Customer Reviews

Godfather Companion: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About All Three Godfather Films

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The Companion is a nice book with lots of trivia, however many of the facts stated are inaccurate. It's a must-have for the true padrinophile's collection, but for more accurate research, check out The Godfather Legacy by Harlan Lebo (1997), or The Godfather Book by Peter Cowie (1997).

The Godfather Companion is, more or less, a gossipy fanzine done deluxe. That said, its still full of fun bits of trivia about the Godfather trilogy and should be enjoyed by fans of the films (and really, who hasn't sometimes wished they were a Corleone?) Perhaps my favorite sections are the heavily detailed passages dealing with the other actors considered for the roles made famous by Brando, Pacino, Duvall, et al. Some of the alternative possibilities are nicely intriguing (Martin Sheen would have made an effective Tom Hagen though certainly not one with Duvall's moral shadings) while others simply boggle the mind. (Just imagine, this could have been a film starring Ernest Borgnine, David Carradine, and John Saxon!) Also of interest are the extensive listings of scenes and actors cut from the three films and a helpful Corleone Family Tree in the back of the book. This book doesn't attempt to go into any heavy analysis concerning these films (other then to prove that the Godfather's symbol of evil was, for reasons never really explained, the color oarnge) but its still a lot of fun.

Meticulously detailed book on the production and events surrounding the making of the three Godfather movies. Absolutely essential for film students and movie buffs. It doesn't go too deep, more along the lines of The Book Of Lists, but it's interesting to see how they were all put together and who was involved

Facts and figures -- this book has a ton of them. "The Godfather" I, II and III each get a hefty section of the book, with cast listings and intriguing charts at the end of the book (the Corleone family tree, for one). The section for each movie is not a continuous narrative; it's a collection of vignettes, each with a catchy subheading. It might seem a noncommittal, "USA Today" approach, but it's basically fun.

...you could make a whole book out of strung-together factoids? That's what this book is.

Now, that's not altogether bad. If you're looking for the story of how a huge-selling novel that redefined our concept of organized crime was transformed into one of the most compelling movies of the last thirty-plus years, you WILL be disappointed. However, that's like saying going to a salad bar is not as satisfying as getting served a planked steak.

So, adjust your expectations. If you're looking for a fun collection of random little notes and items about these three films, this book suits. However, if you'd like a more in-depth look at how moviemaking can excel (I and II) or fall flat on its face (III), it's ain't here.

I read this a while ago, and it's terrific. Mostly because I can't see the movies, yet.