'The Offer' mines the drama behind the making of 'The Godfather'

A 10-part series that looks back at the making of "The Godfather" and Hollywood in the swingin' '70s, anchored by Matthew Goode's appropriately scenery-devouring turn as Paramount boss Robert Evans.

The movie's producer, Albert S. Ruddy, is behind the series, which is credited as being "based on Albert Ruddy's experience of making 'The Godfather.'" If everyone is the hero of their own story that's certainly true here, with Ruddy (Miles Teller, who replaced Armie Hammer) presented as fighting an honorable battle to preserve the film's artistic integrity while beset from every angle, including the Mafia, which took an inordinate interest in the subject matter of Mario Puzo's bestselling book.

A more familiar tension is that Paramount has been on a rocky path, with its impatient owners pressuring Evans to deliver at the box office. Careers are thus riding on the movie -- which became a huge commercial success in addition to winning the Oscar for best picture -- with everyone in danger of being fired in seemingly every episode.