20 Things You Probably Didn't Know About The Godfather

20. The Director Didn't Like The Godfather Book

When a director agrees to adapt a story to the big screen, you naturally assume they're a huge fan of the source material. After all, why would you invest time, effort, and money in a property if you didn't love it?

But that wasn't the case at all with Francis Ford Coppola. In fact, he said he was initially 'not impressed' when he read Mario Puzo's The Godfather. So, why did he agree to adapt it?

And the answer is: money.

You see, Coppola was the executive producer for George Lucas' sci-fi flick, THX 1138. When the film ran over budget, Coppola had to pay Warner Bros. for overruns, putting him in massive debt. When he was offered the chance to direct The Godfather, he felt like it was an offer he couldn't refuse. Since the book sold nine million copies in two years, he was certain the movie would be a hit, despite his feelings towards the story.