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

There seem to be more books written about the movie “The Godfather” and its sequels than any other movie ever made, with the possible exception of “Gone With the Wind”. And I’ve read many/most of them! But so far, the best one I’ve read is the recently published “Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli - The Epic Story of the Making of “The Godfather”, by Mark Seal.Mark Seal has put together/written an extremely readable history of everything having to do with the book and movie. He looks into the rather diverse crew who financed, acted, produced, and wrote the movie, beginning with the author, Mario Puzo. Other “characters” like Robert Evans and Charles Bluhdorn are also included, as well as people protesting the making of the movie.Seal takes the reader back to the late 1960’s/early 1970’s when the movie industry was being rocked by societal changes. He has included things about the movie from primary sources I haven’t read.anywhere else. He’s written an almost compulsively readable book.

Many years ago, I read Mark Seal's 2009 Vanity Fair article, "The Godfather Wars," upon which much of "Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli" is built. From it sprang a deeper interest in the making of the movie, and having now read a considerable amount of literature on 'The Godfather,' I can -- with confidence -- say that this book is one of the better, if not the best, pieces of journalism on the subject.Seal leaves no stone unturned as he unpacks the circumstances surrounding the movie's creation, using interviews with most of the key players (including Al Pacino, Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo's family, among dozens of others) to unwrap a narrative that is, at this point, almost as mythological as the movie itself.One point of criticism. In the middle of the book we get a fairly long chapter that reads like a transcript of Coppola's production meetings, likely culled from the notes that Seal was provided by the stenographer who served as a fly on the wall during the making of the movie. I liked it, because it provided insight into Coppola and his creative team's thinking at the time, but its execution -- almost like an intermission -- felt at odds with the rest of the book.All in all, worth the money and the time you'll spend reading it.

I love to read what went on behind the scenes of favorite movies (and other events of interest to me) and this book tells you everything that happened behind the filming of The Godfather and tells it beautifully. A real page-turner. I won't insert spoilers here. Suffice it to say this was a more than satisfying read and kept me content in my insomnia for several nights.My only criticism, and it's so mild I'm not letting it effect my 5-star review, is that I feel the insertion of pages of literal conversation in the center of the book between Coppola and others regarding filming certain scenes--when the conversation was uninteresting (to me) and prosaic--interrupted the flow of an otherwise perfect book. I would've preferred the continuation of the writer's narrative and his lively summary of those conversations.I rarely buy Kindle books at full price, but I paid the full price of this one and am without regret. I'd read anything else the author wrote.

The Godfather is my favorite movie of all time, so was anxious to read this book. This is such a great book, from Puzo's background, how his book The Godfather came to be made into a movie, his personal note to Brando, how Coppola started with the screenplay, fighting with the movie studio on who he wanted to play, whether the studio would fire him, his lowest point in life and the Mafia's involvement, this book is very well written that I could not put it down. I knew when I ordered it that it would be worth reading and it did not disappoint me. Highly recommend this book.

I can’t believe it’s coming up on 50 years since the godfather came out. But I still remember all the scenes like it was yesterday. This was a very informative and interesting read. So many facts I never knew. It flowed well, without ever getting boring at any time. It makes any person who enjoys movies understand all that goes into making one. You really feel for Coppola and Puzo

Wonderful storytelling featuring the spectacular film which emerged in spite ofa cast of characters behind the camera, who live lies as their essential qualification tosurvive in the jungle we call Hollywood..Most enjoyable are the glimpses of thepreparations and performances that went into the memorable scenes which we willnever forget, of which there are many, as well as measures to confront the real Moband escape its ability to take over the movie, as it does everything it wants to touch.The casting, in many cases fortuitous accidents, in my view, forms the critical mass.We see a gaggle of hysterics wanting to rule the picture when none can ever do so.Each has a story to tell of how his courage and wisdom was pivotal to the surprisingand unparalleled success of the picture..When all is said and done, the stubborn visionof Francis Ford Coppola ignited the fire that we see on screen.

Haven't we all seen the "Godfather" movie? This book describes the origin of the book and the making of the great movie (the first of a three-part series) which it inspired, including just how some of the most notable film sequences were choreographed (e.g. Sonny's assassination; Michael's killing of Salazzo and the crooked NY cop). More than that, it tells a fascinating story of Hollywood studio pressures on the young (and sometimes erratic) director Francis Ford Coppola, and on the other hand the extent to which the movie makers had to make peace and even marginally integrate the NY Mafia into the movie production if they were ever going to be able to film it in then Mafia-influenced New York City.So it's a VERY fun read, even though the writing is a bit sloppy and the sourcing does not always inspire confidence. I think most of it is true....and that's enough when one is telling a very good story, as this book does.

Excellent read for fans of the movie. So much disagreement. Coppola did well to get it made the way he wanted and with the cast that he chose. Highly recommended

A fantastic, entertaining, and incredibly interesting book that stands as a worthy companion to its subject, one of the best movies of all time. Essential for any fan of The Godfather, filmmaking, or gangster stories.

Well researched and entertaining, a must read for any fan of these movies. Quite a few revelations about some of the cast.

This is an excellent read and is highly recommended for fans of the Godfather

This is a truly ascinsting insight into the making of one the seminalFilms of all time