Schlesinger envisioned a cast of
Al Pacino,
Julie Christie and
Laurence Olivier for
Il maratoneta (1976). Pacino has said that the only actress he had ever wanted to work with was Christie, who he claimed was "the most poetic of actresses". Producer
Robert Evans, who disparaged the vertically challenged Pacino as The Midget when
Francis Ford Coppola wanted him for
Il padrino (1972) and
had thought of firing him during the early shooting of the now-classic film, vetoed Pacino for the lead. Instead, Evans insisted on the casting of the even-shorter
Dustin Hoffman! On her part, Christie -- who was notoriously finicky about accepting parts, even in prestigious, sure-fire material -- turned down the female lead, which was then taken by
Marthe Keller (who, ironically, became Pacino's lover after co-starring with him in
Un attimo una vita (1977)). Of his dream cast, Schlesinger only got Olivier, who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. "Marathon Man" was his last unqualified hit as a film director.
