The Godfather: A Jewish film about Italians
A new TV series shows Francis Ford Coppola's classic owes its existence to producers of the faith
Brigit Grant is the Jewish News Supplements Editor
Even if you subscribe for only a month, don’t miss The Offer on Paramount+. The series, which documents the making of The Godfather, is not just well-crafted with a superb cast, it is an eye-popping insight on how Jewish producers enabled director Francis Ford Coppola to make his masterpiece. Without the devotion of producer Al Ruddy, the belief of Robert Evans, head of Paramount Pictures, and the commitment of Charles Bluhorn, the owner of Paramount, the definitive mob movie would never have been made. For though the Italians had the monopoly in the screen adaptation of Mario Puzo’s book, off-screen it was Jewish producer Ruddy who had to cosy up to the mafia to get their approval. Jewish scriptwriter Michael Tolkin lines the Jewish isms alongside the cannoli (Italian pastries) in the series which stars Fantastic Beast’s Dan Fogler as Coppola and Damian Conrad-Davis as the late James Caan, who played Sonny Corleone. The role of Ruddy belongs to Miles Teller, whose paternal grandfather was Jewish and the fact that he resembles a young Richard Gere is no bad thing. The only challenge you face with The Offer is not watching all ten episodes in one night.
The Offer is on Paramount +
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