Francis Ford Coppola's 'The Godfather' notebook will be published as a book

For many film buffs, The Godfather holds a special place in the pantheon of movie excellence. The 1972 gangster flick is widely considered one of the greatest movies ever made, and now its director is lifting the curtain to reveal the inner workings of his creative process.

Francis Ford Coppola is publishing the notebook that he used to jot down all of his thoughts while adapting, casting, filming, and producing the film. The Godfather Notebook is a 720-page dive into Coppola’s mind while creating this film, including direction written on pages of the original Mario Puzo novel, notes on casting ideas, and never-before-published photos from the set. The publication will also include an introduction by Coppola.

“This notebook was my private work reference to The Godfather film, and after many years, I’m excited to share it with those who may be interested, Coppola said in a statement. “It is the key to understanding what went into making the film from Mario Puzo’s novel.”

The Godfather Notebook is being published by Regan Arts, and will be available Nov. 15.