I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale

John Cazale, who died from lung cancer in 1978, only appeared in five films—each an Oscar nominee for Best Picture—and never received a single Oscar nomination himself, despite creating one of the greatest unsung characters in American cinema: Fredo Corleone in The Godfather and The Godfather Part II. Richard Shepard's I Knew It Was You profiles this actor's actor, a New York stage veteran who worked with and earned the respect of some of the greatest actors of his generation—including interviewees Gene Hackman, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Meryl Streep (to whom Cazale was engaged)—both on stage and in the films The Conversation, Dog Day Afternoon, and The Deer Hunter. The interviews—also with Francis Ford Coppola, Sidney Lumet, and playwright Israel Horovitz—offer a great appreciation for Cazale's screen work and dedication to the art of acting, while also covering his long stage career. DVD extras include extended interviews, along with two short films Cazale made in the ‘60s. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Axmaker)