THE GODFATHER. by [Movies]. Puzo, Mario and Francis Ford Coppola - 1971

New York: Paramount Pictures, March 1, 1971. Second draft screenplay (there were three drafts in all). Embossed leatherette wrappers. Some general wear to this working script of the groundbreaking film. "The Godfather" was ranked #3 in the American Film Institute's list of the 100 greatest American movies. Housed in a custom-made cloth flip-flop box with leather label. 4to. 173 pages.With significant textual variations throughout. That this draft was a work-in-progress is clear. A comparison with the filmed version shows at least a dozen examples of dialogue variations on pages 39, 42, 49, 65, 71, 75, 79, 84, 93, 107, 132, 156, and 170 that were fine-tuned in the final draft. Among the changes: After the Godfather's capo, Clemenza, murders a traitor to the crime family, he says to his accomplice in the killing: "Leave the gun." The film compellingly adds the line: "Take the Cannoli." Don Vito Corleone was a man to whom everybody came for help, and never were they disappointed. He made no empty promises, nor the craven excuse that his hands were tied by more powerful forces in the world than himself. It was not necessary that he be your friend, it was not even important that you had no means with which to repay him. Only one thing was required. That you, _you yourself, proclaim your friendship. And then, no matter how poor or powerless the supplicant, Don Corleone would take that man's troubles to his heart. And he would let nothing stand in the way to a solution of that man's woe. His reward? Friendship, the respectful title of "Don," and sometimes the more affectionate salutation of "Godfather."