I just watched GF1 and listened to the commentry the whole way through. Must say, I was impressed, it gives a fantastic insight into how hard it was to film and how restricted they were.

But one thing sticks out. I don't think FFC has gotten over the fact that he almost was sacked. He seems to mention it every time he talks.

All respect to him, but he goes on a bit too much about this, i think.

Did you find it distracting?

No, not at all. Just strange. He kept bringing it up. Overall the commentry was excellent, however from reading this board, I knew a fair bit of what he said. So there were a few suprises, but not a lot! I will watch GF2 and GF3 with commentry next, and then probably leave it alone for a while, just watch them normally!

I agree with you about FFC mentioning that very often. I was kind of surprised that every single object had to do with him or his family, infact I almost got irritated by it. Its very clear from looking at that behind-the-scenes that he is the big man and bozzes over everyone. Like in that scene when Puzo says something and he almost ignores and goes on with his own stuff... In Carmellas wedding scene he says that no one would want to be in the coffin because it is not good because of religious reasons so they took FFC mother instead of Morgana king... I think its pure bullshit that she was the only one who voluntered, I bet there would have been a dousen of women out there who would have been glad to get that opportunity to be within one of the biggest movies in history. But it just feels as if FFC wanted the movie to represent him and his family. And when I started the third movie with his commentary I got tired of listening after 20 minutes because he only spoke about the songs that he got from his familys traditions etc...

He mentions it in every interview he does, everywhere he goes. I've gotten used to it. I like the story he told at Actor's Studio that he would fire his AD on Wednesday's to confuse the bosses, so that they didn't dare fire him on Friday's - pretty clever. And who knows, maybe they WERE planning to drop the ax, and due to financial necessity FFC found a way to keep a step ahead of them. Good for him, good for the films, and good for US!!

Considering the way things turned out, I think he's got bragging rights.

Apple

Hmmm. Sounds like FFC had a dose of Andolini/Corleone running through his own veins! Personally, I haven't done the commentary thing yet. I'm too afraid it would be distracting. You know how we men are: we can only concentrate on one thing at a time (right-brained..or is it left-brained? Bird-brained?!?!)!

i find it distracting..

TLD

Dont try watching the movie then.

Put a sheet over your tv.

Of course its distracting, you're not supposed to be following the movie while listening to the commentry.

Zasa/Peppino/Senza Mama/Pennino/Coppola and others are all Puzo's Family.

Carmine Coppola was his father whop wrote the music with Nino Rota. There is GF2 flashback cut scene where Augustino Coppola i a gunsmith and his young son, Carmine, is playing the flute for Tessio and Hyman Rothstein.

A charcter from the book named ANthony Copola was changed to Francesco Nippi in the script, tehn cut from the movie.

GF Legacy hint that Francis got fired almost every week.

FFC: I want Brando
Ruddy: he's too expensive.
FFC: I hate pacino!
Puzo: Pacino HAS to be Michael Corleone.
FFC: We HAVE to shoot in NY!
Ruddy: Too expensive.
FFC: I hate this script!
Puzo: It's a BEST SELLING story!
FFC: It needs more killing, and LESS sex. Cuneo and Stracci HAVE to die too. Lucy, Juls,a nd Nino are GONE. Johnny isn't the star he's a BIT character, etc.

But we got to thank Francis for the wonderful Trilogy!

Hi!

Perhaps, that constant fear of being sacked and the success of the cute counter-move still remain his most strong impressions from this movie. But I think it just shows how little time he had to prepare for the recording of this commentary, and how little care he paid to it.

Most of the stuff is somewhere in the books, so it's rather for initiating those who haven't been bitten yet. But it was amazing to learn how many scenes were shot by the second unit without Willis hanging around, the best examples being Mike's famous reappearance after the Sicilian sequence and most of the scene on the hospital stairs.

Best regards.

Alexander

HAHAHA good one. Just try watching but don't listen to what the characters are saying (put the subtitles). The Commentaries are interesting and really insightful. Gotta get your money's worth

I dont think i could ever watch the godfather with the commentary, just listening to ffc talk for so long isnt much entertainment, id rather watch the movie without the distractions

The commentary gets old after a while, but that may be because I anticipated it as much as I did. From coming to this site in the old days, I already knew alot about making the movie, etc.

But it does seem to contain a lot of FFC family-centric references. Good for him, I say.

I didn't really like FFC after hearing his commentary for GF3...it seemed to me that he was making the movie more about him than Michael.

Like how Michael was seeking redemption in a sorta midlife crisis way, that was Francis.....cuz he was going through that in his life at that time.

I think it's cool that he used stuff about his family in the first GF, it gave it a sense of realism with all those tiny real life details, but, FFC got carried away with it by GF3.

Not to mention he got his daughter in the movie...his father in the movie is a great move, but not Sophia as Mary.

I think you will find that he relates to Michaels background and the family life and times.

Yes, I do not doubt that FFC can relate to Michael's background and family themes. In fact, FFC is the perfect fit to direct any GF related movie.

I am just saying that it just seemed like GF3 was more about FFC than the Corleones from what he was saying throughout the commentary.

I think that is part of the reason why many do not like GF3 because of its theme of redemption, which even Pacino didn't think was the right direction to go in GF3.

There was less of Puzo in GF3.

In the "A Look Inside" on the bonus materials disc, FFC was running the show at the script meetings...he didn't really listen to Puzo's suggestion. I know it's only snippets; therefore, I do not know the whole story behind GF3...but still.

FFC was so in love with the script because it was basically about him. Especially when he was reading Michael's lines when talking to Don Tommasino. FFC was all wrapped up in that. I didn't find it heart wrenching like how FFC was into it.

BINGO! More Puzo, Less In-Movie Coppola, More listening to Pacino, a time machine, and we'd have another 5 star Godfather movie! Oh yeah, make sure Winona Ryder doesn't catch a cold this time!