LEAVE THE GUN, TAKE THE CANNOLI

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 fil