Caan Rues The Bad Choices That Prompted Him To Turn Down Movies

James Caan missed out on starring in a host of top 1970s movies because he felt sure every one would be a flop.

The actor was offered a string of top films after receiving critical acclaim in The Godfather in 1972, but he turned down projects like Kramer VS Kramer, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Apocalypse Now because he was convinced the films would bomb at the box office.

He recalls, "Kramer Vs Kramer, I looked at it and I said, 'This is middle-class, bourgeois horsec**p! This is c**p! Cut to a kid crying all the time.' I'm a genius.

"And then Cuckoo's Nest: 'This is not visual.'

Caan is still a little sore that he turned down the chances to star in both those pictures, but he thinks he made the right choice saying no to Apocalypse Now.

He explains, "It wasn't going to be 16 weeks and we wanted money... and then Francis Ford Coppola (director) said, 'Listen Jimmy, I'll tell you what, we'll live in Manila and we'll fly by helicopter (to the set).'

"I said, 'That's two things I hate - height and tse-tse flies... I can't do this.

"That was a wonderful picture, but that last 15 minutes was cerebral horsec**p... I don't know what that meant."

Caan admits he also turned down the chance to play Superman, even though his pal Marlon Brando tried to lure him into the role, because he didn't like the idea of wearing a superhero's suit.