Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse (1991)

Directors:

Fax Bahr
George Hickenlooper
(more)

Writers:

Fax Bahr
George Hickenlooper

Release Date:

6 December 1991 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

The magic and madness of making "Apocalypse Now"

Plot:

Documentary that chronicles how Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now (1979) was plagued by extraordinary script, shooting, budget, and casting problems--nearly destroying the life and career of the celebrated director.

Plot Keywords:

Actor | Making Of | Interview | Video | 1970s

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Francis Ford Coppola	...	Himself (as Francis Coppola)
Eleanor Coppola	...	Herself
Orson Welles	...	Himself - from 1938 radio broadcast (archive footage) (voice)
John Milius	...	Himself
George Lucas	...	Himself
Tom Sternberg	...	Himself
Sam Bottoms	...	Himself
Albert Hall	...	Himself
Frederic Forrest	...	Himself (as Fred Forrest)
Laurence Fishburne	...	Himself (as Larry Fishburne)
Gia Coppola	...	Herself (as Gia)
Roman Coppola	...	Himself (as Roman)
Sofia Coppola	...	Herself (as Sofia)
Dean Tavoularis	...	Himself
Fred Roos	...	Himself
Martin Sheen	...	Himself
Vittorio Storaro	...	Himself
Robert Duvall	...	Himself
Rona Barrett	...	Herself (archive footage)
Tom Snyder	...	Himself (archive footage)
Monty Cox	...	Himself
Doug Claybourne	...	Himself
Dennis Hopper	...	Himself
Marlon Brando	...	Himself

Directed by
Fax Bahr
George Hickenlooper
Eleanor Coppola		(documentary footage)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Fax Bahr
George Hickenlooper

Produced by
Doug Claybourne	....	executive producer
Michael Doqui	....	supervising producer
Les Mayfield	....	producer
Fred Roos	....	executive producer
George Zaloom	....	producer

Original Music by
Todd Boekelheide

Cinematography by
Larry Carney
Shana Hagan
Igor Meglic
Steven Wacks

Film Editing by
Michael Greer
Jay Miracle

Production Management
Steven Hewitt	....	executive in charge of production

Sound Department
Robert Gravenor	....	sound mixer
George R. Groves Jr.	....	sound re-recording mixer
Craig M. Otte	....	sound effects editor
Tim Philben	....	sound re-recording mixer
Troy Porter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Brian Risner	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Bahara	....	assistant camera
Les Blank	....	camera operator
Andrew Parke	....	assistant camera

Music Department
Brian Risner	....	music prelay mixer

Production Companies

• American Zoetrope
• Cineplex-Odeon Films

Distributors

• Triton Pictures (1991) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cineplex-Odeon Films (1991) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Showtime Networks (1991) (USA) (TV) (premiere)
• AMLF (1992) (France) (theatrical)
• Cineplex-Odeon Home Video (1992) (Canada) (VHS)
• MCA Home Video (1992) (Canada) (VHS)
• Paramount Pictures (1992) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Paramount Pictures (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Pictures (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1994) (USA) (TV)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1995) (Finland) (TV)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Editore (2009) (Italy) (DVD)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:R | UK:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:R (Manitoba) | Australia:M | Portugal:M/12

Company:

American Zoetrope

Trivia:

Francis Ford Coppola initially had no desire to release the documentary on DVD, due to him disagreeing with the way he is depicted. It was finally released on DVD in 2007, albeit with an optional Coppola commentary track that clears many things up. In 2010, it was even released in the "Full Disclosure" Blu-ray edition of Apocalypse Now (1979).

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the end credits for musical listings under the Doors song The End, Elektra (Records) is misspelled (as "Electra.")

Quotes:

Eleanor Coppola:The film Francis is making is a metaphor for a journey into self. He has made that journey and is still making it. It's scary to watch someone you love go into the center of himself and confront his fears, fear of failure, fear of death, fear of going insane. You have to fail a little, die a little, go insane a little, to come out the other side. The process is not over for Francis.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hearts of Darkness: A Painter's Apocalypse (2008)

Soundtrack:

The Ride of the Valkyries

Maybe the best behind-the-scenes documentary ever made.

I agree with the most positive reviews of this film. It's probably THE best documentary about the making of a movie, about the emotions and tensions behind the scenes, about the psychic terror of a director/creator trying desperately to not merely hold on to his artistic dream, but to survive! A must-see for any cinemaphile, and every Coppola enthusiast.