Stories from the set

The film is based on Mario Puzo's novel "The Godfather" (1969).

Mario Puzo was completely broke when he signed a contract with Random House to publish The Godfather.

Paramount acquired the film rights to the novel before it was even published. The studio only had a 20-page outline of the novel.

Puzo's book became a bestseller, selling 10 million copies.

The writer himself once admitted that all his knowledge of the mafia came from other books.

The director's chair was first offered to Sergio Leone, but he declined. Leone later regretted his decision and in 1983 decided to make an equally large-scale film, Once Upon a Time in America.

Before filming began, Paramount Pictures wanted to take the project away from Coppola and give it to director Elia Kazan, but Brando said he would also leave if Coppola was fired.

Various actors were considered for roles in the film: Warren Beatty, Alain Delon, Burt Reynolds, Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro, Laurence Olivier, and others. But Coppola rejected all of these candidates.

According to some reports, Frank Sinatra also vied for the role of Vito Corleone.

During filming, Brando wore a special mouthpiece to make his jaw look like a bulldog's jaw.