The creators of The Godfather not only faced the classic difficulties that exist in filming a movie, but they experienced moments that could have been part of the script. They fought with the Mafia itself. The permits for the locations they had secured were inexplicably revoked, producer Al Ruddy's car was filled with bullets one night, and Mafia people tried to participate with minor roles or as extras to have... control.
These were the first signs that some people did not want the movie to be made, among them Frank Sinatra, who had a fierce argument with the author Mario Puzo. The conflicts were not limited to external factors, but Francis Ford Coppola had to fight for the actors, for his collaborators, and even for the music.
The story of the making of The Godfather is as dramatic, operatic, and entertaining as the movie itself. Over the years, much has been said and the versions are sometimes conflicting, but always fascinating. Mark Seal read every book and research that had been done, interviewed director Francis Ford Coppola, actors Al Pacino, James Caan, Talia Shire, and a series of people who lived through all aspects of its creation. This book comes to write "the definitive story of the movie that changed cinema."