Book excerpt: Welsh and Phillips (independent scholars) and Hill (Georgia Gwinett College) offer an exhaustive A-Z compendium of information about Francis Ford Coppola, a major figure in American cinema and director of The Godfather, The Conversation, Apocalypse Now, and many other films. The book describes Coppola as a "visionary auteur" and presents his career as one of extremes--from the fabulous successes of the 1970s to the bitter disappointments of the 1980s, as he struggled and compromised with the Hollywood system. Entries for each film include full credits, a plot summary, highlights of the production history and critical reception, and references for further reading. Additional entries are devoted to Coppola's professional associates, actors, those he mentored, and diverse influences in his life. This unique volume will be necessary reading for anyone studying Coppola's films and American filmmaking of the mid to late 20th century. Contributors are knowledgeable specialists--writers or teachers with credentials in film and media. Phillips previously wrote Godfather: The Intimate Francis Ford Coppola (CH, Sep'04, 42-0202), and he and Hill edited Francis Ford Coppola: Interviews (2004). An excellent selected bibliography, general index, and photographs of scenes from the films enhance the volume's value to students. Summing Up: Essential. Medium to large film collections in public and academic libraries; lower-level undergraduates and above, and general readers. General Readers; Lower-division Undergraduates; Upper-division Undergraduates; Graduate Students; Researchers/Faculty; Professionals/Practitioners. Reviewed by L. E. Jorbin.