He reflects on the novel’s legacy, how it changed his life, and more.
Read on below.The Godfather’s 50th anniversary edition is nowavailable for purchase.
I didn’t disagree, and not just because I was intimidated by that assemblage of muscle.
Credit: Everett Collection
It is absolutely true that Mario “made” me and his novelThe Godfatherchanged my life.
I knew I was being considered to direct it and my first reaction was to turn it down.
One thing I did love about Mario’s writing was that he was terse.
Berkley
He said in a few words what I would have taken a whole paragraph to express.
This extended to his notes to me on the screenplay.
I loved him like a favorite uncle.
He was so much fun to be with, so warm and wise, funny and affectionate.
(We did this for the scripts for all three films!)
A casino is the perfect place for writers to collaborate.
Often he would say, “I’m losing thousands down here, but making millions upstairs.”
He was a totally lovable man.
He also impressed on me the value of using everything that is important to your personal life.
I heard her wisdom, her ruthlessness, and her unconquerable love for her family and life itself.
Don Corleone’s courage and loyalty came from her, his humanity came from her."
And I took that advice to heart, and never did I ever meet one of them.
Remembering Mario’s advice, I shook my head ‘“No.”
My assistant politely said I was unavailable, they accepted that, and the door was closed on them.
In truth I had never thought that there should be a sequel toThe Godfatherfilm.
Some stories lend themselves to additional chapters, but I felt this film was complete.
So little by little the idea presented itself of a structure that could becomeThe Godfather Part II.
And then he would comment on that.
Not all of my ideas went over so well.
But he was absolutely against Michael ordering his own brother to be killed.
It was a stalemate for a while, as nothing would happen unless we both agreed.
Finally I tossed him the idea that Michael wouldn’t have Fredo killed until their mother died.
He thought about this for a moment, and then said okay, it would work for him.
Actually it was my sister, Talia, who came up with that idea.
Mario wasn’t sure about it, but he let me have it.
He was a great collaborator, after all.
As usual, it was Mario who wrote whatever quotable lines it had.
Francis Ford Coppola
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