Photographer Steve Schapiro’s colossal 444-page Godfather Family Album is filled with oversized behind-the-scenes photos that vividly capture the making of Francis Ford Coppola’s quintessential gangster trilogy.
Schapiro, on assignment for Life magazine, was granted unique access during production to shoot Pacino, Brando, De Niro, and crew at their most candid and sometimes downright zany moments — such as when Coppola’s mother surprised the cast one morning dressed as her son. Text from Mario Puzo, Peter Biskind, and others completes the picture, detailing the fascinating filmmaking process, including negotiations between Coppola’s intrepid producer and a powerful New York mob boss.
Explore the Godfather timeline on the films’ official website, revisit famous quotes from the trilogy, check out Schapiro’s other work, and buy the book
.
Click through below for a gallery of timeless images from the book.
Photo: Steve Schapiro
Photo: Steve Schapiro
Photo: Steve Schapiro
Photo: Steve Schapiro
Photo: Steve Schapiro
Photo: Steve Schapiro
Photo: Steve Schapiro
Photo: Steve Schapiro
Photo: Steve Schapiro
Photo: Steve Schapiro