Apocalypse Now (1979)

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Director:

Francis Ford Coppola

Writers:

John Milius (screenplay) and
Francis Ford Coppola (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

15 August 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | War

Tagline:

The Horror. . . The Horror. . .

Plot:

During the on-going Vietnam War, Captain Willard is sent on a dangerous mission into Cambodia to assassinate a renegade Green Beret who has set himself up as a God among a local tribe.

Plot Keywords:

Army | Jungle | Colonel | Vietnam | Captain

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 32 nominations

Cast

Marlon Brando	...	Colonel Walter E. Kurtz
Martin Sheen	...	Captain Benjamin L. Willard
Robert Duvall	...	Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore
Frederic Forrest	...	Jay 'Chef' Hicks
Sam Bottoms	...	Lance B. Johnson
Laurence Fishburne	...	Tyrone 'Clean' Miller (as Larry Fishburne)
Albert Hall	...	Chief Phillips
Harrison Ford	...	Colonel Lucas
Dennis Hopper	...	Photojournalist
G.D. Spradlin	...	General Corman
Jerry Ziesmer	...	Jerry, Civilian
Scott Glenn	...	Lieutenant Richard M. Colby
Bo Byers	...	MP Sergeant #1
James Keane	...	Kilgore's Gunner
Kerry Rossall	...	Mike from San Diego
Ron McQueen	...	Injured Soldier
Tom Mason	...	Supply Sergeant
Cynthia Wood	...	Playmate of the Year
Colleen Camp	...	Playmate, Miss May
Linda Carpenter	...	Playmate
Jack Thibeau	...	Soldier in Trench
Glenn Walken	...	Lieutenant Carlsen
George Cantero	...	Soldier with Suitcase
Damien Leake	...	Machine Gunner
Herb Rice	...	Roach
William Upton	...	Spotter
Larry Carney	...	MP Sergeant #2
Marc Coppola	...	AFRS Announcer
Daniel Kiewit	...	Major from New Jersey
Father Elias	...	Catholic Priest
Bill Graham	...	Agent
Hattie James	...	Mrs. Miller, Clean's Mother (voice)
Jerry Ross	...	Johnny from Malibu / Mike from San Diego
Dick White	...	Helicopter Pilot
Christian Marquand	...	Hubert de Marais (Redux version only)
Aurore Clément	...	Roxanne Sarrault (Redux version only)
Michel Pitton	...	Philippe de Marais (Redux version only)
Franck Villard	...	Gaston de Marais (Redux version only)
David Olivier	...	Christian de Marais (Redux version only)
Chrystel Le Pelletier	...	Claudine (Redux version only)
Robert Julian	...	The Tutor (Redux version only)
Yvon LeSeaux	...	Sergeant Le Fevre (Redux version only)
Roman Coppola	...	Francis de Marais (Redux version only)
Gian-Carlo Coppola	...	Gilles de Marais (Redux version only)
Henri Sadardeil	...	French Soldier #1 (Redux version only) (as Henri Sadardiel)
Gilbert Renkens	...	French Soldier #2 (Redux version only)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Don Gordon Bell	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Francis Ford Coppola	...	Director of TV Crew (uncredited)
R. Lee Ermey	...	Eagle Thrust Seven Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
Jim Gaines	...	Extra (uncredited)
Evan A. Lottman	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Nick Nicholson	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Linn Phillips III	...	Guitarist in Band (uncredited)
Pierre Segui	...	French Soldier (Redux version only) (uncredited)
Vittorio Storaro	...	TV Photographer (uncredited)
Henry Strzalkowski	...	Bit part (uncredited)

Directed by
Francis Ford Coppola		(as Francis Coppola)

Writing credits
Joseph Conrad		(novel "Heart of Darkness") uncredited
John Milius		(screenplay) and
Francis Ford Coppola		(screenplay)
Michael Herr		(narration)

Produced by
John Ashley	....	associate producer
Kim Aubry	....	producer (version "Apocalypse Now Redux (2001)")
Francis Ford Coppola	....	producer (as Francis Coppola)
Gray Frederickson	....	co-producer
Shannon Lail	....	co-producer (version "Apocalypse Now Redux (2001)")
Eddie Romero	....	associate producer
Fred Roos	....	co-producer
Mona Skager	....	associate producer
Tom Sternberg	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Carmine Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola		(as Francis Coppola)

Cinematography by
Vittorio Storaro

Film Editing by
Lisa Fruchtman
Gerald B. Greenberg
Walter Murch

Casting by
Terry Liebling
Vic Ramos

Production Design by
Dean Tavoularis

Art Direction by
Angelo P. Graham		(as Angelo Graham)

Set Decoration by
George R. Nelson

Makeup Department
Fred C. Blau Jr.	....	makeup artist
Jack H. Young	....	makeup artist (as Jack Young)

Production Management
Leon Chooluck	....	production manager
Barrie M. Osborne	....	production manager (as Barrie Osborne)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Brandt	....	additional assistant director
Larry J. Franco	....	second assistant director
Jerry Ziesmer	....	assistant director

Art Department
James B. Casey	....	sculptor (as James Casey)
Roger Dietz	....	set artist
Gary Fettis	....	leadman
Willie E. Hunter	....	assistant property master
John La Salandra	....	construction coordinator (as John LaSalandra)
Douglas E. Madison	....	property master (as Doug Madison)
James J. Murakami	....	assistant art director (as James Murakami)
Thomas L. Roysden	....	assistant property master (as Tom Roysden)
Robert Scaife	....	construction foreman (as Bob Scaife)
Tom Shaw Jr.	....	assistant property master (as Tom Shaw)
Alex Tavoularis	....	production illustrator
Matt Tomich	....	assistant property master
Thomas Wright	....	production illustrator (as Thomas A. Wright)

Sound Department
Richard Beggs	....	sound re-recordist
David Bell	....	sound intern: redux version 2001
Louis Benioff	....	apprentice sound editor
Mark Berger	....	sound re-recordist
George Berndt	....	adr editor: redux version
Jim Borgardt	....	dialogue editor (as James A. Borgardt)
Nathan Boxer	....	production sound recordist
Richard P. Cirincione	....	supervising sound editor (as Richard Cirincione)
Kyrsten Mate Comoglio	....	sound effects editor: Redux version
Joanne D'Antonio	....	dialog editor
Dave Davis	....	assistant sound editor (as Dave Davies)
Ethan Derner	....	assistant sound editor: redux version 2001
Barbara Ellis	....	apprentice sound editor
Rob Fruchtman	....	apprentice sound editor
Jephrey Hetz	....	apprentice sound editor
Leslie Hodgson	....	sound editor
Tim Holland	....	assistant sound editor
Pete Horner	....	sound editor: Redux version 2001
Pat Jackson	....	sound editor
Jack C. Jacobsen	....	production sound recordist (as Jack Jacobsen)
Michael Kirchberger	....	supervising sound editor: redux version 2001
Cliff Latimer	....	sound department assistant
Barbara McBane	....	assistant sound editor
Jay Miracle	....	sound editor
Jeremy Molod	....	foley editor: redux version
Everett Moore	....	apprentice sound editor (Redux version)
Walter Murch	....	sound designer
Walter Murch	....	sound montage
Walter Murch	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Nutt	....	dialogue editor
Maurice Schell	....	sound editor
Thomas Scott	....	sound re-recording mixer
Leslie Shatz	....	dialogue editor
Brian Slack	....	adr mixer
Erich Stratmann	....	assistant sound editor: redux version 2001 (as Erich Stratman)
Dale Strumpell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Randy Thom	....	post-production sound recordist
Denise Thorpe	....	apprentice sound editor (as Denise Thorp)
Jeff Watts	....	apprentice sound editor
Nina Wax	....	assistant sound editor
Les Wiggins	....	sound editor
Karen G. Wilson	....	assistant sound editor (as Karen Wilson)
Steve Bartlett	....	sound (uncredited)
Philip Rogers	....	sound remastering of orig 6 track magnetic sound elements (restored version) (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Eddie Ayay	....	special effects
Mario Carmona	....	special effects
Lawrence J. Cavanaugh	....	special effects (as Larry Cavanaugh)
Gerald Endler	....	special effects (as Jerry Endler)
A.D. Flowers	....	special effects coordinator
John Fraser	....	special effects
Richard O. Helmer	....	special effects (as Richard Helmer)
Rudy Liszczak	....	special effects
Joe Lombardi	....	special effects coordinator (as Joseph Lombardi)
Ted Martin	....	special effects
David St. Ana	....	special effects

Stunts
Steve Boyum	....	stunts
Joe Finnegan	....	stunts
Terry Leonard	....	stunt coordinator (as Terry J. Leonard)
Kerry Rossall	....	stunts (as Kerry Rossal)
Chuck Waters	....	stunts
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Leonard	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Giuseppe Alberti	....	assistant camera
Luigi Bernardini	....	assistant camera (as Rino Bernardini)
Stephen H. Burum	....	director of photography: second unit
David L. Butler	....	aerial camera operator (as David Butler)
Rogilio De La Rama	....	assistant camera
Caleb Deschanel	....	director of photography: insert
Luciano Galli	....	gaffer
Chas Gerretsen	....	still photographer
Efren Lapid	....	assistant camera
Alfredo Marchetti	....	key grip
Mauro Marchetti	....	assistant camera
Hiro Narita	....	camera operator: insert
David B. Nowell	....	assistant camera (as David Nowell)
Piero Servo	....	camera operator: second unit
Enrico Umetelli	....	camera operator
Josh Weiner	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Sue Bastian	....	casting assistant
Heig Beck	....	casting assistant
Randy Carter	....	casting: Philippines
Marc Coppola	....	casting assistant
Éva Gárdos	....	casting: Montagnard tribesmen (as Eva Gardos)
Ken Metcalfe	....	casting assistant
Lou Whitehill	....	casting: Philippines

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Luster Bayless	....	costumer
Norman A. Burza	....	costumer (as Norman Burza)
Dennis Fill	....	costumer (as Dennis M. Fill)
Charles E. James	....	costume supervisor
George L. Little	....	costumer (as George Little)
Haleen K. Holt	....	costume illustrator (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Susan Arnold	....	apprentice film editor
George Berndt	....	associate editor
Jay Boekelheide	....	assistant film editor
Richard Candib	....	assistant film editor
Doug Claybourne	....	post-production coordinator
Arthur Coburn	....	assistant film editor
Sean Cullen	....	assistant editor: avid
Rudi Fehr	....	foreign post-production coordinator
Ken Fischer	....	assistant film editor (as Ken Fisher)
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer (Redux version)
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter (Redux version)
Michael Jacobi	....	first assistant film editor
Michael Kirchberger	....	assistant film editor
Evan A. Lottman	....	additional editor (as Evan Lottman)
Blackie Malkin	....	additional editor
Barbara Marks	....	post-production coordinator
Richard Marks	....	supervising editor
Walter Slater Murch	....	assistant film editor (Redux version)
Jerry Ross	....	assistant film editor
Stephen Semel	....	assistant film editor (as Steve Semel)
Tracey Smith	....	assistant film editor
Daniel R. Suhart	....	post-production assistant: Fred Roos (uncredited)

Music Department
Jordan Amarantha	....	musician
Richard Beggs	....	musician: synthesizer
Greg Errico	....	musician
Patrick Gleeson	....	musician: master synthesizer
Ed Goldfarb	....	music arranger (Redux version)
Randy Hansen	....	musician: guitar
Mickey Hart	....	musician
Michael Hinton	....	music production assistance
Zakir Hussain	....	musician
Bernard Krause	....	musician: synthesizer (as Bernard L. Krause)
Bill Kreutzmann	....	musician (as Billy Kreutzmann)
Phil Lesh	....	musician
Jim Loveless	....	musician
Airto Moreira	....	music production assistance
Don Preston	....	musician: synthesizer
David Rubinson	....	music producer
Nyle Steiner	....	musician: synthesizer
Shirley Walker	....	musician: synthesizer
Stan Witt	....	music editor
Randy Hansen	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Mickey Hart	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Dennis Hollis	....	transportation coordinator
John Reade	....	transportation coordinator (as John C. Reade)

Other crew
John Addington	....	fixed wing pilot
Marisa Alcaraz	....	production coordinator
Jean A. Autrey	....	production controller
Lee Beaupre	....	marketing director
John Calvert	....	choreographer: playmate show
Robert Carroll	....	production assistant
John Chapman	....	production assistant
Doug Claybourne	....	special assistant to producers
Patti Claybourne	....	production assistant
Pete Cooper	....	marine coordinator
Eleanor Coppola	....	documentary supervisor
Francis Ford Coppola	....	presenter
Russ Corin	....	production assistant
Catherine Craig	....	archivist (Redux version)
Loolee DeLeon	....	production coordinator (as Loolee De Leon)
Brett Dicker	....	foreign publicity coordinator
Tony Dingman	....	production assistant
Richard Dioguardi	....	military advisor
Shane Edwards	....	marine coordinator
Jack English	....	location coordinator
Deborah Fine	....	production liaison and research: USA
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Jack Fritz	....	executive assistant
Ernst Goldschmidt	....	representative: foreign producer
Paul Gregory	....	military advisor
Paul G. Hensler	....	military advisor (as Paul Hensler)
Nancy Hopton	....	script supervisor (as Nancy Tonery)
Kevin Hughes	....	production assistant
Linda Ignacio	....	department of tourism: Philippines
Dennis Jakob	....	creative consultant
J. David Jones	....	aerial coordinator (as David Jones)
Dennis Juban	....	military liaison: Philippines
Peter Kama	....	military advisor (as Lt. Colonel Peter Kama)
Lloyd Kind	....	production assistant (as Lloyd Kino)
John La Salandra	....	production executive (as John LaSalandra)
Gwen M. Lucas	....	assistant production controller
Melissa Mathison	....	executive assistant
Dennis Murphy	....	marine coordinator
Anahid Nazarian	....	archivist (Redux version)
Ernesto Novelli	....	supervising color technician
Barbara Parker	....	production assistant
Ray Quiroz	....	script supervisor (as Raymond Quiroz)
Phil Radcliffe	....	production assistant
Fred Rexer	....	military advisor (as Fred Rexer Jr.)
Francesca Rivieri	....	production secretary: USA (as Francesca Riviere)
Larry Rovetti	....	supervising color technician
Doug Ryan	....	military advisor
Frank Simeone	....	additional crew
Gabe Sumner	....	campaign coordinator
Matt Tomich	....	production assistant
Norman Webster	....	production accountant
Dick White	....	aerial coordinator
Dick White	....	military advisor
Irwin Yablans	....	producer's representative: USA and Canadian
Susan Leslie Battles	....	secretary to the producers (uncredited)
Joe Benoit	....	opticals: Modern Film Effects (uncredited)
Dan DiPaola	....	production assistant (uncredited)
R. Lee Ermey	....	military advisor (uncredited)
Joe Estevez	....	stand-in/voice-over: Willard (uncredited)
Nancy Jencks	....	film chain operator (uncredited)
Oli Laperal Jr.	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Michael E. Uslan	....	production attorney (uncredited)
Skip Watt	....	opticals: Modern Film Effects (uncredited)
Wynne Wicker	....	technical advisor: Vietnam (uncredited)

Thanks
Flora Purim	....	special thanks
Jeff Scheftel	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Zoetrope Studios

Distributors

• United Artists (1979) (USA) (theatrical)
• AMLF (1979) (France) (theatrical)
• Europa Film (1979) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Producciones Cinematográficas Españolas Falcó & Cía. (PROCINES) (1979) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Tuschinski Film Distribution (1979) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1983) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Paramount Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Pioneer (1995) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Video (1997) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2000) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Pictures (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• A-Film Distribution (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (re-release) (redux version)
• Miramax Films (2001) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB (2001) (Sweden) (theatrical) (redux version)
• United King Films (2001) (Israel) (theatrical) (re-release) (redux version)
• Paramount Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Pathé (2001) (France) (DVD) (redux version)
• Tobis StudioCanal (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Buena Vista International (2002) (Argentina) (theatrical) (re-release)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS) (redux version)
• Falcon (2003) (Czech Republic) (theatrical) (redux version)
• Best Hollywood (2003) (Hungary) (all media)
• Argentina Video Home (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (DVD) (redux version)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (VHS) (redux version)
• CIC Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (????) (Australia) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (????) (Australia) (video) (laserdisc)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2009) (Thailand) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Donah Bassett and Associates  negative cutting
• Elektra Records  soundtrack
• Hollywood Title  titles
• Nonesuch Records  soundtrack: Redux
• Panamericana - Santo Domingo Film Commission  location production services
• Post Logic Studios  digital film mastering

Also Known As:

Apocalypse Now Redux (International: English title) (longer version)

MPAA:

Rated R for disturbing violent images, language, sexual content and some drug use. (2001 director's cut)

Runtime:

153 min | 202 min (Redux version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Vietnamese | Khmer

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.00 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby Digital (Redux version) | Dolby (35 mm prints) | DTS (Redux version)

Certification:

USA:R (certificate no. 25751) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (Redux version) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia) (Redux version) | Canada:AA (Ontario) (Redux version) | Canada:AA (Ontario) (re-rating) (1992) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) (original rating) | Italy:VM14 | Hungary:16 | Italy:T (re-rating) (Redux version) | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:16 | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-15 (Redux version) | Finland:K-16 (original rating) | France:-12 | Germany:16 (bw) (Redux version) | Iceland:16 | Ireland:18 | Israel:PG | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 (Redux version) | Norway:15 (Redux version) | Norway:18 (original rating) | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/16 (Redux version) | Singapore:M18 (Redux version) (re-rating) | Singapore:R(A) (Redux version) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 (Redux version) | UK:18 (re-rating) (1985) | UK:X (original rating) | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Philippines

Company:

Zoetrope Studios

Trivia:

One of the photos Willard studies in the dossier shows Kurtz in a line of soldiers being decorated by Gen. William C. Westmoreland.

Goofs:

Continuity: Willard's band-aid on his face appears out of nowhere during the battle scene with Kilgore, a few moments after their helicopter lands.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Willard: [voiceover] Saigon... shit; I'm still only in Saigon... Every time I think I'm gonna wake up back in the jungle.
Willard: When I was home after my first tour, it was worse. I'd wake up and there'd be nothing. I hardly said a word to my wife, until I said "yes" to a divorce. When I was home after my first tour, it was worse.
[grabs at flying insect]
Willard: I'd wake up and there'd be nothing. I hardly said a word to my wife, until I said "yes" to a divorce. When I was here, I wanted to be there; when I was there, all I could think of was getting back into the jungle. I'm here a week now... waiting for a mission... getting softer. Every minute I stay in this room, I get weaker, and every minute Charlie squats in the bush, he gets stronger. Each time I looked around the walls moved in a little tighter.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Die Hard 2 (1990)

Soundtrack:

Surfin' Safari

In my opinion, Coppola's best work

My favourite movie of all time. This was a flawed piece of work by Coppola and seeing the documentary 'Heart of Darkness' made it even more compelling. Coppola at this point was king of Hollywood after making 'the Godfather' and 'GodfatherII' and had developed the ego necessary to even dare try to make a movie like 'Apocalypse Now'. Through sheer arrogance he went to the Phillipines with a partial script and thought he would know what he would do when he got there. Just as Captain Willard thought he would know what to do once he got to Col. Kurtz's compound. And just like Willard, he DIDN'T know what he was going to do once he got there. This is such a masterpiece of American cinema, beautifully photographed and the river is such a perfect metaphor and backdrop for the story. What I like most about 'Apocalypse Now' is that it offers no answers or conclusions. Consequently, because of this open-endedness, it infuriates some viewers who like their movies to be much more obvious.

This movie defies categorization. Some call it a war movie which it isn't at all, really it is more of a personal study of man. The best pic about Vietnam is 'Platoon' in my opinion and if a viewer is seeking a retelling of the Vietnam War go there first for answers.

Coppola should be commended for his take on the bureaucracy of war which he conveys quite effectively with the meeting with Gen.Corman and Lucas (Harrison Ford) and the Playmate review. The sheer audacity of Kilgore makes him an unforgettable character and the dawn attack will always be a Hollywood classic.

It is an almost psychedelic cruise to a very surreal ending which makes it a movie not accessible to everyone. Very challenging to watch but rewarding as well. I could offer my explanations on each scene but that would be totally pointless. This movie is intended for interpretation and contemplation as opposed to immediate gratification.