The Godfather Notebook
The Godfather Notebook book cover

The Godfather Notebook

Paperback – November 15, 2016

Price
$347.99
Format
Paperback
Pages
784
Publisher
Regan Arts.
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1682450529
Dimensions
8.5 x 1.5 x 11 inches
Weight
4 pounds

Description

"When Francis Ford Coppola was preparing to shoot The Godfather , he took a razor blade to Mario Puzo's 1969 book, cut out every page, and pasted them into a notebook. Then he scribbled in the margins and underlined important passages, while slashing others. For each section he planned to film, he included notes on synopsis, texture, tone, and pitfalls to avoid. That 700-plus-page notebook has been made available for the first time in this reproduction, which includes an introduction by Coppola himself. It's a stunning document of an iconic film, and a rare behind-the-scenes look at Coppola's creative process. " —NPR BEST BOOK OF 2016 " Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather Notebook breaks down the cannoli." — Vanity Fair Hot Type "[A] nifty document of film history . . . [that] shows how he brought Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel to life in a film that would go on to win the Academy Award for best picture in 1973, excising whole portions of the story and highlighting what he believed was a flawed novel’s essence: a narrative of capitalism in America, as seen through the spilled blood and guts of one family." — Jacob Bernstein, The New York Times "A delicious dive into film history." — Ty Burr, The Boston Globe " The Godfather Notebook [is] an exact reproduction of [Coppola's prompt book], right down to the handwriting, plus rarely seen photos." — The Hollywood Reporter "Legendary director Francis Ford Coppola reveals how a cinematic masterpiece came together . . . [in] a publication packed full of Coppola's original notes on the novel." — Radar Online "An insider's view of the film . . . The 720-page notebook depicts casting notes and a new, moving introduction by Coppola [and] . . . never-before-seen photos." — Haute Living "This production diary includes . . . notes for himself and others on what he was trying to achieve in each scene, notes for actors, thoughts about all aspects of the production." — Leah Garchik, San Francisco Chronicle Francis Ford Coppola is a five-time Academy Award–winning writer and director, most noted for The Godfather trilogy and Apocalypse Now . His remarkable film career has spanned five decades and he is considered one of the most influential modern American filmmakers.

Features & Highlights

  • THE PUBLISHING SENSATION OF THE YEAR FOR EVERY FILM FAN
  • The never-before-published edition of Francis Ford Coppola’s notes and annotations on
  • The Godfather
  • novel by Mario Puzo reveals the story behind one of the world’s most iconic films.
  • The most important unpublished work on one of the greatest films of all time,
  • The Godfather
  • , written
  • before
  • filming, by the man who wrote and directed it—Francis Ford Coppola, then only thirty-two years old—reveals the intense creative process that went into making this seminal film. With his meticulous notes and impressions of Mario Puzo’s novel, the notebook was referred to by Coppola daily on set while he directed the movie.
  • The Godfather Notebook
  • pulls back the curtain on the legendary filmmaker and the film that launched his illustrious career. Complete with an introduction by Francis Ford Coppola and exclusive photographs from on and off the set, this is a unique, beautiful, and faithful reproduction of Coppola’s original notebook. This publication will change the way the world views the iconic film—and the process of filmmaking at large. A must-have book of the season. Nothing like it has ever been published before.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(284)
★★★★
25%
(118)
★★★
15%
(71)
★★
7%
(33)
-7%
(-33)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Excellent Content, Should Have Been Hardcover

I was a little unsure what I was getting when I pre-ordered this -- was it the complete novel with handwritten notes along the way in a 784 page softcover? Softcover??

Well, Coppola's "Bible" (as it was referred to in 2009's Annotated Godfather) was FFC's dissection of the novel, breaking down the scenes and noting filming ideas. That alone, with also the many, many full page photos (B&W and color) and an intro by Coppola, make this a must-have for all Godfather scholars and film buffs.

My only disappointment is that it's bound in a flimsy pseudo hardcover that's easily bendable. For the price, this really should've been a true hardcover. My first copy had bent corners and a torn spine, but its replacement was acceptable.

Five stars for the content, -1 for the binding.
97 people found this helpful
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THE GODFATHER NOTEBOOK is work of art. Coppola's introduction ...

THE GODFATHER NOTEBOOK is work of art. Coppola's introduction is a reminder that artistic integrity is vital. It might cost more in the short run, but in the long run it is essential ---fiscally, intellectually and spiritually. Against the ruin of the world, Francis Ford Coppola's outstanding work demonstrates that there is only one defense--the creative act. Bravo!
21 people found this helpful
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The mind of the director revealed.

So very interesting to see how the mind of the director works. Of course, the best part is re-reading the meat of the book itself. I'd have given it 5 stars if some of the pages had not been so difficult to see. I know they are reproductions of Coppola's original notes, but the contrast could have been corrected easily-- and should have been.
13 people found this helpful
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Since it's a gift it's a bit of a disappointment.

The book itself is incredible and an absolute work of art. I bought it as a Christmas gift for my boyfriend - a huge Coppola fan - and can't wait to give it to him. My 4-star review (instead of the 5 I want to give it) is due to the seller. While the book came fast, the front cover is scuffed with marks I can't get off including on the gold lettering. Since it's a gift it's a bit of a disappointment.
12 people found this helpful
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The Forming of a Classic Movie

To me The Godfather ranks on my all time 10 best motions pictures of all time. Although I never read the book my take on the movie was a magnificent historical backdrop of a Mafia family living in New York. This rather long movie holds one's interest with one unforgettable scene after another.
I always thought that the movie was a close approximation of the book. However as told by Ford Francis Coppola in the telling of how he formatted the script for the Godfather. Coppola details how the making of the Godfather book was his actual guide to writing the scenes of this classic movie. In fact he goes through what he considers the highlight scenes of the movie. He explains the reasoning of the scene and its relationship to the main plot of the movie.
His summary of the architecture and forming of the hypothesis brings to the reader the purpose and structure of this classic movie. The only reason I gave this book a 4 star rating is that I believe he didn't include all the famous scenes. One in particular that he did not include was the Baptism/Assisination scene which in and of itself stands alone as a all time classic movie scene.
11 people found this helpful
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Beyond Even Your Wildest Expectations

You'll rarely get this detailed a look into anyone's creative process. The fact it's for a great movie by a great director makes you feel privileged for being able to see it. Every page of the notebook contains detailed notes on the book showing how Coppola planned to adapt them to the film, giving insight into the mechanics of how the film worked as well as being able to see the details of how Coppola approached it. Splurge for the hardcover version - the presentation is stunning.
8 people found this helpful
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Amazing

Love love love. Best part is to see how copola reads things differently than you would. I watched the movies multiple times and read the books. Reading this notebook makes me see things in his point of view which makes it so much fun to revisit.
7 people found this helpful
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Coppola's nude sketch of George Lucas as the end was a nice touch, too

As a crazy person, I appreciate the opportunity to buy a book that's already been pre-torn up and scribbled in. Coppola's nude sketch of George Lucas as the end was a nice touch, too.
7 people found this helpful
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The man is a legend

For me, Francis Ford Coppola is already legend, in his own lifetime.
He was only 30, already a father, but nearly turned down making this film down before he wrote these notes sitting in a cafe in SF North Beach. That is almost material for a film in itself.
His attention to detail is impressive with notes, comments and unseen photos of very young Al Pacino & James Caan. Great book and a study in itself for movie buffs.
7 people found this helpful
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Not a lot of "inside information" like I hoped

Not as interesting as I thought and way too expensive for what you get which is mostly pages and pages of the original novel with some marginal notes. Not a lot of "inside information" like I hoped.
6 people found this helpful