In this entertaining and insightful essay, Mario Puzo chronicles his rise from struggling writer to overnight success after the publication of The Godfather. With equal parts cynicism and humor, Puzo recounts the book deal and his experiences in Hollywood while writing the screenplay for the movie. Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Evans, Peter Bart, Marlon Brando, and Al Pacino all make appearances-as does Frank Sinatra, in his famous and disastrous encounter with Puzo. First published in 1972, the essay is now available as an ebook for the first time. A must-have for every Godfather fan! Featuring a foreword by Ed Falco, author of The Family Corleone.

This “wickedly pacey page-turner” (Total Film) unfurls the behind-the-scenes story of the making of The Godfather, fifty years after the classic film’s original release. The story of how The Godfather was made is as dramatic, operatic, and entertaining as the film itself. Over the years, many versions of various aspects of the movie’s fiery creation have been told—sometimes conflicting, but always compelling. Mark Seal sifts through the evidence, has extensive new conversations with director Francis Ford Coppola and several heretofore silent sources, and complements them with colorful interviews with key players including actors Al Pacino, James Caan, Talia Shire, and others to write “the definitive look at the making of an American classic” (Library Journal, starred review). On top of the usual complications of filmmaking, the creators of The Godfather had to contend with the real-life members of its subject matter: the Mob. During production of the movie, location permits were inexplicably revoked, author Mario Puzo got into a public brawl with an irate Frank Sinatra, producer Al Ruddy’s car was found riddled with bullets, men with “connections” vied to be in the cast, and some were given film roles. As Seal notes, this is the tale of a “movie that revolutionized filmmaking, saved Paramount Pictures, minted a new generation of movie stars, made its struggling author Mario Puzo rich and famous, and sparked a war between two of the mightiest powers in America: the sharks of Hollywood and the highest echelons of the Mob.” “For fans of books about moviemaking, this is a definite must-read” (Booklist).

THE PUBLISHING SENSATION OF THE YEAR FOR EVERY FILM FAN The never-before-published edition of Francis Ford Coppola’s notes and annotations on The Godfather novel by Mario Puzo reveals the story behind one of the world’s most iconic films. The most important unpublished work on one of the greatest films of all time, The Godfather, written before filming, by the man who wrote and directed it—Francis Ford Coppola, then only thirty-two years old—reveals the intense creative process that went into making this seminal film. With his meticulous notes and impressions of Mario Puzo’s novel, the notebook was referred to by Coppola daily on set while he directed the movie. The Godfather Notebook pulls back the curtain on the legendary filmmaker and the film that launched his illustrious career. Complete with an introduction by Francis Ford Coppola and exclusive photographs from on and off the set, this is a unique, beautiful, and faithful reproduction of Coppola’s original notebook. This publication will change the way the world views the iconic film—and the process of filmmaking at large. A must-have book of the season. Nothing like it has ever been published before

Here is the official companion to Francis Ford Coppola's masterful trilogy, revised and updated, and packed with more than 100 photographs. The director was a renegade filmmaker who'd never made a profitable picture. The producer was hired because he could stay below budget. The star had a reputation for being difficult. A formula for disaster? No, the makings of one of the greatest films of all time. The Godfather Legacyexplores the fascinating behind-the-scenes intrigue and uproar during the making of all three films: The clashes between Coppola and the studio chiefs during the filming ofThe Godfather,the pressurized production schedule, and the project's near cancellation The real story behind the cooperation of the Mafia in the creation ofThe Godfather The worldwide acclaim and stunning financial success following the release ofThe Godfather --a triumph that set the stage for the film industry's renaissance The production ofThe Godfather Part IIand the rise of Coppola, Al Pacino, and others to the loftiest heights of power in Hollywood The creation ofThe Godfather Part IIItwo decades after the original film and the completion of video projects that unified the three films for the first time Featuring production records, credits, reviews, and interviews with many of the principals involved,The Godfather Legacyis a rare and vivid peek into the making of three of the most compelling films in Hollywood history.

Fifty years and one billion dollars in gross box-office receipts after the initial release of The Godfather, Francis Ford Coppola's masterful trilogy continues to fascinate viewers old and new. The Godfather Effect skillfully analyzes the reasons behind this ongoing global phenomenon. Packed with behind-the-scenes anecdotes from all three Godfather films, Tom Santopietro explores the historical origins of the Mob and why they thrived in America, how Italian-Americans are portrayed in the media, and how a saga of murderous gangsters captivated audiences around the globe. Laced with stories about Brando, Pacino, and Sinatra, and interwoven with a funny and poignant memoir about the author's own experiences growing up with an Italian name in an Anglo world of private schools and country clubs, The Godfather Effect is a book for film lovers, observers of American life, and Italians of all nationalities.

In the more than twenty-five years since The Godfather was released, this monumental Paramount film has grown in stature, to such a degree that in several public 'Centenary of the Cinema' polls in 1995, it rated anywhere from #1 to #5 in the Best Film category. Francis Ford Coppola's Godfather trilogy redefined the gangster movie, transcending the genre to become a complex study of power, violence and ethnic solidarity. Few film books have delved so deep into the turmoil - both artistic and corporate - that make up modern Hollywood. Peter Cowie has had access to Francis Ford Coppola's archives for this book. He has interviewed Coppola himself, novelist Mario Puzo, Paramount production chief Robert Evans, and scores of other key personalities and techicians who worked on the films. Cowie also offers a masterful analysis of the themes and the historical inspiration that underpin the trilogy.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Godfather, this authorized, annotated and illustrated edition of the complete, unedited screenplay includes all the little-known facts, behind-the-scenes intrigue, and first-person reflections from cast and crew members on the making of this landmark film. From its ingenious cinematic innovations and memorable, oft-quoted script to its iconic cast, including Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan, The Godfather is considered by many to be the greatest movie ever made. And yet, the history of its making is so colorful, so chaotic, that one cannot help but marvel at the seemingly insurmountable odds it overcame to become a true cinematic masterpiece, and a film that continues to captivate its audience decades after its release. In this authorized, annotated, and illustrated edition of the complete screenplay, nearly every scene is examined and dissected, including: Fascinating commentary on technical details about the filming and shooting locations Tales from the set, including arguments, accidents, anecdotes and practical jokes Profiles of the actors and stories of how they were cast Deleted scenes that never made the final cut, and the goofs and gaffes that did And much more! Interviews with former Paramount executives, cast and crew members, and director Francis Ford Coppola, round out the commentary and shed new light on everything you thought you knew about this most influential film. With more than 200 photographs, this a truly unique, collectable keepsake for every Godfather fan.