The Events that Led Coppola to Apocalypse Now | Ep1 | Making Apocalypse Now

Download your Companion PDF here: bit.ly/2mWPuyQ (First one is pay-what-you-want.)
In Episode 1 of Making Apocalypse Now, we look at Francis Ford Coppola's life leading up to Apocalypse Now including his time at UCLA, his work on Patton, his work for Roger Corman, the founding of American Zoetrope, THX 1138, The Godfather, The Conversation, and The Godfather Part II.
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This video essay was written, edited, and narrated by Tyler Knudsen.
Sources:
Affiliate Links:
(Coppola) Notes on the Making of Apocalypse Now by Eleanor Coppola: amzn.to/3K9B9XH
(Cowie) The Apocalypse Now Book by Peter Cowie: amzn.to/3Zh8rZp
(Travers) Coppola's Monster Film: The Making of Apocalypse Now by Steven Travers: amzn.to/3ZybjS1
(Commentary) Apocalypse Now: The Final Cut: amzn.to/3npMry6
(Playboy)The Playboy Interviews: The Directors: amzn.to/40Ez8IO
(Martin) New Waves in Cinema by Sean Martin: amzn.to/3FSCdge
Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse: amzn.to/40CnoGB
(Phillips) Godfather: The Intimate Francis Ford Coppola By Gene D. Phillips: amzn.to/3lCPlzj
Incredible collection of resources on Apocalypse Now:
cinephiliabeyond.org/apocalyp...
(Great 'Lost Photographs' of Apocalypse) - Dutch Angle: Chas Gerretsen & Apocalypse Now (2019 dir. Baris Azman): bit.ly/2x6WCOf
Wired: Roger Corman: bit.ly/2zwEV88
Flavorwire: Roger Corman: bit.ly/2lt3CiU
Sirius XM - Francis Ford Coppola Didn't Originally Want to Direct 'The Godfather.'
bit.ly/2m7juHC
92nd Street Y
Francis Ford Coppola on the Future of Cinema, Marlon Brando and Regrets
bit.ly/2kz4lyC
Achievement.org: Francis Ford Coppola: bit.ly/2kWKv0c
DGA (2011)
Wikipedia
Clips:
The Godfather (1972 dir. Francis Ford Coppola)
The Godfather Part II (1974 dir. Francis Ford Coppola)
Heart of Darkness with Orson Welles
Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmakers Apocalypse
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975 dir. Miloš Forman)
Jaws (1975 dir. Steven Spielberg)
Midnight Cowboy (1969 dir. John Schlesinger)
The Wild One (1953 dir. László Benedek)
The Godfather Part II wins Best Picture (1975 Oscars)
Directors Guild of America (2011)
October: Ten Days That Shook the World (1927 dir. Sergei Eisenstein, Grigori Aleksandrov)
Battle Beyond the Sun (1959)
The New Cinema (1968)
Silence of the Lambs (1991 dir. Jonathan Demme)
Apollo 13 (1995 dir. Ron Howard)
Empire of Dreams (2004 dir. Kevin Burns, Edith Becker)
Dementia 13 (1963 dir. Francis Ford Coppola)
American Graffiti (1973 dir. George Lucas)
The Rain People (1969 dir. Francis Ford Coppola)
Easy Rider (1969 dir. Dennis Hopper)
Patton (1970 dir. Franklin J. Schaffner)
Coppola wins Oscar for Patton
THX 1138 (1971 dir. George Lucas)
A Diary (by George Lucas)
The Good the Bad and the Ugly (1966 dir. Sergio Leone)
Once Upon a Time in America (1984 dir. Sergio Leone)
Robert Evans interviewed by Wes Anderson
The Conversation (1974 dir. Francis Ford Coppola)
Francis Ford Coppola talks Marlon Brando (Marmar)
The Godfather wins Best Adapted Screenplay
The Godfather Part II wins Best Adapted Screenplay
Francis Ford Coppola wins Best Director for The Godfather Part II

[@DysnomiaFilms]

Apocolypse Now may, as you say, be an oddity in being a really big budget art film that isn't very accessible, and that is VERY rare. Bladerunner 2049 is probably another example but there will never be a more outlying example of this than 2001: A Space Odyssey. It's truly a miracle that got made. Anyway, your content is incredible as always. Keep it up man!

[@JH-jh8ms]

I would disagree and say that Apocalypse Now is one of the few art films that is very accessible.

[@799beastmode]

Definitely a big budget art film which is probably the rarest of films. Another one that came to mind is movie Miami Vice Which is definitely not viewed as very accessible and most ppl don’t care for it bt it was a digital beauty. A 100 mil dollar Art film

[@CinemaTyler]

I really liked your comment and I featured it in Making Apocalypse Now | Episode 2’s Companion PDF. I’d love to give you a code to download it for free. Do you have a twitter account that I can send the code to?

[@timc9806]

@@CinemaTyler Hi Tyler. I saw that in your sources list that you don't mention a book called Easy Riders, Raging Bulls by Peter Biskind. I've checked the sources for it's chapter on Apocalypse Now and none of them are the same as yours. Of course the Easy Rider book may well have used the same sources as the books that you have listed. The reason that I mention this is that 'Easy Riders' gives a great overall picture of what went on with the filming of Apocalypse Now, not just from an artistic standpoint. By itself, that point of view does not paint the whole picture to explain what happened. Of course filming was difficult due to the well known issues r.e. typhoons etc, but the entire set, as well as Coppola, descended into something resembling Sodom and Gomorrah. It is described in length and detail in 'Easy Riders'. For me, any examination of 'Apocalypse' also needs to be carried out with the issues and events that are identified within the Easy Riders book which I'm sure Coppola is not so keen on revisiting. Apologies if you have taken all that into account!

[@kickliquid]

Once i stopped trying to watch Apocalypse Now as a war movie and instead watched it as a Psychological Horror about a man who slowly downward spirals into darkness did it click for me.

[@Silly81]

Coppola won every major Academy Award for The Godfather in ‘72 except of all things Best Director.

[@cc92103]

It’s a sheer crime that he was beaten out by Bob Fosse for “Cabaret”. Maybe the Menbers could not stomach voting an Italian-American?

[@JoshuaResnick-qd7ln]

Hearts of Darkness is one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen.

[@jamespfp]

It stands out precisely because of how rare a document it is. The film was already infamous for running over schedule and budget; "Hearts of Darkness" explains a great deal.

[@CinemaTyler]

The interesting thing is that Coppola only agreed to it being released because he thought it would play on Showtime twice and that's it. He says that he is embarrassed by it, but it really is one of the best behind-the-scenes documentaries out there because it shows that intense artistic struggle. I hope to help set the record straight on some parts.

[@jamespfp]

@ArchieL I'm thinking most "Apocalypse Now Redux" releases come with it as a special feature.

[@davidgray2805]

i watch it every month

[@teddyochfreddy]

Yes! Burden of Dreams on the making of Fitzcarraldo is also fantastic! Another disaster-ridden film production and a fascinating artistic vision.

[@johnnymarlin1283]

The final cut is five stars, and totally out of this world in sound and atmosphere on the big screen.

[@abhiruproy8592]

Wow bro you are lucky to see the final cut

[@johnnymarlin1283]

@@abhiruproy8592 Awesome on the big screen, just the sound is amazing.

[@abhiruproy8592]

@@johnnymarlin1283 brorher i can imagine the magnificent sound design that sounded awesome in the 70s and now in Dolby it will be thrilling..i wanna see it man..😭😭😭 where can i get the final cut please tell me

[@abhiruproy8592]

@ayyy__donkey bro actually i have the redux cut of this film

[@user-zy1rq1up7c]

The theatrical cut is better than the final cut tbh. There is a 20 minute long scene that brings the plot to a crawl. The redux is even worse as that scene is extended by another 10 minutes. Theatrical version in 4k is👌

[@davidfrederick6003]

My late father a Vietnam Veteran, spent the first 20 years of my life talking about his mission and experiences. Among 3-4 films best captured these, his respect and mine. The mission he was sent on is best portrayed in Apocalypse Now (but it was a team not 1 person). Ive seen this film at least 3-5 times and could watch it many more.

[@willbo6017]

SOG?

[@beastlyidiots9232]

You're so humble. "I'm just one guy..." This series you've created is fanatstic. The "2001 Making Of" is just awesome. Keep up the great work!!!

[@saidtoshimaru1832]

Coppola never came back from filming Apocalypse now. He never got to be that brilliant again.

[@jamespfp]

There's another way to describe this -- it isn't easy to be creative and artistic, graded against a curve which is exponentially always getting better. In fact, this is Impossible, and Coppola probably recognized, I'll never be able to do anything more creative than I already have. George Lucas essentially had the same problem, and spend the years between Return of the Jedi and The Phantom Menace pretending he had a secret grand scheme that had not been revealed yet. The Truth is simpler -- he knew he'd already effectively ended a series, and there was no reason to try to follow them up with SEQUELS, when the story had been successfully concluded. So then! There's the problem. On one hand, Artistic Integrity and Vision; on the other, the need for Money-Making Sequels, which is why Lucas always liked his Serialized Concept.

[@jamespfp]

Moreover -- this is what sets apart "The Godfather Part 3" from the other 2 in the trilogy. The Industry insists on it being "Godfather Part 3" to capitalize on the Franchise, whereas the Film-maker had a consistent vision for only a single character, that of Mike Corleone. Is it necessary for his Identity to be utterly consumed by that of his Job Title / Position?

[@saidtoshimaru1832]

@@jamespfp In the case of Godfather III, Coppola said he did it because Mario Puzo wanted to leave money to his family, but I understand (and agree) with what you say.

[@CinemaTyler]

I really liked your comment and I featured it in Making Apocalypse Now | Episode 2’s Companion PDF. I’d love to give you a code to download it for free. Do you have a twitter account that I can send the code to?

[@CinemaTyler]

I really liked your comment and I featured it in Making Apocalypse Now | Episode 2’s Companion PDF. I’d love to give you a code to download it for free. Do you have a twitter account that I can send the code to?

[@Nero-ox5tw]

1:08 Brando's voice is spine chilling. What a fascinating individual.

[@nextabe1]

Roger Corman and Coppola, they seem so different but they have history together. I love learning about these kinds of things!

[@michaelhall2709]

I’ve long been an admirer of your work, and APOCALYPSE has been one of my favorite movies since that awestruck first viewing in1979, so I’m thrilled that you’re finally taking it on. 🤗

[@CinemaTyler]

Thanks!

[@kummakummakummakummakummac8606]

Michael Hall - I never seen it until recently and I wished I had seen it sooner.

[@ricardoagila3115]

Jim Morrison was Francis Ford Coppola’s class mate in UCLA film school.

[@alexasoundzen7600]

...and harrison ford was the bands roadie (and pot dealer) LOL what a small world

[@harrytrunck8229]

My greatest film of all time, thank you for making this a series.

[@CinemaTyler]

Thanks for watching!

[@JacksMovieReviews]

Been looking forward to seeing this for a very long time, so glad that it is here!

[@karlkarlos3545]

Man, I miss your videos.

[@spittoon111]

you gotta come back man

[@CinemaTyler]

Thanks so much, Jack!

[@motorcity7137]

Cause there’s nothing out there on the same topic at all 👍

[@I_V_X]

Sorely missed my man

[@JarrodDSchneider]

These are so good I never want them to end : (

[@musriffvigneshaviraj6952]

Agreed 💯

[@foresthermit2715]

you did a wonderful job CinemaTyler

[@productivindoid9069]

Bruhh much respect for creating this! Well done👏🏾👏🏾

[@Tarkov.]

I love what you do here, amazing to see the effort put into closed captions AND the citations. You're a mad lad.

[@billypilgrim1]

This looks like it's going to be a really thorough series, thanks for this!!

[@kareliask]

I am so excited about this, I loved your 2001 deep-dive.

[@JohnDoe-bm5lp]

Love this channel, glad you focus so much on my favourite film of all times!

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

Saw Apocalypse Now during it first run in 1979 at the now-demolished Showcase Cinemas in Louisville, Ky. That was an event, and now, 40 years later, your ongoing new series is another exciting one.

[@ExploringFilm]

Fantastic, Tyler! I cannot wait for more.

[@merchius]

Very interesting, can’t wait for the rest of this series. Thanks alot for your hard work and dedication! 👍👍👍

[@kino_verite]

Just finished watching a few of your videos previously - then I got a notification! Can't wait for the rest.

[@tcehaus2600]

I love your essays Tyler. They are very intelligent, entertaining and informative without being patronizing. Thank you very much lad.

[@thedream-workdoesnotthink4512]

You're a good dude Cinema Tyler, more power to you

[@thomasdrogon363]

Thank you for this Tyler.

[@Cugelclever]

Your channel has the best cinema-related content on youtube. Thanks so much.

[@BrandonAEnglish]

I just saw the Final Cut in the Shinjuku IMAX theater. What a treat. So glad i put off watching this film in its entirety for so long. Amazing work of art.

[@djstarsign]

I’ve seen some good video essays and too many mediocre and subpar one. This is one of the best. I just want to thank you for your commitment to quality. It really shows and I know it must have taken a long time to put something like this together. Cheers.

[@1800astra]

Terrific kick-off episode, looking forward to seeing more. Of all the synergies at play in Apocalypse Now, I have special admiration for Coppola involving Michael Herr (Dispatches) in contributing to writing the VO for Willard: Terse, descriptive, insightful and full of the special 'voice' that makes the film such an immersive experience. Also, the (for the time) unbelievable sound design from Walter Murch.

[@1-7-0-1]

Fantastic Presentation My Brother! These Are Pure Gold! Thank You... 💯💖💯

[@viniciusvolcof]

Your videos are amazing, my friend. Your're giving free and high quality information online to all the world. So thanks for this and good luck :)

[@cccristol]

Awesome work

[@kristianhestas5508]

My favorite movie of all time, looking forward to follow this series

[@murkywters]

This was beyond good. Thanks man,

[@nikispaniki]

Great series. Making a movie is an adventure in itself and your work has brought it out. Nicely done.

[@dave9351]

Tyler, great work here and I look forward to watching all of your episodes. Very detailed & informative

[@bpmmediacompany3382]

great episode. interesting bits we know and linked fluidly with bits we didn't

[@kyletitterton]

This is a fabulous video man.

[@wingflanagan]

Nice! I look forward to the rest of the series!

[@jonanjello]

Quality, CinemaTyler, quality! So looking forward to the rest of your series. Thanks for all your great effort creating these!

[@CinemaTyler]

Thanks so much! It really means a lot!

[@johnmcnab4273]

Really really liked it, very well done!

[@davysaltcoats]

Great watch sir well made ,keep up the good work...one of the best films ever

[@scotthjackson5651]

these videos are amazing. thank you Tyler.

[@orpheusmorphius2624]

Yes I've been waiting for you to make this . Love your videos this is going to be epic!

[@CinemaTyler]

Thanks!

[@SaturnCanuck]

Fascinating. I can't wait for more.

[@blockster1977]

Phenomenal work!

[@mitchb4084]

Great great documentary ..Thank you

[@lucianevans6025]

Really cool man. Super informative.

[@jacklawrence2212]

Excellent video, truly, full of insight and scholarship. Love it.

[@AndyAndIFilmClub]

This is excellent! Can’t wait for the next episode!

[@NJP9036]

Good video. Can’t wait for next episode.

[@JH-jh8ms]

Fascinating and informative! Thank you.

[@DelightLovesMovies]

Thanks CinemaTyler

[@Strangenews404]

So I just found this channel and what great great work.

[@patrickhanser7235]

Thank you so much for this

[@luca_hc_gruber]

Thanks for this series!

[@BlackThoughtTheOverLord]

This is one my favourite channels (I've previously posted comments on past videos), so to watch another insightful video made by CinemaTyler this time on Apocalypse Now was a treat. Keep up the good work CinemaTyler.

[@wehatekeith]

Agree with you hold heartly

[@CinemaTyler]

Thanks so much!

[@clanwaddell5628]

This is the kind of stuff that gets me excited about entertainment. I don’t care about the theme in the riches, but unlike most of us who just work in our work isn’t seen by millions of people, directors actors musicians composers producers, all of these people that work to entertain us we see their work along with millions of others. So when I have a hard day at work or I think about leaving a job that I didn’t like or even getting fired about before, I look at people like Francis Coppola, Jimmy Butler, all these people that have shown that they’ve been through hardship and failure but still came out fighting and had success, that’s what makes me passionate. I could care less about the Cars people drive or how big your houses, but hard work and perseverance that always makes me smile

[@DBenX]

Brilliant. I enjoy watching your documentary about apocalypse now just as much, as i enjoy watching the movie itself.

[@direnbariscetin07]

Great video, can't wait the other parts.

[@robertcronin6603]

This isn't far one of the damn best channels on youtube, without a doubt 🔥

[@danheilman7729]

This is great. Thank you.

[@NostalgiNorden]

Another excellent video! Looking forward to the rest!

[@kafkapie]

thank you.. you never fail to impress me..

[@OtherThan22]

I'm just found this channel and it's so good it hurts my brain

[@Red_____]

Amazing as usual

[@johnz8210]

Your videos are outstanding. Thanks.

[@I_am_ARTBOT]

Awesome! My favorite cinema sub and favorite movie - can't wait for future eps!

[@DestroyerWill]

I watched the series on 2001: A Space Odyssey last night and now this tonight. Bravo 👏 this is some premium content

[@YorkieKDS]

Your vids may be few and far between, but they are bang full of quality, and I learn a lot from them.

[@sonnyrikhi]

Brilliant . It was unfolding in front of my eyes as If i was present there. Many thanks to you.

[@jamieandrei]

This series is mind blowing man.. thank for adding such great detail to an historic film production & are..

[@manuelkong10]

wonderful video well done

[@FlashUltra_]

Your channel is amazing

[@FeltDownHard]

Good video, can't wait for the next one!

[@dimitreze]

you just keep getting better at this nice work and edit 👏👏👏

[@31webseries]

Love this! Earlier this summer, maybe even when you were working on this I went through this whole deep dive on Apocalypse Now phase where I watched it, everything about it, the doc on the making of it (AWESOME!), reread the Conrad novella, saw all the other Vietnam war movies, etc. (this happens to me a lot, right now I'm going through a "Perfect Blue" phase). It was so fascinating because I never really got it before. When I first saw it I was too young and went in wrong, wanting to find out more about the Vietnam War as in what happened, which is not what this film does, Platoon or Full Metal Jacket are better for that. This film is what Vietnam WAS. The madness, the confusion, the experience of it, and my God as much as it was damn near driving crazy or killing half the people involved it was just a taste at that! So I'm definitely psyched for the whole series of this!!! Now, I've gotta go rewatch Black Swan in relation to what I now know about it's connections to "Perfect Blue" (Brilliant! SO ahead of it's time, see it!) cause apparently that's how I roll. ;)

[@CinemaTyler]

I really liked your comment and I featured it in Making Apocalypse Now | Episode 2’s Companion PDF. I’d love to give you a code to download it for free. Do you have a twitter account that I can send the code to?

[@31webseries]

@@CinemaTyler Cool! Yeah, my twitter account is @31theseries. Thank you!

[@ihabhassan2476]

Thanks is not enough for your great nice educational job!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@neilgin1]

in the midst of our own "Apocalypse Now"......Tyler, you are taking me on a wonderful journey, with much gratitude, n

[@zapillofilms]

Your videos are THE BEST on KZbin! THE BEST! Keep the hard work, I can't wait for the nest episode!

[@CinemaTyler]

Thanks!

[@Crowka274]

Expensive independent vision films of all time, with non interference from studios: 1. Apocalypse now 2. 2001 A space oddessy 3. Inception 4. Blade Runner 2049 5. Citizen Kane 6. Raiders of the lost Ark 7. Titanic 8. Terminator 2 9. Empire Strikes back 10. The matrix

[@dimitergeorgiev1891]

Blade Runner 2049 is a masterpiece

[@jos3goodkid]

You can add The Irishman to that list now.

[@DyenamicFilms]

Star Wars

[@randywhite3947]

Dimiter Georgiev too bad it bombed at the box office

[@evanruane3466]

I thought Citizen Kane was done on an extremely low budget

[@oncall21]

One of the very few American video's I've watched that acknowledge Australia being involved in the Vietnam war along with the USA. Brilliant series on this film! I remember when people were calling it 'Apocalypse When.' I watched the Q+A this year on the 40th Anniversary cut of this brilliant film. Thanks for sharing!

[@scottragsdale8279]

this is excellent. thank you

[@johnlynch-kv8mz]

2:41 Nicely , being the Key word. Yes, please and thank you. Nice work man . No complaints.

[@christopherhan3347]

It was a very hard act to follow! Thank you Francis for the great movies you made in the 70s.

[@anodomaniD]

really great video!

[@afelcandy]

Fantastic channel !!!! Subscribed it at once !!! Keep up the good job and my best regards from a COVID-19 terrified Brazil !!!

[@christianshreve9607]

This is impressive work. I'm subscribing.

[@louieandtommysdiscountedit3177]

“The Pope of Pop Cinema” is too cool of a name to ignore.

[@veerchasm1]

Louie And Tommy's Discount Editing Palace It’s better than “The Pope of Poop”

[@darinsingleton3553]

Probably more accurate to call it "Corman's Cinema Sweatshop."

[@Skanda1111]

Big fan of your Kubrick series. Apocalypse now is one of my favorite films ever. And hearts of darkness one of those legendary documentaries ever made. Looking forward to this series.

Greate work.

[@paulallen2474]

Thank you. 🙏

[@a20000211]

I totally love this

[@cinemasnitch3959]

this is amazing! Heart of Darkness always seemed difficult to find and I wanted to hear the chaos that ensued on this set.

[@CurrentlyStuck]

Just subscribed, loved it bro

[@georgebeech-bank]

I wish there were more producers like Roger Corman today, giving young filmmakers the opportunity to learn by doing. Can’t wait for the next video. 👍

[@sirlordhenrymortimer6620]

Your channel is god damn great and it's great place to comment as well . Years ago I had seen a great video essay on apocalypse now by cinema cresswell I just hope your series can live up to or even surpass it

[@CinemaTyler]

Thanks! I really doubt that I can be as insightful as Channel Criswell though...

[@sirlordhenrymortimer6620]

@@CinemaTyler hey, man cheer up as someone who watches a lot of video essays on film history/films . Your channel is one of the most insightful and the best I have come across on KZbin . Your video series on 2001:a space odyssey was EPIC

[@1dbanner]

Your thorough videos always leave me in awe. I'd love to see your take on Heaven's Gate