When you think of legendary movie actors names such as Brando, Pacino, De Niro, and Duvall are some that come to mind. But one that rarely, if ever gets mentioned is John Cazale. In the opening scene in this documentary ordinary people on the street are shown a picture of the Godfather cast and while they can name the actors playing their respected parts. the one they don't know is John Cazale who played Fredo Corleone. Cazale only acted in 5 feature films (The Godfathers I & II, Dog Day Afternoon, The Conversation, and The Deer Hunter). He was 42 when he died of lung cancer in 1978, but his impact on movies is still felt today and I feel that had he lived he would be talked in the same breath as his friend and acting legend Al Pacino who along with De Niro and Meryl Streep (who was at one time engaged to Cazale before his death) pay tribute to him as well as actors whom he influenced such as Steve Buscemi and Sam Rockwell. This documentary is worth watching to let people know about the man who could have given us so much more had he not died so young. Rest in Peace John Cazale.

John Cazale was a lanky and sad-faced character actor who specialized in portraying weak guys and wasn't afraid to dig deep into the pain, anguish, darkness, and vulnerability that defined these guys. He only acted in five movies, but they are all uniformly superb pictures that are now correctly regarded as classics: The first two "The Godfather" films (in which Cazale is simply astounding as the hapless and pathetic Fredo), "The Conversation," "Dog Day Afternoon" (he's both funny and scary as the volatile Sal), and, his cinematic swan song, "The Deer Hunter." The middle of three children born to a wholesale coal salesman and a homemaker, Cazale made his debut debut in the amusing comedy short "The American Way" and acted in various Off-Broadway plays prior to securing the choice role of Fredo in "The Godfather." His peers Al Pacino, Gene Hackman, John Savage, and Robert De Niro remember him as an intense and diligent actor who was a great inspiration, asked a lot of questions, and gave a good give and take. Playwright Israel Horovitz notes that John was one of those rare individuals with absolute integrity and reads a beautifully poignant and eloquent eulogy about his untimely passing from lung cancer at age 42. Meryl Streep relates some especially touching stories about Cazale and stuck right by him to the very end (Cazale was terminally ill when he acted in "The Deer Hunter" and died prior to the movie being completed). Admirors Steve Buscemi, Sam Rockwell, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman are all quite warm and generous in their appraisal of Cazale's extraordinary work. First and foremost, John was the sort of remarkable transformational thespian who elevated the quality of all those fortunate enough to work with him. Moreover, we also learn that John had beautiful girlfriends, chainsmoked cigarettes excessively, and had a really raunchy sense of humor. An excellent, affecting, and illuminating tribute to a consummate actor's actor.

Just watched this doc on HBO even though short it was informative, moving, and a nice tribute to a fallen great that many people don't remember. Unless your probably a major film buff or historian you don't remember John Cazale. Yet Cazale was a good supporting player on many of the historical film classics of the 70's as with his help each film that he appeared in "The Godfather", "Godfather II", "The Conversation", "Dog Day Afternoon", and "The Deer Hunter" all received academy award nominations for best picture. The doc also tells of his humble start on Broadway as a struggling actor as he worked his way up to get noticed. Interviews and insights are given from greats like Steve Buscemi, Coppola, De Niro, Dreyfuss, Sidney Lumet, Al Pacino, and Gene Hackman. Also revealing and touching is the interview with the great Meryl Streep who had a brief romance with John on the set of his last film "The Deer Hunter"(1978), this is when Cazale would learn he was eat up with bone cancer and die shortly thereafter. Touching tribute that was overdue and it educated and informed many who didn't know anything about John Cazale as it showed if he had lived as to what might have been.

John Cazale only made five films - but all classics. The Godfather, The Godfather II, The Conversation, Dog Day Afternoon, The Deer Hunter. A superb actor, he died early and has largely been forgotten.However this touching and incisive tribute goes some way to addressing that. Showing footage from his films interspersed with talking heads of film critics, colleagues (Coppola, Pacino), former fiancée (Meryl Streep, who is gracious in her praise), this profile is excellent, highlighting his theatre career and his influence on those who worked with him or saw his performances.There is little doubt that Cazale had the makings of greatness, despite being unconventionally good-looking. He's always been an actor I've noticed, particularly as Fredo in The Godfather and Sal in Dog Day Afternoon. This film hints at what could have been had he lived.A short but sweet documentary, 'I Knew It Was You' is well worth a look if you are a fan of classic cinema, whether you're aware of Cazale's work or not.