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The Godfather Family Album
As special photographer on the sets and locations of Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather trilogy, Steve Schapiro had the remarkable experience of witnessing legendary actors giving some of their most memorable performances. Schapiro immortalized Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, James Caan, Robert Duvall and Diane Keato n in photos that have since become iconic images, instantly recognisable and endlessly imitated. Gathered together for the first time in this book are Schapiro's finest photographs from all three Godfather films, lovingly reproduced from the original negatives. With contextual essays and interviews covering the trilogy in its entirety, this book contains over 400 color and black & white images.
Schapiro's images take us behind the scenes of this epic and inimitable cinematic saga, revealing the director's working process, capturing the moods and personalities involved, and providing insight into the making of movie history.
Previously restricted to 1,000 Limited Edition copies, this is the unlimited trade edition for cinephiles and 'family' members on a budget!
Schapiro's images take us behind the scenes of this epic and inimitable cinematic saga, revealing the director's working process, capturing the moods and personalities involved, and providing insight into the making of movie history.
Previously restricted to 1,000 Limited Edition copies, this is the unlimited trade edition for cinephiles and 'family' members on a budget!
424 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 23, 2023
The ultimate Godfather book!
To me, 'The Godfather' and 'The Godfather Part II' rank in the top five American movies of all time with 'Part II' being a particular favorite.
Steve Schapiro's on-set production stills and behind the scenes photos (some in black and white; most in color with a heavy emphasis on rich browns) are truly magnificent. Plus, lots of interesting articles and interviews about all three films. The bulk of the book relates to the first two in the trilogy which is only fitting as they are the masterworks in the series.
This huge, limited edition comes at a hefty price - I was lucky enough to purchase it when my bookshop was having a special sale, but it was still a costly (but worthwhile) buy. It was an offer I couldn't refuse!
Taschen has produced a cheaper version as well but for movie buffs, there is nothing like the original!
To me, 'The Godfather' and 'The Godfather Part II' rank in the top five American movies of all time with 'Part II' being a particular favorite.
Steve Schapiro's on-set production stills and behind the scenes photos (some in black and white; most in color with a heavy emphasis on rich browns) are truly magnificent. Plus, lots of interesting articles and interviews about all three films. The bulk of the book relates to the first two in the trilogy which is only fitting as they are the masterworks in the series.
This huge, limited edition comes at a hefty price - I was lucky enough to purchase it when my bookshop was having a special sale, but it was still a costly (but worthwhile) buy. It was an offer I couldn't refuse!
Taschen has produced a cheaper version as well but for movie buffs, there is nothing like the original!
January 6, 2022
How is it there is only one other review of this treasure of a book? Well, The Godfather trilogy is now decades old, as masterful and famous as it still is. I got it for my own birthday (today, thank you), a large Taschen production primarily of amazing photographs by the Chicago celebrity photographer Steve Schapiro, though the interviews throughout with director Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro are terrific, giving a great deal of feel for how all three films developed. It's not just a pretty coffee table book, though it is as large and sumptuous as they typically are.
Why read this now? I showed my sons the trilogy for the first time and fell in love with the films again. My neighbor loves these films more than any other and as he is ailing we looked at it together and shared stories of our viewing of the films this morning. I am a friend of the photographer's son and have been reading and sometimes buying copies of his books. Now that it is years old, I got a copy for $20!!
Schapiro's two favorite photographs from all the years: Brando as Don Corleone holding a cat Coppola), and the scene where Bonasera (Salvatore Corsitto) whispers into the Don’s ear.
I love especially Coppola's commentary, and his family pictures, and also the in-process photographs of Coppola with all the actors. This is a great treasure for Godfather fans.
Here's a sample:
https://www.jacksonfineart.com/exhibi...
Why read this now? I showed my sons the trilogy for the first time and fell in love with the films again. My neighbor loves these films more than any other and as he is ailing we looked at it together and shared stories of our viewing of the films this morning. I am a friend of the photographer's son and have been reading and sometimes buying copies of his books. Now that it is years old, I got a copy for $20!!
Schapiro's two favorite photographs from all the years: Brando as Don Corleone holding a cat Coppola), and the scene where Bonasera (Salvatore Corsitto) whispers into the Don’s ear.
I love especially Coppola's commentary, and his family pictures, and also the in-process photographs of Coppola with all the actors. This is a great treasure for Godfather fans.
Here's a sample:
https://www.jacksonfineart.com/exhibi...
December 7, 2020
I am a huge fan of The Godfather movies, and this book is a very good source of information about the movies. Also has a lot of pictures I had not seen before. If you are a fan of these movies this book will be very interesting to you. I like reading about things that were going on behind the scenes. Its interesting that in this picture you have so much talent and all working at different intersections of their lives and this movie launched everyone into stratrosphere from Francis Ford Coppola to Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duval, Robert de Niro, and Paramount Pictures. It really is a very interesting time. I think a lot of these actors and director did their best work in this movie. Really one of the greatest movies ever made, and so this coffee table book!
September 29, 2016
A beautiful book with awesome pics from the period of the three movies. On the other hand, I think that is a book for hardcore fans of the Godfather saga. Beside the pics (Just a few of them are rare, most of them u can find it in several video documentary about the films) There are five interviews or articles: I specially loved the Puzo´s and Coppola´s interviews and the Pacino´s interview. But as I am a hardcore fan and the Godfather films are top on my movie for good, I can´t be objective about this.
August 30, 2019
True masterpiece ❤️ for any godfather fan or not, only superlatives 🥰🥰🥰
January 5, 2020
Beautiful coffee table book that offers a fascinating and intimate photographic record of being on-set during the filming of the GODFATHER films. Schapiro's gorgeously reproduced photographs complement Gordon Willis' legendary cinematography, and the selected interviews and articles from contemporaneous sources provide a valuable running commentary to the making of these films.
A pure pleasure to read, browse or just visually savour. It certainly encourages revisiting the films - I certainly did immediately after reading it!
A pure pleasure to read, browse or just visually savour. It certainly encourages revisiting the films - I certainly did immediately after reading it!
March 12, 2026
A cinematic masterpiece that any fan of the films will enjoy.
However, reading Mario Puzo’s sections nearly gave me an aneurysm. Apart from that traumatic experience, the book excels in every other aspect.
However, reading Mario Puzo’s sections nearly gave me an aneurysm. Apart from that traumatic experience, the book excels in every other aspect.
July 19, 2023
An album you can’t refuse
October 16, 2023
Епохална книга и албум.
November 6, 2023
An offer Godfather fans can't refuse
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2024
A true gift of a book
Read
January 9, 2021"I was interested in the idea of succession- showing a father and a son both in their own time and drawing a contrast." - Francis Ford Coppola
A truly beautiful album collected of essays, interviews, behind-the-scenes stories and photographs that made me admire the making of The Godfather films and the Corleone family even more.
A truly beautiful album collected of essays, interviews, behind-the-scenes stories and photographs that made me admire the making of The Godfather films and the Corleone family even more.
April 13, 2019
This silk-and-leather large format art book truly allows readers to look behind the scenes of one of Hollywood’s most influential and enduring film franchises, Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of Mario Puzo’s epic literary trilogy, The Godfather.
The numbered books (there are 1200 copies and 126 artist proofs—the first 200 feature an original print by photographer Steve Schapiro who took most of the behind the scenes and off set candid photos featured within this book, which is both diary and
memento.
Filled with interviews, official on set photos,
behind the scenes moments in time of cast and crew and the candid photography that sets the standard for intimacy—the actors are clearly comfortable around Schapiro who seemingly has mastered a most difficult skill —becoming part of the furniture, invisible to those he focuses on.
The results are intimate and emotional; this tome is a treasure.
The beautifully presented book is masterfully crafted from cover to cover. The forward—written by Schapiro, who was commissioned by Life magazine to photograph the making of the film for an exclusive pre-release magazine editorial feature—is informative, nostalgic and humorous.
Schapiro captured two of the movie’s most iconic photographs — Brando in character as Don Corleone holding the cat (a stray found on set by Coppola), and the scene where Bonasera (Salvatore Corsitto) whispers into the Don’s ear.
Schapiro’s talent behind the lens is undeniable.
Turn the page to discover an 11-page examination of what it was like to write the book and the process behind the art of translating the book to screenplay; this is no fluff piece, the many interviews discuss the cast, crew and studio clashes of personality and opinion, the intimidation tactics employed by the real New York City Mafia, and Frank Sinatra’s efforts to prevent the film from being made, all of which deliver new understanding of the processes and often tedious requirements tied to producing movies.
Numerous exceptionally enlightening
interviews with Brando, Pacino and Coppola,
are paired with detailed on-set reports, interesting anecdotes (the studio resisted Al Pacino in the role of Michael Corleone, so Francis Ford Coppola made him get a preppie hair cut, telling the barber Pacino was going to play Michael Corleone in The Godfather so the haircut had to be something special—the pressure caused the barber to have a heart attack), frame worthy, never-before-published photography and memorable quotes from the films’ characters, which delivers more than simply regurgitating sentences of script; The Godfather Family Album is the cinematic love note of a lifetime, an heirloom
that is as much high-end gallery book as it
is a deeply personal and intimate diary.
Each album is made-to-order and edition numbered.
Priced at AU$1300 (the standard version) at launch, this is an investment that while undoubtedly pricey, for fans of the trilogy, as the enigmatic Marlon Brando said, it’s an offer you can’t refuse.
The numbered books (there are 1200 copies and 126 artist proofs—the first 200 feature an original print by photographer Steve Schapiro who took most of the behind the scenes and off set candid photos featured within this book, which is both diary and
memento.
Filled with interviews, official on set photos,
behind the scenes moments in time of cast and crew and the candid photography that sets the standard for intimacy—the actors are clearly comfortable around Schapiro who seemingly has mastered a most difficult skill —becoming part of the furniture, invisible to those he focuses on.
The results are intimate and emotional; this tome is a treasure.
The beautifully presented book is masterfully crafted from cover to cover. The forward—written by Schapiro, who was commissioned by Life magazine to photograph the making of the film for an exclusive pre-release magazine editorial feature—is informative, nostalgic and humorous.
Schapiro captured two of the movie’s most iconic photographs — Brando in character as Don Corleone holding the cat (a stray found on set by Coppola), and the scene where Bonasera (Salvatore Corsitto) whispers into the Don’s ear.
Schapiro’s talent behind the lens is undeniable.
Turn the page to discover an 11-page examination of what it was like to write the book and the process behind the art of translating the book to screenplay; this is no fluff piece, the many interviews discuss the cast, crew and studio clashes of personality and opinion, the intimidation tactics employed by the real New York City Mafia, and Frank Sinatra’s efforts to prevent the film from being made, all of which deliver new understanding of the processes and often tedious requirements tied to producing movies.
Numerous exceptionally enlightening
interviews with Brando, Pacino and Coppola,
are paired with detailed on-set reports, interesting anecdotes (the studio resisted Al Pacino in the role of Michael Corleone, so Francis Ford Coppola made him get a preppie hair cut, telling the barber Pacino was going to play Michael Corleone in The Godfather so the haircut had to be something special—the pressure caused the barber to have a heart attack), frame worthy, never-before-published photography and memorable quotes from the films’ characters, which delivers more than simply regurgitating sentences of script; The Godfather Family Album is the cinematic love note of a lifetime, an heirloom
that is as much high-end gallery book as it
is a deeply personal and intimate diary.
Each album is made-to-order and edition numbered.
Priced at AU$1300 (the standard version) at launch, this is an investment that while undoubtedly pricey, for fans of the trilogy, as the enigmatic Marlon Brando said, it’s an offer you can’t refuse.
March 30, 2025
la biblia
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews