After watching GFI followed by GFII the performance I enjoyed in both films was that of Vito Corleone by Brando in I and DeNiro in II. Of the two I enjoyed the DeNiro performance but they were both perfect in every scene.

They cast such great actors for each part. Though Paramount didn't want Brando to play the part of Vito in the first movie, they definitely underestimated his talents, which was obvious in the movie. DeNiro took a great job done by Brando and rolled with it, making it more believable that it was Vito Corleone in part two, and not an actor hired to play Vito. Both actors did a wonderful job with the part.

Which is probably why each won an Academy Award for his work.

(Only time in history by the way...that two different actors won an Oscar for playing the same character)

Apple

They deserved it. Didn't know that tidbit about the Oscar stuff though. Thanks for sharing.

The irony is that Paramount first considered DeNiro for the role of Paulie in GF. Imagine that: DeNiro in that minor role, killed off within the first ~20 minutes of the Trilogy, and with no chance to be resurrected as young Vito.

Both of them "DeNiro & Brando" acted in a kinda new movie (compared to the GF)
the movie was about a hustler "DeNiro" and his old friend who bring jobs for him "Brando"..
i forgot what was the movie's name..but it was a great one

Puzo

that was The Score, DeNiro is an experienced theif while Brando is the one bringing him the jobs, Edward Norton also played in it as DeNiros amateur partner

Well, as we all know (I hope) DeNiro also tested for the part of Sonny...an audition clip shows him doing the 'Joe College shooting Solozzo' speech to Michael.

Though he didn't get to play Santino, DeNiro stuck in FFC's mind ... probably in the same way Pacino from 'Panic In Needle Park' stuck in his mind when casting began for the part of Michael Corleone.

Apple

The casting in all of these films (save Sofia Coppola and George Harrison in Part III) is nothing short of perfect.

I read somewhere that a few people wanted Michaels part and DeNiro was one of the favourites to get it , i not sure if that is true though

That's George Hamilton .

George Harrison was a Beatle. However, he might well have been a better casting choice than Hamilton !!

Apple

Anybody could have done better than Mr. Tan Man

I think the casting in GF and GFII are probably the best casting work I have ever seen. Every single acts fits their roles and does a good job on portraying the characters.

I think Marlon Brando's version of Vito is the most memorable and what really made the film click. Whenever people mention "The Godfather" I instantly have an image of Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone. I'm not a huge fan who would continually praise Brando for his 1/3 participation of the film, but I thought he really made the character legendary. But in all honesty, I thought he has done better work in On the Waterfront and A Streetcar Named Desire, but that was long before GF. At the same time, I believe he's the trademark for GF so I'm kind of contradicting with myself. Basically I'm saying that he's great in GF but better in other films.

The thing about Robert De Niro's young Vito is that it made me appreciate Brando's older Vito characteristics better when I go back and watch the film film. My favorite film is GFII because it is much interested in the characters' development than the actual plotline (there are a lot of plot holes throughout the film, I thought). I thought De Niro had a big shoe to fill in and he did it extremely well. He turned what could of been a flat repeat of a character we already know and put a different kind of flavor into it, at the same time, the similarities are still there.

I don't think I can possibly choose because both actors molded Vito into one of the most fascinating characters in film history.

De Niro role in GF2 is the one i enjoy watching more

i first watched these movies because i was a brando fan , but De niro,s vito blew me away!and in fact spured me on to look out for more de niro films because he played this part so well ,as it was said before it made understanding the older vito better.

Without Brando, DeNiro wouldn't have had a character to dive into. Brando gave him a lot to go on. I love DeNiro's performance as young Vito, but Brando's performance is the one most remember from these movies.

Outside this forum, "ordenary" people - not true fans like us, usually remember Brando as THE GODFATHER more than DeNiro. It mean something, don't you think?