The Godfather (Paramount, 1972), Second Draft Production Script by Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo, and Fred Roos'...

Description

The Godfather (Paramount, 1972), Second Draft Production Script by Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo, and Fred Roos' Custom-Bound Copy of the Third Draft. Widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made-ranked No. 2 on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 Greatest American Films-The Godfather was not only a cinematic triumph but also the product of one of the most contentious and legendary productions in Hollywood history. When Paramount first optioned Mario Puzo's novel, gangster films were considered commercially dead. Studio head Robert Evans believed its only hope lay in casting authentically and hiring an Italian-American director. Francis Ford Coppola, then a young but Oscar-winning screenwriter with few directing credits, was brought on reluctantly-and soon became the creative heart of the film. Coppola initially struggled to connect with the novel until he realized it wasn't just a crime story-it was about family, power, and American capitalism. "I finally saw that it was really the story of a great king with three sons," he later said. He broke the novel down into a heavily annotated "prompt book," charting themes, tones, and character arcs. Working closely with Puzo, who was new to screenwriting, he helped craft one of the most iconic screenplays in film history. Fred Roos was integral to the film's creation, serving as casting director, producer, and Coppola's trusted consigliere. Roos auditioned nearly every Italian-American actor in the country to populate the film's sprawling, authentic cast and relentlessly championed Al Pacino for the role of Michael Corleone-despite strong studio resistance. His instincts helped define the film's legacy and shaped some of the most enduring performances in cinema. Coppola also insisted on casting Marlon Brando, despite Paramount's firm opposition. The studio agreed only after Brando consented to a screen test and to personally insure himself against production risk. The production was plagued by controversy from the start. The Italian-American Civil Rights League and members of the Mafia strongly objected to the film's development and depiction of organized crime. Producer Al Ruddy's car was riddled with bullets, and Frank Sinatra, enraged by what he believed was a thinly veiled reference to himself in the character Johnny Fontane, threatened Puzo at Chasen's restaurant. But once the film became a cultural phenomenon, even the Mafia embraced it. Offered here are (2) vintage original production scripts from Fred Roos' personal archive. The first is (1) studio-bound second draft of The Godfather, written by Coppola and Puzo, dated March 1, 1971, marked "#8" in black ink on the cover, and spanning 173-pages (as paginated). This draft includes scenes from Vito Corleone's early life, later cut from the final film and reimagined in The Godfather Part II. The second is (1) custom leather-bound photocopy of the third draft, bound in black boards with gilt-stamped title, measuring 9" x 11". Both scripts show expected production wear, including age toning, fading, and some yellowed pages. Together, they represent a rare opportunity to own two of the few surviving script drafts from The Godfather-and from one of the most influential figures behind its success. As Francis Ford Coppola's closest creative ally, Fred Roos' imprint is on every level of the film's production, making this an extraordinary piece of cinematic history. Item exhibits age, fading, wear, and handling. The poster is for reference only and is not included with this lot. Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions. From the Estate of Fred Roos.

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