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Al Pacino Reflects on His Career at ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ 50th Anniversary

Oscar-winning actor Al Pacino has a remarkable history with the Academy, having received a total of nine nominations throughout his esteemed career. Recently, while attending a special 50th-anniversary screening of his iconic film, Dog Day Afternoon (1975), in Santa Monica, California, Pacino shared some insights about his filmography. He declared that he found the “most fun” in acting for Dick Tracy but holds a deep affection for his role as the notorious Tony Montana in Scarface (1983), despite the many accolades he has received over the years.

During a Q&A session following the screening, Pacino made a candid remark about Scarface, stating, “Straight out, I just say nothing touches Scarface.” He recounted a poignant memory tied to the film’s legacy, remembering the thrill of seeing the original Scarface (1931) in a theater in Los Angeles, which profoundly influenced his early years as an actor.

Pacino’s portrayal of the real-life bank robber John Wojtowicz in Dog Day Afternoon earned him another Best Actor nod in 1976, solidifying his status as a cinematic powerhouse. While discussing his diverse roles, he surprised the audience by claiming that playing Big Boy Caprice in the 1990 film Dick Tracy was a highlight for him. Nevertheless, he reiterated that his performance as Tony Montana remains unparalleled and cherished.

In his own words, Pacino expressed that the drive to create the performance in Scarface was so strong, he felt a personal responsibility towards its success: “I said, ‘I gotta do this film [Scarface] this performance is inspiring me so much.’… I felt personally that I caught that one.”

Remembering Lost Colleagues from ‘Dog Day Afternoon’

Although Pacino did not secure an Oscar for his iconic role as Tony Montana, he was acclaimed for his performance in Dog Day Afternoon. The screening was bittersweet for him, as it reminded him of the many collaborators who are no longer with us, including director Sidney Lumet and cast members John Cazale and Judith Malina. During the Q&A, Pacino reflected, “A lot of those people who I was playing with, my fellow acting partners, a lot of them are gone… Sidney was such a great director… It’s very moving seeing your old friends. I’m feeling very good about it — and I’m feeling very sad about it, I must say.” The emotion attached to revisiting old works was evident as he noted the film’s melancholic tone.

For those looking to explore Pacino’s work further, Dog Day Afternoon is available for purchase or rental via multiple video-on-demand platforms. Additionally, fans can find both Pacino’s engaging role in Dick Tracy and his celebrated portrayal of Tony Montana in Scarface through the same channels. Classic films such as The Godfather and The Godfather Part II are also accessible for streaming on Paramount+.

For further reading, visit Variety.

Source
movieweb.com