BOSTON, MASS.- An unprecedented archive originating from the estate of author Mario Puzo will be auctioned by Boston-based
RR Auction.
A highlight of the collection is Godfather I material that includes; thousands of pages, notes, and drafts, of a multitude of versions of both the novel manuscript and the film screenplay that sheds light on never-before-released information regarding Puzos character, scene, and dialogue development, and his legendary collaboration with director Francis Ford Coppola.
All in all, there are nine partial copies of the Godfather I script in various stages of completion, many of which have important notations in Puzos own hand; present is a beautiful handwritten piece of Vito dialogue where the author himself pens, Ill make him an offer he cant refuse.
On the same page, Puzo also wrote to Coppola, Im very sure Clemenza and Tessio should not know GF will kill Fanucci. This one time the murder should not be discussed. Apparently at one point, the script included Fanucci being murdered in front of his family Puzo was opposed to this, and obviously won the argument. He wrote: You cannot have Vito kill Fanucci with daughters present... it makes him less sympathetic. Remember these killings are business not personal. As sheer good manners, GFs do not kill men in front of their wives and children.
Included is an original 744-page typed working draft manuscript (for The Godfather novel, then titled Mafia, featuring a plethora of important handwritten amendations by the novelist. In addition is the presence of six large oak tag storyboards outlining the lengthy nine-section novel. A later-stage 15-page handwritten outline of The Godfather novels nine sections is present as well, providing irrefutable proof that the novelist based character Johnny Fontane on Frank Sinatra.
''The Godfather'' made the Corleones the most famousand infamousof Mafia families and the enduring myth defined the American Pop-culture landscape, said Robert Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction.
Highlights include:
A 744-page working draft manuscript for the Godfather novel, originally titled Mafia.
Six large, storyboards outlining the Godfather novels progression.
A 15-page handwritten Godfather novel outline revealing that Johnny Fontane was based on Frank Sinatra.
Puzos 1965 Olympia typewriter, almost certainly used to write the Godfather novel .
Countless examples of Puzos handwritten amendments to iconic aspects of the Godfather I and II screenplays; along with a couple of Coppolas annotations.
Insightful typed and handwritten correspondence between Puzo and Coppola regarding all three Godfather films.
Puzos copy of Francis Ford Coppolas Godfather Bible, an enormous, impeccably organized three-ring binder covering virtually every aspect of filming.
Pages upon pages of fully handwritten Godfather I and II scenes and dialogue.
Fantastic material illuminating the progression of Godfather II, from Puzos initial draft to the final product, with Coppolas invaluable input.
A couple of Puzo handwritten instances of Ill make him an offer he cant refuse.
Work on other important screenplays such as 1974s Earthquake and 1978s Superman
First draft, hand-annotated manuscripts of the authors books, including early works 1955s The Dark Arena and his personal pride, 1965s The Fortunate Pilgrim.
Expertly organized within 45 bankers boxes, this collection surveys the lifework of Puzo on a scale never-before-seen, and is highlighted by the book-to-screen progression of the work that defined Puzos career.