Stern’s interview with Coppola got me thinking about the silver screen

Francis Ford Coppola was interviewed Monday by Howard Stern (please hold the hate letters — you all know I’m a Howard devotee).

The interview was fascinating, as Mr. Coppola has made some of my favorite movies of all time, notably “The Godfather” trilogy. (Yes, I’m one of the rare folks who enjoyed the third installment).

It made me think about all the movies that have been made since the first “real” movie was shown back in 1895 in Paris. The American Film Institute created its list of the “Top 100 Greatest Movies of All Time” back in 1998.

The top three (in this order) were “Citizen Kane,” “The Godfather” and “Casablanca.” Having never seen “Citizen Kane,” I cannot comment on it. The second is the aforementioned gem; the third, “Casablanca,” made me want my two hours back.

A great movie is dependent on a variety of things — a great script, screenplay and actors, but most of all, the audience that will pay the bucks to see it again and again. Public opinion is a huge tool — hence why I never follow the critics’ recommendations.

The old notion of the movie never being as good as the book is, unfortunately, usually true. We fans of horror author Stephen King know that the movie will never be as good. But when King himself writes the screenplay, it’ll be pretty darned close.

Mr. Coppola himself said that the book “The Godfather” by Mario Puzo was a disappointment to him. He said he found the book very sleazy, and the movie was quite a departure from the book. Coppola created the movie, which debuted in 1972, with a small budget and a bunch of relatively unknown actors.

What an eye: The unknowns back then were Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall and Diane Keaton. It was Coppola’s eye and screenplay that were the keys to the movie’s success.

Movies evoke so many emotions — laughter, sadness, even anger. Have you ever watched a tear-jerker? “Terms of Endearment” is a good one to start with.

A lot of guys call these tear-jerkers “chick flicks” — you know, “Steel Magnolias,” “Fried Green Tomatoes.” I’ll give you a chick flick that’ll make you high-five your girlfriends: “Thelma & Louise.” Still, it was a tear-jerker of an ending.

Comedies stretch so far and wide within their genre. The “Pink Panther” series of the 1970s are classic to some, whereas “Dumb & Dumber” is the ultimate in stupid, juvenile humor (and I love every minute of it; my mom hated it). Some folks enjoy the comedy of Woody Allen. I can’t stand him.

Behind many a good movie lies a great director. One of the greatest is Martin Scorsese. His movies are so true to life, you feel as if you’re living them. Who remembers “Raging Bull”? Although shot in black and white, it’s a gritty story of self-destructive boxer Jake LaMotta, and it’s quite brutal.

The lengths certain actors will go to for a movie role can be extreme. If you’re familiar with Charlize Theron, you know what a beautiful woman she is. She earned industry respect with her turn as Aileen Wuornos in the movie “Monster.” She gained quite a bit of weight, and when she played the role, you felt she was Aileen Wuornos. And she scared the hell out of us.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the classic horror movie. As cheesy as it was, the original “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” still makes me shiver in my boots. For some folks, it’s the first few installments of “Friday the 13th” or “Nightmare on Elm Street.”

But for the “godfather” of all horror movies, you just can’t beat “Psycho” from 1960. Anthony Perkins is the classic mama’s boy who made people afraid of the shower.

It’d be a shame not to mention the sci-fi or adventure genres, but I’ve just plain run out of room. But remember, Culpeper: “I’ll be back!”
Smith’s column runs every Friday on the editorial page.