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It all started in 1972 when cinema history was permanently changed afterThe Godfatherby Francis Ford Coppola hit the screens and put everyone in a trance that continues to this day.
But the artist behind the creation of this gem of a film never intended to make more than one, let alone two sequels to the original story. He was“seduced”by Paramount which led toThe Godfather Part III. Here is the story behind how it all happened!
Why Francis Ford Coppola madeThe Godfather III
In Hollywood, the creative vision of artists often clashes with the profit-driven goals of studios, and this clash can sometimes lead to the undoing of something truly special. Studios, eager to milk the success of a hit, tend to push for sequels or similar projects as long as there’s an audience willing to watch.
This sort of dynamic played out withFrancis Ford Coppola‘sThe Godfatherflick. Coppola never intended to follow up the original masterpiece with a Part II, let alone a Part III. But Paramount had other plans.
“Leave the gun, take the cannoli”: The Best Line in The Godfather After Marlon Brando’s Wasn’t Scripted That Makes it Truly Genius
After the first film became a cultural phenomenon, the studio saw an opportunity to build a multi-film franchise. The overwhelming success of the second film only fueled their confidence. However, when it came to the third installment, this push for more ultimately led to a misstep. In a chat withThe New York Times, he explained, the studio’s POV, by saying,
You’ve got Coca-Cola, why not make more Coca-Cola
Coppola likely wouldn’t have agreed to the studio’s demands, but the back-to-back commercial and critical failures ofOne From the HeartandThe Cotton Clubleft him in a tough spot. Feeling the financial pinch, he let himself get lured by Paramount’s offer to make a third installment. He explained his situation by saying,
I was in much less of a strong position, Frankly, I needed the money, and I was coming out of a real financial doldrum where I had almost lost everything.
And so,The Godfather Part IIIwas born, a film that gave audiences plenty to whine and complain about. It couldn’t quite live up to the towering legacy of its predecessors, and, truth be told, it left a small stain on the franchise’s otherwise impeccable name, with some now even comparing it to Coppola’s otherflops likeMegalopolisand the ones mentioned earlier.
WhyThe Godfather IIIdidn’t work for the fans
There were plenty of reasons whyThe Godfather Part IIIdidn’t resonate with audiences. To be fair, the film faced immense pressure, going head-to-head with what is widely considered two of the greatest movies in cinematic history is no small task.
“He would have this deep-seated wily rage and ambition”: The Godfather Character That Inspired Colin Farrell’s Oz in The Penguin isn’t Vito Corleone
Still, Paramount was determined to make a third installment, so much so that at one point, Sylvester Stallone was rumored to star and direct, with John Travolta and Eddie Murphy as potential co-stars.
While undeniably the weakest entry inThe Godfathersaga,Part IIIis far from a bad movie despite all its flaws. The central plot, involving corruption in the Vatican, comes across as convoluted and fails to fully engage.
Certain scenes feel oddly misplaced, disrupting the flow of the story. And Sofia Coppola, stepping in as a last-minute replacement for Winona Ryder, became the target of harsh, unwarranted criticism for her performance, a level of backlash she truly didn’t deserve.
The Godfather III is available to stream on Paramount+
Sampurna Banerjee
Articles Published :1803
Sampurna Banerjee is an Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, and she’s written over 1,700 articles! She covers everything from celebrity news to the latest superhero buzz, streaming shows, and fan theories. If it’s trending in pop culture, Sampurna’s probably already on it.When she’s not working, you’ll probably find her rewatching The Office (again), getting into debates about Marvel’s timeline, or diving deep into Christopher Nolan movies for the hundredth time. She’s not just writing about entertainment, she’s living it.
