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The Godfather, a critically acclaimed and commercially successful film, had a challenging journey to the big screen. Initially, many prominent actors and directors declined to participate, believing it would fail. The story began with Mario Puzo's novel, which unexpectedly became a bestseller, prompting Paramount to secure the film rights.
- Mario Puzo wrote the novel "The Godfather" due to its wide appeal, despite having no personal connections to the Mafia.
- Paramount initially offered Puzo $12,500 for the film rights, plus $80,000 if the movie was made.
- The novel's unexpected success, 67 weeks on the NYT bestseller list, made Paramount's gamble pay off.
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