Italia Coppola

Italia Pennino Coppola (Italian: [iˈtaːlja ˈkɔppola]; December 12, 1912 – January 21, 2004) was the matriarch of the Coppola family.[1] She appeared in three non-speaking roles in Francis Ford Coppola's movies, One from the Heart, The Godfather Part II and The Godfather Part III.[2] She was known for her Italian cooking and published a cookbook called Mama Coppola's Pasta Book.[3][4] Her nickname "Mammarella" is the name of her pasta and sauce line. Francis Ford Coppola named his 1998 Edizione Pennino zinfandel after her family’s name and Italian heritage.[5] Her image has also appeared on the "Mammarella" pasta and sauce line, named after her and made by her son Francis.[6][7]

Italia Coppola
Born
Italia Pennino

(1912-12-12)December 12, 1912
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedJanuary 21, 2004(2004-01-21) (aged 91)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeSan Fernando Mission Cemetery
SpouseCarmine Coppola
ChildrenAugust Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
Talia Shire

Early life

Born in New York City, she was one of six children of Anna (née Giaquinto) (1879-?) and composer Francesco Pennino (1880-1952), both from Naples, Italy.[8] Her father was a musician and composer of Italian songs, an importer of silent Italian films and a movie theater owner. She was born in an apartment over the family's Empire Theater in Brooklyn.[9]

Coppola family matriarch

Italia Pennino Coppola was the wife of Carmine Coppola and the mother of academic August Coppola, filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and actress Talia Shire, as well as the maternal grandmother of actors Jason Schwartzman, Robert Carmine and writer Matthew Shire, and the paternal aunt of talent manager Anthony Pennino, and paternal grandmother of actors Nicolas Cage, Marc Coppola and directors Roman Coppola, Christopher Coppola and Sofia Coppola.[10][2]

Under her maiden name, Pennino, Italia Coppola was a lyricist known for writing "Non ci Lasceremo Mai", Connie's wedding song from The Godfather, the Sicilian lyrics for "Ninna-Nanna A Michele", consisting of The Godfather Waltz and Michael's Theme, composed by Nino Rota and sung by Nino Palermo in The Godfather Part II soundtrack, "Come Back To Love (the Chief's Death)" from Apocalypse Now, and songs from Carmine Coppola themes from Napoleon, The Black Stallion, and The Outsiders.[11][12][13][14][15]

Death

Italia Pennino Coppola is buried in San Fernando Mission Cemetery alongside her husband.[10][16]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1972The GodfatherExtra in Wedding SceneUncredited
1974The Godfather Part IIMama Corleone's BodyUncredited
1981One from the HeartCouple in Elevator #2
1990The Godfather Part IIISignora AltobelloUncredited (final film role)

See also

References
  1. "Italia Pennino Coppola, 91; Mother of Director, Actress". Los Angeles Times. 2004-01-23. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  2. "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  3. Times, Los Angeles. "ITALIA PENNINO COPPOLA, 91". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  4. Variety Staff (2004-01-24). "Italia Coppola". Variety. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  5. Guardian Staff (2001-10-14). "The good food father". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2020-12-16.
  6. Fabricant, Florence (2001-06-13). "For the Love of Pasta, a Director Moves Into Macaroni (Published 2001)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-12-16.
  7. "Francis Coppola Presents: Mammarella". www.mammarellafoods.com. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  8. Michael Cabanatuan (2004-01-23). "Italia Coppola – mother of filmmaker". SFGate. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  9. "Francis Ford Coppola". archive.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  10. "Italia Coppola Obituary (2004) San Diego Union-Tribune". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  11. "Museum of Performance + Design, San Francisco, Johnson Sheet Music Collection".
  12. "Italia Coppola ASCAP Repertory".
  13. Sciannameo, Franco (October 11, 2010). Nino Rota's The Godfather Trilogy: A Film Score Guide. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0810877115.
  14. "Italia Pennino | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  15. "THE GODFATHER's Family Wedding Album". www.thegodfathertrilogy.com. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  16. "Italia Pennino Coppola, 91; Mother of Director, Actress". L.A. Times Archives. Jan 23, 2004.
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