The 20th Century's Leading Director of the 1960s

Francis Ford Coppola, famously known for his directing of Apocalypse Now, was born on April 7, 1939 in Detroit, Michigan. He was struck with a viral disease that kept him home sick in bed so therefore he found many ways to entertain himself which his how his creative ideas began. His interest in film developed at a young age and he studied theater at Hofstra University. He then moved to California where he attended a film program at UCLA. His creation of films began there with the help of many inspirational people he met during his duration.
In 1979, Coppola produced the Vietnam War drama Apocalypse Now which is an imaginative retelling of Heart of Darkness. It was John Milius' idea to change Heart of Darkness into the Vietnam War era. It is widely known as one of the greatest films of all time due to its cultural effects and philosophical themes. It has been honored with the Palme d'Or at Cannes and has been nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocalypse_Now
http://www.biography.com/people/francis-ford-coppola-9257168