“How They Shot The Godfather”
Here’s a fantastic “Godfather Family Album” with never before seen production stills from the making of The Godfather. It’s accompanied by an extensive first person personal history from writer Mario Puzo. A few choice quotes including these startling revelations:
One day I told a writer friend some funny Mafia stories and about my ten-page outline and he arranged a meeting for me with the editors of GP Putnam’s Sons. The editors sat around for an hour listening to my Mafia tales and said go ahead. They also gave me a $5,000 advance.
Naturally, as soon as I got my hands on their money, I didn’t work on the book. (Luckily part of the advance was payable on the handing in of the complete manuscript or I would never have finished it.) The thing is, I didn’t really want to write The Godfather. It took me three years to finish.
I’m ashamed to admit that I wrote it entirely from research. I never met a real, honest-to-God gangster. I knew the gambling world pretty well, but that’s all.
Had a hard time getting motivated to write. Did all his research reading. Sounds like a writer to me!
How many times have you seen The Godfather and The Godfather, Part 2?