full pre-production of The Godfather, chooses him to play Fredo Corleone as soon as he sees him. Result: eleven Oscar nominations and the film leaves with three awards, including Best Film, Best Actor for Marlon Brando and Best Adapted Screenplay. In 1974, it started again with The Godfather, 2nd part: eleven nominations and six victories this time (best film, best director and best supporting role, among others). And, as if that were not enough, the same year, he shot Secret Conversation, still under the direction of Coppola. And there again: three Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
Not wishing to rush but choose the projects that suit him best, the next film by John Cazale is A Dog’s Afternoon (1975) with Al Pacino which earned him his first and only Golden Globe nomination and won six Oscar nominations, including a statuette for Best Original Screenplay.
AN EXEMPLARY END
His last role will be in Journey to the End of Hell, Michael Cimino’s masterpiece, in which he preferred to play rather than treat the metastatic lung cancer he was diagnosed with because he had never stopped. To smoke. Robert De Niro then paid his insurance, Meryl Streep has, meanwhile, insisted that he be in the film…
And they were both right: Cazale’s scenes were all recorded at the start of filming and this is perhaps the best role of his entire career. He indeed gave his all knowing that the end was near. Its final gift will be the nine Oscar nominations the film will garner including five wins for the feature film itself, its direction, editing and sound and supporting actor Christopher Walken.
Died prematurely at the age of 42 – with Meryl Streephis companion, by his side, never leaving him alone –, John Cazale will therefore have had a career of five films, five masterpieces which have all marked history, that of cinema and the Oscars. He then left behind a lot of regrets when you think of the superb performances he could have continued to offer to a captivated public.