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Mario Puzo

RobertFKennedy

RobertFKennedy

New Member
I've read a good few of his books and enjoyed them all very much. I actually think he has some better books than The Godfather and wonder why more havent been made into films. Although of course he did write the screenplay for Superman 1.

Anyone got any thoughts on Puzo's work?
 
Totally disagree. I think Scorcese did him a huge plus. Puzo's only good book was The Godfather. His other books sucked. That's why they were never picked up for movies. They have terrible plots, character development, whatever.
 
I've only read the Godfather, and I was gutted! I thought it was really poorly written. Its a tribute to Martin Scorcese's vision that he managed to produce such an amazing set of films based on this one book. To be honest it put me off reading anything else by Puzo.
 
LMAO, I stand corrected! Great films though....I wonder what they would have been like if Martin Scorcese had directed them, hmmmm.
 
:) I think he did a good enough job with Goodfellas and Casino. I hope he makes another ganster film at some point though. I think Omerta would be a good choice. His early attempt at a gangster film, Mean Streets is very much worth a watch. You can see the seeds of Goodfellas in there. Scorcese, de Niro, Keitel. You do the math! :D

francesca, see my thread in the movies and TV section. I'd be interested in your thoughts on the Sopranos if you've seen it.
 
I loved Casino, its one of my all time favourites, in fact I've loved everything Scorcese has done. Come to that I love FFC as well, lol...obviously they have become somehow welded together in my little head... :D
 
Robert-You must read The Family. This is a great book that qualifies as historical fiction. In it, Puzo sets the reader up for meeting the highly contentious Borgia family that produced a Pope and an interesting daughter who likes to poison others. Interesting figures such as Machiavelli and Savanarola appear in it as well. Not mafia related, but it's a good read.

Since you are a Kennedy, fan, check out The Fourth K that is the account of an assassination attempt on a fictional fourth Kennedy brother who is in the White House. I read it years ago, so I can't remember specific details, but I did enjoy it and if you have an interest in politics, you won't be able to put it down.
 
Let's see, I know I've read The Godfather and, I believe it was called The Sicilian. I cannot remember if I have read any more of Puzo's works or not. The memory is the first thing to go after all. ^^;;
 
RobertFKennedy said:
:) I think he did a good enough job with Goodfellas and Casino. I hope he makes another ganster film at some point though. I think Omerta would be a good choice. His early attempt at a gangster film, Mean Streets is very much worth a watch. You can see the seeds of Goodfellas in there. Scorcese, de Niro, Keitel. You do the math! :D

francesca, see my thread in the movies and TV section. I'd be interested in your thoughts on the Sopranos if you've seen it.
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Here's the official website of Goodfella and Nebraska resident-Henry Hill(he was the basis of the film goodfellas) You can order a cookbook as well. As for me, fughedaboudit!:cool:
 
The Fortunate Pilgrim and Omerta were great books. The first was a captivating and inspirational book that showed he is versatile and Omerta was a thrilling mafia book. Omerta meaning in sicilian, the unwritten code that prohibits speaking or divulging information about certain activities, especially the activities of a criminal organization.


puzo most def has talent.
 
I really enjoyed The Family. I didn't know he'd done any historical fiction books but this one was really good. I enjoy reading about the Borgias and this book really gave you an insight into the first 'crime' family.
 
novella said:
Totally disagree. I think Scorcese did him a huge plus. Puzo's only good book was The Godfather. His other books sucked. That's why they were never picked up for movies. They have terrible plots, character development, whatever.
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Yeh i agree with Novella here his only good book thats worth a read is Godfather.
 
The Godfather wasn't the only Puzo novel turned into a film. His novel The Last Don became a miniseries with Danny Aiello and Kirstie Alley (there was even a sequel). That book was good too; I think I prefer it over The Godfather.
 
I've read the Godfather three times. Very insightful book. But another good one by Puzo was Fool's Die, set in Las Vegas at the Xanadu casino. Brilliant study on human behavior. Both of these books have a meandering path but Puzo can keep it together. I doubt, however, that books like this would be published today. The brevity cult seems to be ruling the world.
 
But another good one by Puzo was Fool's Die, set in Las Vegas at the Xanadu casino. Brilliant study on human behavior.
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Im' starting this one tonight! I just wrapped up Omerta and have to say that I enjoyed it. The Family was a book that went into a lot of details and the situations were thoroughly laid out for the reader. Omerta had that formula going until the middle half and then it felt like Puzo was trying to get the thing to the presses, it felt rushed.
 
SFG75 said:
Im' starting this one tonight! I just wrapped up Omerta and have to say that I enjoyed it. The Family was a book that went into a lot of details and the situations were thoroughly laid out for the reader. Omerta had that formula going until the middle half and then it felt like Puzo was trying to get the thing to the presses, it felt rushed.
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How long does it normally take you to complete a book on average?
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Just curious since you are starting a new one.
 
Battle of the sequels:

Godfather sequel shown no respect by Paramount Pictures | Books | guardian.co.uk

Studio seeks to forbid book, authorised by Mario Puzo's estate, because it will 'tarnish' legacy of books whose copyright is held by film company

In a complaint filed on 17 February in a federal court in Manhattan against Anthony Puzo, son of the author and executor of his estate, the film company claims it bought the copyright in The Godfather in 1969 and that the estate's plans to publish a prequel this summer infringe it. Paramount is seeking damages and an injunction against publication of the novel.

The Family Corleone, due out in July, is based on an unfilmed screenplay by Puzo and written by the American author and playwright Ed Falco. Set in 1933, it traces Vito Corleone's journey as he becomes the Don of The Godfather. Announcing its publication last year, Anthony Puzo called it "true to Mario Puzo's legacy" – the author died in 1999, aged 78 – adding that it would "be cherished by all Godfather fans".

But Paramount, which made the three Godfather movies, claims it authorised one, "but only one" sequel novel to The Godfather – 2004's The Godfather's Return. The 2006 publication of a second sequel, The Godfather's Revenge, was without its "knowledge or authorisation", and the book "received mediocre reviews and suffered weak sales", and "far from properly honouring the legacy of The Godfather ... tarnished it", it said.

Paramount's lawsuit "seeks to protect the integrity and reputation of The Godfather trilogy". "Paramount has suffered and will suffer irreparable harm as a result of the Puzo Estate's infringing conduct," says the complaint. "After execution of the 1969 agreements, Puzo retained no rights of any kind in The Godfather novel except for the right to publish that original novel in book form."
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If they want to "protect the integrity and reputation of The Godfather trilogy", how come The Godfather Part III is still available on DVD and Bluray, hmmm?
 
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