Eminent film critic Peter Cowie brings to life for the first time the full story of the creation of the three Godfather movies.

The Godfather and its sequels redefined the gangster movie, transcending the genre to become a complex study of power, violence, and ethnic solidarity. Winner of nine Academy Awards, the trilogy is revived continually on television and remains a staple of the video marketplace.

Now, for the first time, film critic Peter Cowie has brought to life the whole story behind the creation of the three Godfather movies. Cowie gained exclusive access to Francis Ford Coppola's archives to research the book, and interviewed Coppola himself, novelist Mario Puzo, and scores of other key personalities. He tells a riveting story of violent personality clashes, financial and technical crises, and a roller-coaster ride from apparent disaster to eventual triumph.

Cowie also offers a masterful account of the themes and historical inspiration that underpin the trilogy, demonstrating how Coppola drew on certain central themes to give the movies their timeless and universal appeal.