Congratulations
Within 8 days it will be Dennis Hopper`s 72th birthday. (May 17, 1936)
(Journalist)
Release date: August 15, 1979
The movie was shot at the island Luzon in the Philippines
Oscars:
Best Cinematography -> Vittorio Storaro
Best Sound
Oscar nominations:
Best Director -> Francis Ford Coppola
Best Picture -> Francis Ford Coppola
Best Actor in a Supporting Role -> Robert Duvall
Best Writing: John Milius, Francis Ford Coppola
Best Film Editing
Best Art Direction
Harvey Keitel was cast as Willard but fired after three weeks
A typhoon on the Philippines destroyed two sets at once, filming ground to a halt for several weeks.
Apocalypse now is based upon the novella Heart of Darkness by Polish writer Joseph Conrad. It’s about Kurtz, an ivory trader sent by a Belgian company into the heart of the Congo.
However, Heart of Darkness does not appear in the screen credits as the literary source of the film because writer Milius complained to the Screen Writers’ Guild, and the reference to the book was removed. Source / More (Book)
Michael Mann, director of Heat and Ali about Apocalypse now: “ Coppola made the ephemeral dynamics of the mass psyche's celebratory nihilism, its self-destructive urges and transience, concrete and operatic. A fabulous picture” Source / More (Web)
Copolla can be seen as a news reporter: filming a war documentary.
Martin Sheen was given the last rites, after a near fatal heart attack. Coppola: “Marty is not dead until I say so ” Source / More (Book)
The picture went so far over schedule that in Hollywood it was known as Apocalypse when? Source / More (Book)
What began in march 1976 with a budget of 13 million dollars and an estimated schedule of four months turned into 16 months and 30 million dollars over budget.
Director Coppola asked the cooperation of the USA army. The request was denied. Army officials pointed to several objectionable episodes such as the fact that Willard was sent to assassinate Colonel Kurtz. The army said that in an actual situation Willard would be directed to bring Kurtz back for medical treatment. Source / More (Book)
The character of Kilgore is based on the real-life colonel Stockton who had inspired writer John Milius to write the script. Source / More (Book)
Marlon Brando was paid $1 million a week for a three week shoot. For that money he didn’t lose weight, he hadn’t read the book and he didn’t cooperate. Source / More (Book)
There’s an illegal five-hour work print of Apocalypse Now available.
The film Hearts of Darkness shows in detail the problems which Francis Coppola had to resolve during the production of Apocalypse now. The movie was shot by his wife Ellie: “I thought that if I shot everything in sight, surely I would get five minutes of usable film” Source / More (Book)
In English, the word apocalypse commonly refers to the end of the world. Many religious faiths teach this will occur at some unknown point in the future and will probably climax with the destruction of civilization.
There is no river leading through the jungle to Cambodia.
Redux means return to health.
Francis Coppola to Dennis Hopper: “For God sakes, we’ve done thirty-seven takes and you’ve done them all your way! Would you just do one for me, Hopper, could you do one for me!” Source / More (Book)
This week 29 years ago Apocalypse now premiered (May 10, 1979)
April 3, 1924
July 1, 2004
Brando grew up in Illinois (USA), and after being expelled from a military academy, he moved to New York to study at Lee Strasberg's Actors' Studio. At the Actors' Studio, Brando adopted the "method approach," which emphasizes characters' motivations for actions.
He made his Broadway debut in 1944 in I remember mama. In 1947, Brando exploded into stardom with his portrayal of Kowalski in A streetcar named Desire. Three years later Brando reprised his role for the film adaptation of Street- car earning the first of four consecutive Academy Award nominations for Best Actor: Viva Zapata! (1952), Julius Caesar (1953) and On the Waterfront (1954).
During the 1960s his career had more downs than ups, but in the early seventies Marlon made a remarkable comeback with The Godfather and with Last tango in Paris. Since then Brando worked less frequently, appearing both in classics, e.g. Apocalypse Now (1979) and silly ones, e.g. Superman (1978). With his death there was gossip that his life had been reduced to a life of poverty.
1990 Nominated Supporting Role for: A dry white season(1989)
1974 Nominated Leading Role for: Ultimo tango a Parigi (1972)
1973 Won Oscar Leading Role for: The Godfather (1972)
1958 Nominated Leading Role for: Sayonara (1957)
1955 Won Oscar Leading Role for: On the waterfront (1954)
1954 Nominated Leading Role for: Julius Caesar (1953)
1953 Nominated Leading Role for: Viva Zapata! (1952)
1952 Nominated Leading Role for: A streetcar named Desire (1951)
Gary Carey -> Marlon Brando: The Only Contender (1985)
Peter Manso -> Brando: The Biography (1994)
Lawrence Grobel -> Conversations with Brando (1991/1999)
