I love GFII, love Robert DeNiro's portrayal of young Vito Corleone, et al...but there really isn't any resemblance between DeNiro and a young Marlon Brando, so I suppose Coppola wanted DeNiro since he couldn't have him for GFI (DeNiro was scheduled to play Paulie Gatto).

Wouldn't it have been eerie to have Marlon Brando play young Vito? After all, Brando's scenes in GFI were with heavy old man make-up (he played a 65-and rising-old man), but stripped of that and replaced with youth-enhancing make-up, Brando could very well have pulled off the feat of playing the same role but in a younger state.

Aside from that, in 1974, what up-and-coming or established actor resembled Brando? Nowadays, I'd say Leonardo DiCaprio has Brando's look.

Deniro was the perfect choice, and delivered the perfect performance. I can't imagine anybody else in that role, and I don't want to.

What he said.

Brando wanted nothing to do with THE GODFATHER II - not because of Coppola, but because of the way the studio (Paramount) treated him on the first film. I'm sure if the relationship was better, Coppola would have wanted Brando back...however, he made a GREAT choice with DeNiro. Brando and DiNiro, incidently are the only actors to win Oscars for portaying the SAME character in different films.

what they said.

But how was his hair compared to the young Brando's?