The Francis Ford Coppola Encyclopedia

by James M. Welsh, Gene D. Phillips, Rodney F. Hill

Overview

Francis Ford Coppola's career has spanned five decades, from low budget films he produced in the early 1960s to more personal films of recent years. Because of the tremendous popular success of The Godfather and the tremendous critical success of its sequel, Coppola is considered to be one of the best directors of all time.

The entries in this encyclopedia focus on all aspects of Coppola's work—from his early days with producer Roger Corman to his films as the director of the 1970s. This extensive reference contains material on all of the films Coppola has played a role in, from screenwriter to producer to director, including such classics as Patton, The Godfather, The Conversation, The Godfather Part II, and Apocalypse Now. Each entry is followed by a bibliography of published sources, both in print and online, making The Francis Ford Coppola Encyclopedia the most comprehensive reference on this director's body of work.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810876514
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	08/27/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	346
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

James M. Welsh is the cofounder of Literature/Film Quarterly and coeditor of The Literature/Film Reader (2007) and The Encyclopedia of Sports Films (2010), both published by Scarecrow Press.

Gene D. Phillips, S.J. is the author of David Lean: Beyond the Epic (2006) and Some Like It Wilder: The Life and Controversial Films of Billy Wilder (2010).

Rodney F. Hill teaches film in the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication at Hofstra University. He is coeditor of Francis Ford Coppola: Interviews (2004) and The Encyclopedia of Stanley Kubrick (2002).
Gene D. Phillips, SJ, is the author of several works on film and literature, including Beyond the Epic: The Life and Films ofDavid Lean, Some Like It Wilder: The Life and Controversial Films of Billy Wilder, and Out of the Shadows: Expanding the Canon of Classic Film Noir (Scarecrow, 2011). He is the coauthor of The Francis Ford Coppola Encyclopedia (Scarecrow, 2010).

Editorial Reviews

Welsh and Phillips (independent scholars) and Hill (Georgia Gwinett College) offer an exhaustive A-Z compendium of information about Francis Ford Coppola, a major figure in American cinema and director of The Godfather, The Conversation, Apocalypse Now, and many other films. The book describes Coppola as a "visionary auteur" and presents his career as one of extremes—from the fabulous successes of the 1970s to the bitter disappointments of the 1980s, as he struggled and compromised with the Hollywood system. Entries for each film include full credits, a plot summary, highlights of the production history and critical reception, and references for further reading. Additional entries are devoted to Coppola's professional associates, actors, those he mentored, and diverse influences in his life. This unique volume will be necessary reading for anyone studying Coppola's films and American filmmaking of the mid to late 20th century. Contributors are knowledgeable specialists—writers or teachers with credentials in film and media. Phillips previously wrote Godfather: The Intimate Francis Ford Coppola (CH, Sep'04, 42-0202), and he and Hill edited Francis Ford Coppola: Interviews (2004). An excellent selected bibliography, general index, and photographs of scenes from the films enhance the volume's value to students. Summing Up: Essential. Medium to large film collections in public and academic libraries; lower-level undergraduates and above, and general readers.

Choice Reviews

Welsh and company do create not just a fresh look at Coppola, but a fresh approach to the encyclopedia as an information delivery system, for it does more than simply supply facts about the director…. Readers will find the book both enlightening and entertaining…. The entries in the encyclopedia look to capture both the 'larger-than-life filmmaker and entrepreneur' as well as the person 'who can be incredibly kind, forgiving and generous,' while simultaneously shedding light on Coppola's standing as an 'anti-establishment maverick' who serves as a central figure in Twentieth Century film.

Screening The Past

To tell the story of Francis Ford Coppola’s career is to not only sketch out a broad history of American mainstream film production over the past half-century, but also the role of the director within it. The book performs admirably in this respect, with entries on individual films providing excellent detail on their often embattled and convoluted production processes, and the battles fought by Coppola to maintain a degree of personal control over his work.. .. The Francis Ford Coppola Encyclopedia has clearly been approached with passion and the result is a lively, informative tome which reveals much about not only Francis Ford Coppola himself, but the American film industry as a whole.

Journal of American Studies of Turkey

The volume is a celebration of the man, and the enthusiasm of the editors....Cineastes and any college or university library that supports film, or even oenologists, should consider this an essential purchase.

Reference Reviews

This encyclopedia focuses on the entire career of Francis Ford Coppola, whether a screenwriter, producer, director, or even vintner. Entries are arranged alphabetically, and those for films (including Coppola’s early low-budget thrillers and the films directed by his daughter, Sofia) contain boxes listing production details and credits. Though the majority of the entries cover individuals (actors, writers, cinematographers, and more) and films, others cover influences, nonfilm projects, and a variety of additional topics, among them American Zoetrope (Coppola’s studio), Cannes International Film Festival, and The Old Guard (the U.S. Army ceremonial unit honored in the film Gardens of Stone). Also here are entries such as Coppola, criticism, and controversy and Coppola on adaptation. Most entries conclude with a list of references. Illustrations consist of some black-and-white stills. Combining ready-reference information with the kind of commentary that would be useful for film students and serious fans, this volume is recommended for large public libraries or academic libraries that support cinema classes.

Booklist

Welsh and Phillips (independent scholars) and Hill (Georgia Gwinett College) offer an exhaustive A-Z compendium of information about Francis Ford Coppola, a major figure in American cinema and director of The Godfather, The Conversation, Apocalypse Now, and many other films. The book describes Coppola as a "visionary auteur" and presents his career as one of extremes—from the fabulous successes of the 1970s to the bitter disappointments of the 1980s, as he struggled and compromised with the Hollywood system. Entries for each film include full credits, a plot summary, highlights of the production history and critical reception, and references for further reading. Additional entries are devoted to Coppola's professional associates, actors, those he mentored, and diverse influences in his life. This unique volume will be necessary reading for anyone studying Coppola's films and American filmmaking of the mid to late 20th century. Contributors are knowledgeable specialists—writers or teachers with credentials in film and media. Phillips previously wrote Godfather: The Intimate Francis Ford Coppola (CH, Sep'04, 42-0202), and he and Hill edited Francis Ford Coppola: Interviews (2004). An excellent selected bibliography, general index, and photographs of scenes from the films enhance the volume's value to students. Summing Up: Essential. Medium to large film collections in public and academic libraries; lower-level undergraduates and above, and general readers.

Choice