Paramount+’s series, The Offer, offers us an insight into how making one of cinema’s greatest masterpieces, The Godfather, was as intense and volatile as the film itself. Their main hook to draw in viewers is to show how this film almost never got made.
In the middle of all of this, you may find yourself wondering if the events in The Offer are based on a true story or is it all dramatic flair?
The Offer is based on a true story chronicling the production of the 1972 hit, The Godfather. The series is adapted from producer Albert S Ruddy’s memories of the same.
Any major event will not have one undisputed opinion about it, and the making of The Godfather is no different. Here’s in brief, what’s true about The Offer.
What parts of The Offer are true?
You have to remember that this is not a documentary, so even though it is based on a true story, there are lot of things “smoothened” out for the screen.
For example: The show doesn’t show how Mario Puzo’s novel wasn’t complete before the studios were interested in it. Or how, Ruddy had read the novel, even if it was just the afternoon before the meeting.
Of course, these discrepancies are just nitpicky in nature. Largely, the series does nail all the events that surround the making of the film, even if it fudges or glamorizes certain bits.
My only qualm is that the trailer claims that this is a series about “the greatest film almost never made,” and tricks the audience into thinking that a lot of this happens due to the mafia.
While the mafia did make their threatening presence known in more ways than one, attributing them to be the only problem may be an exaggeration.
As you will see through the episodes, a lot more of the problems that The Godfather’s production faced, came from within the studios: disagreements in casting, budgeting and the potential sale of Paramount.
If you’re still wondering if this is most accurate version of what happened behind the scenes in The Godfather, you have to remember that this is only based on producer Ruddy’s perspective.
This isn’t as much about the making of The Godfather, as it is about how Al Ruddy made The Godfather.
Even those closely involved with the film, like director Francis Ford Coppola, was not consulted for The Offer. Others, like former Paramount production vice president Peter Bart, have gone on record to say they don’t entirely agree with the depiction.
Still, I think looking at this production through Ruddy’s lens is important.
As someone who consistently believed in the project, acted as a constant mediator, and trusted his team to make the best decisions, he was informally known as the glue that kept the production together.
For the greatest film that almost never got made, that accounts for a lot.
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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