A Seat at the Table
- Episode aired Apr 28, 2022
- TV-MA
- 1h 8m
Al Ruddy gets the job of producing an adaptation of the bestselling novel "The Godfather" for Paramount Pictures, but rising crime boss Joe Colombo has a different fate planned for the film.Al Ruddy gets the job of producing an adaptation of the bestselling novel "The Godfather" for Paramount Pictures, but rising crime boss Joe Colombo has a different fate planned for the film.Al Ruddy gets the job of producing an adaptation of the bestselling novel "The Godfather" for Paramount Pictures, but rising crime boss Joe Colombo has a different fate planned for the film.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn the scene where Albert S. Ruddy visits the Zoetrope editing suite to convince Francis Ford Coppola to co-write and direct his film, a man, uncredited, walks through behind Coppola; he is later seen sitting on a couch in the background with a young woman (and another man, seen from the back) as Ruddy and Coppola continue to talk. This "walk through" man is clearly George Lucas, the woman is likely Marcia Lucas or Gloria Katz, and the other man is probably Willard Huyck, all of whom were friends and acolytes of Coppola circa 1970.
- GoofsThey didn't just come up with Coppola directing, but he was their 8th choice after Sergio Leone, Peter Bogdanovich, Peter Yates, Richard Brooks, Arthur Penn, Costa-Gavras, and Otto Preminger were all offered the position and declined.
- Quotes
Albert S. Ruddy: Bob Evans? I'm Al Ruddy. I want to talk to you. You got a minute?
Robert Evans: I'm pretty sure we don't have a meeting this morning. But then you knew that, didn't you? How'd you get on the lot?
Albert S. Ruddy: It ain't exactly Fort Knox.
Robert Evans: Fair enough. So what can I do for you, Mr. Ruddy?
Albert S. Ruddy: It's about what I can do for you. I want to produce for Paramount.
Robert Evans: You know, you told a good story once. It was ballsy of you to walk away from Hogan's Heroes.
Albert S. Ruddy: So you do know who I am?
Robert Evans: I know who everybody is, kid. Do you know what a producer does, Mr. Ruddy? He does everything he has to do to get his picture made the way he wants it made. Now, what makes you think you're qualified to do that?
Albert S. Ruddy: You know, I read an article on you in Variety. It said you started out selling women's slacks and doing bit parts in movies. You still figured it out.
Robert Evans: [Smiling] Don't call them bit parts when you're kissing somebody's ass! I worked with Jimmy Fucking Cagney, my friend. Toe to toe! So: unknown computer guy creates CBS's hit comedy about Nazis. Go figure.
[pause]
Robert Evans: All right, Mr. Ruddy. I'm a sentimental guy, you remind me of me, and you caught me on a good day. Let's set a lunch, Mr. Ruddy. And talk about your future.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Javo & Temoc: Top 10 Series: Lo 'mejor' del año (2022)
- SoundtracksNinna Nonna
(uncredited)
Performed by The Cardellini Group
An excellent start to the series. I watched this because it tells of the making of one of the greatest films of all time, The Godfather, and I am a keen follower of cinema and the film-making process. However, I was half-expecting a dry documentary-like telling of the making of The Godfather so didn't set my expectations very high.
How wrong I was. The plot, whose writing involves input from Al Ruddy himself, is very interesting and engaging. The writers and director Dexter Fletcher, aided by some great performances, give the whole thing a great vibe and energy. The three-character focus (Ruddy, Puzo, Joe Colombo) makes for an intriguing, fateful meeting of careers and worlds. There's a smoothness that is immediately riveting.
On the downside it is maybe too smooth. Ruddy never puts a foot wrong. When questioned he immediately has a great story and sell, even if he hadn't thought of the question before. One or two moments of analysis on his part would have gone a long way.
It's a minor negative though and the only thing from making the opening episode perfect.
- grantss
- Apr 14, 2024
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(New York street, San Gennaro Festival)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 8 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix