He Didn’t Need to Read No Stinking Book

Mario Puzo (1920-1999) was the writer whose 1969 novel, The Godfather, was adapted for the 1972 film of the same name. The author co-wrote the screenplay for the movie with director Francis Ford Coppola. The two men also wrote the screenplay for both Godfather sequels. They won Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay for the first two films.

Puzo claimed he really didn’t know what he was doing as he’d never written screenplays before, so he “figured I better learn” and bought a book on screenwriting after winning his Academy Awards. According to the writer, the first chapter of the screenwriting book said, “Study ‘Godfather I’. It’s the model of a screenplay”.

The Godfather won numerous awards, including three Oscars, five Golden Globes, and one Grammy. The Godfather Part II won six Academy Awards and was the first sequel to win the award for Best Picture. Both are generally considered to be among the greatest films ever made.

Puzo’s novel was on the NYT’s best-seller list for 67 weeks and sold more than nine million copies in two years.

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JoyfulSilence · 51-55, M

Before I read your post, when I saw the header I thought it was going to be about the Treasure of the Sierra Madre.

"Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinkin' badges!"

[media=https://youtu.be/VqomZQMZQCQ]

Rutterman · 46-50, M

@JoyfulSilence Haha. I used the widely quoted paraphrase of that dialogue as the basis for my title. 😄

JoyfulSilence · 51-55, M

@Rutterman

I originally wrote the paraphrase, more or less. Then when I found the clip, I kept watching it and editing what I had in quotes, until it matched.

I never realized how much more there was to it!

Rutterman · 46-50, M

@JoyfulSilence It's been paraphrased for years, at least as far back as 1967:

As pointed out by This Day in Quotes, the “no badges” line was the source of many parodies – and the most popular actually first originated in a 1967 episode of The Monkees. In it, Mickey Dolenz says, “Badges? We don’t need no stinking badges!”

https://qualityincentivecompany.com/blog/badges-we-dont-need-no-stinking-badges/

JoyfulSilence · 51-55, M

I first saw the reference in Blazing Saddles. I think at the time time I had no clue its origin, but I think I knew it was part of popular culture.

It is like when advertisements use old songs or melodies, and I become familiar with them that way before I ever am exposed to the original.

Rutterman · 46-50, M

@JoyfulSilence I know what you mean about advertisements and music. They--along with movies, TV shows, and video games--have given new life to old popular songs, exposing younger generations to music they might never have become familiar with otherwise.