Considering “The Godfather” just celebrated its 50th anniversary and that myriad books, magazine articles and featurettes have been dedicated to its making, there shouldn’t be anything left to say about the behind-the-scenes goings-on of the 1972 classic. But Paramount+ apparently still has some tea to spill because the streamer just released a ten-episode fictionalized retelling of the cinematic masterpiece’s journey to the screen. Titled “The Offer,” the limited series was inspired by the experiences of a young Albert S. Ruddy (Miles Teller), the now 92-year-old Academy Award-winning producer who helmed the film in the early days of his career.
Created by screenwriter Michael Tolkin, who penned “The Player,” and Leslie Greif, who gave us “Walker, Texas Ranger,” “The Offer” isn’t exactly being well-received by critics. Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter even went so far as to describe it as “an illustrated Wikipedia entry stretched illogically to 10 hours by pandering to cinema fans with endless winking and nudging, and with performances that range from likably cartoonish to Madame Tussauds in a heatwave.” Ouch! Viewers certainly seem to be eating it up, though, awarding it a 92% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes. Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that “The Offer” quite compellingly showcases the harried, exciting and often unbelievable process that is movie-making. And the scenery certainly is beautiful to look at!
While “The Godfather” was lensed mainly in New York, “The Offer” was shot in Los Angeles and its environs. To create the series’ patinaed 1970s-era backdrop, production designer Laurence Bennett and his team looked to numerous local stalwarts, including Hollywood’s oldest eatery, Musso & Frank Grill, which pops up several times as one of Ruddy’s regular hangouts. Albert has a contentious meeting with Congressman Mario Biaggi (Danny Nucci) at downtown L.A.’s iconic and oft-filmed Cicada Restaurant and Lounge (most famous for being the spot where Julia Roberts tossed an escargot shell across the room in “Pretty Woman”). The legendary Studios at Paramount, which stood in for Woltz International Pictures in “The Godfather,” plays a central role in the story. And a famous residence known as the Scheimer House makes a memorable appearance as the spot where Paramount production head Robert Evans (Matthew Goode) and his girlfriend Ali MacGraw (Meredith Garretson) attend a raucous party in episode two, titled “Warning Shots.”
Purported to be located in the hills overlooking the Hollywood Sign, in truth the striking midcentury pad can be found deep in the San Fernando Valley in Tarzana, atop a secluded promontory at 18918 La Montana Pl. (Please remember this is a private home. Do not trespass or bother the residents or the property in any way.)
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Image Credit: Compass The sprawling two-story post-and-beam stunner was commissioned in 1970 by Filmation Associates founder Louis Scheimer, who is largely considered to be the father of the Saturday morning cartoon, and his wife, JoAnne. Legendary architect Richard Neutra was initially tapped to design the structure, but he passed away unexpectedly in the early stages of the process, at which point his son, Dion, took over the reins. Framed by sleek lines, a flat roofline and wide overhanging eaves, his creation, completed in 1972 (the same year “The Godfather” debuted!), is an absolute masterpiece!
A midcentury classic, the property boasts four bedrooms (all ensuite) and five baths in an impressive 5,226 square feet – and virtually none of it has been altered since it was initially built over five decades ago! Frozen in time from the day the final nail was hammered into place, realtor Aaron Kirman of the John Aaroe Group told the Eichler Network in 2015, “The beauty of this house is that it’s all in its original, Neutra-configured condition.” That is largely due to the fact that the residence has only had two owners since its inception.
Though JoAnne passed away in 2009, Scheimer held onto the dwelling until his own passing in October 2013. It was subsequently put up for sale by his estate in November 2015. Repped by Kirman, along with Andrea Korchek of Wish Sotheby’s International Realty, the pad was listed with a $5.5 million price tag. That’s a whopping $1,052 per square foot for those counting – double the going rate of other area homes at the time. But as Kirman explained to the Eichler Network, “There’s no way to ‘comp’ this house,” calling it a “one-of-a-kind modern showcase.” The abode wound up changing hands the following September for $3,767,000 (or a somewhat more reasonable $720 PPSF) and, per Redfin, is worth upwards of $5.3 million today.
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Image Credit: Compass Featuring an unparalleled open floor plan with both the interior and exterior walls constructed almost entirely of glass, the property truly brings the outside in. Neutra’s design takes full advantage of the home’s hilltop location, with all of the common areas, including the living room, dining room, den, kitchen and breakfast nook, situated to overlook the elevated 2.88-acre lot and rolling landscape of the San Fernando Valley beyond.
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Image Credit: Compass Riddled with exquisite retro detailing including glossy red brick floors, pebbled cement work and a plethora of built-ins, the residence’s most compelling element is easily the massive indoor/outdoor water feature which flows from the dramatic entry foyer straight through to the backyard.
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Image Credit: Compass Gated and supremely private, the structure also boasts a large reflecting pool, a spa, a pool house/cabana, a three-car garage and a detached guest suite that looks like it was ripped from the pages of a design magazine.
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Image Credit: Compass The quintessential midcentury party pad, it is not hard to see how the Scheimer House secured a role in “The Offer.” The “Warning Shots” episode makes prominent use of the swinging property, with Evans and MacGraw smoking, drinking and dancing their way through both the interior and exterior of the residence until the wee hours of the morning. While the party scene does not further the storyline other than to showcase the highfalutin, somewhat debaucherous lifestyle Evans was known to enjoy, there’s no doubt the backdrop is showstopping and perfectly encapsulates the style and flair of the era.