The Annotated Godfather: The Complete Screenplay with Commentary on Every Scene, Interviews, and Little-Known Facts

by Jenny M. Jones

  To Kill a Mockingbird, 172

  Tony Awards, 133

  Towne, Robert, 204

  True Grit, 14

  Truffaut, Francois, 248

  Turan, Kenneth, 6, 33

  Two Lane Blacktop, 157

  U

  U.S. Justice Department, 71

  UCLA, 16

  Underboss: Sammy the Bull Gravano’s Story of Life in the Mafia, 70

  Universal Pictures, 12

  Uptown Saturday Night, 249

  Urzi, Saro, 152

  V

  Vallee, Rudy, 172

  Vallone, Raf, 103

  Variety, 10, 11, 19, 63, 71, 121, 150, 226, 246

  Vaughn, 172

  Vigoda, Abe, 67, 88, 92, 118, 190, 217, 233

  Visconti, Luchino, 144

  W

  Wall Street Journal, 71

  Warner Bros., 12, 14, 18, 58

  Wayne, John, 45

  Welcome to My Lifestyle (TV show), 166

  Wenders, Wim, 121

  Wild Seed, 14

  Willis, Gordon, 19, 24, 34, 44, 78, 121, 183

  Woltz International Pictures, 58, 60

  Y

  Yablans, Frank, 14, 21, 71, 213, 246

  Yates, Peter, 16

  You’re a Big Boy Now, 18

  You’ve Got Mail, 248

  Z

  Zeffirelli, Franco, 178

  Zinner, Peter, 218

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  This book was made possible by the support of so many people: J.P Leventhal, who gave me a shot; Becky Koh, my editor—a calming presence who provided invaluable insight; Madeline, the light of my life; and of course, Josh, who has been patient and supportive throughout.

  Risa Kessler at Paramount made this project possible from the outset and was an invaluable ally when it came time to liaise with the studio and other resources. Christina Hahni at Paramount went above and beyond in seeking out the photos for the book. Many thanks. This book could not have happened without you. Thank you, also, to Chris Horton at Paramount.

  Anahid Nazarian at the American Zoetrope Research Library was so helpful and hospitable, aiding me in navigating through Francis Ford Coppola’s archive of Godfather materials and giving me tremendous access to a wealth of information. Gianni Lopez from the Italian Cultural Institute assisted with translations. I wish to thank Kristine Krueger at the Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the loan of research materials, as well as the reference librarians there who were always available to answer a query. Thanks to the astute film critic Kenneth Turan for sharing his thoughts. Some of the people involved in the making of this motion picture were kind enough to provide a comment about the film: Michael Chapman, Robert Duvall, and Stanley Jaffe. Very special thanks to the incredibly generous men who shared their stories and insights on The Godfather production in interviews with me: Peter Bart, Sonny Grosso, Alex Rocco, Fred Roos, Albert S. Ruddy, Dick Smith, and Robert Towne.

  Finally, mille grazie to Francis Ford Coppola, who magnanimously spent hours relaying his memories of the production. What an honor it was to speak with the maestro of this brilliant film.

  TM & © 2007 Paramount Pictures.

  All Rights Reserved.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book, either text or illustration, may be used or reproduced in any form without the prior written permission from the publisher.

  Excerpts from The Godfather by Mario Puzo © 1969, reprinted with permission of Donadio & Olson, Inc.

  ACADEMY AWARD® and OSCAR® are registered trademarks of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. © 2007 The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. All Rights Reserved.

  Additional photo credits: AP Images 11, 13, 15, (top), 70, 247, 248. American Zoetrope Research Library 120-121, 152. Ruddy Morgan Organization 15. Alex Rocco, 200, 225.

  PUBLISHED BY

  Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc.

  151 West 19th Street / New York, NY 10011

  DISTRIBUTED BY

  Workman Publishing Company

  225 Varick Street / New York, NY 10014

  Cover design by Ohioboy Art & Design

  ISBN-13: 978-1-57912-811-1

  eISBN: 978-1-60376-372-1

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available upon request.