Talia Shire with her brother Francis Ford Coppola at the Hand and Footprint Ceremony honoring Francis Ford Coppola April 29, 2016. Photo © 2016 Joe Martinez/ Picturelux – All Rights Reserved
Veteran filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola has left a permanent mark on Hollywood, in many ways. Not the least of which is the honor bestowed upon him on Friday (April 29, 2016), after his hands and feet were imprinted in cement to be forever displayed at the iconic TLC Chinese Theatre.
The ceremony honored the 77-year-old Oscar-winning director’s 50-year career, highlighted by films such as “The Godfather” trilogy, “The Conversation” and “Apocalypse Now” and five Oscars under his belt. It took place during Turner Classic Movies’ annual Classic Film Festival in Hollywood, which ran through Sunday, where some of Coppola’s films will be screened.
Among those in attendance were wife Eleanor, son Roman Coppola, sister Talia Shire and fellow director Peter Bogdanovich.
Little Known Facts about Francis Ford Coppola per IMDB:
- Caught polio when he was a child. During his quarantine, he practiced puppetry.
- Middle brother of Talia Shire and August Coppola.
- Received an M.F.A. in Film Production from the University of California in Los Angeles (1967).
- Coppola began his winery enterprise by buying portion of historic Inglenook estate in 1975. His success in field is explored in book “A Sense of Place” by Steven Kolpan, 1999.
- Was in the early stages of developing a script for a fourth Godfather film with Mario Puzo which was to tell the story of the early lives of Sonny, Fredo and Michael. After Puzo’s death in July of 1999, Coppola abandoned the project, stating that he couldn’t do it without his friend.
- As of May 2002, the number of Coppola-family members appearing in or contributing to filmmaking stands at thirteen, spread over three generations.
- Out of all his peers who rose to fame and power in the 1970s “Golden Age” era, he is perhaps the only filmmaker still married to his first wife.
- Was voted the 21st Greatest Director of all time by Entertainment Weekly.
- George Lucas said that he based the “Han Solo” character from the Star Wars trilogy on Coppola.
- In 1971 and 1973, George C. Scott and Marlon Brando refused their respective Best Actor awards for Patton (1970) and The Godfather (1972) – both written by Coppola.
- Directed 12 different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Geraldine Page, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Robert De Niro, Michael V. Gazzo, Lee Strasberg, Talia Shire, Kathleen Turner, Andy Garcia and Martin Landau. Brando and De Niro won their Oscar for their performances as Vito Corleone.
- Is the only director to direct two actors in Oscar-winning performances in the same role: Marlon Brando in The Godfather (1972), and Robert De Niro in The Godfather: Part II (1974). Since that time, only two other actors have been nominated for roles in which a previous actor already won an Oscar: José Ferrer and Gérard Depardieu as Cyrano de Bergerac, and John Wayne and Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn.
- His ten favorite films are: Ashes and Diamonds (1958), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), I Vitelloni (1953), The Bad Sleep Well (1960), Yojimbo (1961), Singin’ in the Rain (1952), The King of Comedy (1982), Raging Bull (1980), The Apartment (1960) and Sunrise (1927).
- The only person to direct a sibling in an Oscar-nominated performance (his sister Talia Shire was nominated as “Best Actress in a Supporting Role” for The Godfather: Part II (1974)
- He is among an elite group of seven directors who have won Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay (Original/Adapted) for the same film. In 1975 he won all three for The Godfather: Part II (1974). The others are Leo McCarey, Billy Wilder, James L. Brooks, Peter Jackson Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, and Alejandro G. Iñárritu.