Francis Ford Coppola is a screenwriter.
Apocalypse Now is a 1979 American epic war film directed , produced and co-written by Francis Ford Coppola . Francis Ford Coppola ( [ pronˈkoʊpələ ] born April 7 , 1939 ) , also credited as Francis Coppola , is a semi-retired American film director , producer , and screenwriter . His directorial prominence was cemented with the release in 1972 of The Godfather , a film which revolutionized movie-making in the gangster genre , earning praise from both critics and the public before winning three Academy Awards -- including his second Oscar ( Best Adapted Screenplay , with Mario Puzo ) , Best Picture , and his first nomination for Best Director .