This fully authorized, annotated, and illustrated edition of the complete screenplay of The Godfather presents all the little-known details and behind-the-scenes intrigue surrounding the landmark film.The Godfather is considered by many to be the greatest movie ever made, from its brilliant cinematic innovations and its memorable, oft-quoted script to it magnificent cast, including Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan, and others who are now among the most celebrated actors of our time. And yet, the history of its making is so colorful, so chaotic, that one cannot help but marvel at the seemingly insurmountable odds it overcame to become a true cinematic masterpiece, a film that continues to captivate us decades after its release. Now, thirty-five years after The Godfather's highly anticipated debut, comes this fully authorized, annotated, and illustrated edition of the complete screenplay. Virtually every scene is examined including: Fascinating commentary on technical details about the filming and shooting locations Tales from the set, including the arguments, the accidents, and the practical jokes Profiles of the actors and stories of how they were cast Deleted scenes that never made the final cut Goofs and gaffes that did And much more Interviews with former Paramount executives, cast and crew members-from the producer to the makeup artist-and director Francis Ford Coppola round out the commentary and shed new light on everything you thought you knew about this most influential film. The more than 200 photographs from the film, from behind-the-scenes, and from the cutting room floor make this a visual feast for every Godfather fan.

A streamlined version of the back story, highlighting the difficulties that swirled around the production...The beauty of The Annotated Godfather is that it puts all this in context, while making sure we never lose sight of the most important element: the film... Jones takes us inside the process to see the odd mix of serendipity and inspiration that resides at the center of any great work of art. -- David Ulin, Los Angeles Times--David Ulin Los Angeles Times
Film historian Jenny M. Jones takes control of this project in marvelous fashion. We get the entire shooting script of the original film, plus deleted scenes, cool sidebars on how the film was adapted from the book, behind-the-scenes tidbits on cast and crew, continuity goofs and obvious bloopers, and a series of introductory essays that consider the enormous production undertaking. --BookPage December '07 issue

Jenny M. Jones has worked at the Northwest Film Center in Portland, Oregon, and the Oak Street Cinema in Minneapolis. She currently works in the Film/Video Department of the Walker Art Center. She lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her husband and daughter.