On the DVD there is a special scene showing Robert DeNiro auditioning for the role of Santino. FFC was impressed enough to bring DeNiro back for the role of Vito in GF2. Does anybody think that DeNiro might have done a better job than Caan?
(Personally I prefer Caan).

Welcome to the Boards, my friend!

Do I prefer Caan or De Niro for the role of Santino Corleone? Well, while De Niro is one of my favorite actors, and while his screen test was electrifying, I believe Caan was the best choice, and the right choice for the role. De Niro's portrayal of Sonny came across as psychotic, and there was concern that he would have made the character one-dimensional. IMO, De Niro is a great enough actor to realize that Sonny had a soft side, but Coppola prefered Caan as Sonny, and I agree with his choice. He pulled off the role flawlessly.

I'm sure this has been asked many times, so I apoligize in advance.

how exactly do you view the DeNiro screen test? I don't feel like i've ever seen it.

De Niro is my fav actor,but cant imagine any other person playing sonny than James caan

Its on the Bonus Materials disc in the DVD collection.

My signature is a brief, toned down transcript of De Niro's screen test. I agree with Coppola when he said it was "electrifying."

I prefer James Caan, simply because I can't imagine anyone else playing Vito Corleone than Robert DeNiro.

I dont know but there was something about de niro's screen test that seemed a little bit off, he just seemed too much still in johnny boy mode from mean streets, than trying to portray santino.

Anyway it was a good choice in the end, caan pulled of a memorable performance as sonny, and de niro an iconic and award winning one as vito in part 2.

That's the way I look at it too. He may have been an excellent "Sonny", but then he'd never be Vito.

Exactly

Jimmy was perfect for Sonny.

I think De Niro did an excellent job portraying Sonny. However, he was a little scary. He was going for more of a dangerous, phsyco Sonny. He did a very good job at it, but I think that Sonny was suppose to be more like a teddy bear-well a teddy bear that would kick the sh*t out of you, but still a teddy bear. James Caan definaetly did an excellent job in portraying Sonny, and De Niro would prove that he would portray a young Vito perfectly as well.

Caan was perfect for Sonny and DeNiro was perfect for young Vito Corleone. The whole thing just went into place perfectly. Like many others here, I couldn't have had it any other way.