Buttmunker

1972 saw the emergence of Pacino as a serious actor in The Godfather. 1974 saw the emergence of DeNiro as a serious actor in The Godfather, Part II, while it showed Al Pacino continuing his streak of great performances with 1973's Serpico and 1974's The Godfather, Part II.

There was a lot of Oscar activity between these two actors in the 1970's, almost like dueling banjos. Pacino and DeNiro were Actor's actors during this period, and there was no way you could take anything away from them at this time. No sir. Oscar activity below:

*indicates winner
1972 - The Godfather Al Pacino (Supporting Actor nom)
1973 - Scerpico Al Pacino (Actor)
1974 - The Godfather, Part II Al Pacino (Actor) / Robert DeNiro (Best Supporting Actor)*
1975 - Dog Day Afternoon Al Pacino (Actor)
1976 - Taxi Driver Robert DeNiro (Actor)
1978 - The Deer Hunter Robert DeNiro (Actor)
1979 - And Justice For All Al Pacino (Actor)
1980 - Raging Bull Robert DeNiro (Actor)*

Al Pacino didn't win any Oscars for these fantastic performances (or maybe they're "fantastic" because they garnish so much attention all these years, who knows). Either way, it's up to you whether they're fantastic enough to put Pacino in the lead ahead of DeNiro.

But who do you figure you liked best out of the two during these years?

Jaymole

DeNiro...to me the greatest actor of his generation, and regretably, over the past 20 years, a joke.

Ash Ketchum

Begging to differ, but 1973 saw the emergence of De Niro as a serious actor. How can you forget MEAN STREETS??!!

Pacino for GODFATHER and SERPICO.

De Niro for MEAN STREETS, GODFATHER II, TAXI DRIVER and DEER HUNTER.

De Niro takes it.

AnonomusBob15

DeNiro, but they are both so great.

Buttmunker

Jeez, you're right - I forgot Mean Streets.

Lemmy

I'm calling it a tie, and not voting. Would not/cannot choose.

rexinnih

DeNiro. Pacino is very good but running with the herd on this one.

Solid Snake

De Niro...

Artman

I'd say 15yrs, 95 was a great yr with both Heat and Casino imo.

JumpCutz

Bob

Solid Snake

this....

inri222

Complete filmography 1972-1980

Pacino:

1980 Cruising
1979 ...And Justice for All
1977 Bobby Deerfield
1975 Dog Day Afternoon
1974 The Godfather: Part II
1973 Serpico
1973 Scarecrow
1972 The Godfather

DeNiro:

1980 Raging Bull
1979 The Swap
1978 The Deer Hunter
1977 New York, New York
1976 The Last Tycoon
1976 1900
1976 Taxi Driver
1974 The Godfather: Part II
1973 Mean Streets
1973 Bang the Drum Slowly

Supermallet

DeNiro had more range, Pacino had more intensity. Both have become jokes. While the Scorsese/De Niro pairings are considered classics, I think the Lumet/Pacino pairings are just as good. I'm not choosing between the two.

Buttmunker

Ah, but you must. You owe it to them, eh? (I didn't choose either. Couldn't. Not wouldn't.)

wm lopez

I pick Al Pacino because it is from 1972 to 1980.
The movie HEAT made me pick DeNiro in the 90's and DeNiro's performance of Satan is better than Pacino's. So overall it's DeNiro.

Numanoid

Really? You think De Niro has more range? I would say the opposite. Pacino can play sensitive and emotional. Did De Niro ever cry in a role during this time period, for instance?

Daytripper

Worst....poll....ever........ I'm pulling my eyebrows out here.

Solid Snake

Yeah....I gotta say...it's opposite for me as well. De Niro had a shit ton of intensity. And Pacino DID play play sensitive and emotional...can't say that about him now...well...he's still emotional w/ his outbursts...

kd5

I can't choose between these two either, both are great actors. -kd5-

Supermallet

Doesn't he cry in The Deer Hunter? It's been years since I've seen it.

chuckd21

I just wish they were both still acting.

Buttmunker

He cries in The Deer Hunter ("Nicky! Nickkky!") after Walken succumbs to his fate.
He also cries in Raging Bull after he gets locked up for statuary rape ("stupid! stupid! you're so stupid!!") and he's punching the wall out of frustration and crying.

I don't recall Pacino crying. No crying in Godfather films; no crying in Serpico; no crying in Dog Day Afternoon; no crying in And Justice For All...

GrouchoFan

I can see how trying to rape a statue would lead to frustration and crying.

JohnnyMovie

both are my favorite actor and Im go for Robert De Niro.

wm lopez

Pacino cries in SERPICO when he's in the hospital bed a refuses the gold sheild.
Pacino cries in DDA when he gets off the phone after talking to his wife and at the end when handcuffed and sees Sal dead.
Pacino cries in JUSTICE FOR ALL sort of at the end when he does his closing argument.