Enjoy the best of the FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA COLLECTION! Born in Michigan in 1939, into a creative Italian family, Coppola first trained under director Roger Corman. He showed an early affinity for many aspects of film, winning the 1970 Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for Patton. Francis also was entrepreneurial, forming a production company with George Lucas. His career became legendary upon his directing of 1972’s The Godfather.