He Made him an offer he couldn’t refuse….but he did! Not much detail is known about the business offers John Lennon received during his five-year hiatus from issuing new recordings. However, the internet at several sources (with the links provided below) have disclosed at least one. The Godfather’s director, Francis Ford Coppola wrote to John to discuss the possibility of John writing some music for one of his films while he was making the film Apocalypse Now.
One can only imagine what it would have been like to have a project that included the involvement of both Marlon Brando and John Lennon. Alas, it was never to be. Hope you enjoy the correspondence that has appeared below at several internet sources which are noted at the bottom of the page. The links have been provided below for further information on the subject
Typed reply from JL followed by the handwritten note:
“Dear Frank,
Having given a lot more thought to this idea, I realise that due to my work schedule I really don’t have the time for such a big new project.
I love the book but it would take too much energy etc.
Best wishes to you, it was nice meeting you
Love,
John Lennon”
Here are the Internet sources this post was created from:
Some excellent sources on the Internet with information about this story
Francis Coppola asked John Lennon to work on ‘Apocalypse Now’ | Steve Hoffman Music Forums
The letter Francis Ford Coppola sent to John Lennon (faroutmagazine.co.uk)
It would’ve been cool if he’d actually been IN the movie. Talk about How I Won The War…
It probably would not have been a good idea for Lennon to go to the Philippines considering what had happened to the Beatles in the mid 1960s when they went there and declined an offer from (I think it was) Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos to pay them a visit. The Beatles said they didn’t have time to, and then the Philippines immediately erupted in anti Beatles sentiment. The Beatles got scared, and wisely chose to never go back.
I also sence that John Lennon simply wasn’t interested in writing songs for a big Hollywood director who was making a war themed film, even if it was fictional (it was somewhat based on Joseph Conrad’s “The Heart of Darkness “).
John said in an interview i heard he dudnt enjoy writing for a film; it was too forced
Two stars in their respective fields, engaging in polite, mutually respectful discourse. A very interesting exchange. I think they would have “hit it off” if they had met.
John was being polite.
Awww, we missed out on a potential song…
“Apocalypse Now and Then”
Very interesting
work schedule . You wonder what this was then that stopped him participating..
John was being polite.
This was news to me! Thank You for posting!