only one, and for all of these other things involving money and risking this and risking that, you should say yes and do it. there is only one risk in life, and that is that you are going to die and say, "gee, i wish i would have done this thing." i am never going to do that. that is the only risk, really, if you think about it, because we're all going to die. i think. tavis: no, we are. i have got some bad news for you. you are not going to get out of your life. >> well, at least when i go, i will be thinking about all of these adventures i have that -- you are not going to get out of here alive. tavis: i want to stay with your family for a second. you would be filmmaking route when you could have gone the music route, given that you have both in your family. you were a kid, and you had polio. >> yes. tavis: and if i understand that yet, it was during that period

when you started to focus. tell me about that. >> this epidemic was just a few years before the great salk -- the vaccines came, but there was a terrible epidemic in new york, and i was a part of it, and i was paralyzed for about 1.5 years, and i used to stay in the bed, and i had a ventriloquist puppets, and i had a toy museum projector -- movie projector that my grandfather gave me, and i used to sit there and play with my puppets and play, just generally entertain myself, and, you know, i do not know that i had any talent or anything, but i would do the voices for the mickey mouse cartoons on my toy projector, and, you know, do my ventriloquism, jerry mahoney. tavis: this talent was born and

nurtured when you're laying in bed, and able to walk. that is a pretty powerful story. >> yes, and then later on, i wanted to be a writer when i was 50 or 16, and in my family, some people got talent, and others did not -- when i was 15 or 60. i was not the promise and one by any means. -- 15 or 16. i was not a black sheep or a bad kid, but i was terrible in school, not good at anything, except science. i used to love to read about science, and what have you, but i think about writing, because i remember falling asleep in military school and weeping because i had a talent, because i would write, and they would seem corny, and they were corny, and maybe what i still do is corny, but the thing about writing is if you really do it every day, put in the four hours every day at work at it, eventually, you start to get

better. there is a god-given talents, those kids at school that can sink or draw beautiful pictures. they were just, like, nine years old, so how did they know how to do beautiful pictures? more than i had, which was just putting it in the daily worker, just try and try and try, and eventually, you are rewarded, i think -- which was just putting in the deal worked -- daily work. tavis: you have referenced "the godfather." what do you think looking back on that, in retrospect? >> i did not realize it at the time, but i was blessed with the work of a wonderful writer and a fabulous man, mario cuzo. he was a very interesting man, and w w put together a terrific cast of characters. many of them were new, but not

all. marlon brando. we had a wonderful cinematographer and great music, and it all came together, and it went to a public that was ready for it, that wanted it somehow, so i think that movies are pretty much like things lining up correctly, and the audience is part of it. the audience has to be ready for something like that. tavis: what do you recall that was happening in the country at that time that, as you put it, made the public ready? >> it was a confusing time for movies. they were trying out lots of formulas. nobody knew what would be successful. the last successful films where the musicals, like "the sound of music" and, of course, the great "west side story," but there was confusion about what auauences wanted, and there had been some films about gangsters, and to some extent the mafia, but they

have been flops. that is where i got the idea from. it was the great directors that turned "the godfather" down. i was the 27-year-old guy. i do not know how i got it, to be on this. i think they wanted somebody who was young and who they could push around -- to be honest. tavis: which you describe that as -- or would you describe that as the best fortune you ever had -- which you describe that as the best fortune you ever had? -- would you? >> at the time, i was always getting fired, and the company did not like me, even though they had chosen me, and really, every week, it was, "this is the week you are going to get fired." but i did not roll over. i fought for the actors i wanted. i fought for marlon brando. it was o oginally supposed to

be set in world war ii, modern for the end times because it was cheaper, and i ido not know whee i got the resiliency to fight back, but it was a very unhappy time in my life, and i did not think it was going to be successful, and i was just worrying about how i would support my kids, so i was shocked, and then my friend billy's movie came out, "the french connection," and i thought, wow wow, that is a movie. i was talking, and i said, "i guess, compared to that, 'the godfather is a slow, boring mo vie compared to that." and he said, "you are right." i did n n get to have my dream,

which was to write original stories, which is what i am trying to do now, so maybe it all worked out happily. -- work out happily. tavis: we are out of time, so i guess that is more of our conversation tomorrow night with francis ford coppola. catch us on the weekend on pri. and you can go to our website at pbs.org. thanks for watching. more with him tomorrow night. keep the faith. >> you spend time with your family? >> sure, i did. >> good, because the man does not spend time with his family can never be a millionaire. you look terrible. i want you to rest well.

>> it starts shooting in a week. >> i am going to make an offer he cannot refuse. >> for more information on today's show, visit tavis smiley at pbs.org. tavis: i am tavis smiley. join me next time with more with francis ford coppola. >> there are so many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, like helping people live better, but mostly looking forward to helping build stronger communities and relationships, because at your house, the best is yet to come. >> nationwide insurance probably supports tavis smiley. tavis and nationwide insurance, working to improve financial literacy and the economic and part that comes with it. >> ♪ nationwide is on your side

♪ >> and by contributions by viewers like you. thank you. >> we