This is what happens when one of the greatest directors of all time loses his mind, nearly loses his family, and risks his entire career in the middle of a monsoon.
It’s Francis Ford Coppola’s journey to making “Apocalypse Now”.
Variety named it the #1 documentary ever made about Hollywood.
And my colleague Rob Kelly listed it in his blog “The 12 Best Making of Movie Documentaries”.
Trailer for “Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- Martin Sheen had a real heart attack at age 36 during filming. Coppola hid it from the studio, used a body double, and kept the cameras rolling.
- Marlon Brando showed up late, overweight, and without having read the source novel. So, Coppola had to rewrite the ending on the fly and shoot Brando in shadows to hide his size.
- The helicopters used for the movie were on lease from the Philippine military…which sometimes took them mid-shoot to fight rebels in an actual war nearby.
Watch “Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse”
JustWatch says you can rent it on AppleTV for $3.99. Or watch it free on YouTube here.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 92/100
- IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 94/100 (Users); 100/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: The film was a collaboration between Fax Bahr, George Hickenlooper, and Eleanor Coppola. Eleanor started it with a handheld camera and personal voiceovers. But Bahr and Hickenlooper added structure, editing, and cast interviews a decade later.
Release Date: November 27, 1991
My Review of “Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse”
The Setup
This is a descent into creative madness, as Francis Ford Coppola tries to make “Apocalypse Now” in the Philippine jungle during actual wartime conditions. The documentary tracks how the production spiraled from overambitious to borderline catastrophic. Think budget blowouts, cast breakdowns, and a director who nearly lost his mind (and his career) just trying to finish the film.
The story is told through a mix of Eleanor Coppola’s behind-the-scenes footage, new interviews with cast and crew, and raw audio tapes where Francis confesses his fears that the movie might be a complete failure.
More Highlights from the Doc
- Coppola was so deep in debt he feared he’d have a nervous breakdown or worse. At one point, he confessed, “We had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little, we went insane.”
- Eleanor Coppola’s personal tapes and narration make this feel like a journal from inside a shipwreck. She captures quiet scenes of panic the public never saw.
- Dennis Hopper, high and unpredictable, riffs for hours on camera while driving the crew nuts.
- George Lucas originally wanted to direct “Apocalypse Now” as a low-budget, documentary-style war movie shot in Vietnam during the actual war.
- The film went over budget, over schedule, and nearly ended Coppola’s career. He mortgaged his house and winemaking business to finish it.
- By the end of the shoot, Coppola had lost 100 pounds and started having seizures. He called the process “a journey into my own heart of darkness.”
Cameos – Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- George Lucas appears briefly and talks about how “Apocalypse Now” was his dream project before Coppola took it over.
- Writer John Milius tells wild stories about how he pitched the film as a mix between a war movie and a psychedelic trip.
- Coppola’s kids—including Sofia Coppola—are seen on set, living in the jungle during filming.
- The original shoot was supposed to last 6 weeks. It went 16 months.
Wrap Up
If you’re into Hollywood stories where the filmmaking process is crazier than the movie itself, this is must-watch. Think of it as the making-of doc that almost broke its director.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc