Crazy Facts About the Godfather Marlon Brando used cotton balls in his cheeks to play Don Vito Corleone. True False None The horse’s head in the infamous bed scene was a real one. True False None Al Pacino was the first choice to play Michael Corleone True False None The Godfather was based on a novel by Mario Puzo. True False None The studio originally wanted The Godfather to be set in the 1970s. True False None Time's up Most Popular Most Popular