Despite the thunderous victory of The Godfather at the box office in 1972, the final episode of The Offer does not live up to the hype and comes across as subdued. It bounces off the performance of its stellar cast, but as a story whose events we already know, it fails to create the oomph that would have made its final chapter remarkable.
Let’s chronicle all the major things that happen in this episode.
In the finale, the success of The Godfather immediately opens up doors for a sequel. While individuals like Robert Evans and Francis Ford Coppola (backed by Paramount) are on board, Albert Ruddy steps back, opting to produce The Longest Yard instead.
So the episode starts with the team understandable wary of how The Godfather will perform, especially since Cabaret has become a huge hit. As a saving measure, they block book 300 theatres for The Godfather.
Here’s how the rest goes:
Evans and MacGraw Don’t Make Up
The finale starts on a hopeful note when Evans is seen making an effort to win his wife back. But when MacGraw does show up, she comes with divorce papers.
Despite Evans pleading that he will change, MacGraw wants to go her separate way. But they do show up to the premiere of The Godfather together for the cameras.
MacGraw, as you may already know, later went on to marry Steve McQueen after she had an affair with him while filming The Getaway. Evans himself would marry seven more times.
The Godfather Is a Hit!
Unsurprising to us, but wholly shocking to the team, The Godfather is a massive box office hit. It even ends up getting nominated for 11 Oscars! The audience loves it, the critics love it, and finally, the studio seems to love it too—now that it’s making them all the big bucks.
The success means that Paramount has to make The Godfather II, and they’re counting on Ruddy to show them through it again. Ruddy tries to hint at how he’s mentally invested in another project, but his new picture is denied the opportunity several times until Evans finally lets him go.
Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo take over the sequel, which actually outdoes the original.
The Godfather’s success also means that Evans is able to negotiate a better deal for himself at Paramount, where he continues to be the Head but can also be a producer. Although in real life he later chooses to go independent, it is quite a big win for him at the moment.
Bettye McCartt’s Dream Career
McCartt is one of the more delightful characters on screen, as Ruddy’s ever-trustworthy secretary. While she excels at her job, she has dreams of her own and hopes to open a talent agency.
So, after the success of the film, she tells Ruddy about her aspirations. He knows a thing or two about following one’s gut and dreams, so he gives her an office (with two years’ rent paid in) where she can start her business in.
In real life, McCartt will go on to start Agency for Artists and McCartt, Oreck & Barrett Talent Agency, with amazing clientele such as George Clooney, Maureen O’Hara, Anthony Quinn, Henry Miller, and more.
Ruddy Does Not Sign on for The Godfather II
Perhaps the most shocking news is that Ruddy does not have any desire to make a Godfather sequel, despite the fact that not only did he prove everyone wrong with his successful venture, but a sequel would be quite profitable at the heels of a box office hit.
Instead, he is adamant to continue focusing his energy on The Longest Yard. Why though? For one, as much as he loved what drove him to make The Godfather, he doesn’t want to get stuck in the rut and be known for just one type of film. His creative devices lie in making his own unique content.
Second, and more importantly, making The Godfather was a literal pain for him. No production is ever expected to go entirely smoothly, but between studios being cumbersome, the mafia threat, and constant, unexpected roadblocks, making the movie seemed impossible.
Remember that scene where Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man is trying to stop the train from falling of a cliff, holding onto his webbing for his dear life—that was Ruddy when it came to The Godfather. I can’t blame him for wanting to walk away.
About The Offer
The Offer is a 10-episode limited series, written and executive produced by Nikki Toscano, who also serves as showrunner, and by Emmy-nominated writer Michael Tolkin. Leslie Greif, alongside Ruddy and Teller, serves as an executive producer on the series.
The series also stars Matthew Goode as Robert Evans, Dan Fogler as Francis Ford Coppola, Burn Gorman as Charles Bluhdorn, Colin Hanks as Barry Lapidus, Giovanni Ribisi as Joe Colombo, Justin Chambers as Marlon Brando, and Juno Temple as Bettye McCartt.
The Offer is based on the many “extraordinary” behind-the-scenes stories of Oscar-winning producer Albert S. Ruddy, who will also be featured in the series played by Miles Teller, who replaced Armie Hammer for the role.
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