This is an I-Heart podcast.

And we continue with Our American Stories.

It's a well-known bit of movie trivia that all five films in which actor John

Cazel appeared were nominated for Best Picture. Three of them received the Oscar. Furthermore,

he appeared posthumously in archival footage in The Godfather Part 3, which was also nominated

for Best Picture, maintaining

his perfect record. He's the only actor in American history to have this distinction.

John Cazale played one of the most iconic characters in film history, Frato Corleone,

from the Godfather. Yet today most people don't even know his name.

Here to tell this story is John Joe Powers, author of a small perfection,

John Cazal, and The Art of Acting.

Let's take a listen.

Even though it's been 50 years, I still remember the first moment I saw John Kuzal.

I had gone like most of the planet had gone to see The Godfather,

a movie that had exploded onto the popular culture.

If you were a young actor in the 70s, as I was, it was mandatory viewing because it showcased the once and future legends of film acting.

Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duval, James Kahn, Talia Shire, Diane Keaton, so many who would go on to other great performances.

In the opening wedding scene, we're introduced to the main players in the film.

One by one, the major characters are featured for a moment or two, which brilliantly sets up the story.

The last of them we meet is Frito, naturally. In a family of strong, determined men, he's the weak one, the run to the litter, he's the forgotten one.

I remember when the camera finally fell on John Cazal as Frado, I immediately thought, who is this

guy? In a scene populated by so many wonderful actors,

...