:45:03
Plus the rest of his production
team were all there.
:45:06
The film was to open in four months.
Paramount's big Christmas gift to the world.
:45:11
The lights went down,
the picture started.
:45:14
Two hours and six minutes later,
the room began to fill with light.
:45:19
Francis, I want to speak with you. Alone.
:45:22
I was on fire.
:45:24
And the prince himself
took a half-hour to get to my office.
:45:30
Thanks for showing, Francis.
:45:32
"All my boys were telling
me how great the picture is.
:45:36
They tell me not to touch a frame."
:45:38
The picture stinks, Francis.
Got it?
:45:40
You shot a great film. Where the fuck is it?
In your kitchen with your spaghetti?
:45:44
It sure ain't on the screen.
Where's the family, the heart, the feeling?
:45:48
Is that left in the kitchen too?
:45:49
Did Coppola glare.
:45:51
Schmuck. Name me a studio head that tells
a director to make a picture longer.
:45:56
Only a nut like me would.
But you're gonna do it.
:45:59
You shot a saga, pal,
but you turned in a trailer.
:46:03
Now go back and give me a movie.
:46:07
The next morning
I told the New York honchos...
:46:10
...that the picture couldn't
be ready for Christmas.
:46:12
I didn't need a phone
to hear their screams.
:46:16
Coppola?
Of course he agreed with them.
:46:18
"You've got it for Christmas.
Don't worry. Evans is crazy.
:46:21
He wants to change everything.
Hear this: He wants me to make it longer."
:46:27
Then I get my orders, and unalterable.
:46:30
"Evans, the picture is to be ready
for Christmas, and that is it."
:46:35
Fine. I quit.
:46:37
A year before, they would've
booted me out on my ass.
:46:40
Yeah, but Love Story saved Paramount.
And I was their fair-haired boy.
:46:45
When you've only got one shot, either you
pull down that beautiful brass ring...
:46:50
...or you get them brass knuckles
in the balls. You got no second time around.
:46:55
To Francis
and the entire company's chagrin...
:46:58
...Bluhdorn backed me,
and backed me all the way.