(francis ford coppola) we made it very much like how americans were in vietnam.the jungle. there were too many of us and, little by little, we went insane. (man) they trained young men about violent people, but their commanders won't allow them to write f---. when francis ford copolla stands up at "the cannes" with his hands outstretched and says, "i am vietnam," is really like zanuck saying, "i want to be the whole wwii." i think jim carabuctus wrote a very honest, a very direct version of the vietnam experience. okay. let's get ready. let's tape this squad. teddy ford, may 17th. how long have you been on this hill, soldier? what? hey, brother, how many times you been up and down this hill? what are you doin' here? my job. bull. up and down this hill nine f--- times. hey, word is you guys can't take this hill. what do you have to say about that? in fact, senator kennedy says you guys don't have a chance. in vietnam, something, perhaps the fear of death, we african-americans, in particular, and young white guys especially who were more hip, who were not necessari

directed by francis ford coppola, it features some of the most talented actors of our time. >> that'sy family, not me. >> for 40 years "the godfather" has consistently been rated one of the best movies ever. >> it's hard to think of a film that has the reach and the influence and the durability of "the godfather." >> everyone seems to know a quote from the movie. >> leave the gun. >> released in 1972, a tumultuous time in america, the film is nostalgic and at the same time, tragic. >> it happens to be about crime, but really it's about business. >> it's not personal. it's strictly business. >> and though it is sometimes criticized for the portrayal of negative ethnic stereotypes -- the film has shaped the way we think about organized crime. even for the criminals themselves. >> you had real-life mobsters in new york. the wise guys who were not necessarily imitating old tradition as much as they were imitating what they saw in the movies. >> mario's restaurant in the bronx was mentioned in the "godfather" book. >> how's the italian food in this restaurant? >> and coppola wanted to film

and sidenote, when francis ford coppola wrote the script for the movie, he finished writing it and said this guy is so unique and interesting, i can't do a conventional biography. he goes, i got it. i'll put i gre speech. and so he hands the script in to 20th century fox, and they say, this is the stupidest idea we've ever seen, and they fired him. and they brought on another writer. and they said the script was so bad that they went back to coppola's original. and coppola was actually working, fixing film machines when he saw them putting the uniforms and costumes together. he said, what are you doing? they said oh, we're making this movie "patton." he was, like, wow, i wrote that. and later coppola goes to make "the godfather," and it's over budget, behind schedule. they're getting ready to fire him when he gets the academy award for writing "patton." so they said well, we can't fire the guy now. so he stays on and makes the movie. coppola says when he goes around the country and gives talks, he tells film students the stuff you get fired from in your 20s is the stuff you get lifetime

directed by francis ford coppola, the film features some of the most talented actors of our time. >>t's my family, kate, not me. >> for 40 years "the godfather" has consistently been rated one of the best movies ever. >> it's hard to think of a film that has the -- the reach and the influence and the durability of "the godfather." >> everyone seems to know a quote from the movie. >> leave the gun. take the canolli. >> released in 1972, a tumultuous time in america, the film is nostalgic and at the same time tragic. >> it happens to be about crime, but really it's about business. >> it's not personal, sonny. it's strictly business. >> and though it's sometimes criticized for its portrayal of negative ethnic stereotypes. >> the other family. >> the film has shaped the way we think about organized crime, even for the criminals themselves. >> he had real life mobsters in new york, the wise guys who were not necessarily imitating old traditions so much as they were imitating what they had seen in the "godfather" movies. >> mario's restaurant in the bronx was mentioned in "the godfather" s