Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli: The Epic Story of the Making of The Godfather

by Mark Seal

Why is it that Mozart is remembered far longer than Napoleon? Because the world of art is remembered far longer than the world of greed.”

“I realized that there was the core of a profound story,” he said, “one of a classic succession concerning a great king with three sons, each of whom had a single element of what made the king great,” he said, later adding, “The oldest was given his passion and aggressiveness, the second his sweet nature and childlike qualities, and the third his intelligence, cunning, and coldness.”

it’s not a film about organized gangsters but a family chronicle,” Bart told Evans. “A metaphor for capitalism in America.”

From the very first frame, Coppola sought to convey the main theme of the film: how Americans as a whole must rely on their family for what America fails to provide them, and in the case of the movie that family is Don Corleone.

“There is one reason that movie is successful and one reason only,” Al Ruddy observed decades later. “It may be the greatest family movie ever made.” To that point, Mario Puzo’s son Anthony wrote of his father, “He believed that nobody had more family values than Italians. That’s why they were so good at being in the Mafia. What is The Godfather, he often said, but a heartwarming story about a family with great, solid family values?”

From that point forward, Coppola would show how the Mafia and America were intertwined. “Both the Mafia and America have roots in Europe,” he said. “Both the Mafia and America feel they are benevolent organizations. Both the Mafia and America have their hands stained with blood from what it is necessary to do to protect their power and interests. Both are totally capitalistic phenomena and basically have a profit motive.”

“Always remember three things: Have the definitive script ready before you begin to shoot. There’ll always be some changes, but they should be small ones. Second, work with people you trust and feel secure with. Remember good crew people you’ve worked with on other films and get them for your film. Third, make your actors feel very secure so they can do their job well.” As he left the set for the station wagon to return to his borrowed apartment, Coppola added one more thought: “I’ve managed to do none of these things on this film.”