The documentary 'Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse,' co-directed by Eleanor Coppola, is being re-released, chronicling the chaotic and financially disastrous production of Francis Ford Coppola's Vietnam war masterpiece 'Apocalypse Now.' The film details the extreme challenges, including cast changes, Martin Sheen's heart attack, financial strain, and the surreal experience of filming in the Philippines amidst a real communist insurgency, highlighting Francis Ford Coppola's near-meltdown.
Hearts of Darkness: A Film-Maker’s Apocalypse review – Francis Ford Coppola and the mother of all meltdowns
CultureDocumentary filmsApocalypse NowFrancis Ford CoppolaMarlon BrandoMartin SheenPhilippinesWar filmsAsia PacificWorld
AI Summary
TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️The documentary 'Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse,' co-directed by Eleanor Coppola, is being re-released, chronicling the chaotic and financially disastrous production of Francis Ford Coppola's Vietnam war masterpiece 'Apocalypse Now.' The film details the extreme challenges, including cast changes, Martin Sheen's heart attack, financial strain, and the surreal experience of filming in the Philippines amidst a real communist insurgency, highlighting Francis Ford Coppola's near-meltdown.
- 1 1803: Chief Justice John Marshall wrote in Marbury v Madison.
- 2 1970s (implied): Filming of 'Apocalypse Now' in the Philippines, involving cast changes (Harvey Keitel replaced by Martin Sheen) and Martin Sheen's near-fatal heart attack.
- 3 Unspecified date: Francis Ford Coppola's Cannes press conference where he stated 'The film is not about Vietnam; it is Vietnam'.
- 4 Now (July 2025): 'Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse' is on re-release.
- Francis Ford Coppola's personal and financial capital were at risk during production
- Martin Sheen suffered a near-fatal heart attack
- The film went insanely over-schedule and haemorrhaged money
- The production reproduced reality on a 1:1 scale (e.g., using military helicopters during a real insurgency)
- Coppola arguably never made anything as good again after 'Apocalypse Now'
What: The re-release of the documentary 'Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse,' which chronicles the troubled production of Francis Ford Coppola's film 'Apocalypse Now.'
When: The documentary is on re-release now (July 2025); 'Apocalypse Now' was filmed in the 1970s; the original documentary was released after 'Apocalypse Now'.
Where: Philippines (filming location for 'Apocalypse Now'); Cannes (where Francis Ford Coppola held a press conference).
Why: The documentary is being re-released due to its significance as a 'greatest ever making-of documentary' and its terrifying story of a film production meltdown.
How: The documentary uses original location footage (shot by Eleanor Coppola), intimate audio tapes of Francis Ford Coppola's struggles, and later interviews (by Fax Bahr and George Hickenlooper) to depict the production's challenges, including financial issues, cast changes (Harvey Keitel replaced by Martin Sheen), Sheen's heart attack, and the use of real military helicopters during a communist insurgency.