Cazale at Film Forum: I Knew it was You

He only appeared in films directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Sidney Lumet, and Michael Cimino, when he was still the Michael Cimino. His work on stage was more prolific, including a Shakespeare-in-the-Park production opposite his soon-to-be romantic partner, Meryl Streep. Sadly, cancer ended John Cazale’s life two years later. As part of their celebration of Cazale’s 90^th birthday, Film Forum presents free screenings of Richard Shepard’s documentary profile I Knew it was You: Rediscovering John Cazale, through this Thursday.

Cazale was an actor’s actor, who probably did his best work on stage, including ten plays written by Israel Horovitz and four productions co-starring Al Pacino, both of whom discuss their friend at length during Shepard’s doc. So does Coppola, who directed Cazale in the first two Godfather films, as well as The Conversation (which is arguably Coppola’s best), but unfortunately Cimino was not available. However, Gene Hackman, who starred in The Conversation, came out of his unofficial 2004 retirement to discuss his co-star, which adds further significance to the documentary.

Indeed, Shepard assembled an all-star cast of commentators, including Streep, Lumet, John Savage, Carol Kane (Dog Day Afternoon), and Robert De Niro, as well as Cazale’s friend, Richard Dreyfuss. He also interviews three actors directly influenced by Cazale: Steve Buscemi, Sam Rockwell, and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Obviously, this 39-minute film is over ten years old, because Shepard could never reassemble this battery of interview subjects today, because several have sadly passed away, while others, like Dreyfuss and producer Brett Ratner, have faced some degree of cancel culture blacklisting.

Regardless, the starry cast of talking heads all have relevant and insightful commentary to offer. Shepard also illustrates the film with dramatic film clips, obviously including The Godfather Part 2, which inspired the title, as well as the two short films and the episode of N.Y.P.D. that Cazale also appeared in. (In fact, Cazale’s guest-starring gig would make an interesting pairing with this film.)

It is hard to think of another thesp who made such a lasting impact with such a limited filmography. However, it is hard to overstate the significance of Fredo Corleone to the Godfather mystique and even harder to imagine another actor in the role. Recommended for fans of 1970s cinema, I Knew it Was You is currently screening (free) at Film Forum—and streams on Tubi.