Jim Morrison and Beginning with 'The End' | Ep4 | Making Apocalypse Now

Summary

The script explores the iconic opening of 'Apocalypse Now', revealing that director Francis Ford Coppola's discovery of discarded footage led to the film's haunting start with The Doors' 'The End'. It delves into the film's development, from John Milius' initial drafts to the final version, highlighting connections between The Doors, Jim Morrison's film school days, and the Vietnam War. The script also discusses the film's soundtrack, Coppola's creative process, and the powerful impact of the opening scene on the audience.

Takeaways

• 🎬 The opening scene of 'Apocalypse Now' was an accidental discovery by Francis Ford Coppola during the editing process, using discarded footage of a napalm explosion.
• 🎵 The film's iconic opening with The Doors' song 'The End' was a spontaneous idea by Coppola, adding an element of irony to the start of the movie.
• 📜 John Milius' original screenplay had a different opening, depicting a violent altercation between soldiers and anti-war protestors, setting a different tone for the narrative.
• 🔄 The film's opening was revised multiple times, with Coppola considering a black screen with jungle sounds or a simple image of trees before settling on the final version.
• 🔗 There is a deep connection between 'Apocalypse Now' and The Doors, including shared history at UCLA, Jim Morrison's film influences, and the use of their music in the movie.
• 🌅 The film's editor, Walter Murch, created an avant-garde sequence to represent the protagonist Willard's thoughts, blending sound and imagery to reflect his inner state.
• 🎼 The soundtrack of 'Apocalypse Now' was originally intended to feature more songs by The Doors, but the final selection was narrowed down for artistic reasons.
• 🎥 The connection between the helicopter sounds and the ceiling fan in Willard's room was an unplanned yet powerful cinematic moment that symbolizes the pervasive presence of war.
• 🗣️ The narration by Martin Sheen's character, Willard, reveals his struggle with PTSD and his longing to return to the jungle, highlighting the psychological impact of war.
• 🎭 The scene where Willard gets drunk was an improvisation that blurred the lines between acting and reality, leading to an injury and a deeply emotional performance.
• 📝 The various script drafts and revisions show the evolution of the film's narrative and character development, reflecting the complexity of creating a war film with multiple layers of meaning.

Q & A

How did Francis Ford Coppola discover the opening scene of the film 'Apocalypse Now'?

Coppola discovered the opening scene by chance during the editing process. He found barrels of film containing the beginnings of footage from the napalm tree-line explosion sequence, which were discarded. He thought the footage was interesting and unusual, and decided to use it as the opening of the film.

What is the significance of the song 'The End' by The Doors in the film?

The song 'The End' by The Doors was used to bookend the movie, playing at the beginning and climax. It was chosen by Coppola after stumbling upon the discarded footage for the opening scene, and it set a unique tone for the film. The song also has thematic connections to the film's exploration of the 'heart of darkness' and the psyche of the characters.

What was the original opening scene in John Milius' first draft of the screenplay?

In John Milius' first draft, the film opens with an author's note depicting newly enlisted soldiers in San Francisco, encountering anti-war protestors. A soldier hits a protestor, and the entire company claims responsibility. This scene was later replaced in subsequent drafts.

How did the character of Colonel Kurtz initially appear in the screenplay?

In the early drafts of the screenplay, Colonel Kurtz was depicted as a John Wayne-type character, wearing a green beret and having a tough, jutting jaw. This representation was influenced by Wayne's portrayal in the 1968 film 'The Green Berets'.

What was the original plan for the soundtrack of 'Apocalypse Now'?

Originally, the entire soundtrack was planned to consist of songs by The Doors. However, editor Walter Murch found that any song used in the film seemed too apt and hit the nail too firmly on the head, making it seem sophomoric. The soundtrack was later changed to include other music.

What was the connection between Jim Morrison and Francis Ford Coppola?

Jim Morrison and Francis Ford Coppola both attended UCLA film school. Morrison was influenced by German Expressionism and Josef von Sternberg, which influenced his work with The Doors. This shared background and artistic sensibilities created a deep bond between the psyche of Jim Morrison and the film 'Apocalypse Now'.

Why was the opening scene of 'Apocalypse Now' considered avant-garde?

The opening scene was considered avant-garde because it was an accidental discovery and not originally planned. The use of discarded footage, combined with the unconventional choice of the song 'The End' by The Doors, created a unique and unexpected cinematic experience.

What was the significance of the helicopter and ceiling fan connection in the film?

The connection between the helicopter and the ceiling fan was a serendipitous moment that was not planned. It was created by editor Walter Murch, who combined the sound of helicopter rotors with the visual of the ceiling fan, symbolizing the constant presence of the war experience in Willard's mind.

How did the film's opening scene influence the rest of the movie?

The opening scene set the tone for the entire film, introducing themes of chaos, destruction, and the surreal nature of war. It also established a connection to the end of the film, with the song 'The End' playing at both the beginning and climax, creating a sense of circularity and thematic unity.

What was the role of sound in creating the atmosphere of 'Apocalypse Now'?

Sound played a crucial role in establishing the film's atmosphere. The distorted sounds of the helicopter, the jungle sounds, and the music, particularly from The Doors, contributed to the film's immersive and psychological depth, reflecting the characters' experiences and mental states.