‘The Offer,’ a biographical drama series created by Michael Tolkin, depicts the tale of how Albert S. Ruddy produced the classic mafia film ‘The Godfather,’ which has remained popular for decades. The film adaptation of Mario Puzo’s novel of the same name, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, would not only reinvigorate a dying genre, but it would also become a renowned piece of cinema history in its own right. However, there were numerous obstacles to overcome during the film’s production, with the Italian-American mafias of New York City being a significant threat. Ruddy is depicted as having made a deal with mob boss Joe Colombo in order to assure that the production would run smoothly. Did the two of them, on the other hand, actually know each other in real life? Let’s have a look and see!
Have Albert Ruddy and Joe Colombo actually been friends in real life?
A feature film adaptation of Mario Puzo’s novel ‘The Godfather’ was set to begin production in March 1970, with Albert S. Ruddy attached to direct the project for Paramount Pictures. Ruddy was hired despite the fact that his last two films failed to generate significant box office revenue due to his ability to complete projects on time and on budget. With a bestselling novel like ‘The Godfather’ to adapt, it appeared as if Ruddy had finally struck a winning combination. After he recruited Francis Ford Coppola to make the film, the movie was set to begin shooting in 1971, according to the director’s schedule. However, only a few weeks before filming began, Ruddy was confronted with a slew of obstacles stemming from the opposition of Italian-American politicians and organizations to the project.
Ruddy made the decision to approach mobster Joseph “Joe” Anthony Colombo Sr, the head of the Colombo criminal family, in order to fix the situation. Despite the fact that Colombo was a well-known mafia boss, he rose to prominence in New York by founding the Italian-American Civil Rights League, a political advocacy organization. Given Colombo’s prominence in the Italian-American community, he was the most qualified person to assist Ruddy in his endeavors. However, persuading the mafia boss was not an easy task to accomplish.
In the months leading up to his meeting with Colombo, Ruddy corresponded with the latter’s son, Anthony Colombo. The two of them worked together to come up with preliminary terms for reaching an agreement with Colombo. In the course of their debate, Ruddy agreed to remove terms like “mafia” and “Cosa Nostra” from the script, which was later implemented. Ruddy also agreed to allow the mafia to review and approve the script for the film. Furthermore, as a gesture of goodwill, the producer has committed to donating all net proceeds from the film’s premiere to the Italian-American Civil Rights League.
Ruddy eventually met with Colombo for the first time on February 25, 1971, at the Park Sheraton Hotel in New York City’s Times Square. In contrast to the show’s depiction, the encounter had been scheduled in advance, and Ruddy was not forced to see Colombo under duress. The director, Ruddy, emphasized that the film he was shooting was about a corrupt culture and assured the mafia boss that it would not reflect negatively on the Italian-American community during their conversation. As a result of the deal reached between Colombo and Ruddy, the production of ‘The Godfather’ was not subjected to any harassment by the mafia or politicians while filming in New York City.
Ruddy and his crew left to Los Angeles after the filming on site was completed, and there have been no additional allegations of the producer having any contact with the mafia boss since that time. Meanwhile, on June 28, 1971, Colombo was shot three times while participating in a rally in Columbus Circle. Colombo was paralyzed as a result of the incident, and he died as a result of a cardiac arrest on May 22, 1978. With ‘The Godfather,’ Ruddy, on the other hand, would achieve success in the entertainment industry. It is safe to state that Ruddy’s contact with Colombo was brief and limited to the scope of their respective job assignments. In spite of the fact that they were on cordial terms with one another, it’s improbable that they were genuinely close friends in real life.