Al Pacino’s time on the set of Serpico (1973) was characterized by his intense immersion in the role and a unique production schedule that required the film to be shot in reverse chronological order. This was done to accommodate his facial hair; Pacino began filming with a full beard and long hair, which were gradually trimmed for each scene until he appeared clean-shaven for the beginning of the story.
Director Sidney Lumet noted that Pacino stayed in character throughout the day. His mood on set reflected his character’s state in the scene; if the scene was happy, he was joking; if it was tense, he was angry and lashed out.
To better inhabit the character of a plainclothes officer, Pacino often roamed New York City neighborhoods in character. In one famous incident, he was so deep in the role that he actually pulled over a truck driver and threatened to arrest him for exhaust pollution. Pacino spent significant time with the real Frank Serpico to prepare, even inviting him to stay at his home in Montauk. However, Serpico was eventually asked to stay away from the set by producer Martin Bregman to avoid making Pacino self-conscious or becoming a distraction.
The production was incredibly rushed, with only five months between the start of filming and the film’s release. Despite the film’s focus on police corruption, the NYPD was surprisingly cooperative. Two officers were assigned to the production and reportedly became more helpful once they saw that Lumet was aiming for an authentic, non-Hollywood portrayal.
Filmed entirely on location in New York, the production captured the raw energy of the city during the early 1970s, contributing to the “gritty realism” for which the film is known.
On its release, Serpico became a critical and commercial success. At the same time, the film drew criticism from police officers. It received nominations at the Academy Awards and BAFTA Awards. Pacino earned the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama, while Salt and Wexler received the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
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