Pat was sweet and funny. Incredibly talented and generous. Good company and a great friend. I was blessed to know him. He is missed by millions.

He looks very young for a 22 year old.

Even in audition, Ralph Macchio doesn't sound like he's reading a script. His delivery is so natural. How this guy isn't a big star right now is beyond me. He's a first rate actor.

I directed the movie and shot this video during the casting proccess.

My goodness, Ralph looks 12, not 22!

Daniel here is 22 years old? WTF? He seems like 14!!!

Pat was the first actor my casting director, Caro Jones, brought in for me to read. I had never heard of him. Pat came in, I was sitting behind my little vhs home movie video recorder. I said "Action" and Pat hit it outta the park. I said This is the guy. The Producer said No. I spent the next couple of weeks casting some more. Finally I said Give'em a proper screen test and you'll see. The Producer did and Pat got the job. Can you imagine the movie without Pat Morita? Neither can I.

This film is an, absolute, CLASSIC! I was 8 years old in 1984, and I can remember seeing this in the movie theater. Still, one of my all time favorite films. R.I.P Pat Morita, LEGEND!

Ralph was not the only canidate for the part of Daniel. Robert Downey Jr was among the other dozen or so actors who came in to read. Robert is a surperp actor, but for the part of Daniel you need vulnerability. Vulnrability is not what first comes to mind when you think of Mr Downey.

Thanks. When Daniel leaves the scene with Mr Miyagi asleep in the back ground, I had Ralph stop and turn and bow to Mr Miyagi. This wasn't in the script. But after seeing the scene as these actors played it, I felt that Daniel would have been so moved from the experience, from learning things about Mr Miyagi that he didn't know before, that he would have turned and bowed out of respect. Ralph understood immediately and played the bow perfectly. It worked. That's why directing is so much fun.

R I P Mr Miyagy.... (Pat Morita) He was such a "wise" ass Had a smart sarcastic answer for everything.....

Edit for KZfaq. Drunk scene was not part of audition, but good idea. BTW, drunk scene was said to be bad idea. Studio wanted to cut it. Slowed down the movie. I protested and won.

Wow, what a talented actor, Macchio is - he sounds like he's saying everything for the first time in the movie. Yet here he is almost identical to it. It is spookily good.

I agree. Robert Kamen is the unsung hero of the movie. His script made it happen.

Hard to believe he is 21 when this was filmed.

So cool. You can totally see why these two great actors got the parts and the rest was history.

Classic footage. Thanks for posting. This is one of the all-time great movies.

Not quite. Caro Jones, my casting director on lots of my movies, had Pat come in to see me first thing. I had never heard of him. Pat came in, sat down, I had my little video camera set up, and I said, "Any questions?" Pat said, "Nope." And I said, "Go." I was knocked out. "This guy is great! He's Mr Miyagi." But the producer said forget about it, we need a real actor. The producer, Jerry Weintraub, finally gave Pat a real screen test and was convinced. Jerry mentions this in his recent book.

Shooting rehearsals and cutting the stuff together gives to a chance to see the movie before you do it for real. I reccommend it. It's a good idea on soe many levels.

Director: Where did you get your belt ? Mr . Pat: Jcpenny $ 3.98 ahhaaha :)

MAGIC... someone saw something great before it ever happened. Bravo...

Just think if bruce lee and brandon lee had done an action film together in the 90's that would have been insane.

He became a father figure to everyone. He was the missing father to Daniel. So controlled and wise. RIP Pat and thank you. Mr. Miagi 4ever :)

You're leaving out the cat who wrote the story, Robert Kamen. Without Bobby K's script, we wouldn't be talking. He also wrote this week's Top Movie, TAKEN 2

Ralph is such a great actor. His facial expressions and everything clearly won him the part he so talented!

I'm so pleased you connectected with our story. Thank you for your gracious comment.

Thank you for this, Mr. Avildsen! I'm half Japanese and whenever I see Pat Morita it brings back the image of what my father used to be when I was a kid. I remember seeing it for the first time, a rerun on local tv, when I was a kid. This movie is my go-to when I'm down!

Thanks a lot Mrs. Avildsen for making the 80´s a better place to live.

Priceless footage! Love it!

Mr. Avildsen, I can't express the level of gratitude I have for your sharing of these iconic moments in film history! As a big fan of The Karate Kid, I can only say thank you for the greatness you have given us.

I'm in love with Ralph

The youngest 23 yr old I've ever seen. Larusso looked 15 in the first movie.

I just now noticed these pieces of gold on youtube. Thank you for posting Mr. Avildsen. And thank you for deciding to direct this movie. It changed my life kind of. I was 6 when I saw it and immediately enrolled in Okinawan Shuri_Ryu classes. For the next 13 years karate shaped my character and paved the way for me to get where I am now. Thank you! Bravo!!!!!

This just fascinates me! I love watching (or learning) how pieces of a movie come together, and seeing this raw footage is like candy! Both men were/are amazing actors, and you can see it in their auditions. Amazing.

The Red Foxx part of the story is news to me. And I never remember Pat being down troden. Pat was always ready to go. Whadda sweet spirit.

Mr. Avildsen, thank you so much for making this movie. It will forever be my favorite. The cast, the music, the story. its too perfect. The music by Bill Conti is incredible. Miss you Mr. Miyagi :*)

I cracked up at "fancy pants uncle"

this is epic! history...

It's amazing how Pat and Ralph even have chemistry when separately filmed footage of them is cut together. I think part of what makes the film so interesting to watch and so inspiring is how we get to see two people from different cultures and with big personality differences form a bond with each other and learn from each other. It's got to be one of the great films to showcase how positive the American "melting pot" can be. Mr. Avildsen, do you have any insight on the casting of Tamlyn Tomita?

This movie is timeless.. I was 6 when it came out and was one of my favorites.. Now, my daughter is 6 and in Karate, so I recently watched this with her and she loves it as much as I did. It's not just the story, but also the lessons and philosophy that make this movie timeless.. Thank you for your work.

See how round Ralph's face is? He was just a kid. Excellent editing. Like watching a movie. Macchio's reactions to just dialogue were very real.

Wow. Macchio was a natural. Morita changed the characterization a lot.

Awww, Ralph Macchio! He looks 14, yet he was 21 or so? He's so natural. I love this freakin' movie so much. The remake isn't bad, but it just doesn't have the magic of the original.

Look at Ralph Macchio here, LOL! Can you believe he's 21 years old here. I looked just like him when I was younger, but I was 14. He looks so dam young.

I think Miyagi's part had improved by the time the movie was cut. Miyagi wasn't the kind of guy who would say anything "matter of factly." He was honorable and direct.

Wow... this is amazing to see. These two together on screen are like the best pair ever. I LOVED watching them two together. And I can't believe I'm seeing this on youtube. So amazed right now :)

Thank you so much for posting these videos. The Karate Kid is one of my favorites movies of all time. I've watched it countless times. I loved Ralph Macchio in it. Thank you so much for casting him! It wouldnt have been the same if he wasnt the karate kid.

Thank you SOOO much Mr. Avildsen for making this movie. I hold it really close to my heart as it is a most favoured part of my childhood. I watched it today and felt really nostalgic, cause they really don't make em like this anymore. Everything in this movie was just perfect, such a wonderful job you did. Movies like these hold substance which movies today lack, which is why they are most cherished. Thank you soo much!

Yuji can in and auditioned and was teriffic. Danny was an old pal of Pat's, very funny and totally different than his character, Sato. But Danny was also an excellent actor. This was clear after he auditoned. As a reult, he landed the role and performed it perfectly. He was always a pleassure.

Thank you for sharing this. Ralph and Pat were such natural actors, this role was perfect and they seem like great guys.

Thanks for sharing this, John! Awesome that you have a KZfaq channel! I'm sure you know I speak for millions when I say "The Karate Kid" was one of the greatest icons of my youth/childhood! I'd like to extend my thanks to you and the late Pat Morita for creating one of greatest movies and most endearing characters (Mr. Miyagi) in cinema history! P.S. The remake was an abject DISGRACE!

Interesting it would be this scene. One of the most iconic in the movie. It was meant to be broken into several takes with multiple angles, but Morita and Macchio were bringing it so strong, they kept it as one, long, continuous take from one angle.

I understand exactly where you're coming from. His passing was a big, big piece of our childhood gone.

Thanks For posting. He always looked so YOUNG. I didn't know (in the movie) his parent's were divorced. I thought his father died, ot took off (left)

Wonderful movie and great casting. I enjoyed watching this when I was young and through the years and now enjoy watching it with my two young son's. Thank you!

Thank you for uploading this. This is history of one of the most beloved movies in the making. THUMBS UP

Mr. Avildsen, It is an honor to be able to comment to you about this film. When I watch this film I see a relationship between two people who are very different but somehow connect because they seem to need each other. The wise man and young boy light up the screen with a realism that just always moved me. As I get older I remember how impatient I was when I was young. I'm getting to the age(42) where I can relate to both characters and It makes me love this story even more. Wonderful movie!!!!

thanks for putting this up mr. avildsen! what a treat for us fans. i grew up watching this. one of the BEST films of all time!

John I LOVE that you put up all these amazing never before seen videos from all time classics!!! Thank You.... Please keep these up for us forever :)

wow.... great piece of film history, thanks for sharing this....

Excellent! One can appreciate the strong writing and the acting involved in this film.

Thanks so much for not only sharing this, but for giving us these great movies. I just got done watching the 3 of them for old times sake and to me, they're timeless, the first 2 in particular. These were a big part of my childhood. I remember being so sad after hearing of Pat Morita's passing. Mr Miyagi was one of my favourite movie characters of all time growing up, and as others have said I really couldn't imagine anybody else playing the roles other than Pat and Ralph. Thanks again.

Thanks for sharing this and making such a timeless film. Karate Kid is one of my all-time top 5 favorite movies. In the past 6 months I've had the opportunity to meet Ralph and Billy who were absolutely perfect for the parts and great people in real-life too!

This is so awesome, thank you for sharing this!

Funny that Ralph Macchio makes mention of Rocky since John Avildsen directed Rocky & Karate Kid..

this is beautiful, john. thank you for sharing. brings a tear to my eye... xo

My friend went to Los Angeles a year ago and I got him to take some pics for me in front of South Seas which is still in Reseda and also the school which is now used apparently as an ESL school.We live in Canada and he knows what a huge fan I am.Thank you so much for posting this for the fans!Much Love!

SERIOUSLY ONE OF MY FAVORITES

Mr. Avildsen, thank you for sharing these hidden treasures with us! The Karate Kid is one of mine & hubby's all-time favorite movies, & it's a real treat to see what happened behind the scenes. All three movies tell a great story. And may I say that Ralph Macchio was my tween/teen crush back in the 80's. Too cute for the eyes.

Thank you very much for these KK archives, which give us a look into the creative process. Slate just did an article pointing to these, so you'll probably see an increase in comments.

Thank you so much for this, Mr. Avildsen!

Thank you for the great memories, Mr Avildsen.

This is great. I watched the videos (this and the rehearsals and besides being a !great treasure! to all the fans it is also a great lesson in the art of filmmaking and how to achieve fantastic results. The movie is very rich in landscapes, with fantastic camera work, vibrant colors and compositions! Great team work! Thank you very much John! I'm a young filmmaker I really think you're a great teacher!

Thank you so much for sharing. This movie means a lot to me. In third grade I had a japanese American teacher who was not only my teacher in school. But an early life mentor. In June I'll be flying to Japan to fulfill my dream of visiting the land of his bloodline. To pay tribute to him.

This is phenomenal. Thank you. Not just for this video. But yours, Bill's, and Pat's efforts at the core of this. Pardon me for names I don't know that I'm leaving out.

absolutely perfect choices.

Such a great movie. I liked all three of them. I really think the third movie doesnt get the credit it deserves. The pack of bad guys had such great charisma! Always makes me smile when I watch it.

The cast was perfection.

It's so weird to hear THE Mr. Miyagi use first-person "I" instead of "Miyagi" in reference to himself. Far out. You made one of the films that was such a huge part of my childhood. I know it's "just a movie", but it's stayed with me (all of them, really) all this time. When Pat Morita passed in 2005, it was kind of like losing an uncle. I mourned a guy I never met. That's what iconic films do, I guess. Thanks so much for making these. They're a hell of a legacy.

Awesome. Thanks for the upload!

i LOVE this series!!!!!

Very cool...thanks for sharing.

Great movie. Just one question for Mr. Miyagi: if there are no bad students, where do the bad teachers come from?

Thank you.

Thank you Director John G. Avildsen in sharing this video.

Cool. Very underrated actors.

Daniel was actually in his early 20's here...A lot of people thought he was a little kid...

Thank you so much for sharing with us, my all time favorite movie..great memories! Still watching today over and over! My question is was Ralph the only audtion for Daniel? Thanks again for the inside look of one of the best ever!

I love how pat talks in the 3rd person.

One of the best Movies ever! The karated kid from 2010 can´t mess up with that even if Jackie Can is in it!

can u belive that ralph was 22 at the time

There's a good interview here on YT where Pat Morita tells the story of how he was cast as Miyagi. He's very complimentary of Mr. Avildsen and Mr. Weintraub.

love it!

He is soooo cute!

OMG YES!!! This isn't just a movie but in the right hands a damn good trilogy. Miyagi though the years. Great idea man.

Awesome share, thank you!

I wanna see the guys who did not get the parts.

Absolutely. I've always thought that an interesting movie would be if Daniel were to in turn teach his Karate to a new kid.

John you are one of the best directors in history. Rocky is artwork and Karate Kid is Rocky;s legacy

Priceless...