The Annotated Godfather

“It’s like seeing the movie all over again, but with Francis Ford Coppola sitting next to you on the couch.” —Daniel Okrent, Fortune Magazine

The Annotated Godfather

The Complete Screenplay

By Jenny M. Jones

with commentary on every scene, interviews, and little-known facts

The illustrated and fully authorized edition of the complete screenplay of The Godfather.

“Jones offers a streamlined version of the backstory, highlighting the difficulties that swirled around the production. The beauty of The Annotated Godfather is that it puts all this in context…. It’s a delicate dance, but she pulls it off, allowing us to see it fresh after all these years.”

—David Ulin, The Los Angeles Times

The Godfather is one of the greatest movies ever made—celebrated for its brilliant cinematic innovations and unforgettable script to its magnificent cast. Yet the history of its creation is so chaotic, so turbulent, that one cannot help but marvel at the seemingly insurmountable odds that had to be overcome for the film to make it to the silver screen, let alone to become a cinematic masterpiece that continues to captivate viewers more than four decades after its release.

The Annotated Godfather presents all the little-known details and off-screen intrigue surrounding this landmark film, including:

• The complete screenplay (with scenes that didn’t make the cut)
• Technical details about filming and locations
• Interviews with former Paramount Pictures executives, cast, crewmembers, and director Francis Ford Coppola
• Tales from the set, including arguments, accidents, and practical jokes
• Profiles of the actors and how they were cast
• Goofs and gaffes that made it into the film
• More than 200 stills, behind-the-scenes photographs, and cutting room-floor gems
• and much more

Excerpt: Casting the Don

“The casting of the title character from the novel was quite contentious. A plethora of actors were interviewed for the part, including Ernest Borgnine, Anthony Quinn, and Raf Vallone. Every older Italian actor in existence was considered. Two actors who were in contention but then hired for smaller parts in the picture were Richard Conte (Barzini) and John Marley (Woltz), who had appeared in Paramount’s extremely successful Love Story. Evans had the idea of Sophia Loren’s husband, producer Carlo Ponti. Coppola pointed out that he spoke like an Italian, but not a New Yorker. Besides, he wasn’t well-known enough. George C. Scott was also at the top of the list. Even Frank  Sinatra was rumored to want to play him. Of course, Marlon Brando finally got the part, over strenuous Paramount objections. The role garnered him an Academy Award® and a firm place in film history.”