Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg are the most influential directors of their generation with iconic films including 'The Godfather,' 'Star Wars: A New Hope,' and 'Jaws.' Their catalog runs deep.
Author Paul Fischer’s book 'The Last Kings of Hollywood: Coppola, Lucas, Spielberg—and the Battle for the Soul of American Cinema' tells the story of how the directors became giants in filmmaking. In the book, Fischer describes each man’s brilliance and shortcomings, presenting a human story behind their abundant talent and prolific output. Fischer tells Elvis the story behind how 'Apocalypse Now' came to Coppola, how a nearly fatal accident set Lucas on a path toward becoming a filmmaker, and how the idea of family informed each director’s approach to filmmaking.
Note: This episode originally aired on April 17, 2026