Michael Schumacher on Coppola

Seeing Bogdanovich in the car to them, Friedkin could not resist the temptation to razz the other director with a little competitive banter. He stuck his head out of the limo's sunroof and called out to Bogdanovich, offering him a line from a review of The French Connection: "The most exciting American film in 25 years," he shouted. Then, to under-score his point, he held up his hand with all five fingers extended. "Eight nominations and five Oscars including Best Picture."

Bogdanovich responded in kind. "The Last Picture Show - a film that will revolutionise film history," he shot back, quoting from one HIS reviews. "Eight nominations, and my movie's better than yours."

As would be the case throughout much of his career, Coppola got in the last word. He stood up, poked his head out through the sunroof and roared, "The Godfather: one hundred and fifty million dollars."

The following winter, The Godfather would earn more Oscar nominations than either The French Connection or The Last Picture Show, but for the moment Coppola had proved that, even in those early heady days, he understood the real language of Hollywood.