'Terminate the Colonel's Command' | Apocalypse Now

[@northislandguy]

The Generals acting is so good in this part, the way he describes the colonel it’s like he’s talking about his best mate going nuts

[@zachhoward9099]

I'm pretty sure they were probably friends, you can hear pain and regret when he speaks of Kurtz as a good man, hell dependent upon their careers they could've both met each other as young officers and became friends or became friends in the Korean War, you can see if you pause during one of the dossiers that Kurtz also served in Korea.

[@skeena59]

@northislandguy a couple of West Pointers no doubt!

[@biggiouschinnus7489]

At 1:08 you can literally see it on his face. That expression contains so much grief, despair and horror. That's the face of a man who has seen his hero become a monster.

[@DAREALFARMZ]

US military friends are in the same age/ commission cohort. No universe where a 3 star is friends with a colonel. ​@@zachhoward9099

[@bconni2]

all the acting in the room is good. they ramped up the tension level for sure

[@skeena59]

“Everyone gets everything he wants. I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one. Brought it up to me like room service. It was a real choice mission, and when it was over, I never wanted another.” Incredible writing.

[@daveyboy_]

What are the charges .

[@Redskies453]

@@daveyboy_ Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?

[@yanikem6655]

Used as lyrics on Iron Maiden’s ‘The Edge Of Darkness’.

[@daveyboy_]

@@Redskies453 you lost me ?

[@deafears4025]

Milus

[@kreemkrackered3755]

I love the way he just looks over at Harrison Ford as if to say “Ok lay it on him” - great acting

[@valmarsiglia]

Yeah, he could see clearly that Willard was just being a yes-man at that point. I also like the look of near panic on Ford's face when the general goes into his spiel, as though he's thinking "Oh no, he's about to start philosophizing again."

[@sudoku1966]

@@valmarsiglia That may be true. But the one officer just did not want to issue the order himself; that's the reason for all of the apparent beating around the bush, or as you mentioned "philosophizing".

[@LordTalax]

@@valmarsiglia If by being a "yes man" you mean obeying orders while being the military, then I guess so.

[@valmarsiglia]

@@LordTalax Yeah, not quite what I meant, but thanks for playing.

[@cashewnuttel9054]

I've never seen this movie, so please do kindly explain to me how this colonel is a threat?

[@paranormalskeptic3893]

One of the greatest films ever made. The fact that Sheen wasn’t nominated for an Academy Award, is completely insane, one of the greatest acting jobs ever. But truly, an iconic movie. Have watched it many times.

[@Conman2413]

I agree with you, but Robert Duvall- unbelievable 👏

[@alexanderchapman2525]

The greatest film ever made. Words can't articulate why, and if they could, would be senseless to all but those who already know.

[@squamish4244]

It is insane, isn't it? He gave the performance of a lifetime, not to mention an exercise in sheer endurance. Apocalypse Now was nominated for most of the major awards, but only won in the technical departments. Duvall was nominated. Now, which movie did win in 1979? Checking... Kramer vs. Kramer. I hear it's a good movie. But it ain't no Apocalypse Now. Not that it really matters, the Oscars are political and the passage of time shows what movies are truly great.

[@barbamatteo]

No one will remember oscars... everybody will remember this movie and actors.

[@ianmackey6097]

Yes, sir. Very much so, sir. Obviously insane

[@robdixson196]

The CIA guy just sits there with the psychopath stare, while the Army officers stumble awkwardly around their rationales, and talk around what they are really trying to say. i love the detail of how he offers a cigarette only AFTER he says in 4 words what the others have been stumbling around trying not to say for 3 minutes.

[@zakiowais6829]

Oh I didn't realize he wasn't part of the army. Should've paid more attention to his uniform lol

[@Elizabitchk17]

Upper level CIA are usually complete sociopaths and psychopaths, they just are able to follow orders, that’s what separates them from the complete lunatics.

[@TheeRogerWayne]

He’s not stumbling at all. They are justifying why they need to kill Kurtz. He was a greatly respected man, and now they have to accept the fact he’s become an evil tyrant. And they have to to convince Willard of this as well, to assassinate someone so revered. So no, you’re not just gonna come out and say, let’s do this. You say, look, this is what’s been going on, this is where we’re at, and we don’t really want to do this, but we have to.. and btw, this is your job, so go do it. The camera hangs on the officer as he explains darkness, it doesn’t bounce around to confused expressions like a comedy where people are bumbling idiots. Also it’s not their position to tell him to kill Kurtz. They don’t have the authorization, the plainclothes guy does. But the contrast between them is nice.

[@DaSkonk]

@zakiowais6829 He wasn't wearing a uniform - THAT'S the whole point.

[@craigdaniels712]

for all intents and purposes he is not there.. nor is he listed in the character credits in the video description..

[@germpore]

Harrison Ford and Jerry Ziesmer doing an absolute master class on just what you can do with very small parts.

[@maulrat588]

Ford is entirely way way way too young to have the rank he has, that's one detail that was not attended to. There are no 21 year old Colonels.

[@akula444]

story is Ford had just arrived on set, was jet lagged and felt underprepared, wanted to shoot his scenes the next day... and exactly why Coppola shoot them that same day ;)

[@rolandmiller5456]

@@akula444 Supposedly he was also sick as well.

[@LoneLee2022]

Brilliant movie. Changed my life.

[@speak_your_truth.]

@@LoneLee2022 Really? How so?

[@americanexile]

Jerry Ziesmer had ONE line -- and it is now a permanent part of movie history and popular culture. I'd say he nailed it! "Terminate ... with extreme prejudice."

[@ckmoore101]

Is that really the first time that line was used? I was wondering the source of that great line. Its baked into world consciousness now.

[@gorsching]

@@ckmoore101 I'm curious too

[@GK1976A]

@@ckmoore101 According to Douglas Valentine in his book The Phoenix Program (1990), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) routinely used the term during the Vietnam War when firing its locally hired operatives. In cases of extreme misconduct, an assassination ("termination with extreme prejudice") was ordered.

[@klepszekk8119]

He is by far the most intimidating guy in this room. Precisely because he is so understated. He sits there in civilian clothes looking normal, but never says a word while everyone else speaks uncomfortably around him, suggesting that he has some authority. Then finally he gets the line that punctuates the whole conversation. Brilliant way to present a mysterious, scary character.

[@michaelyoung7603]

With a slight Smirk to boot.

[@thebookwasbetter3650]

I read the book The Greatest Beer Run Ever about a guy who goes to Vietnam just to bring his buddies on the front line some beers. He said one of the reasons he was able to hitch rides with helicopters and APC crews was because he was dressed in civilian clothes and all the officers assumed he was CIA and didn't question him when he said he needed a ride.

[@Zodroo_Tint]

Well, it was the war of the CIA, they killed the president for it, it was theirs. The us military was just the delivery boy.

[@bobbyologun1517]

thats how doug valentine wrote his tell all about the cia. they just assumed he was a gman and even let him tape their conversations! by the time they figured it out he had already published the phoenix programme LOL

[@LoneLee2022]

Makes Sense.

[@alexbowman7582]

Maybe he was CIA.

[@glennevitt5250]

And This Going On Today 😣sad

[@tomcooper6108]

G.D Spradlin was absolutely great in his role as a General. The technique....pauses, breaths, inflection were superb.

[@TheBundleofkent]

GD Spradlin was a MAGNIFICENT actor.

[@chuckbuckbobuck]

He was. And to think this was a mid-life shift. He was a business executive before he became an actor.

[@TheBundleofkent]

@@chuckbuckbobuck wow, I had no idea. Imagine if he had always been an actor. The silent look he gives Harrison Ford to prompt him to give the command to kill Kurtz is wonderful.

[@lesterlemenwater666]

Agreed, wish he'd had a longer career.

[@Mork2001]

Excellent Nevada senator as well ! was fully supported by theCorleone family 🙂

[@CornCod1]

He must have known the Southern generals of that era!

[@frankw2424]

Movie was filmed in the Philippines in 1976 and I was a college sophomore at the University of the Philippines. I took a gig as an extra for a week dressed in a GI uniform. Most memorable scene for me was when I was on the stage and the playboy bunnies were dropped off from the chopper to entertain the soldiers. Had to get a crew cut but was worth the pay and the experience. One of my best DVDs.

[@macioluko9484]

That’s crazy man. What a memory!

[@frankw2424]

@@macioluko9484 I was 18 then and now am 66...life is merely a fleeting moment. Make the most of life while we still can. The beautiful cowgirl in the movie was a neighbor of mine here in Burbank, California where I currently am retired.

[@Smudgeroon74]

You got the year right? Filmed in 1976 you say? It was released in 1979 wasn't it?

[@frankw2424]

@@Smudgeroon74 filming takes place before releasing.

[@marcuskif]

​@@frankw2424I'm 29 but I don't feel like lol. Thanks for sharing ur words of wisdom 🎉.

[@mstafford368]

Best movie ever. The dialogue between Willard and Kurtz still haunts me. “Have you ever considered any freedoms? Real freedoms. The freedom from the opinion of others, or even the opinion of yourself”

[@novemberalpha6023]

Extream freedom is not much different from extream chaos and extream lunacy.

[@map3384]

That’s why he had to die. Imagine being so broken that even the most bizarre means was justified in order for the outcome to be advantageous. He knew for himself he was a danger to others in society. It’s why he himself knew he had to die. It was probably the last sane decision he made.

[@LordTalax]

@@novemberalpha6023 Or extreme misspelling.

[@bystander1255]

​@@novemberalpha6023 fair enough

[@UberKrispy]

@@bystander1255 You terminated the English language with extreme prejudice.

[@frankodonnell8041]

This scene alone is Oscar worthy. One of the greatest in film history.

[@inlandindieP35]

Agreed. From every angle I can consider, the scene is perfect.

[@saberridge6867]

It's odd that I watched this movie dozens of times back in the early 1980s, and I have no idea how I missed that Harrison Ford was in this scene. The scene is written so well you feel the various emotions of the situation yourself. Great acting and staging.

[@cobrajordan1723]

Hey to brighten your day a bit look closely at the name his name tag it say G Lucas

[@michaelwhittaker5432]

@@cobrajordan1723 beat me to it ! homage to George Lucas star wars that had just finished post production

[@TylerDurden-id6yp]

Same here

[@TylerDurden-id6yp]

@Jean Hugues you must have a very sad life.

[@justinaustin8579]

It was the glasses

[@SeyhawksNow]

"And very obviously he has gone insane." We then hear a helicopter, the same sound playing in Willard's room where he was staring idly at the ceiling fan in his room before he had a breakdown. This script is genius.

[@WilliamPierce-mi7nv]

I seen this movie a million times and never noticed that, thanks..

[@j.b.7133]

Everything is purposeful in good movies. Hence why so often new ones, aren't. They lost the symbolism, the enigmatic.

[@walterghent3162]

Where I live, I occasionally hear a helicopter overhead going to the nearby airport. The sound is exactly the sound from this scene and is what registers in my brain when I hear it.

[@papigringo5692]

Senior year of high school, for AP English, we read Conrad's "Heart of Darkness". When we finished with essays and discussion, our teacher showed us this film. It took a whole week to get through it, as class was but 45 minutes long. A formative experience-- the book and the movie. My English teacher will forever be one of the greatest influences on my mind and my life. May she rest in peace.

[@papigringo5692]

@David M. Brooks, Ph.D. She was truly special. We maintained a friendship even after I moved on from school, even after I moved out-of-state. Cancer took her about 15 years ago, and I was devastated. She was not content to hand out assignments and make sure we did them. Her goal was to get us to understand why great literature is important, to ensure that our minds and souls were enriched by it. I miss her so much.

[@mkultra2456]

@@papigringo5692 Did she get aids?

[@notseekingconverts]

I only remember something about the wretched Congo river journey and some ominous lady.

[@sphinxrising1129]

While in college, we was discussing political problems & people & I happened to mention that often, each problem could be solved with a bullet. You would have thought I insulted the Virgin Mary, as I was from a time when organizations like the CIA was less cautious about fallout.

[@mkultra2456]

@@sphinxrising1129 What a poorly written comment. What was your point?

[@brucekuehn4031]

“Terminate … with extreme prejudice.” Jerry Ziesmer started out as an actor, but then got into the Assistant Directors program and became legendary as an AD on big pictures. He sometimes got a little bit part in the movies he worked on also. The bigger the production, the more complicated an AD’s job becomes and Mr Ziesmer was one of the best. A good AD keeps the production moving along and on track and can save a lot of money. Anyone who worked with him can probably remember his exasperated plea, “Peee-pulllll!” Short list of his other credits - 1941, Annie, Blue Thunder, Scarface, Midnight Run, Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous, etc.

[@RayHicks-gl7gm]

Thanks for the back story; glad he got his moment to shine in this scene.

[@allanjechorek4381]

The guy that died on the crapper on the Sopranos used that famous line once.

[@robertmitchell7354]

This really is one of the best films ever made. I think it's not only stood the test of time, but it's message has resonated as time has gone on.

[@nigelft]

"History does not repeat itself ... but often it does rhyme ..." :- some guy far more wise than me ...

[@josephinebennington7247]

The Directors Redux wrecked it by including the humour about the surf board theft, and the encounter with the French colonials.

[@PolishGod1234]

​I disagree. It enchanced the film. The humor only appeared for the first half of the movie in redux, but as the journey went on the boat Crew wasn't so humorous anymore - and I think that works great. The plantation also adds additional Bizzare Vibe to the film as well as more layers.​@@josephinebennington7247

[@pmenadue]

I just love the way at 1:35 - the General just turns his head quickly to the Colonel as if to say "now you get on with the unpleasant details". Superb.

[@jeffreycavanaugh1693]

Right? That's such a nice touch. He doesn't actually verbally order anything.

[@pmenadue]

@@jeffreycavanaugh1693 Agree - it follows the vibe that the General just wants to talk about morals and ethics and high level concepts but doesnt get involved in the details.

[@erikhauge9034]

1:35 is the greatest moment in this clip!

[@NealX_Gaming]

I never realized Ford is playing a Colonel here. He's so young he comes across as a junior officer, like an aide de camp.

[@JnEricsonx]

Look at the nametag on his uniform too.

[@NealX_Gaming]

I can't really make anything out.@@JnEricsonx

[@JnEricsonx]

@@NealX_Gaming Lucas. :)

[@DBCOOPER888]

He was 37 when he filmed it. Lt Col would be more fitting.

[@PaulCoty]

Unless he's undercover CIA.

[@mackb909]

Jerry Ziesmer (1939-2021) utters one line in the entire movie, perhaps the most memorable one.

[@davidwemyss7303]

Jerry Ziesmer's dialog and his delivery was the only part of the original film release that my father, a 3 war, frontline-combat veteran of the 1st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile), approved of and said was authentic and not a "trained-by-Hollywood" generated piece of dialog. Dad stated in his later role of Cav LRRP there were "assignments" to deal with communist double-agents who freely traveled between Southeast Asia and the West Coast, fomenting civil unrest on college campuses and fueling the anti-war movement of the 60s & 70s. Those words stayed with my father and pointed out that the "Summer of Love" was an illusion. Vietnam was Dad's third and final war in service with the "Cav" and his beloved "Green Machine". He served two tours: 1963-late-1965, MAAG/MAC-V prior to joining 11th Air Assault (Test) which was to become the 7th Cav deployed to the Pleiku Campaign, Dad was one of the originals at Ia Drang but was pivotal in the second battle of the Battle for Ia Drang which was NOT portrayed in the film version of the factual book by Joe Galloway & "light colonel" Hal Moore, the last Provost Marshall of the former Ft Ord, my home, that was de-activated in 1998 by the Federal Base Re-alignment and was converted into CSUMB (swords into plowshares), the California State University of the Monterey Peninsula or most commonly referred as, by my veteran father & my Marine son as the "Cali Socialist's United of the Marxist Peoples (and Indoctrination Center) CSUMB-IC, for short". Early-1966-68 was Dad's second tour that was fictitiously and famously depicted in "Apocalypse Now" when the Democrats were undermining the boots-on-the-ground battles and air war, dictating insane ROEs that benefited the Communists (sound familiar?) under the guise of "forcing the communists to the peace table". The rest is history, sad and tragic as it is. Dad, his troopers and the Marines with the Air Force and Navy air support, decisively won the battles only to have the Democrats lose the war. My father and I met Jerry Ziesmer in 1986, he was touring around the Monterey Peninsula as he was supporting a local historical production at California's First Theatre and a then new community theatre called Paper Wing Theatre near Cannery Row. Is was Dad who recognized him first and called out to him as he was walking the Fisherman's Grotto portion of the wharf pier. Dad made a calculated guess and addressed Ziesmer in French (colonial Vietnamese) which caught his attention, he smiled and immediately greeted my father as a friend. The exchange lasted half an hour as Dad answered queries about the area's points of interest, particularly the forgotten Chinese community that once flourished next to the canneries. Shaking hands, we parted ways, Dad mentioned as we headed to the Coast Guard pier that Mr Ziesmer knew of the important context of the dialog he insisted be included in the scene with the Harrison Ford character choking on the words of the orders he was commanded to read to Sheen's Willard. It was to give the grave context to which Capt Willard was to execute (literally) his orders to locate Col Kurtz. Dad thanked Jerry for showing the gravity of orders to execute "with extreme prejudice" without any over the top dramatization, just those firm words and the stare was enough... Godspeed Jerry Ziesmer, you're remembered and immortal.

[@mackb909]

@@davidwemyss7303 OK very cool to know and thanks for the inside info, but most domestic opposition to the war was organic and not due to foreign "Communist infiltrators." Many people opposed this war for very good reasons, moral as well as practical, and by 1968 the majority of Americans ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM wanted out. And the Communists were not the only ones capable of lying and duplicity. The U.S. government systematically lied to the American people over multiple presidential administrations going back at least to Eisenhower and perhaps even Truman (whose administration acquiesced in the doomed French decision to try to reassert its colonial power after WWII) about U.S. war aims, the conduct of the war, how well it was proceeding, and much else. U.S. intelligence agencies, military and civilian, were at best woefully wrong and at worst egregiously dishonest about the nature of the war, Ho's nationalistic determination to win, the Vietcong's will, combat-readiness, and large-scale support among the population, the military facts on the ground, and much else. None of that was created by Communist double agents working here in this nation. My own opinion is we shouldn't have gotten in in the first place, and in all the years since I wondered if we learned our lesson. I don't know how much Jerry Ziesmer, who was mainly a front-line studio professional working in production and direction, has to do with any of this per se. He did not see himself as an actor except on an occasional basis, but Coppola selected him on a the spur of the moment to be the silent civilian intelligence operative sinisterly scrutinizing Willard through reptilian eyes throughout the briefing that Harrison Ford haltingly/awkwardly and G.D. Spradlin avuncularly conduct. When the briefing is just about over, the unnamed civilian leans over and says, in deadpan voice, four words, just four simple words, to impress on Willard the deadly seriousness of the mission, and offers him a cigarette. Terrific acting from a line production worker and Ziesmer is immortalized in American cinematic history, justly, because of it.

[@yam83]

Spooky, in multiple senses.

[@louisrichards3160]

The Senator in the Godfather

[@anthonycruciani939]

​@@louisrichards3160 Ziesmer plays the CIA operative in this scene. Senator Geary of Godfather 2 fame was played by G.D. Spradlin.

[@MudderShmucker]

Love how uneasy Ford’s character was when he was delivering the mission to Willard. You could tell he revered and respected Kurtz as an officer and a man, but still found it difficult to believe the things he had done. Excellent acting for just one scene.

[@yvesheinrich5013]

I think what also makes this scene a little more unique, is that Ford was an up-and-coming actor at this point, while the rest of the cast here are well-established already.

[@SuperRobertoClemente]

They are Superego (the general), Ego (Ford), and Id (the CIA spook). The Ego is often anxious, trying to figure out what's going on, caught between instinct and law.

[@scottknode898]

@@yvesheinrich5013Ford started acting in 1966 and had several small roles during that time even his appearance in American Graffiti in 1973 was small before went on to play one of his most iconic roles as Han Solo in the original Stars Wars and Force 10 From Navarone before he did apocalypse now but your right he wasn’t a huge star yet until he went on reprise his role as Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back and to play Indiana Jones in 1981.

[@plgjp83]

A good part his expression it might have something to do with the fact was Ford was sick that day. Him clearing repeatedly his throat ? That’s because Ford was a actually sick.

[@andybroady1970]

@@scottknode898 he wouldn't have been a huge star when this scene was shot, maybe even pre the release of Star Wars

[@Bertaut]

Jerry Ziesmer is SOOO good in this scene. Dude has one line and he completely dominates the entire scene.

[@lllordllloyd]

So-ooo CIA. *Chef's kiss*

[@lucasfederal3555]

A bizarre mission in a bizarre war. This movie is really amazing.

[@marknewton6984]

So is the book. Prophetic.

[@FloridaManMatty]

My dad was with 5th SF in Vietnam. He actually lived with the Montagnards for about 10 months. Every time I ever watched this movie with him, he had to fast forward through this scene “because the guy playing the Spook (CIA man)…he may as well have been a real one. He reminds me of someone I’d just as soon forget if I could.” So yeah. Superb writing and acting.

[@TimDocHarper]

5th SFG, '67 - "69. Your Dad had it right. Bulls*&t and bad intel -- they would (and did) screw SF in a heartbeat.

[@johnrife7134]

This scene is very underrated. The casting of the general was superb. And that monologue.

[@PolishGod1234]

He also appeared in Godfather part 2 as the Senator.

[@deep_amok]

The look on Willard's face at 1:17 is great. It's like, "They can't be serious. They don't want me to kill him, do they?" And at 1:28 he figures it out like, "Holy shit...they DO want me to kill him."

[@cs7511]

I love a General who quotes Lincoln. G.D. Spradlin nailed this scene.

[@moosemagic3429]

Lincoln's words are famous. Same passage used in SPR

[@mg19cal]

​@@moosemagic3429not the same passage but still Lincoln 👍

[@AcuraLvR82]

I first saw this movie in a high school class back in 1999 and the older I get the more I understand the gravity of this scene. What gets me the most is the general describing how Kurtz has gone insane, yet the mission they are about to order him is the very essence of insanity.

[@josephinebennington7247]

A stunning vignette. Beautifully paced, tension built by silences and glances, and the one sentence performance from the Secret Service bod. Never tire of this scene.

[@delrey874]

One of the best films ever made. The acting, cinematography and sound were outstanding from start to finish.

[@climbnride58]

My second favorite movie of all time.

[@fr-tigerfangs7039]

No. The best movie ever!!

[@briancooper4959]

I saw this film in the theater, and even then, noted that General Corman let his (supposed) Chief of Staff Colonel Lucas articulate the order for the mission. This, of course, gave the General a certain measure of (admittedly absurd) deniability.

[@derpdiggler7413]

plausible deniability is the keystone to any military

[@fbksfrank4]

The veil of ambiguity in government is enough.

[@No_MAGAts_]

It's a black bag. There's an operator present. The only documents that will ever exist will be a CIA report labeled _Classified._ This was never a military exercise-- it was a CIA hit. When operators show up you just do whatever they say because it's coming from the very "top." That's no joke. They show respect to the brass but they ain't asking-- they're _telling_ then what the fuck is gonna go down.

[@rolandmiller5456]

Neither Corman or Lucas were the shot callers on this mission and everybody knows it. The guy with the tie with the one line is the boss in that room. They don't need plausible deniability.. like the guy said it never happened.

[@fbksfrank4]

@@rolandmiller5456 what never happened.

[@motherofdoggos3209]

As Willard travels upriver, he travels away from 'civilization' and 'normal'. He sees the lies: 'We cut them in two with a machine gun and then give them a band-aid. It's a lie.'. The scene of the boat way upriver in the curves while Willard reads Kurtz's letter to his son is awesome.

[@JF-xq6fr]

I love Ford here; watching over chess being played, innuendo, a confessor, a ping-pong referee. How can it get any better than this?

[@bluegregory6239]

This is one of the two best scenes in the greatest film ever made. All-Time Hollywood Great Harrison Ford, still in the early stage of his career, has one of the underappreciated little cameos ever, playing counter to the Alpha actor he was already. His nervousness is apparent, being with a General and the obviously (and weirdly creepy) CIA guy. This sets up the whole rest of the film, as will have been apparent to serious fans already.

[@debonaire_nerd]

"The crazy thing is…it's true all of it, the Viet Kong, Kurtz, Dennis Hopper, it's all true. Willard...we're home."

[@paulcaton7093]

The direction & editing in this scene are simply outstanding. The shifting directions of gazes tells the whole story.

[@jetuber]

"This mission does not exist nor will it ever exist." "Thank goodness. I thought that you guys were asking me to go up the river and kill someone. Whew. Now I can go back to bed."

[@RogueReplicant]

Nice try, soldier. Now get your goofy ass on the boat and terminate Dr Moreau with extreme prejudice. Don't forget to wack the creepy midget.

[@ronnie_5150]

I think a guy I know that organized a stag party said this to us right as the limo pulled up.

[@chuckbuckbobuck]

jetuber you are funny! Stand-up awaits me dear!

[@fratercontenduntocculta8161]

Simply wild to think Harrison Ford is 80 now. What a time it's been.

[@AJFisherDesign]

“That's my dream; that's my nightmare. Crawling, slithering, along the edge of a straight razor... and surviving.”

[@joeshmoe2259]

Shit ... charging a man with murder in this place was like handing out speeding tickets at the Indy 500.

[@loge10]

And I think they should- somebody could get hurt 😢...

[@matthewdietzen6708]

It wasn't about the killing, it was that he was doing it outside the chain of command, thus fomenting anarchy, which the order-loving military frowns on.

[@MacrohardOnfireExcelSuite]

@@matthewdietzen6708 ironically, Kurtz method apparently looks successful than US conventional method in handling the Vietnam War.

[@matthewdietzen6708]

@@MacrohardOnfireExcelSuite the war was mostly about making profit, and keeping the USA military apparatus in a permanent state of being "blooded." They didn't want to "win" in the traditional sense, merely screw around indefinitely to deplete the treasury, and experiment with different methods if combat.

[@Andreas-ni2lt]

@@matthewdietzen6708 the whole point of the movie is that the line is blurred between the chain of command and the colonels' anarchy. The further Willard goes upstream the more any moral compass in the chain of command is lost.

[@benjamintaylor3934]

You had to admire what Captain Willard says to himself, when he's reading Kurtz's dossier on the patrol boat: "the more I read about him, the more incredible to believe that they want me to kill this guy!"

[@balaclavacotidiano4727]

And when he finally gets to Kurtz's compound, it all makes perfect sense for him and that he needs to do it.

[@Eric-kn4yn]

Incredible to believe they wanted him dead when reading dossier then willard wasnt a politian only a soldier later he became both

[@anthonypiccirilli6324]

I love the way the offer and acceptance of a cigarette seals the deal.

[@ShaneKilpatrick-i4t]

One of the all time classic movies. The more you watch it, the more you appreciate it’s brilliance

[@steveschmitt6933]

One of my favorite scenes in the entire movie...i just love how they are living like "kings" over in a different country at war

[@danieltobin4498]

It’s more than that. They’re living in a little slice of America in Vietnam

[@grider421]

well in 69 24th corps headquarters was all that tennis courts and swimming pools! i couldn’t believe it a half hour before we were pulling wounded out of the ashau valley i had no idea such a place existed in I corp! 🤪

[@incredibleXMan]

I like this scene because although these top brass and the CIA dude are obviously thinking about the colonel you get the feeling they are also wondering about Sheen's character also.

[@daveyboy_]

Fishing on R&R ?

[@raulbetancourt5795]

I didnt, soldiers are like cannon balls for these fuckers, they're expendable.

[@Doesitmatter113]

That's primarily to determine if the operative can go through with mission considering his personality and training mirror the Colonel. Sending in one crazy to kill another crazy...

[@doorswhofan]

Frankly, as far as the general's final glance over at the colonel, I always felt the greater unspoken message there was, "Okay, this captain seems a little sketchy and spaced-out, but his track record says he ought to be able to do this, so..."

[@annoyedok321]

Love the slow, roundabout way of doing dialogue like this.

[@pedrosuarez2349]

What I find strange is that most people don't mention the fact that Willard was never told that Colby was sent before him.....till after he left on the mission.....sent on a classified memo to the navy boat.....makes me wonder what they really thought of Willard....

[@poorman2457]

Yeah that's one of the more eerie parts of the movie. That they had sent Colby before him.

[@RevolverRho]

Says a lot imho, tells you very much that he is the apex of the US Soldier, a man built to kill, built to work like a machine perfectly snug in the cog. That’s how I interpret it at least.

[@rightrightrightuhhuhuhhuh6516]

Good insight! Willard was on a one-way mission and they were keeping him around as a Kamikazee who would take anything because he was basically made of "the wrong stuff"... Colby did seem to have the hook up out there though, a girl on each arm, endless drug supply, all the free ammo he could shoot, losing his mind and soul, the usual stuff

[@jkorshak]

Pure practicality for telling the story. Would have been too much to explain to the audience who Kurtz was and the basics of the mission while throwing in there detail about another guy to possibly look for who also went in. The Colby memo moves the story along and reminds the audience about the mission in between the episodes on the river.

[@robertbusek30]

Well, I think they figured Colby was dead, but new information came in that he had joined Kurtz. Still, I always figured that this was supposed to be a one way trip for Willard. The CIA guy probably would have had him “taken care of” in Saigon once he returned.

[@LKaramazov]

Every look, every word in this scene is perfection. Especially Ford clearing his throat. Where’d he come up with that???? GENIUS!

[@anagram8]

This scene paints a very clear picture of what Captain Willard's mission is whether he fully understands it or not. My Dad used to be stationed in Alaska back during the Vietnam "conflict' and he said they would bring the soldier from 'Nam there. He said they were housed in separate barracks and they would hear screams, cries and all sorts of strange sounds. Sometimes the soldiers would jump from the buildings. I'm sure soldier's very much like Captain Willard had to be brought there. Another really good but underrated film that deals with combat fatigue is the darkly comic, 'The Ninth Configuration' written and directly by William Blatty Jr. who also wrote 'The Exorcist'

[@HinDoongEe]

My grandfather who was a Sergeant in Vietnam encountered a Suicidal private attempt to kill himself by jumping off a flag pole. That war broke everyone and everything

[@projektkobra2247]

The Ninth Configuration is amazing..Im convinced we can walk THROUGH walls...not just me...anyone...cops...people...people in Nashville...

[@shanejohns7901]

G. D. Spradlin died 24-Jul-2011. He was an amazing actor. But few realize just how much else he did with his life beyond acting. Look over his Wiki entry, and you'll see that this man lived about 3 or 4 lives in a single lifetime given all the interests/careers/skills he had. Just an incredible human being, in my estimation.

[@chuckbuckbobuck]

AGREED

[@billknn]

Great in "The Godfather II" also but not a very big part.

[@MojoHaiku]

Really liked his role as the Tom Landry-esque coach in "North Dallas Forty."

[@damianbyrne1664]

I recently asked a Vietnam vet what was the best film about the war that he'd seen. He said Apocalypse Now because... ''it captured the insanity of it all''...

[@TTony-tu6dm]

The General’s monologue sums up the theme of the film

[@clocksurfer]

I'm disturbed by how relatable this is. I wasn't even born until 1969, and I've only ever been a Captain in the civilian fire service (never served in the military). Heavy...

[@Bubbles99718]

Accepting the cigarette was him signing the dotted line

[@cappystrano1]

Ya, it was!

[@WhiteBloggerBlackSpecs]

"Terminate with extreme prejudice." The way it was delivered will forever be haunting

[@christianzafiroglu6705]

This is one of Harrison Ford’s best performances. Yeah, it’s small and easy to miss, but his presence is properly balanced. His delivery of his lines, choked in the throat and hesitant are perfectly timed.

[@barrycalvillo2466]

for the record, he was hung over from the night before, you can read about it, the sweating, coughing dropping things in the scene he did not have time to really sober up. So it was very realistic.

[@TheOneAndOnlyDaan]

I love the fact that Solo was in Nam before he became a smuggler in the outer rim.

[@themothermarkos]

Best example I've ever seen of 'no small parts, just small actors' - Ford is particularly brilliant here.

[@ericwhitehead6451]

Jerry Ziesmer could have gotten an academy award for only 4 words. Best war movie ever made.

[@rjj5075]

First I quit smoking two years ago but this scene makes me want one so bad. You can feel the tension. Second I love how they pause after they say Kurtz is insane. As if they are trying to see if Willard will agree with them. Makes you wonder if they have their doubts about Willard’s sanity.

[@markmcallan973]

Oh yeah bro phycology 101right there, that's what makes this movie a masterpiece 🤟

[@rightrightrightuhhuhuhhuh6516]

And how Willard initially turns one down initially then when he realizes just how deeply fucked up it all is, decides to smoke one like it's his last request...

[@Bitshitter]

@@rightrightrightuhhuhuhhuh6516 I saw an analysis done on the movie, where it was said that the taking of the cigarette at the end of the above scene was symbolic - it wasn't that Willard wanted to smoke the cigarette, or even if he smoked at all. It was that at that precise moment, it was a blood rite - that Willard was going to go "all in" or not at all - he was going to accept a mission off the books to go find a rogue US Marine Colonel during wartime, and assassinate him. The accepting of the cigarette was merely a symbolic way for Willard to show that he was accepting the mission, without verbally confirming that he was. It was like kissing the Don's ring......

[@benjamintaylor3934]

I quit 12 years ago, and this is a film that makes me genuinely want one! This, Fight Club, and Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas! 🤣 Rotten habit, expensive and disastrous to health, better off rid of it 😉👍

[@benjamintaylor3934]

@@Bitshitter that actually makes sense, to be honest. A little like knocking back a small measure of alcohol, or (in the case of Frank Pentangeles in Godfather Pt II) smiling and telling the second half of a well known story, fully aware of the underlying message.

[@jsmcguireIII]

Coppola knew what he was doing whenever he cast G.D. Sprandlin in his movies.

[@Khyrid]

The writing and acting in this scene are stellar.

[@rayrocher6887]

in vietnam - there was a medic - who had his legs , blown off. patch him up a little, gave him morphine. He cared for soldiers who were shot, while he bled to death. Braver tougher - than me. Congressional Medal of honor, R I P. Bless his family. Great Heroes. Gave his last breath life, for ones could make it. amen

[@TheMerryPup]

Aside from the brilliant acting and filmmaking, I also loved Martin Sheen’s voiceover in the film.

[@DarthRushy]

He didn't do the voiceover, his brother did.

[@digigroovestudios]

I studied Captain Willard's monologue when I was in acting school many years ago. If you watch the scene where he's on the boat going up the river and studying Kurtz's 201 file, He realizes just how brilliant he was. That monologue tells you so much about the Kurtz's character. Also, the helicopter scene with Robert Duvall's character trying to get his surfboard back was f**king hilarious..

[@schopen-hauer]

the minute willard said "yes sir, obviously insane" they knew, they had their guy for the job.

[@spearofconquest]

I like how awkward Harrison is here. Trying to cleanly give the mission goal of assassinating a US Commander without saying it specifically. And the CIA agent giving Sheen a hard stare because he's making 100% sure Sheen is on board and won't ask something like "Ugh, this isn't legal, is it?" lol

[@RichWeigel]

Probably the same CIA agent involved in the JFK assassination.

[@NickyNustar]

I've only just realised that prior to Martin Sheen saying 'Yes sir, very obviously insane', the helicopter foley is an audio reminder - like a sound flashback - to Willard's own insanity foreshadowed with the helicopter sounds of the room air fan in earlier shots of him going mental in his hotel room. I.e. It is a subliminal reference to denote they're both nuts.

[@davidc6032]

I was in high school when this came out. Saw it with a good friend at a matinee and we were the only two in the theater. Man, this scene blew away my teenager brain. The part right before this clip where the General is serving up the food. which looks like it's from a Norman Rockwell painting, is so surreal knowing the insanity going on just outside.

[@TheMilitantHorse]

The way the characters look into the camera, what is usually considered a mistake, is done intentionally, and it's super haunting. The genuine feel of unease in the conversation is stressful, but feeling like you're on the receiving end of the Lt Gen's orders, it's super upsetting.

[@KutWrite]

I think they look just barely off-camera, but yes, quite a strong effect, like we're at the briefing waiting for them to pass those crayfish with the heads on.

[@mrgoblueguy]

What an absolute masterpiece of a film. It’s absolutely perfect

[@michaelklein3112]

FFC should get the job of making movies in heaven!! Pure perfection! 👍🤓👍

[@timmyteaching]

now i want to watch the whole damn movie yet again

[@penduloustesticularis1202]

This is not a movie. It is an ethereal work of art.

[@asmith1496]

Literally every scene in that movie is a masterpiece.

[@vanessajazp6341]

Every moment of this film (theatrical release) was pure art. An amazing, historical film.

[@bangslamwham88]

What I love the most is that this was a chance for Harrison Ford to play outside of his usual roles as the stoic leading man.

[@dukeford8893]

When this was shot Harrison was still a few years away from being a "stoic leading man". He was lucky to be working, period.

[@danwallach8826]

G.D. Spradlin, as the general, did a great job of conveying a man of great power and beguiling Willard into a mission that likely would kill him. Remember, they another officer up there with the same orders and he got turned into one of Kurtz's freaks. "Good does not always triumph." Man, that's some darkness right there!

[@Petefx86]

That whole monologue was pretty intense.

[@AnonymousUser-p4e]

Spradlin is such an under-rated actor. Between this role, Senator Geary in Godfather Part II, and Gen. Durrell in The Lords of Discipline, he should have earned at least one Oscar along the way for Best Supporting Actor.

[@philmann3476]

Always liked the the subtle, but important shift from, "Terminate the Colonel's command," (i.e., the mission actually stated) to "Terminate the Colonel?" Willard clearly understood.

[@MarvelousLXVII]

This scene should be in every acting class. Just a masterful work of art.

[@mlbowen6476]

And of course after all these years when we hear the expression "the dark side" and see Harrison Ford, it gives an entire new meaning and connotation.

[@mkultra2456]

"JOIN ME HAN SOLO! TOGETHER WE SHALL RULE THE GALAXY AS SITH LORD AND SMUGGLER!" "Hell yeah I'm down!"

[@lazyartiste_2357]

@@mkultra2456 I would definitely pay to watch that movie.

[@curtissmcadams1400]

His character's name is Colonel G. Lucas.

[@vinsanity982]

I'm not a writing expert but it seems to me that the general's lines were directed to the audience. He is looking directly into the camera, directly to the audience, and explaining the core conflict or theme of the message. It is also interesting to me that it cuts to Willard when he says "..and good does not always triumph" and subsequently Willard looks directly at the audience at "...sometimes the dark side overcomes what Lincoln called the better angels of our nature".

[@doorswhofan]

I always took that as Willard looking inward when the general said that -- knowing that the darkness was overtaking him. Killing Kurtz became killing that part of himself.

[@moviesgalore9947]

G.D. Spradlin is really good in this he played the Senator in Godfather 2 it was smart for Francis to use him again in this movie.

[@rideshareog]

Apocalypse Now Redux is a must watch. There's scenes that tell such a bigger history. A huge fav for acting at it's highest level.

[@CoolGobyFish]

there is also a 5hour rough cut floating around with even more stuff)) also, judging by behind the scenes vidoes and photos, they have shot even more footage than that. there are photos and breif videos of Robert Duval with a blond wig doing some sort of differet beach invasiton stuff. so, it seems they had different ideas for him and re-shoot lots of his stuff

[@alwarberigai5955]

The very way in which this scene was composed and shot is masterclass in its own right. The way Jerry and Ford tell him the mission like they were talking about the weather of the afternoon, a quiet cigarette gesture and acceptance.. thus accepting the mission. Very clear and very powerful. The intensity of the situation couldn’t be shot better…

[@Aansteller]

“I am beyond their timid lying morality, and so I am beyond caring. Your loving father.”

[@davidesguario9729]

0:11 Harrison Ford looking at the camera...then realizing it and looking away...then looking back

[@danielstevens5299]

He's in character, looking at Willard, and then away, and then back. He's a nervous wreck. We see him from Willard's POV

[@madeleinegrayson8372]

He's not looking at the camera.

[@Empress_Theresa]

These men are pros. Not only the actors, but a also the writer and director.

[@OptimusWombat]

Fun fact: although Coppola went on to direct the film, it was actually George Lucas who was originally hired to direct it. Lucas left the project partly due to his commitments on American Graffiti and Star Wars.

[@FishHeadSalad]

That actor with the glasses... I loved him in the movie Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round where he plays the bell hop pager. He was classic in that role and I I am very surprised that he did not get at least an Oscar nod for that!

[@maartenvandam344]

His name is Harrison Ford. You may have heard of him. He did alright after this.

[@FishHeadSalad]

@@maartenvandam344 I wasn't talking about him in this movie, I was talking about him in Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round. And if you are right about his name, he has done well. He has an entire line of automobiles named after him and even a theater where folks assassinate bearded presidents.

[@maartenvandam344]

@FishHeadSalad Harrison Ford was Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, Indiana Jones, The Fugitive, a whole list of movies. He's very young and undiscovered in Apocalypse Now, but he became one of the most famous Hollywood actors ever.

[@FishHeadSalad]

@@maartenvandam344 If Harrison Ford was Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, who played Han Solo? And I am pretty sure he did not play Luke Skywalker in any Indiana Jones movie, The Fugitive, and a whole list of other movies as you said he did including the movie Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round where he got the Oscar snub for his excellent portrayal as the bell hop pager.

[@maartenvandam344]

@@FishHeadSalad OK Han Solo. He played Indiana Jones in the Indiana Jones movies. All of them. Stop being so childish. I only wanted to point out that 'the actor with the glasses' in the scene above, who you had such praise for, is actually Harrison Ford, an actor everyone knows. You're welcome.

[@Walmers27]

I watched this on VHS and a '28 inch TV in the early eighties. Great film. Then around 20 years ago I saw it on the big screen with fully Dolby sound. What an experience.

[@haroldbrown6630]

Wow. Watching it now for the third time. I must watch this masterpiece in its entirety again. So good.

[@jbkormos]

That look, at the very last moment of this clip, is the 'Oh, fuck' look. It's the realization of the fact that you have just been thrust into the very cauldron of Hell itself.

[@lllordllloyd]

What Sheen does through the entire movie, just silently observing what is being said and done around him, is superb.

[@PauloHerrnandizz]

As a teenager I would've liked the action scenes more. But honestly this dialogue was far more interesting. These moments of dialogue made me develop an interest in writing myself :3

[@chendejian]

the roast beef and fried shrimps are the best part of this scene

[@kellyl240]

0:14 Harrison ford , don't look at me look at the General.

[@incub8]

"I wanted a mission. And for my sins, they gave me one."

[@01sapphireGTS]

I have loved that scene since the first time I watched it, long ago. Great choice of words, great deliveries.

[@mkultra2456]

Your car is gay lolololooolol

[@JF-xq6fr]

Damn, when 'Jerry' the spook wipes that tiny smile away with a blink... The way his undone purple tie reminds me a confessional... And for my sins, they gave me one.

[@hummingpylon]

People don’t like the choice of music but I love it, it is the music of the underworld out there in the jungle where the fire ants chants their incantations.

[@johnsaucedo1131]

Such a powerful scene. One of Coppola's best.