Live fast, die young and leave a good-looking corpse. It's the mantra of the image-obsessed, hothead rebels of American history. In the case of film history, it found a reality in stars like Jayne Mansfield and James Dean, both of whom met their demise well before their time. For Dean, his meteoric rise to stardom and sudden death meant the ultimate immortal status, as his films have remained a shining example of unfulfilled promise. However, when it comes to the enduring legends of the screen, it is not so easy to grow old.

Take the case of Al Pacino, one of the finest actors in American film history. Pacino came on the scene in the early 1970s with Panic in Needle Park before climbing to the heights of the industry with a breathtaking performance in The Godfather, Parts I and II. You might say there was only one way to go after that (down), but Pacino merely used the mafia classic as a springboard for his remarkable career. Flipping through a satellite tv program guide these days, one can see just how high he went and, at times, how the complicated art of filmmaking can leave some of its greatest actors looking ridiculous.

For what seemed like several decades, Pacino held the title (along with Robert DeNiro) as tops in his trade. Though both appeared in The Godfather, they never appeared in character together until 1995's Heat (though they never appear in the same frame together). In fact, it didn't truly happen until 2008's Righteous Kill, now lighting up premium movie channels on satellite television. Some have laughed at this film as a long-overdue exercise in matching stars together, but Pacino never dials in a performance.

He followed his success with The Godfather by taking on roles that showcased his versatility as an actor. For example, anyone unfamiliar with Serpico has not seen the real Al Pacino. As the bearded, bohemian cop who refused to become a part of the corrupt NYPD culture, Pacino went miles away from Michael Corleone. Another departure was 1973's Scarecrow, an unconventional film co-starring Gene Hackman, shown periodically on Showtime's HD channels. Focusing on the lives of two drifters, it recalls the Beat Generation more than any Hollywood tradition, with Pacino delivering a heartbreaking performance.

Pacino went on to star in Dog Day Afternoon and the gangster epic Scarface, which cemented his position at the top of the acting world. But it wasn't until 1993's Scent of a Woman that Oscar finally came calling. Perhaps one of his flashiest performances, Pacino's character in Scent of a Woman represented for some critics an example of the self-parody which sometimes will occur with actors as they age. Say what you will, it is a stirring movie, and Pacino showed courage in refusing to go gently into that good night. He hasn't allowed the critics to subdue his experimentation. Who knows what would have happened to James Dean? It's not easy to grow old and continue to keep audiences riveted. Watching Al Pacino practice his craft -- especially these days on high definition tv -- you'll see that he created a body of work that's difficult to top.



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