Francis Ford Coppola

 

Robert Duvall in Apocalypse nowRobert de Niro in The Godfather part IIGene Hackman in The conversation

Biography

Francis Ford Coppola

Francis Ford Coppola

My movie is not about Vietnam. My movie is Vietnam.

Remarkable:

Born:

April 7, 1939

Francis grew up in New York, where he developed an early interest in filmmaking. During the sixties he made eight not so successfully movies.

His big break came in 1972 with The Godfather followed by The Godfather II and The conversation. Unfortunately, his next major project, the mammoth Apocalypse Now nearly broke Coppola, financially and spiritually. The final blow came with One from the heart and the Cottonclub. Coppola's Zoetroop studio's filed for bankruptcy.

He made smaller, but still artistic films like Rumble fish (1983) and Peggy Sue got married (1986). Finally, he succumbed to commercial pressure and agreed to make The Godfather, Part III.

Over the years Francis has teetered between success and disaster, every time rising from the ashes. So one can ask what his next project, Megalopolis, will do to his career.

Academy awards:

1991 Nominated Best Director for: The Godfather: Part III (1990)
1991 Nominated Best Picture for: The Godfather: Part III (1990)
1980 Nominated Best Director for: Apocalypse Now (1979)
1980 Nominated Best Picture for: Apocalypse Now (1979)
1980 Nominated Best Writing for: Apocalypse Now (1979)
1975 Won Best Director for: The Godfather: Part II (1974)
1975 Won Best Picture for: The Godfather: Part II (1974)
1975 Won Best Writing for: The Godfather: Part II (1974)
1975 Nominated Best Picture for: The Conversation (1974)
1975 Nominated Best Writing for: The Conversation (1974)
1974 Nominated Best Picture for: American Graffiti (1973)
1973 Won Best Writing for: The Godfather (1972)
1973 Nominated Best Director for: The Godfather (1972)
1971 Won Best Writing for: Patton (1970)

Selected Movies:

 

Robert Duvall + Al Pacino in The Godfather

Trivia

The original plan for Apocalypse now was that George Lucas would direct and Coppola produce. When Coppola wanted a greater share of the profits, Lucas ended his five year partnership: “It was as if we were married and we got divorced. It’s as close a relationship as I’ve had with anybody” Source / More (Book)

Actor Anthony Hopkins was asked to play Van Helsing in Dracula (1992). But after watching Hearts of darkness (1991) he had his doubts: “My God, is this really the man I’m going to work with?”. Source / More (Book)

The conversation is Coppola’s favorite from his own movies. Source / More (Book)

In 1975 Francis was very frustrated that he couldn’t get his next project, Apocalypse now off the ground. So he flung his five Academy awards into his courtyard smashing four of them to pieces. Source / More (Book)

The outsiders was made because of group of students wrote to Coppola and asked him to make a movie based on their favorite book, The outsiders. Source / More (Book)

First Coppola thought that his sister was wrong for the part of Connie in The Godfather (1972): “I thought Tally was to beautiful to be Connie Corleone. The whole idea was that Connie was somewhat plain, and here came Carlo, a good-looking guy, marrying the Don’s homely daughter Source / More (Book)

Since 1978, Francis owns a California vineyard making Rubicon wine. Source / More (Book)

John Milius wrote the screenplay for Apocalypse now and wanted to direct. Coppola planned to rewrite his screenplay and then direct it himself. Milius called him “The Bay Area Mussolini”. Source / More (Book)

Bibliography