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Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli: The Epic Story of the Making of The Godfather
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.”
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.”
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First published October 19, 2021
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About the author
Mark Seal
30 books95 followersA journalist for thirty-five years, Mark Seal is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and the author of Wildflower: An Extraordinary Life and Mysterious Death in Africa, about the murdered wildlife filmmaker and naturalist Joan Root. Seal was a 2010 National Magazine Award finalist for his Vanity Fair profile of Clark Rockefeller.
He lives in Aspen, Colorado.
He lives in Aspen, Colorado.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 568 reviews
April 12, 2022
Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli: The Epic Story of the Making of the Godfather by Mark Seal is a 2021 Gallery Books publication.
This is a fascinating look at everything, and I do mean everything, that went on behind the scenes of ‘The Godfather”.
Before there was a movie, there was a novel...
This is where this book begins. As everyone knows the movie is based on Mario Puzo’s novel. Puzo adapted the book into a screenplay for Paramount pictures… and the rest, as they say, is history…
Well, it wasn’t that easy… not by a long shot!
What an incredible tale! This book explores filmmaking and all that goes into casting, and filming, acquiring locations and the various differing opinions of those involved, and the toll it can take under ordinary circumstances.
But these were not ordinary circumstances!
The mob wanted to have a say in how they were depicted in the film and put real and often terrifying pressure on the powers that be to bend to their will. Some characters were based on real people, and they too took offense with the way they were portrayed in the book and the movie. Then there was the casting, which no one could agree on, the locations they had trouble securing, the objection to the violence, and the list goes on and on. But some of the best, most memorable moments on film were ab libs, and became the most quoted movie lines in history.
The Godfather is a family saga at its core-
And this book, in many ways, was also like a reading a saga.
There was literally never a dull moment! It was one thing after another, after another. How it all came together, how everything that made the film so stunning managed to make it onto the big screen intact is nothing short of a miracle.
You really do have to read this book to believe all that went into this film, from the book’s publication to the screenplay, to the actors, the directors, producers, and those outside the movie business, which also made a huge impact- it’s all here and it’s an incredible story!
The Godfather is one of my favorite movies so this book was a must read for me. I’ve seen the movie countless times and, naturally, this book has made me want to watch it again. But it also made me want to re-read the book- which isn’t nearly as fresh in my mind as the movie.
The author did an incredible job with the presentation and organization of this book. It’s deeply researched and is a most entertaining read! If you love the movie, are a film buff, or enjoy history – or just pop culture, you really don’t want to miss this book!
Highly recommend!
This is a fascinating look at everything, and I do mean everything, that went on behind the scenes of ‘The Godfather”.
Before there was a movie, there was a novel...
This is where this book begins. As everyone knows the movie is based on Mario Puzo’s novel. Puzo adapted the book into a screenplay for Paramount pictures… and the rest, as they say, is history…
Well, it wasn’t that easy… not by a long shot!
What an incredible tale! This book explores filmmaking and all that goes into casting, and filming, acquiring locations and the various differing opinions of those involved, and the toll it can take under ordinary circumstances.
But these were not ordinary circumstances!
The mob wanted to have a say in how they were depicted in the film and put real and often terrifying pressure on the powers that be to bend to their will. Some characters were based on real people, and they too took offense with the way they were portrayed in the book and the movie. Then there was the casting, which no one could agree on, the locations they had trouble securing, the objection to the violence, and the list goes on and on. But some of the best, most memorable moments on film were ab libs, and became the most quoted movie lines in history.
The Godfather is a family saga at its core-
And this book, in many ways, was also like a reading a saga.
There was literally never a dull moment! It was one thing after another, after another. How it all came together, how everything that made the film so stunning managed to make it onto the big screen intact is nothing short of a miracle.
You really do have to read this book to believe all that went into this film, from the book’s publication to the screenplay, to the actors, the directors, producers, and those outside the movie business, which also made a huge impact- it’s all here and it’s an incredible story!
The Godfather is one of my favorite movies so this book was a must read for me. I’ve seen the movie countless times and, naturally, this book has made me want to watch it again. But it also made me want to re-read the book- which isn’t nearly as fresh in my mind as the movie.
The author did an incredible job with the presentation and organization of this book. It’s deeply researched and is a most entertaining read! If you love the movie, are a film buff, or enjoy history – or just pop culture, you really don’t want to miss this book!
Highly recommend!
June 27, 2022
"There they were, forever enshrined in their youth excitement, and inexperience: Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton . . . acting out their parts. In each of these homemade tests the actors are giddy and exuberant, fumbling over their lines and frequently breaking into laughter but unmistakably all future movie stars." -- the screen tests of the eventual cast, page 141
The late great Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Roger Ebert once perceptively declared that "It is a hard and frustrating thing to make a movie, and credit must be given where due." Ebert's crisp comment would ping-pong around my noggin more than once while enjoying author Seal's Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli, which examines the genesis and then the oft-troubled production of the epic and always-quotable gangster / family period-piece drama, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Truly, the film is one of those classics from Hollywood's second 'Golden Age' in the 1970's, and here it receives an entertaining and informative behind-the-scenes treatment. Barring the notable absence of actor Robert Duvall (I wonder if he still harbors bad feelings after his salary request - reportedly that it be equal to co-star Al Pacino's payday - was denied for sequel The Godfather, Part III some thirty -three years ago) it otherwise seems like Seal has interviewed or dug up archived quotes from nearly every major or supporting player involved in the production, and that's meaning both the cast and crew. After reading this detailed and amusing account, it really is sort of amazing that the film was completed at all and then went on to quickly achieved that trickiest of silver-screen statuses - equal parts commercial AND critical acclaim. The involved larger-than-life personalities and egos, the stories and/or moments so odd or amusing (especially the ad-libbed dialogue - see the book's title! - and scenes) that they're almost unbelievable, and the 'lightning in a bottle' aspect for the assembled collection of raw talent - it's all included, practically in glorious Technicolor.
The late great Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Roger Ebert once perceptively declared that "It is a hard and frustrating thing to make a movie, and credit must be given where due." Ebert's crisp comment would ping-pong around my noggin more than once while enjoying author Seal's Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli, which examines the genesis and then the oft-troubled production of the epic and always-quotable gangster / family period-piece drama, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Truly, the film is one of those classics from Hollywood's second 'Golden Age' in the 1970's, and here it receives an entertaining and informative behind-the-scenes treatment. Barring the notable absence of actor Robert Duvall (I wonder if he still harbors bad feelings after his salary request - reportedly that it be equal to co-star Al Pacino's payday - was denied for sequel The Godfather, Part III some thirty -three years ago) it otherwise seems like Seal has interviewed or dug up archived quotes from nearly every major or supporting player involved in the production, and that's meaning both the cast and crew. After reading this detailed and amusing account, it really is sort of amazing that the film was completed at all and then went on to quickly achieved that trickiest of silver-screen statuses - equal parts commercial AND critical acclaim. The involved larger-than-life personalities and egos, the stories and/or moments so odd or amusing (especially the ad-libbed dialogue - see the book's title! - and scenes) that they're almost unbelievable, and the 'lightning in a bottle' aspect for the assembled collection of raw talent - it's all included, practically in glorious Technicolor.
November 18, 2025
Holy Godfather, THIS WAS EPIC!!
Goosebumps and jaw drops. I could’ve listened to this for hours more and was genuinely sad when it ended.
This must be the next best thing after reading The Godfather and watching the film itself. Mark Seal's storytelling is awesome, and so is Phil Thron’s narration.
While I’ve been lucky to stumble upon some truly great books over the years, that elusive “BOOK HIGH” doesn’t happen often. So when it does, it feels like a moment that needs to be marked and savoured. Ironically, it’s also when I find it the hardest to write a review—because how do you explain that feeling?
So, I’m giving myself a bit of a break here and not overthinking it.
What I will say is that Mark Seal takes us right back to the roots—starting with Mario Puzo and how the novel came into being, moving through the key players at Paramount like Robert Evans and Charlie Bluhdorn, producer Albert Ruddy, director Francis Ford Coppola and the cast: Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton... the list goes on.
Seal covers it all—lives, movie history, politics, pop culture, even the societal undercurrents of the era—and does it in a way that hooked me. I was completely absorbed, from start to finish and loved every second.
If you're a fan of The Godfather, filmmaking, or just behind-the-scenes stories told with real passion and detail—this is a must. But the best thing is that you don’t need to be a movie buff to enjoy it either; the storytelling is just that good. Total book high. 10/10 would recommend.
Goosebumps and jaw drops. I could’ve listened to this for hours more and was genuinely sad when it ended.
This must be the next best thing after reading The Godfather and watching the film itself. Mark Seal's storytelling is awesome, and so is Phil Thron’s narration.
While I’ve been lucky to stumble upon some truly great books over the years, that elusive “BOOK HIGH” doesn’t happen often. So when it does, it feels like a moment that needs to be marked and savoured. Ironically, it’s also when I find it the hardest to write a review—because how do you explain that feeling?
So, I’m giving myself a bit of a break here and not overthinking it.
What I will say is that Mark Seal takes us right back to the roots—starting with Mario Puzo and how the novel came into being, moving through the key players at Paramount like Robert Evans and Charlie Bluhdorn, producer Albert Ruddy, director Francis Ford Coppola and the cast: Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton... the list goes on.
Seal covers it all—lives, movie history, politics, pop culture, even the societal undercurrents of the era—and does it in a way that hooked me. I was completely absorbed, from start to finish and loved every second.
If you're a fan of The Godfather, filmmaking, or just behind-the-scenes stories told with real passion and detail—this is a must. But the best thing is that you don’t need to be a movie buff to enjoy it either; the storytelling is just that good. Total book high. 10/10 would recommend.
February 17, 2022
If you love the movie and have a strong interest in filmmaking, you're in for a treat. If you have only a casual interest, yer prolly gonna be bored. The word "epic" in the subtitle is not hyperbole.
Most interesting to me was the level of involvement of the actual Mob at every stage of the process, beginning from when Mario Puzo was doing research for the novel.
October 26, 2025
Great film, great book. Starting with Mario Puzo before he wrote The Godfather and ending decades after the film premiered, this really is a comprehensive history. Some of this is so outrageous I’m not sure I believe it… but I don’t really care.
January 4, 2022
If you enjoyed The Godfather films, this is super interesting! So much behind the scenes stories!
January 4, 2026
A very enjoyable read. Obviously The Godfather is a great dramatic mafia movie. However, much of the drama behind the scene were never really talked about. This book described the extremely explosive drama during, before, & after the filming of the movie. Reading a lot of the movie’s dialogues quoted in this book brought back lots of fond memories of both the novel & the movie versions of The Godfather. I love all the gossip relating the key people involved the movie. I especially enjoyed the insiders stories regarding Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, & Coppola… Pretty awesome book!
September 27, 2021
Phenomenal look behind the scenes of the creative masterpiece that became THE GODFATHER (both the novel and the rare movie(s) that improved upon the novel). Of interest to anyone within the creative arts, movies, writers, and those interested in exactly what goes on when adapting one work into another medium and how things can go very wrong (or very right).
Read via an e-ARC from Edelweiss and the publisher
Read via an e-ARC from Edelweiss and the publisher
January 5, 2022
Mark Seal’s story of the making of The Godfather is a thorough, detailed, and totally enjoyable read. He gives readers an inside look at author Mario Puzo, director Francis Ford Coppola, Paramount’s head of production Robert Evans, actors Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, and many more of the talented people who contributed to the epic movie.
Coppola’s intention was to use the Mafia as a metaphor for America (although pursuant to an agreement that producer Al Ruddy made with mob boss Joe Colombo, the word “Mafia” itself was stricken from the script). This intention informed his decision to begin the movie with undertaker Amerigo Bonasera’s statement to Don Corleone, “I believe in America.”
I’m a huge fan of the movie, and after reading this book, I want to see it again soon. I feel that I’ll be watching it with new eyes. For example, I’ll have more insight into how the competing visions of the director and the studio were resolved (often with protracted conflict). And it will add to my enjoyment now that I know that some of the movie’s most iconic lines and actions were ad-libbed.
This is a must-read book for any fan of The Godfather or for anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes workings of the movie industry. Highly recommended.
Coppola’s intention was to use the Mafia as a metaphor for America (although pursuant to an agreement that producer Al Ruddy made with mob boss Joe Colombo, the word “Mafia” itself was stricken from the script). This intention informed his decision to begin the movie with undertaker Amerigo Bonasera’s statement to Don Corleone, “I believe in America.”
I’m a huge fan of the movie, and after reading this book, I want to see it again soon. I feel that I’ll be watching it with new eyes. For example, I’ll have more insight into how the competing visions of the director and the studio were resolved (often with protracted conflict). And it will add to my enjoyment now that I know that some of the movie’s most iconic lines and actions were ad-libbed.
This is a must-read book for any fan of The Godfather or for anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes workings of the movie industry. Highly recommended.
March 27, 2022
The great movies seem to come together by chance. Gone with the Wind needed the miracle of Vivian Leigh and the ability to survive four directors and a dozen screenwriters. Casablanca had to solve the love triangle and keep the audience and Joseph Breen Happy. Jaws needed to make the ridiculous Bruce the Shark look like a terror.
The pulpy Godfather novel had a 100 ways to be mediocre. It could have been a low budget bloody B-movie. It could have been a bloated star vehicle. It could have been condensed to two hours and lost the epic quality that was necessary. Or it could never have happened at all. Mario Puzo wrote the book with sex and violence in mind, because his earlier novels would not sell and he was trying to make money. Francis Ford Coppola saw himself as an artist and didn't want to be shooting pulp novels, but he needed the money too. The studio didn't want the difficult Marlon Brando nor did they want nobodies like Robert Duvall and Al Pacino. The mob didn't want this movie made and they used their influence to make it impossible to shoot in New York City. Robert Evans didn't want to make the film until Burt Lancaster and his production company offered Paramount $1 million for the rights to it.
Imagine Lancaster or Anthony Quinn or Ernest Borgnine as The Godfather. Even at their best they would not have had Coppola's re-write of Mario Puzo's script. To me, that is the key to why the Godfather works. Coppola was a writer that directed and he was great at both.
If you have listened to the director's DVD commentary or read other books on this film you will read some familiar stories, but you won't be bored re-reading them. You'll also learn things you haven't heard before. Maybe I'm the only one surprised that Marlon Brando isn't Italian. I flew through the book in a couple of days which rarely happens when a book is over 400 pages. That is both due to the content and quality of storytelling from Mark Seal. There is so little here about Part II and III that a sequel book would be possible, although it would lack the drama because no one could have fired Pacino or FFC the second time around.
Here are some spoilers just for my own memory going forward.
The pulpy Godfather novel had a 100 ways to be mediocre. It could have been a low budget bloody B-movie. It could have been a bloated star vehicle. It could have been condensed to two hours and lost the epic quality that was necessary. Or it could never have happened at all. Mario Puzo wrote the book with sex and violence in mind, because his earlier novels would not sell and he was trying to make money. Francis Ford Coppola saw himself as an artist and didn't want to be shooting pulp novels, but he needed the money too. The studio didn't want the difficult Marlon Brando nor did they want nobodies like Robert Duvall and Al Pacino. The mob didn't want this movie made and they used their influence to make it impossible to shoot in New York City. Robert Evans didn't want to make the film until Burt Lancaster and his production company offered Paramount $1 million for the rights to it.
Imagine Lancaster or Anthony Quinn or Ernest Borgnine as The Godfather. Even at their best they would not have had Coppola's re-write of Mario Puzo's script. To me, that is the key to why the Godfather works. Coppola was a writer that directed and he was great at both.
If you have listened to the director's DVD commentary or read other books on this film you will read some familiar stories, but you won't be bored re-reading them. You'll also learn things you haven't heard before. Maybe I'm the only one surprised that Marlon Brando isn't Italian. I flew through the book in a couple of days which rarely happens when a book is over 400 pages. That is both due to the content and quality of storytelling from Mark Seal. There is so little here about Part II and III that a sequel book would be possible, although it would lack the drama because no one could have fired Pacino or FFC the second time around.
Here are some spoilers just for my own memory going forward.
May 18, 2025
I finshed reading LEAVE THE GUN, TAKE THE CANNOLI late yesterday but I needed
some distance before attempting an unbiased review. My wife and I had just finished
watching GODFATHER I, II and III on dvd this past week plus about an hour's worth of
" making of" material.
Exhausting. Overkill, so to speak.
Author Mark Seal opens and closes his history of the infamous GODFATHER franchise with an
interview done in the bedroom of Robert Evans. There, stretched out on Paramount producer
Evans' bed, the story evolves as the aging mogul and the author view a private screening of the
first movie. We are assured the viewing in bed was just a quirky habit of the producer since his
screening room was destroyed by fire years ago.
Detailed biographies unfold: author Mario Puzo, director Francis Ford Coppola, the
virtually unknown actors James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton ,Al Pacino , the
has-been, washed up Marlon Brando, and the bickering studio brass (including Evans).
And then there was the endless parade of humanity vying for tryouts including the famous
and the not-so-famous. Burt Lancaster or Orson Welles as Don Vito. Robert Redford or
Ryan O'Neal as Michael.
Even real life organized crime figures "strongly recommended " friends and relatives.
All trying for a piece of Hollywood immortality. Fortunes spent, public outcry (Italian
American Anti-defamation League), stress, frustrations, heated arguments, antics,
threats, and the looming specter of total failure.
LEAVE THE GUN is well researched and documented. That's a given.
Seal as the interviewer had his work cut out for him. Everyone, it seems, wrote a memoir.
He was dealing with "versions" of what happened and when, as time, grandstanding
and fading memories worked against him. He did his best to sort fact from fiction and
still remain objective.
But as a professional writer of magazine features, Seal was faced with the monumental
task of wading through volumes of often contradictory material including time lines,
interviews, anecdotes, documents . And then writing a coherent best selling tell-all book.
Unfortunately, some of the book was irrelevant. Unnecessary. One chapter summarized
a pointless organizational meeting which had actually been recorded for Coppola by a
hired court stenographer: 87 pages worth of dry dialogue including 1 and 1/2 pages on the
historical authenticity of lipstick shades. Page after page, chapter after chapter reminding
me Puzo was an overeater and addicted gambler, that Coppola was convinced he would be
fired at any moment. Hours of yawning and eye-watering would marr what could otherwise
have been a page-turning experience.
Give an inexperienced chef prime cuts and the freshest ingredients. If he's in a hurry or just
out of his league? You wind up with 'Chez McDonalds.'
Overall, 2.75 stars for effort. Rounded up to 3
some distance before attempting an unbiased review. My wife and I had just finished
watching GODFATHER I, II and III on dvd this past week plus about an hour's worth of
" making of" material.
Exhausting. Overkill, so to speak.
Author Mark Seal opens and closes his history of the infamous GODFATHER franchise with an
interview done in the bedroom of Robert Evans. There, stretched out on Paramount producer
Evans' bed, the story evolves as the aging mogul and the author view a private screening of the
first movie. We are assured the viewing in bed was just a quirky habit of the producer since his
screening room was destroyed by fire years ago.
Detailed biographies unfold: author Mario Puzo, director Francis Ford Coppola, the
virtually unknown actors James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton ,Al Pacino , the
has-been, washed up Marlon Brando, and the bickering studio brass (including Evans).
And then there was the endless parade of humanity vying for tryouts including the famous
and the not-so-famous. Burt Lancaster or Orson Welles as Don Vito. Robert Redford or
Ryan O'Neal as Michael.
Even real life organized crime figures "strongly recommended " friends and relatives.
All trying for a piece of Hollywood immortality. Fortunes spent, public outcry (Italian
American Anti-defamation League), stress, frustrations, heated arguments, antics,
threats, and the looming specter of total failure.
LEAVE THE GUN is well researched and documented. That's a given.
Seal as the interviewer had his work cut out for him. Everyone, it seems, wrote a memoir.
He was dealing with "versions" of what happened and when, as time, grandstanding
and fading memories worked against him. He did his best to sort fact from fiction and
still remain objective.
But as a professional writer of magazine features, Seal was faced with the monumental
task of wading through volumes of often contradictory material including time lines,
interviews, anecdotes, documents . And then writing a coherent best selling tell-all book.
Unfortunately, some of the book was irrelevant. Unnecessary. One chapter summarized
a pointless organizational meeting which had actually been recorded for Coppola by a
hired court stenographer: 87 pages worth of dry dialogue including 1 and 1/2 pages on the
historical authenticity of lipstick shades. Page after page, chapter after chapter reminding
me Puzo was an overeater and addicted gambler, that Coppola was convinced he would be
fired at any moment. Hours of yawning and eye-watering would marr what could otherwise
have been a page-turning experience.
Give an inexperienced chef prime cuts and the freshest ingredients. If he's in a hurry or just
out of his league? You wind up with 'Chez McDonalds.'
Overall, 2.75 stars for effort. Rounded up to 3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2022
I’m a sucker for Hollywood’s Golden Age, but even when taking that into account, Seal’s exhaustive account of the making of the greatest movie of all time is a phenomenal read.
April 19, 2023
This was a wild ride!
I read this while watching The Offer, the Paramount TV show that focuses on the making of this movie.
Well done and what fun!
I read this while watching The Offer, the Paramount TV show that focuses on the making of this movie.
Well done and what fun!
December 20, 2022
Niezła książka. Zapewne raczej dla fanów i ludzi interesujących się filmem. Choć w tej książce rządzi głównie historia. Autor dobrze odrobił lekcję, ponieważ nie oszczędza czytelnikowi szczegółów, detali, które mnie momentami męczyły. Ale czterysta pięćdziesiąt stron z okładem same się nie napisze.
O wielu faktach na temat powstawania filmu wiedziałem wcześniej. „Ojciec chrzestny” to jedno z tych filmowych arcydzieł, którego jestem fanem. Choć z czasem „Dawno temu w Ameryce” Sergio Leone zajęło należne mu miejsce na podium moich filmów wszechczasów. Wiele faktów w tej książce było dla mnie nowych. Na przykład udział Sidneya Korshaka. Wiedziałem, że pomagał pokonać przeszkody z zatrudnieniem Ala Pacino. Coppola walczył o Pacino ze studiem, które nie chciało nieznanego aktora. Ale kiedy wreszcie studio ustąpiło, Pacino był juz zajęty. Wtedy Robert Evans, szef Paramountu wykonał telefon do Korshaka.
Kim był Korshak. Nie ma łatwej odpowiedzi. Najprościej: bardzo ustosunkowanym prawnikiem w Hollywood. Człowiekiem z cienia. Na pierwszych przesłuchaniach w sprawie działania mafii tylko jego twarzy nie pokazano w telewizji. To ktoś kto nie był szefem żadnej mafii. Ale kiedy do ciebie dzwonił, to choćbyś był szefem wielkiej korporacji - odbierałeś telefon i cieszyłeś się, że mogłeś mu wyświadczyć przysługę.
I taki człowiek umarł sobie spokojnie w łóżku w wieku 88 lat podczas gdy inni umierali młodziej.
Ta książka narobiła mi smaka na biografię Korshaka, ale byłaby ona bardzo uboga. Bo ten człowiek potrafił dochowywać tajemnic.
I choć jego rola w powstawaniu „Ojca chrzestnego” była niewielka, to bez niego Al Pacino nie zostałby gwiazdą a film byłby już innym filmem.
Chyba sobie urządzę jakiś seans, choć znam go pamięć. Ale zaopatrzony w nową wiedzę może spojrzę na niego inaczej.
Fun fact: po pierwszych seansach studio wpadło w panikę. Ponieważ widzowie siedzieli w ciszy po tym jak ekran wygasł. Tak w nich ten film uderzył. A potem do kin ustawiły się gigantyczne kolejki. Wyrok widzów i krytyki nigdy nie był tak zgodny.
O wielu faktach na temat powstawania filmu wiedziałem wcześniej. „Ojciec chrzestny” to jedno z tych filmowych arcydzieł, którego jestem fanem. Choć z czasem „Dawno temu w Ameryce” Sergio Leone zajęło należne mu miejsce na podium moich filmów wszechczasów. Wiele faktów w tej książce było dla mnie nowych. Na przykład udział Sidneya Korshaka. Wiedziałem, że pomagał pokonać przeszkody z zatrudnieniem Ala Pacino. Coppola walczył o Pacino ze studiem, które nie chciało nieznanego aktora. Ale kiedy wreszcie studio ustąpiło, Pacino był juz zajęty. Wtedy Robert Evans, szef Paramountu wykonał telefon do Korshaka.
Kim był Korshak. Nie ma łatwej odpowiedzi. Najprościej: bardzo ustosunkowanym prawnikiem w Hollywood. Człowiekiem z cienia. Na pierwszych przesłuchaniach w sprawie działania mafii tylko jego twarzy nie pokazano w telewizji. To ktoś kto nie był szefem żadnej mafii. Ale kiedy do ciebie dzwonił, to choćbyś był szefem wielkiej korporacji - odbierałeś telefon i cieszyłeś się, że mogłeś mu wyświadczyć przysługę.
I taki człowiek umarł sobie spokojnie w łóżku w wieku 88 lat podczas gdy inni umierali młodziej.
Ta książka narobiła mi smaka na biografię Korshaka, ale byłaby ona bardzo uboga. Bo ten człowiek potrafił dochowywać tajemnic.
I choć jego rola w powstawaniu „Ojca chrzestnego” była niewielka, to bez niego Al Pacino nie zostałby gwiazdą a film byłby już innym filmem.
Chyba sobie urządzę jakiś seans, choć znam go pamięć. Ale zaopatrzony w nową wiedzę może spojrzę na niego inaczej.
Fun fact: po pierwszych seansach studio wpadło w panikę. Ponieważ widzowie siedzieli w ciszy po tym jak ekran wygasł. Tak w nich ten film uderzył. A potem do kin ustawiły się gigantyczne kolejki. Wyrok widzów i krytyki nigdy nie był tak zgodny.
June 28, 2021
One of the most classic gangster films ever made and, arguably, one of the most classic films, period, The Godfather had a tortuous and unlikely origin. Mark Seal's account traces its origins from the brutal assassination of a Canadian baker and drug smuggler, through the novel written by an unpromising writer to the film made by a novice director and an egomaniacal producer locked in a vicious battle of control for a failing movie studio on the verge of bankruptcy. It's a story of large talents, terrible power struggles, complex politics and real-world violence and corruption all meeting to produce something that would be a culturally significant work of great power and beauty. A classic example of truth being far stranger than fiction. - BH.
May 11, 2025
For those obsessed with this movie this book might be interesting, but for lesser fans it was overkill. Extended details about producers, their lawyers, studio bosses....it's all too much and after a while it gets dull.
August 8, 2022
Any Godfather connoisseur will be well served with this repast of the behind the scenes confrontations that went on between Coppola, Evans, Gulf&Western, and the Mob.
January 14, 2022
As behind the scenes books peering into the creation of films go —especially ones that seek to boil down 50 years of interviews and lore— this is just an absolutely rollicking read that tears through the process of writing, making and releasing The Godfather without ever short changing individual aspects of it. It does great foundational work in providing a brief but essential overview of organised crime in America in the 1960s, that leads us through a richly detailed mini-biography of Mario Puzo and a potted history of the fortunes of Paramount — all of which are cornerstones to the telling of this story. The world in which the film we know came into being feels thoroughly well drawn and lived-in before we ever hear about a single line of dialogue being delivered or inch of celluloid passing a camera lens. Although Seal has interviewed as many of the main players as was feasible, his centrepiece interview was clearly Robert Evans and, as such, the tale is filtered through the lens of Evans’ input and the conflict between him and Coppola that creates a consistent thread. It makes for a compelling arc and never seems salacious for the sake of it. Great care is taken to get input on aspects of all the personalities involved when they’re not around to speak for themselves, whether that be representation from children, wives, ex-wives, assistants or meticulous reference to other sources. It strikes a very fine balance throughout, focusing just the right amount of attention on each of the various constituent elements and keeps it all light and entertaining as a story in its own right —regardless of any pre-existing fondness for the subject matter— and basks in awe at the alchemical process of pulling it all together in spite of the odds against it.
September 21, 2022
4.5 rounded up
Loved this one, lots of fun stories about the making of one of my favorite movies.
Loved this one, lots of fun stories about the making of one of my favorite movies.
January 15, 2022
4.5 stars. Put this one on the shelf with recent books on the making of CHINATOWN, MIDNIGHT COWBOY, and GOODFELLAS. Lots of great info on all aspects of THE GODFATHER here, enough for any serious fan or film student. Personally I could have done with less real-life Mafia stuff and more on, say, John Cazale and his performance as Fredo. But that’s just me. Dare we hope for a similar book on PART II?!
May 3, 2023
Przeciętna historia powstania nieprzeciętnego filmu.
Nie kupiła mnie ta opowieść, mimo że na pierwszy rzut oka miała wszystko, czego zdaje się pragnąć miłośnik "Ojca Chrzestnego". Zmęczyło mnie permanentne jojczenie o kłodach rzucanych filmowcom pod nogi, szukanie sensacji na sił�� tam gdzie jej nie ma, a także - nie zawaham sie tych słów użyć - zimna kalkulacja pana autora i skok na kasę.
Przeczytałam bez większych wzruszeń, zamknęłam bez poczucia satysfakcji.
Nie kupiła mnie ta opowieść, mimo że na pierwszy rzut oka miała wszystko, czego zdaje się pragnąć miłośnik "Ojca Chrzestnego". Zmęczyło mnie permanentne jojczenie o kłodach rzucanych filmowcom pod nogi, szukanie sensacji na sił�� tam gdzie jej nie ma, a także - nie zawaham sie tych słów użyć - zimna kalkulacja pana autora i skok na kasę.
Przeczytałam bez większych wzruszeń, zamknęłam bez poczucia satysfakcji.
October 21, 2021
There seem to be more books written about the movie “The Godfather” and its sequels than any other movie ever made, with the possible exception of “Gone With the Wind”. And I’ve read many/most of them! But so far, the best one I’ve read is the recently published “Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli - The Epic Story of the Making of “The Godfather”, by Mark Seal.
Mark Seal has put together/written an extremely readable history of everything having to do with the book and movie. He looks into the rather diverse crew who financed, acted, produced, and wrote the movie, beginning with the author, Mario Puzo. Other “characters” like Robert Evans and Charles Bluhdorn are also included, as well as people protesting the making of the movie.
Seal takes the reader back to the late 1960’s/early 1970’s when the movie industry was being rocked by societal changes. He’s written an almost compulsively readable book.
Mark Seal has put together/written an extremely readable history of everything having to do with the book and movie. He looks into the rather diverse crew who financed, acted, produced, and wrote the movie, beginning with the author, Mario Puzo. Other “characters” like Robert Evans and Charles Bluhdorn are also included, as well as people protesting the making of the movie.
Seal takes the reader back to the late 1960’s/early 1970’s when the movie industry was being rocked by societal changes. He’s written an almost compulsively readable book.
July 26, 2022
If you’re a fan of The Godfather, this book is for you! It tells the saga of the book being written, the movie being made, and the legacies of everyone involved. After we finished listening to the audio book on our road trip, we had to watch the movie!
February 28, 2022
I love "The Godfather." I would list it as the movie I am most likely to watch, if I flip through the channels and find it on. Brando is great, Pacino is great, and the film is an overall masterpiece. I found this book while walking through a small bookstore and I had to make it mine.
I learned so much about the making of the movie. Puzo and his rise from being a broke gambler to prominence is fascinating. But the real story to me, was Francis Ford Coppola and the fights he had to make to realize his vision. Did Paramount want Pacino? Surely they wanted Brando right? NO! And even the iconic music was a struggle to get accepted as well. The one person that seemed to screen test well enough to everyone's liking, was James Caan, but everyone was pretty heavily scrutinized.
I listen to the "Better Call Saul" podcast, and one of the most fascinating things that keeps me coming back, is learning how a TV series is actually put together. From the types of characters to the film that is used, I find it all very interesting. And in this book, you get to see how a blockbuster film was made in the 70's and how it created so many favorite characters and actors. The actual influence of the real mafia was often fascinating. By the way... every wondered why you never hear the word "mafia" during the movie? Read on to find out!
I learned so much about the making of the movie. Puzo and his rise from being a broke gambler to prominence is fascinating. But the real story to me, was Francis Ford Coppola and the fights he had to make to realize his vision. Did Paramount want Pacino? Surely they wanted Brando right? NO! And even the iconic music was a struggle to get accepted as well. The one person that seemed to screen test well enough to everyone's liking, was James Caan, but everyone was pretty heavily scrutinized.
I listen to the "Better Call Saul" podcast, and one of the most fascinating things that keeps me coming back, is learning how a TV series is actually put together. From the types of characters to the film that is used, I find it all very interesting. And in this book, you get to see how a blockbuster film was made in the 70's and how it created so many favorite characters and actors. The actual influence of the real mafia was often fascinating. By the way... every wondered why you never hear the word "mafia" during the movie? Read on to find out!
December 15, 2025
Genoten van dit fantastische, inspirerende en ongelofelijke verhaal over de totstandkoming van 1 van de grootste kunstwerken van de 20e eeuw; De film the Godfather.
1 van de weinige verfilmingen die beter is dan het boek. Al krijgt ook Mario Puzo genoeg credits.
1 van de weinige verfilmingen die beter is dan het boek. Al krijgt ook Mario Puzo genoeg credits.
December 30, 2021
I am a big fan of the Godfather movies and love to read books that go behind the scenes of the filming of Parts 1 and 2. This book does that extremely well with great precision. But this book is more than another behind the scenes look. It tells the story of 2 men (Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Copolla) who were essentially failures up to that point and tells how they persevered to a. Write the novel and b. Make the movie their way.
September 26, 2022
This one was just okay for me. Some interesting characters and history of the book/movie.
March 12, 2024
This is an absolutely brilliant book and is a must read for any fans of The Godfather novel and the movie. Seal commences the book by telling the story of Mario Puzo, the author of the novel that the movie is based on and his struggles to become an author, which didn’t come to fruition till he was 48 years old. He continues by then telling the story of Paramount studios which was in dire financial straits at the time and eventually he tells the story of the making of the movie. A film which was plagued by problems throughout its production including Coppola’s lack of confidence in his own ability, the battles between director and the studio over costs, casting and locations and also the involvement of the ‘mob’ itself in the making of the movie. Seal’s research must have been exhaustive to produce such detailed book which covers every aspect of the making of this classic film. The story is also littered with some brilliant anecdotes regarding the myriad of cast and crew members involved in the production. I would certainly encourage anyone with an interest in the movie to read this book as it immensely readable and is a real page turner that at times reads like a thriller !
After finishing this book I now want to go back and read Puzo’s novel and rewatch the film (again) but this time through the prism of knowledge that I’ve gleaned from this book.
After finishing this book I now want to go back and read Puzo’s novel and rewatch the film (again) but this time through the prism of knowledge that I’ve gleaned from this book.
April 1, 2022
If you like the epic Godfather film that came out in 1972, you'll love this book that explains how it all came to be, from the book by Mario Puzo, to the casting and filming and everything else that was shady behind the scenes. Each chapter had extensive great research and the writing was well done. This is the greatest movie of all time possibly but after reading, it's amazing the movie was even made. You'll read great stories involving Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Evans, Marlon Brando, Robert Towne, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, James Caan, Robert Duvall and many of the others. Very detailed on some important scenes and how they were created. If you're a fan of film, this book is a MUST. Hope there is a sequel possibly for the second Godfather.
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