8
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enter image description here

Across
3. Extraordinary claim: He is 13 across after 9 down (7)
6. Crashed ashore, sounding rough (6)
8. Got away from David and Edward going separate ways (6)
10. General supermarket chain from Germany follows Italy's #1 in fashion (9)
12. Rights to incorporate a compression format (3, abbr.)
13. Crime lord's small gesture backed by inner circle controlling Mexican city (3,8)
16. One soldier enters – voilà, America becomes prominent (11)
20. Hot liquid and endless vapour (3)
21. 1 down author's unfinished opus and final letter acquired by Italian coin collector (5,4)
24. Someone who makes the cut tied or undone (6)
25. Get on top of Everest to indicate having extreme backbone (6)
26. Police officer pursuing organization leaders backing Capone, leading to man behind 1 down (7)

Down
1. Readaptation of The Frog – hated film based on beloved book (3,9)
2. Snoop at Ronald's secret supporter (6)
3. Self-referential part of statement brought up (4)
4. Number two mostly returned as indicated (4)
5. Brave conclusion against final bits of pressure (6)
7. Records mention small streams but no river (7,5)
9. 1 down's right to reject broadcast (4)
11. Controversial novel's first half leads to joyful reaction (3, abbr.)
14. Slavic state from south of Spain northward (3)
15. Jewish priest: "God goes before me." (3)
16. 3 across actor seen as Tupac in Oscar-winning part (6)
17. Monster's ball under a tree (4)
18. Dark matter among stardust (3)
19. Jocularly keeping seen with the eye (6)
22. Go underneath a river's bottom to get ship (4)
23. Thought had by Luigi de Amato (4)

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1
  • $\begingroup$ I can't see the grid. Why tag "cryptic-crosswords"? $\endgroup$ Jan 13, 2020 at 6:20

1 Answer 1

9
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"I'll make them a crossword they can't resist!"

Across

 3. Extraordinary claim: He is 13 across after 9 down (7)   MICHAEL = (CLAIM HE)*
 6. Crashed ashore, sounding rough (6)                      HOARSE = ASHORE*
 8. Got away from David and Edward going separate ways (6)  EVADED = DAVE< + ED
10. General supermarket chain from Germany follows          GARIBALDI = GAR(I)B + ALDI
    Italy's #1 in fashion (9)
12. Rights to incorporate a compression format (3)          RAR = R(A)R
13. Crime lord's small gesture backed by inner circle       DON CORLEONE
    controlling Mexican city (3,8)                              = NOD< + COR(LEON)E
16. One soldier enters -- voilà, America becomes prominent  PRESTIGIOUS = PREST(I GI)O + US
20. Hot liquid and endless vapour (3)                       TEA = (s)TEA(m)
21. 1 down author's unfinished opus and final letter        MARIO PUZO
                                                                = (OPU(s) + Z) in MARIO
    acquired by Italian coin collector (5,4)
24. Someone who makes the cut tied or undone (6)            EDITOR = (TIED OR)*
25. Get on top of Everest to indicate having extreme        EMBARK = E... + M(B)ARK 
    backbone (6)
26. Police officer pursuing organization leaders backing     COPPOLA = COP + P... O... + AL<
    Capone, leading to man behind 1 down (7)

Down

 1. Readaptation of The Frog -- hated film based on         THE GODFATHER
    beloved book (3,9)                                          = (THE FROG HATED)*
 2. Snoop at Ronald's secret supporter (6)                  PATRON = snoo_P AT RON_ald's
 3. Self-referential part of statement brought up (4)       META = st_ATEM<_ent
 4. Number two mostly returned as indicated (4)             CUED = DEUC(e) <
 5. Brave conclusion against final bits of pressure (6)     ENDURE = END + (press)URE
 7. Records mention small streams but no river (7,5)        ADDRESS BOOKS
                                                                = ADDRESS + B(r)OOKS
 9. 1 down's right to reject broadcast (4)                  VITO = sound like VETO (@w l)
11. Controversial novel's first half leads to joyful        LOL = LOL(ita)
    reaction (3)
14. Slavic state from south of France northward (3)         RUS = SUR<
15. Jewish priest: "God goes before me." (3)                ELI = EL + I
16. 3 across actor seen as Tupac in Oscar-winning part      PACINO = Tu_PAC IN O_scar
17. Monster's ball under a tree (4)                         ELMO = ELM + O
18. Dark matter among stardust (3)                          TAR = s_TAR_dust
19. Jocularly keeping seen with the eye (6)                 OCULAR = j_OCULAR_ly
22. Go underneath a river's bottom to get ship (4)          ARGO = A (rive)R + GO
23. Thought had by Luigi de Amato (4)                       IDEA = luig_I DE A_mato

The grid

     T   P     M I C H A E L
     H O A R S E   U     N   A
     E   T     T   E V A D E D
     G A R I B A L D I   U   D
     O   O       O   T   R A R
     D O N C O R L E O N E   E
     F         U   L         S
     A   P R E S T I G I O U S
     T E A   L   A       C   B
     H   C   M A R C O P U Z O
     E D I T O R   D     L   O
     R   N     G   E M B A R K
       C O P P O L A     R   S

The theme

If it wasn't obvious, the theme is The Godfather (1d) written by Mario Puzo (21) and made into a film by Francis Ford Coppola (26). Many more clues reference the work.

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  • 1
    $\begingroup$ I think the wordplay part of 9d is: homophone of "right to reject". $\endgroup$
    – w l
    Jan 10, 2020 at 11:45
  • $\begingroup$ @wl: Ah, homophones, my soft spot. Thanks. $\endgroup$
    – M Oehm
    Jan 10, 2020 at 12:15
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Not getting 14D! South of France would be ROT13(FHQ) not ROT13(FHE). Is clue in error? Perhaps "Slavic State on French north") $\endgroup$ Jan 10, 2020 at 18:36
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ @ChrisCudmore: No, that's probably an error on the creator's part. I noticed it too and meant to address it, but forgot. It's really the south of Spain. Or the "above" of France. :) $\endgroup$
    – M Oehm
    Jan 10, 2020 at 18:38
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Well, it's not a serious error. Not enough to spoil an otherwise superb thematic cryptic. $\endgroup$
    – M Oehm
    Jan 11, 2020 at 8:19

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