The filmmaker behind iconic films such as The Godfather trilogy, Apocalypse Now, and The Conversation needs no introduction. One of the pioneers of the New Hollywood movement, Coppola inspired many.
On his 81st birthday, we take a look at 15 pearls of wisdom he shared on life and cinema in the course of his illustrious career.
'The Godfather changed my life, for better or worse. It definitely made me have an older man's film career when I was 29.'
'I don’t think there’s any artist of any value who doesn’t doubt what they’re doing.'
'When I adapt a novel, I don’t really use the script, I use the book; when I did Apocalypse Now, I used Heart of Darkness. Novels usually have so much rich material.'
'Anything you build on a large scale or with intense passion invites chaos.'
'Movie-wise, there is nothing I wouldn't do again. It's not possible to make one perfect movie every time.'
When that happens - when risk is taken and the filmmakers dive into the subject matter without a parachute - very often what you get is something with those qualities that make it age well with public
'When newspapers started to publish the box office scores of movies, I was horrified. Those results are totally fake because they never include the promotion budget.'
'I became quite successful very young, and it was mainly because I was so enthusiastic and I just worked so hard at it.'
'I had a number of teachers who hated me. I didn't do well in school.'
'Usually, the stuff that's your best idea or work is going to be attacked the most.'
'If you're a person who says yes most of the time, you'll find yourself in the hotel business and the restaurant business.'
'I think it's better to be overly ambitious and fail than to be under-ambitious and succeed in a mundane way. I have been very fortunate. I failed upward in my life!'
When I was sixteen or seventeen, I wanted to be a writer. I wanted to be a playwright. But everything I wrote, I thought, was weak. And I can remember falling asleep in tears because I had no talent..
'Each time I make a movie, I give it everything I have. I think everyone should, and I think everyone should do everything they do that way.'
