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

Directors:

Fax Bahr
George Hickenlooper
(more)

Writers:

Fax Bahr (writer)
George Hickenlooper (writer)

Release Date:

27 November 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

The magic and madness of making "Apocalypse Now"

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Francis Ford Coppola | Making Of | Actor | Video | 1960s

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

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

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

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Fax Bahr		writer
George Hickenlooper		writer

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
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)
• Showtime Networks (1991) (USA) (TV) (premiere)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1994) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Cineplex-Odeon Films (1991) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Cineplex-Odeon Home Video (1992) (Canada) (VHS)
• MCA Home Video (1992) (Canada) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (1992) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1995) (Finland) (TV)

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

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

Company:

American Zoetrope

Trivia:

Fragments of Orson Welles' radio broadcast of "Hearts of Darkness" are used as a narrative device of the documentary.

Goofs:

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

Quotes:

Marlon Brando: I swallowed a bug.

Movie Connections:

References Apocalypse Now (1979)

fascinating stuff

Best documentary about the making of a film ever.This is fascinating stuff.scary,funny,and always compelling,watching this you wonder how the film ever got finished.All the main actors contribute interviews for the film,(except Brando of course)and all are quite revealing.theres also contributions from George Lucas and John Milius.Some of Milius's anecdotes are highly amusing,and we get to hear excerpts from his original screenplay,a lot of which was never used,unfortunately.Some amazing footage shot by coppolla's wife,include Martin Sheen drunk and dangerous on set,Coppolla trying to get an obviously high Dennis Hopper to remember his lines,and poor Coppolla trying to shoot the ending,with an uncooperative Brando selfishly wanting to do everything his way,and get paid millions for the privilege!If you are a fan of Apocalypse Now,or even if you have an interest in cinema,this is a must see.