Francis Ford Coppola – Wikipedia

Francis Ford Coppola (Detroit, April 7, 1939) is an American director, screenwriter and film producer.

It is considered one of the best directors in the history of cinema, and together with colleagues such as Steven Spielberg, Michael Cimino, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas and Brian De Palma, he contributed decisively to the birth of the new Hollywood, consecrating himself as a prestige author having directed films like The Godfather , The conversation , The Godfather – Part II , Apocalypse Now, the godfather – Part III It is Bram Stoker Dracula .

It is one of the only ten filmmakers awarded both of the Oscar winner to the best original script and that of the best non -original screenplay together with Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett, Paddy Chayefsky, Horton Foote, William Goldman, Robert Benton, Bo Goldman and the Coen brothers. Coppola triumph in the first category in 1971 (together with Edmund H. North) for having scripted Patton, steel general , and in the second to the editions of 1973 and 1975 thanks to the Scriptures de The Godfather It is The Godfather – Part II (both alongside Mario Puzo). For the latter, he also obtained the awards for best director and best film. In 2011 he was awarded the sixth statuette, the Irving memory prize G. Thalberg. He also won 6 Golden Globe, 3 David di Donatello, 2 Palme d’oro, 1 BAFTA prize and received the golden lion for his career at the International Film Festival in 1992.

The origins, adolescence and youth [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

Francis Ford Coppola was born in Detroit, Michigan, April 7, 1939, second son of the three children of Carmine Coppola, a composer and New York conductor (1910-1991), at the time employed as a Flautist at the Detroit symphonic orchestra , son of Italian immigrants (Agostino Coppola and Maria Zaza), originally from Bernalda, (in the province of Matera), ^{[first] [2]} and of Italy Pennino (1912-2004), also New York, daughter in turn of Italian parents from Naples, the composer Francesco Pennino (1880-1952), also owner of a cinema in Brooklyn and importer of Italian films, And his wife Anna Giaquinto. ^[3] Her brother August, professor of literature, is the father of actor Nicolas Cage, while his sister is another well -known actress, Talia Shire, mother of actor Jason Schwartzman and singer Robert Carmine.

Coppola received the second name in honor of Henry Ford, not only because he was born at the Henry Ford Hospital , but also because his father, musician, was connected to the car factory of the same name. When Francis was born, in fact, his father was flutist, arranger and conductor for “The Ford Sunday Evening Hour”, a evening radio series of concert music lasting an hour sponsored by the Ford Motor Company. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

Francis’s childhood was marked by Poliomielite, who forced him to home for long periods, during which he developed the passion for puppet theater and made, starting from the age of 10, the first amateur films with the camera from 8 mm of his father. Two years after his birth, his father was called as the main flutist for the NBC Symphony Orchestra , and the family moved to New York, settling in Woodside. ^{[5] [6] [7]} Coppola was passionate about the theater ^[8] After, at the age of 15, he went to see the theatrical version of A tram called desire With Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh ^[9]

As for the Coppola school period, he was a mediocre student, but he was very interested in engineering and technology. Initially directed towards his musical career, he later won a scholarship at the Military Academy of New York ^[ten] . Coppola attended 23 different schools ^[11] , before graduating from the North High School ^[twelfth] . Coppola schoolmates were James Caan, Lainie Kazan and Joe Frank. ^{[twelfth] [13]}

In addition to the musical career, under pressure from his brother August ^[8] , Coppola also tried his writer’s career. In 1960 Coppola graduated in the theater from Hofstra University, and then studied Cinematography at the UCLA, where he made numerous short films and short films. Here, among other things, he met the future singer Jim Morrison.

First experiences [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

At the beginning of the sixties he began his career as a director, when Roger Corman chooses him as his assistant and hires him to direct the low -cost movie Tonight for Sure in 1962. It is certainly not a dizzying film, and in fact the criticisms are not so flattering ^{[twelfth] [14]} , but as a debut Coppola is very satisfied ^[11] . Of the film Francis, as well as director is also a screenwriter (together with Jerry Shaffer).

From that moment he began his career making low cost films with Roger Corman and also began to write numerous scripts ^{[11] [15]} . After Tonight for Sure The second film directed and scripted by Coppola is horror Terror at the 13th hour of 1963. The film is nothing more than a reworking of Charles Hannawalt’s novel ^[twelfth] , director of the photography of the film. This film gets the most success of the first, however Coppola decides to take a break period ^[16] .

After three years of silence, in 1966 he participated as a screenwriter in the film Paris burns? , the first film in which he takes part that he has known actors in the cast, namely Jean-Paul Belmondo and Alain Delon ^[17] . He also writes the script of This girl is of everyone , film released the same year ^[twelfth] .

In 1967 he returned behind the camera, writing the film Throw Bernardo! . The film gets a good success, also obtaining an Oscar nomination for the best supporting actress in Geraldine Page ^[twelfth] . Then make the feature film On the wings of the rainbow With Fred Astaire (it is the first Coppola film that features a famous actor), while in 1969 he directs James Caan and Robert Duvall in I don’t get home tonight ^[18] . The latter in particular gets great praises from criticism.

The first successes to the Oscars e The Godfather [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

In 1970 Coppola, together with Edmund H. North, wrote the screenplay for Patton, steel general , played by George C. Scott ^[19] . Thanks to this film Coppola wins its first Oscar for the best screenplay, while the film wins 7 Oscar awards in total ^[20] . Despite this, the consecration arrived a few years later.

In fact, in 1971 the Paramount called Francis Ford Coppola to direct the new film The Godfather , taken from the novel of the same name by Mario Puzo ^[21] . Coppola has repeatedly revealed that this film has been the most difficult to make of his career, due to the numerous contrasts with the production relating to the director’s casting choices. ^[22] In fact, Coppola, contacted only after the refusal of directors such as Sergio Leone, Elia Kazan and Arthur Penn, accepted the assignment and chose Marlon Brando as the leading actor, then in decline and considered a black beast in the Hollywood environment, with which the first contrasts with production. The producer Robert Evans accepted Brando’s engagement only on condition that the actor signed a contract that presented some clauses that the actor should have respected. Another reason for discussion was the choice by Coppola to write the then unknown to Pacino for the role of Michael Corleone, for whom Paramount would have seen other actors better such as Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford, who does not According to Coppola, they had the aspect attributable to the Sicilians. Coppola arrived almost on the point of being fired for choosing Al Pacino, that the production considered low and not suitable for the role, but in the end it had the best again. ^[21] The choice of the location created a further contrast between the director and the production, which would have preferred to turn all the scenes in the studio for budget needs, while Coppola decided to move the filming from New York to Savoca at the beginning of summer 1971, causing A considerable overflow of costs. ^[22]

Released all over the world on March 15, 1972, the film achieves amazing success at the box office, collecting 86 million dollars in the United States, literally shattering the Kolossal record Gone With the Wind , which had resisted for over 30 years, while at the end of the programming it grossed over 250 million dollars globally ^[23] . To date The Godfather it has grossed around the world 1,144,234,000 dollars ^[24] . It was a real surprise for the production house. The criticism also praised the film, calling it the most beautiful focused on the loyal activities of the mafia and the cultural impact left by the film in the collective imagination will remain in history, with the numerous called mafia and some key scenes (such as that of the horse head, Or Sonny’s death) remained indelible still today, to the point of being mentioned in numerous other successful films in the years to come.

The film received 10 Oscar nominations, winning three: best film for Albert S. Ruddy, best non -original screenplay for Coppola and Mario Puzo, best actor to Marlon Brando (however the actor refused the prize, disagree with the abuse of the world of Hollywood towards Native Americans). In addition to the Oscars, the film wins other international awards such as the Golden Globe, Kansas City Film Festival, David di Donatello, British Academy Film and Television Awards, New York Film Critics Circle Award, and many other minor awards.

The film was chosen by the American Film Institute as the second best film ever, later Fourth power by Orson Welles but before Casablanca .

The golden years [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

After signing the script de Il Grande Gatsby , in 1973 Coppola began the production of his new cinematographic “creature”. He directs, writes the script and, for the first time, he is also the producer of the film The conversation . The film focuses on the life of a private investigator forced to run against time to save the lives of many people, and sees in the role of protagonist an already well -known Hackman Gene, in one of his most famous and remembered roles. Other interpreters are again John Cazale, Frederic Forrest, a young Harrison Ford, and a cameo by Robert Duvall.

Coppola repeatedly mentioned as a source of inspiration for the film Blow-Up by Michelangelo Antonioni, as regards the theme of the more or less random discovery of a crime through technology; In addition, at the beginning of the film, there is a quote concerning the presence of a mime. Another influence often cited by Coppola himself is that concerning Harry Caul, for whose character he would have been inspired by the protagonist of The wolf of the steppe by Hermann Hesse. In the comment on the film’s DVD, Coppola also reveals that he had been annoyed by the fact that during the screening of the film some surveillance members used bugs and various interception equipment, in order to preclude and provide for the total absence of references to the Watergate scandal on the Former President Richard Nixon, as in fact, many parts of the film script were predicted. However, Coppola stated that the filming de The conversation , whose script was completed in 1960 long before the arrival of the Nixon government, ended a few months before the Watergate scandal and therefore did not include any reference to the real events. ^[25]

The director of original photography was Haskel Wexler, but due to “creative divergences” with Coppola was replaced with Bill Butler. ^[26] Walter Murch served as a supervisor to the film and managed almost completely the entire processing of the film, as the filming of the film Coppola was just over was immediately engaged in an equally ambitious project, the sequel de The Godfather . ^[27] Also on the DVD Coppola revealed that Gene Hackman had some difficulties in adapting to the role entrusted to him, as he was very different from him, especially in the way of dressing, and therefore Hackman was not very comfortable on the set. However, according to Coppola, Hackman considers this role one of his favorites. ^[28]

The film receives three Oscar nominations (best film, best screenplay, best sound) and Coppola wins the golden palm at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as receiving numerous other international awards, including the National Board of Review Award, the British Academy Film Awards and five Golden Globe nominations. In the same year, however, he wrote the script de Il Grande Gatsby played by Robert Redford and Mia Farrow.

Even before the exit of The conversation , in autumn 1973 he was contacted by the paramount to write, direct and produce the sequel de The Godfather , The Godfather – Part II . ^[29] Initially reluctant to collaborate again to the film, due to the contrasts with the production house during the processing of the first film, later accepted the assignment as long as he had greater freedom on the realization of the film, that is, he would have shown the stories of the Youth of Vito Corleone and that of the ascent to the power of his son Michael. However, this time there was no lack of numerous bickering: the first controversy was regarding the choice of the interpreter of the young Vito Corleone, a role for which Coppola had chosen the young and almost unknown Robert De Niro, mindful of the convincing audition that the actor did for the Part of Sonny during the casting phase of the first film. ^[30] Furthermore, many were collected by Coppola by numerous members of the cast of the first film, such as Marlon Brando (literally arrived at the short irons with Paramount), and above all from Richard Castellano who would take part in the film as long as his jokes They had been written by his wife. Coppola then replaced his character with a new one played by Michael V. Gazzo. ^{[thirty first]}

A further reason for discussion between the director and the production was the choice of Coppola to turn some scenes regarding the youth of Vito Corleone directly in the Little Italy of the time, which would have led to a new budget overlooking. Coppola was then forced to turn all the scenes in the paramount study in Los Angeles ^[32] . Furthermore, Al Pacino, who was the true protagonist of the time, forced Coppola to pass numerous nights to write and rewrite the script, which according to Pacino was not up to that of the first film, convincing himself only after an almost total distortion of the history. It was always Pacino who suggested Lee Strasberg, his teacher at the time of the Actor’s Studio, for the role of Hyman Roth. ^[33] Then there was the problem in the cinematographic sphere of the sequels, which in the vast majority of cases were poorly seen by the criticism that tended to consider them always lower than the original film. All the processing of the film ended in June 1974, a few months after the release of The conversation .

The film, however, had a success even greater than its predecessor, receives 11 Oscar nominations and winning 6: best film, best script, best direction (all three also assigned to Coppola), and also wins better scenography, best soundtrack in Nino Rota, best asset actor for the young Robert De Niro (withdrawn by Coppola himself, as De Niro was engaged on the set of Twentieth century by Bertolucci). In addition, the American Film Institute places it in 32nd place on the list of 100 US films that have marked the history of cinema (the first chapter instead ranks second). Today again The Godfather – Part II It is considered one of the best sequels ever made.

In this period, however, a lot also dedicated himself to the script. Even before the remake of Il Grande Gatsby , wrote the script of two films by George Lucas: the first was The man who flew from the future (1971), in which Robert Duvall once again figured out among the interpreters, and was the producer of American Graffiti (1973) Thanks to which he received another Oscar nomination for the best film.

Apocalypse Now [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

«My film is not a movie. My film is not about Vietnam. It is Vietnam.»

( Francis Ford coppola the premises of Apocalypse Now On August 15, 1979 )

In the mid -seventies Coppola began the ambitious project of shooting a film inspired by Joseph Conrad’s masterpiece Heart of Darkness , set, however, in the period of the Vietnam War, a film he had in mind to make already in 1969 but that for a series of circumstances he never managed to see the light until then. To finance his new work Coppola created a series for TV and the VHS market comprising the two films of the Saga de the Godfather , lasting over 8 hours. ^[34] The operation succeeded perfectly and Coppola had the budget necessary to begin the production of the new film.

George Lucas and John Milius were associated with the project, and it was precisely the latter who had the idea of ​​combining the script of the new film together with the subject of Conrad’s book. Coppola began shooting without having completed the processing of the screenplay, which was rewritten every night by the same director. Coppola was attracted by the script of John Milius, describing it as “a comedy and a terrifying story of a psychological thriller”. He revealed to see the film as an outlet on modern war (from then), an in -depth analysis between the differences between good and evil and the analysis of the impact of the US society on the rest of the world. In 1975, while promoting The Godfather – Part II In Australia, Coppola identified some suitable places for the filming of Apocalypse Now in the northern Queensland penisulas, which had a jungle similar to that of Vietnam. But immediately afterwards he decided to shoot the film in the Philippines, for his handling in the American equipment and for the low cost of the workforce. The same production coordinator Fred Ross had already shot there two low budget films and had good contacts and friends in the country of production.

Coppola produced the film in collaboration with the United Artists, due to the various contrasts with Paramount during the processing of the godfather’s films, and it was said that the director and production would literally arrive at the short irons, so much so that the same Coppola declared to no longer want to work with the Paramount (however they will return to collaborate together in 1990 with the exit de The Godfather – Part III ). ^[35] The director spent the last months of 1975 to review Milius’ script and negotiating with the United Artists to ensure the financing of production. According to Frederickson, the budget should not have been over $ 12 million. The film would have been entitled Apocalypse Now ; The processing of the film officially began in the summer of 1976. Marlon Brando was hired for the film for the leading role, the ambiguous Colonel Kurtz. However, Brando, both because of the contrasts with the director on the screenplay and because of the high economic claims of the actor, was the first cause of the extension of the shooting. In addition, the actor’s cachet, equal to a record figure of $ 1 million per week, caused a first budget overrun. For the rest of the cast, Martin Sheen were hired in the role of Captain Willard (the Marlow of Conrad’s book), Robert Duvall (fifth collaboration with Coppola), Frederic Forrest, Dennis Hopper and a young Harrison Ford. The production of the film was very troubled. First of all, they were affected by fans, who repeatedly destroyed the entire set that had to be reconstructed from the head; In addition, some actors and coppola himself suffered from drug abuse and nerve crises. Martin Sheen was hit by a heart attack and therefore a stunt double was often used; Furthermore, the producers did not believe almost more in the film, and the lack of funds led coppola to a nervous exhaustion. He himself will admit that precisely this exhaustion brought him before the divorce from his wife, and subsequently came almost to suicide.

The production was delayed and prolonged several times, also because it was opposed many times by the government of the Philippines, where the filming was taking place, because the film had an antimilitarist profile. In addition, the actors suffered more and more according to the Philippines, and this reduced their enthusiasm day after day. Filming was completed almost a year later, in the summer of 1977. Furthermore, the overlooking the budget, which passed from the initial 12 million to the 30 finals, was almost on the point of causing the failure of the Zoetropic Production the director’s production house. Many other details, including assembly and sound, were prolonged dramatically, and this forced Coppola to ask the United Artists to further prolong the premiere of the film, scheduled for May 1978. At the end everything was prolonged again by one year e The film arrived in cinemas only in August 1979, after the conquest of the Palma d’Or in Cannes in the previous May.

Upon release in theaters, the film appeared rather disconcerting for the criticism, given the atypical way with which war was represented. But a few months after the release it was recognized almost unanimously like a masterpiece, and had more than flattering reviews, also obtaining great success at the box office (he collected over 100 million dollars). The film received 8 Oscar nominations: best film, direction, supporting actor (Robert Duvall), non -original screenplay, photography (won), assembly, scenography and sound (won). He also won the golden palm at the Cannes Film Festival equally child The tin drum . He only won two Oscars because of the simultaneous presence of the success of the year Kramer Contro Kramer played by Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep, and also because the previous year had come out The hunter who won 5 Oscar prizes and dealt with the same topics as Apocalypse Now . It is located in 30th place on the list of the 100 best American films of the American Film Institute.

In the same year he was the executive producer of the film Black Stallion , winner of an Oscar for the best sound assembly.

The eighties [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

After consecrating himself as one of the biggest filmmakers of all time, and with an enviable palmarès, in the early eighties Coppola, together with George Lucas, produces the acclaimed film by Akira Kurosawa Kagemusha – The shadow of the warrior . The support of Coppola and Lucas who contributed to the success of the film even beyond Japan was decisive for the success of the film. In 1982, after three years of pause, he returned behind the camera and as a screenwriter of a new film A dream long one day where for the third time he appeared in one of his films Frederic Forrest among the interpreters (in this case as the protagonist). Originally it had to be produced by the MGM, which however allocated a budget of just $ 2 million for the Coppola film. The director then chose Columbia Pictures and the budget, at the beginning allocated for $ 15 million, eventually became 26. In this film Coppola made his debut for the first time in the musical genre, mixed with the sentimental.

Upon exiting in theaters, the film is a real flop at the box office by racing globally just $ 630 000 dollars, and being literally struck down by the public and massacred by criticism, which does not see the new dive of Coppola well in a genre, According to many, they do not appropriate to its standards. It is above all, however, the heavy flask at the box-office that affects the most coppola, which is thus forced to sell his own studies as his American Zoetropic to pay the debts. From this moment therefore and for all the eighties, Coppola began to accept numerous projects with the sole purpose of restoring the debts caused by the flop of A dream long one day . In fact, in 1983 he made two projects: the first is The boys of the 56th road which boasts among its protagonists the young Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Emilio Estevez, C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise and Diane Lane. The film, produced by Warner Bros., with an esteemed budget of $ 10 million dollars tells the story of two youth gangs that collide in the suburbs of Tulsa. The film, in addition to conquering the favors of criticism and the public, who finds the coppola of Apocalypse Now It is The conversation , collects about $ 33 million dollars, allowing the director to partially restore his debts.

The second project is the most demanding Rusty the wild With Matt Dillon, Diane Lane and Mickey Rourke. Coppola himself began to invent a soundtrack mainly percussion to symbolize the idea of ​​time that runs out. As he worked there, Coppola realized he needed the help of a professional musician. And so he asked Stewart Copeland, drummer of the musical group The Police, to improvise a rhythmic track. Coppola soon realized that Copeland was a reliable composer for his intuition and then entrusted his soundtrack. However, the film does not achieve the desired results again, and Coppola cannot exploit the momentary success of the previous film; The audience is not fully satisfied with Coppola’s work (although there was no shortage of those who praised the film), and the collections are disheartening, reaching just $ 2 million dollars against an expense of 10.

1984 is the year of Cotton Club , one of the most relevant films of the eighties career of Coppola. It was again a merely economic question that pushed Coppola to accept even if at the last minute the offer of directing Robert Evans’ film, the producer, and also accepted that of screenwriter, assisted in this second role by William Kennedy and Mario Puzo. Produced by the Orion Pictures, the film sees the protagonist, played by Richard Gere, at the center of a tormented love story with the lover of a boss of the underworld with his employer. Cotton Club He should represent the film of the Renaissance of Coppola, given all the initial premises, the considerable promotion of the Orion and the imposing $ 58 million dollar budget (thus revealing it the most expensive film of Coppola’s career), but this does not happen and, Despite obtaining positive reviews from the criticism, at the box office the film arises the same sad fate of A dream long one day , racing in total just over $ 25 million dollars. The legal history of the film was also troubled, dotted by a lawsuit for contract violations by a member of the troupe and by the total shipwreck of the relations between Coppola and the Orion, producer of the film.

The numerous commercial failures of these early eighties lead the director to the decision to abandon the permanent camera, also considered the media flows of criticism, which considered the director without fantasy and in decline, also due to the consequent Success of the films of colleagues Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese, who detached themselves from the typical Coppola cinematographic genre. Despite this, Francis continues to deal with the production of numerous films. In 1985, always together with Lucas, he produced the film Mishima – A life in four chapters by Paul Schrader, who summarizes the 4 fundamental moments of the Japanese writer who died suicide Yukio Mishima who is well welcomed all over the world. In 1986, Coppola directed the film with Michael Jackson with George Lucas for Disney -themed parks Captain EO , which at the time was the most expensive film at the minute of the story (duration: 17 ‘, cost per minute: about one million dollars).

In the same year Coppola returns behind the camera (he has not yet completely restored the debts) to direct the well -accepted Peggy Sue married . Coppola also lets himself be dragged by the genre of success of the moment, the dramatic comedy, already successfully faced by Woody Allen. The film gets three Oscar nominations 1986 and collects more than double the budget, which leads Coppola to direct the following year Stone gardens With James Caan and Anjelica Huston. Letting himself be dragged by the success of Peggy Sue married , However, Coppola makes the same mistake that cost him dearly with Rusty the wild , that is to direct two films shortly and without a precise idea for the second project, letting itself be blindly made by the success of the first. The film cannot equalize the budget of just $ 13 million. However, the director treasured the previous experiences, and does not let himself be defeated by the failure of the film, so that the following year he arrives in theaters Tucker – A man and his dream , biography of the life of the famous engineer and entrepreneur Preston Tucker. The film project dates back to 1973 and originally included Marlon Brando in the main role, but collapsed with the flop of A dream long one day . In addition, the film represents the first rapprochement between Coppola and Paramount Pictures which, together with the MGM, distributes the film in the USA and Canada. The collections amount to 19.7 million dollars globally, therefore not allowing to equalize the budget of $ 24 million, but is well accepted by international critics.

Nineties: the return of the godfather and the success of Dracula [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

After directing an episode of the collective film New York Stories by title Life without Joe , in 1989 a particular proposal came for Coppola’s career. The much hated Paramount Pictures announces the intention of wanting to produce a third chapter of the saga de The Godfather With the same cast of the previous two films. In Coppola he is again offered to take care of the direction, but the director categorically refuses to collaborate again with the production house, still mindful of the numerous crossings faced for the realization of the first two films. However, when they begin to circulate as probable successors important names such as Martin Scorsese, Michael Cimino and Sylvester Stallone, Coppola thinks that the safe commercial success of the new chapter on the godfather, also given the previous collections of the first two chapters, may perhaps be the only one Occasion worthy of completely restoring the debts of the American Zoetrope. In the end the director accepts the paramount offer. The third chapter focuses on the parallelism between the mafia and politics, with a more easily identified setting moved to 1979 shortly after the appointment of John Paul I. As a new-entry of the Coppola Co-brings Andy García in the role of Vincent Mancini illegitimate son of Sonny, Role for which his nephew Nicolas Cage, George Hamilton who replaces Robert Duvall, absent for disputes with the paramount related to compensation, was also considered, while for the part of Mary Corleone, daughter of Michael, after the refusal of Winona Ryder, Coppola His same daughter Sofia in the last minute writing.

The reviews on the third chapter of the Corleone family are generally positive, but critics and almost unanimity of the public can only underline the minority of this film compared to the previous two chapters, real milestones of the history of cinema. In particular, the criticism fully rejects the performance of the director’s daughter, Sofia, considered the weak point of the film and totally out of place and unsuitable for the role entrusted to him by his father only for casting needs. All this will also yield her a raid Award as a worst as a protagonist and worst debutant of the decade. But what interests the most Coppola and the Paramount is the box office result: the film does not disappoint the expectations of both at all and, with a budget of $ 54 million dollars, collects $ 137 globally. The stratospheric result at the box office de The Godfather – Part III It is only a first rebirth for Coppola, which can finally devote itself again to ambitious and important projects, which leave a strong impact to the public similar to that left, numerous years ago, from Apocalypse Now .

In 1992 he made Bram Stoker Dracula , film focused on the famous Vampire of Transylvania, winner of three Oscar prizes (best makeup, best customs, better special effects), with Gary Oldman as the Count/Vampire, Anthony Hopkins in those of Professor Van Helsing, Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder . The film achieves great success from criticism and box office. In the same year, he was awarded the golden lion to his career at the 49th Venice International Film Festival.

Subsequently it becomes the executive producer of the film Frankenstein di Mary Shelley , played by Robert De Niro and Kenneth Branagh. This also achieved great success, while the following year the producer of the film again is again My family . In 1997 he founded the literary magazine Zoetrope: All-Story .

In 1995 he began processing the film Jack , released the following year, of which only the direction signed this time, while entrusting the script to James de Monaco. He is one of his most expensive films, played by Robin Williams, Diane Lane, Jennifer Lopez and Bill Cosby. At its release, the film gets discreet results only in the box office (about 58 million dollars) which come to cover the production costs, while regarding the criticism it proves to be a flop and is loudly struck down.

In particular, critics did not like the way in which the director Coppola mixed a dramatic story, such as the disease of which the protagonist suffers, in a comic version. This contributed to the failure of the film, in addition to the fact that that year there was a lot of competition with other films released who became great successes.

In 1996 he returned to being a screenwriter, as well as director of his twenty -first film The rain man – The Rainmaker , played by Matt Damon and based on the novel of the same name written by John Grisham. Other interpreters besides Damon are Danny Devito, Jon Voight and Mickey Rourke. The film proves to be a good success at the box office, but criticism welcomes him fairly.

The 2000s [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

In 2001 he put his hand again to Apocalypse Now To draw a new version, Apocalypse Now Redux , in which scenes cut at the time and a different ending have been inserted. The film goes from 153 ‘of the original version to 202’, providing new shades and details. The operation has a good success of criticism and public. Subsequently he directed Another youth , film that partially disappointed the expectations of the public, followed by Family secrets of 2009 and from Twixt . In November 2010 he was awarded the Irving Memory Prize G. Thalberg, his sixth Oscar winner, in recognition of a glorious career as a director, screenwriter and producer. ^{[36] [37]}

Private life [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

Married to Eleanor Coppola, he had three children: Gian-Carlo Coppola (1963-1986), film producer who disappeared following an accident, Roman Coppola (1965), director and Sofia Coppola (1971), actress, screenwriter and also director .

Numerology [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

He declares, in the comments of the box containing the 3 films of the saga, 2008, that his favorite number is 7 and which in every film finds a pretext to insert it in the script. In the The Godfather – Part II It is the number assigned to the young Vito Corleone during quarantine stay at the entrance to the United States. In Twixt Seven are the watches on top of the Swan Valley tower. In Apocalypse Now , Martin Sheen, take the seven of hearts in hand during the sequence in which the cards are thrown on the dead.

With Italy, and with Basilicata in particular, Coppola’s relationships are very narrow. Agostino, Francis’ grandfather, emigrated from Bernalda to the beginning of the twentieth century and Coppola on May 1, 1989 became honorary citizen of the Lucanian center, in which he often spends the holidays also taking advantage of the beaches of the nearby Metaponto on the Ionian.

The filmmaker has a project to relaunch Metapontino, in fact in Bernalda, he purchased an ancient building to transform it into an exclusive hotel. In addition, it aims to give impetus to the training center for screenwriters, theater writers, musicians and artists that stands in Torremare, near Metaponto.

The film Black Stallion of 1979 , of which he himself was executive producer, he was shot in part in the north of Sardinia, between Costa Paradiso and Rena Majore. In Costa Paradiso they still remember the arrival of Coppola who asked for a location suitable for the most beautiful scenes of the film.

The actor Michele Russo, interpreting the character “shoots” ne The Godfather – Part III and Coppola cousin, he shot the documentary on the Lucanian life of Agostino Coppola, grandfather of the director, entitled The family whistle (The Family Whistle) . ^[38]

Cinema [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

Director [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

Screenwriter [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

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Executive producer [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

• The man who flew from the future ( THX 1138 ) Directed by George Lucas (1971)
• Black Stallion ( The Black Stallion ) Directed by Carroll Ballard (1979)
• Kagemusha – The shadow of the warrior ( Kagemusha, KageMusha ), REGIA DI AKIRA KUROSAWA (1980)
• Black Stallion’s return ( The Black Stallion Returns ) directed by Robert Dalva (1983)
• Mishima – A life in four chapters ( Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters ), Regia in Paul Schrader (1985)
• Wind – stronger than the wind ( Wind ), directed by Carroll Ballard (1992)
• My family ( My Family ), directed by Gregory Nava (1995)
• Don Juan de Marco – Maestro d’A Amore ( Don juan de marco ), Regia in Jeremy Leven (1995)
• The mystery of Sleepy Hollow ( Sleepy Hollow ), Regia in Tim Burton (1999)
• Jeepers Creepers – The song of the Devil ( Jeepers Creepers ), directed by Victor Salva (2001)
• Jeepers Creepers 2 – The song of the Devil 2 ( Jeepers Creepers 2 ), directed by Victor Salva (2003)
• Lost in Translation – Love translated ( Lost in Translation ), directed by Sofia Coppola (2003)
• Somewhere , directed by Sofia Coppola (2010)
• On the Road Royal Di Walter Salles (2012)
• Bling Ring ( The Bling Ring ), directed by Sofia Coppola (2013) – not accredited

Oscar Award [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

Golden Globe [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

Golden lion [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

• In 1999 he was awarded the title of Duke of Megalópolis by the sovereign of the Kingdom of Redonda.

• Jeff would go, Francis Ford Coppola , Postmedia Books, 2018, ISBN 9788874902095
• Vito Zagarrio, Francis Ford Coppola , Castor Cinema n. 81, editor Il Castoro, 1995, ISBN 88-8033-043-8
• ( IN ) Cauted Tom Barrel, “Francis Ford Coppola.” In the The Italian American Experience: An Encyclopedia , Ed. S.J. Lagumina, et al. (New York: Garland, 2000), 145-1
• ( IN ) Michael T. Guardino. “Francis Ford Coppola”. In Italian Americans of the Twentieth Century , ed. George Carpetto and Diane M. Evanac (Tampa, FL: Loggia Press, 1999), pp. 106-107.

• Coppola, Francis Ford . are TRECCANI.IT – encyclopedia online , Institute of the Italian Encyclopedia.
• Luigi Rondi, Coppola, Francis Ford , in Italian Encyclopedia , IV Appendix, Institute of the Italian Encyclopedia, 1978.
• Simone Emiliani, Coppola, Francis Ford , in Italian Encyclopedia , Appendix, institute of the Italian Encyclopedia, 2000.
• Coppola, Francis Ford . are sape.it , De Agostini.
• ( IN ) Francis Ford Coppola . are British encyclopedia Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
• Works of Francis Ford Coppola . are openMLOL , Horizons Unlimited srl.
• ( IN ) Works of Francis Ford Coppola . are Open Library , Internet Archive.
• ( IN ) Francis Ford Coppola . are Discogs , Zink Media.
• ( IN ) Francis Ford Coppola . are MusicBrainz , MetaBrainz Foundation.
• Francis Ford Coppola . are Mymovies.it , Mo-Net Srl.
• ( IN ) Francis Ford Coppola . are Internet Movie Database , IMDB.com.
• ( IN ) Francis Ford Coppola . are AllMovie , All Media Network.
• ( IN ) Francis Ford Coppola . are Rotten Tomatoes , Flixster Inc.
• ( IN ) Francis Ford Coppola . are TV.com , Red Ventures (archived by URL Original 1 January 2012) .
• ( IN ) Francis Ford Coppola . are BFI Film & TV Database , British Film Institute.
• ( IN ) Francis Ford Coppola . are Internet Broadway Database , The Broadway League.
• ( OF , IN ) Francis Ford Coppola . are Filmportal.de .
• Bibliography of the Library of the University of California Berkeley . are Lib.berkeley.edu .

Video [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]