Little Known Facts: Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Apocalypse Now’

Sometimes the making of a movie can be just as entertaining as the film itself.

Case in point – Director Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now,” a Vietnam War movie that went on to become a classic while sparking a documentary on its tumultuous creation.

But did you know …

• The military equipment used in the film came from dictatorial President Marcos of the Philippines, and some of it was reclaimed mid-shoot to take part in real battles against Communist rebels.

• The role of Willard was originally played by Harvey Keitel, but Coppola re-cast the role with Martin Sheen after three weeks of shooting. The director wanted a less colorful performance.
• Coppola had to mortgage his own property when funding ran dry on the film thanks to a series of on-set calamities including foul weather and a heart attack suffered by Sheen.
• Coppola worked as an assistant director for B-Movie auteur Roger Corman early in his career.
• “Apocalypse Now” should have been a bust by every conceivable measure. But the film wowed critics and actually made its money back – and then some. Yet two years later, Coppola’s 1981 dud “One from the Heart,” tanked so badly he had to sell his production company, American Zoetrope.

(Source: “Best Movies of the 70s” by Jurgen Muller)

(Photo: Martin Sheen nearly died during the making of “Apocalypse Now” after suffering a massive heart attack mid-shoot.)

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