Meet Kilgore: The Story Behind One of Coppola’s Most Complex Scenes | Ep9 | Making Apocalypse Now
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- Опубликовано: 13 июн 2021
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In episode 9 of Making Apocalypse Now, we take a look at Colonel Kilgore's introduction, the insane detail that went into the scene, the difficulties in shooting on location, and how the scene (and Kilgore's character) evolved during the production.
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This video is by Tyler Knudsen.
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
[Cinephilia & Beyond] Incredible collection of resources on Apocalypse Now: bit.ly/35Mvv7M
Sources:
Screenplay (Milius draft - ‘69) -
Source: bit.ly/2RwEebI
PDF: bit.ly/3mInRnX
“Tarantino on Milius 1982” Interview - bit.ly/3xiEQRU
Robert Duvall on Bob Costas (fivealex2010) - • Robert Duvall (Apocaly...
Writing with Light Vittorio Storaro (1992) - • Writing with Light Vi...
The Losers (1970) - • "Nams Angels" aka "The...
Music:
Epidemic Sound 
Развлечения
My favorite part of the scene was how Kilgore made a huge deal out of giving the prisoner water until he sees the surfer and then completely stops giving the guy water
...and splashing some of the canteen water as he gets up to see, adds just a little comic touch to the shot. "You can cut the "sir" crap Lance...I'm Bill Kilgore..I'm a goofy foot." Thumb gesturing at Willard while talking to the obviously MUCH more important legendary surfer..."This guy with you?" Call me strange if you want, but I love Bill Kilgore. He's just one of the very best comic-serious characters of all time. Tell the truth....If you were in Vietnam, wouldn't you want to serve with him?
@@Russell_Huston lol the "this guy with you?" line was so damn funny and let's you know Kilgore doesn't give a flying F for Willard or his mission but he's with Lance so he'll put up with him. The dialog of every character is so well done
That always caught my eye even as a 12 year old when I saw it 1st.
Indeed. I grew up surfing. I get it.
He can drink the paddy water
"CHARLIE DON'T SURF!"
Genius. Awesome.
Would hate to be a surfer named Charlie.
Irrelevant? How is it genius when it doesn't mean anything in context?
@@TheBigMclargehuge in context it means exactly what it says. read a book one day and find out who "charlie" is
@@soakupthesunman anybody who has ever seen of Vietnam war movie knows the word Charlie. let's put the discussion in simple English. someone points out that the enemy is currently attacking them while they attempt to surf. his response is to say that the enemy doesn't surf. those things don't go together in a normal conversation.
'I wanted a mission. And for my sins they gave me one. Brought it up like room service. It was a real choice mission, and when it was over I'd never want another'. This still gives me chills. The greatest film of all time.
I love the smell of a CinemaTyler RUclips notification in the morning.
Oh Yes !!! I agree !! It takes unfortunally so much time to make new episodes...
Smells like... film class.
Nothing else in the World smells like it.
Kilgore - "How are you feeling Jimmy?"
Door Gunner - "Like a mean motherfucker, sir!"
Wanna use for my 📲 ring- tone
Scenes like this are why Apocalypse Now is hands-down THE greatest war movie ever, and arguably the alltime greatest movie, in general. Today, this scene would be 80% sterile CGI mush, making it feel like they'd spliced in shots from an MCU movie. And even Full Metal Jacket's "Vietnam" loses so much, from being shot on sets in England. But the authenticity of Apocalypse Now was nuts.
The movie is an unrealistic stylized fever dream designed solely to bash American soldiers. Rife with hack method acting and clumsy dialogue, this is far from the best Vietnam war film ever made. It's far from being a good film.
@@TheBigMclargehuge lol
@@TheBigMclargehuge real small brain opinion right there.
@@TheBigMclargehuge This is bait. Youre literally getting why its good above
There are some errors and questionable choices made in the film. It's still one of the best to come out of the "golden age" which was New Hollywood. What is "hack method acting?" And which dialogue is clumsy? It is stylized - yes, but it's art, not a reenactment
When i saw Apocalypse Now for the first time my jaw pretty much dropped. I saw it at the cinema when i was 16. I'm 48 now and it's still my favorite film ever. The idea of trip up river being an allegory for discovering one's deeply rooted dark side, stuck with me.
That river sequence was such a masterpiece of cinematography. FWIW, I had friends who were formerly grunts over there, and they *hated* the movie. Because it's not really about Vietnam as they expected. They felt no respect was given the actual people, being depicted in this fantasy. Doesn't mean it's a bad movie, just that it was a little bit misrepresented.
it was amazing!!!
when I first watched it..
when the tiger jumped out the entire theater i was in jumped, also almost everyone stayed till the end of credits, left and it wasn't till we got out on the street that people started talking!!
The giving a drink to the wounded enemy soldier really happened. It appeared in a life magazine article during the war. The photojournalist was in the back of a truck with us and south Vietnamese soldiers taking a wounded enemy back for interrogation. The enemy had a cooking pot strapped to his abdomen as his intestines were falling out of his abdominal wound. The wounded enemy asked the interpreters for a drink of water and they had the truck stop next to a rice paddy for the wounded man to drink from(they were enemies). An American soldier found out what was going on an said... "any man that can fight for 3 days while holding his guts in a tea kettle can drink from my canteen anytime."
I was there, you believe that shit, shame on you. Superman isn't going to be in combat for 3 days holding in his guts, you can't be that gullible.
Yes, I have that issue of Life, amazing but true.
Wouldn't water kill him slowly from the damaged intestines? I think adrenaline gets you thirsty( in 2019 The Town, Jeremy Renner is shot dying behind garbage can, he sees soda cup on ground and takes a sip before getting up to try and take a FED bastard with him.)
If soldier had any respect he should've shot the communist in the brain stem for a instant off.
I have a close friend who wanted to be a cameraman back in the 1990, he had a breakdown purely on how good the camerawork is in this movie, for two years he was in deep depression over how he would never be able to measure up, he's doing fine now by the way, won several rewards for his camera work.
Caesar wept with envy when first he gazed upon a statue of Alexander.
I can’t even begin to express my admiration for the work you’ve done on this channel, your bravura coverage of Coppola’s masterpiece in particular. It’s simply more authoritative, interesting, and just plain fun than anything else I’ve read or watched on the subject - and believe me, that’s quite a lot.
You are too kind! Thanks so much!
Yeah I'm still appreciating this movie more because of these videos, and I've loved it for a long time already
Absolutely. Brilliant.
Please, you think he did this research, this is almost verbatim copy of the Copla documentary.
I love how they actually thought out a scene, not hire a digital art team to take their notes and imagine it for them, they made the scene what it is, beautiful
7:14 LTC William "Bill" Kilgore was modeled after LTC John "Bullwhip 6" Stockton.
The Stetson hat (black hat) was begun by Stockton commander of the 3-17th Cavalry Reg (11th Reg and 1-9th Cav), the Division command group was not apparently eager to approve of it's adoption within the 1st Cav Division, but Stockton persisted in wearing it after he first wore it reviewing a troop formation.
The timeline of the Stetson seems appropriate with the movie. Not sure the huey is black but has the anti glare black paint in front of the windshield.
Great details and contribution to what we are looking at in the scene @Eric Stevens!
The character was actually a composite of several real life characters, including several that Duvall personally knew.
I'm a former member of 3/5 Air Cav. Our Squadron CSM wore a black Stetson and spurs on his boots always.
cinematyler = best content on youtube
With "eyebrow cinema"
Thanks for all the hard work on this series. A genuine masterclass.
Thanks! Glad you like it!
you think he did this research, this is almost verbatim copy of the Copla documentary.
If I could have been on the set of any movie - I think this would be it.
Back in 1982 I met a guy that was in the military stationed in the Philippines when Apocalypse Now was there. He off-handedly mentioned running into a film crew, but I don't think he had any idea who or what it was. Maybe he did, but he didn't seem all that impressed about it. I was like, "Tell me everything you saw!!"
While working on Bonfire of the Vanities, I was befriended by Doug Ryan, the camera operator. Doug had been in the first wave of troops that arrived in Vietnam after the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, spending 6 months. This qualified him to become the technical advisor on Apocalypse Now. Doug said that Francis asked him to write on one sheet of paper all the really weird things he had seen in the 6 months he was in country. Coppola then put all those things that Doug wrote into one scene, turning it into hyper-reality. It was on Apocalypse that Doug started to get into cinematography, first as an assistant to Francis' wife as she shot the documentary that became Hearts of Darkness. Then he did some 2nd Unit work, of which I remember that he said that he did the tiger scene...
I was once a staff officer for a general officer. I went to great efforts to make sure he had his daily can of Mountain Dew.
Outstanding, Cinema Tyler, outstanding ! Getcha a case of beer for that one.
Thanks!
@Slim Dim Nah, that's your job..
There will never be another Apocalypse.
It's Coppola's calling card in my eyes, even if Godfather I & II are better works; Apocalypse remains the biggest and boldest experimental indie film, and THAT is Coppola.
The amount of work and dedication that goes into a series like this is unbelievable. You’ve covered so many amazing films in depth. I really respect and appreciate your commitment to cinema history. I don’t think anyone in the world knows more about apocalypse now, maybe not even Coppola.
OK, so this will probably be a long post but I hope you'll read it. I am a bit a 1st of the 9th fan, I have dozens of books on the unit, and am proud to be friends with some of the members of said unit.
Kilgore is absolutely based on one Lt Col John B Stockton (google image search some pics to get an idea). Col Stockton was the original commander of the 1st Squadron 9th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division, also know as "1st of the 9th". Col Stockton was a brash cavalryman, who lead his unit to devastating effectiveness against the VC and NVA. He cared deeply about destroying the enemy and saving the lives of those caught in the crossfire. Col Stockton also very much cared for the men under his command. His training lead the 1st of the 9th to be one of the most successful fighting units ever.
A bit of a cross over to Kurtz happened with Col Stockton. As Willard is reading Kurtz' dossier, he mentions a mission called "Archangel". As Willard says, "The balls! He just thought it up and did it." and how command was going to crucify him, but the press found out it was a big success and that saved. That actually happened to Stockton. He commandeered some men of another unit for a mission. The mission went perfect, but he didnt have authority. He may have been court martialed, but the press got wind and he was "promoted". Promoted meaning he lost command of his unit. In the "Charlie dont surf!" scene when Kilgore says "Take a gunship back up to division", this is presumed to mean he is notifying the division of his mission to assault.
...but send a helicopter just to ferry a message? Why wouldn't he just notify them on the radio ?
@@robertmaybeth3434 Paperwork. Bureaucracy.
This series just keeps getting better. I saw this movie in a theater half a dozen times or more, always been a favorite.
You could watch movies for decades and not see a character pop off the screen like Duvall's Kilgore. One of the most memorable "small roles" ever.
Kilgore is life, kilgore is death, a little bit of kilgore lives within us all
Great commentary. My parents housed and fed Vietnamese refuges that had escaped Saigon. One from the embassy roof by helicopter. America was helping Vietnamese refuges to escape and were sent to the Philippines to stay in camps. Then later unto military bases like Camp Pendleton. Mission organizations and churches helped the refuges get "adopted" by families. They would help them assimilate into the American way of life. My father was a WW2 refuge from Germany, so he knew what it was like and wanted to help. They lived with my family for a year.
I always thought the LTC Kilgore was based on the real commander of 1/9 Cav when I was there, LTC John B. Stockton. He wore a Cavalry Stetson too and was a larger-than-life character. In fact, a little too larger-than-life. He was relieved of his command for being a little too aggressive and a little too outspoken about it.
I thought Kilgore evoked Custer.
@@lindaterrell5535 Without Sitting Bull.
After watching Apocalypse Now on the big screen on a 35mm print screening, I’m obsessed with this film once again and your videos on this epic production have engaged and fascinated me. Eagerly anticipating the next part in this series.
Duvall as Kilgore & Robert Shaw as Quint in Jaws. 2 of the finest performances ever
Still Quotable almost 50 years later.... Charlie dont surf... epic
Yes,Duvall's buddy Hackman was originally supposedly play Kilgore.
Fantastic, a joy to watch. I always thought that the camera crew was an after thought because the shadow of the actual camera crew being dollied can be seen just before Coppola plays his part. I figured that someone in the crew must have seen this and Coppola had to add the news crew to justify it.
I thought the same thing. Whether that was the reason for their inclusion or not it does make sense. Then again,it's such an obvious flub there's NO WAY the crew wasn't aware of it as it was happening.
When you reach 250k subs ask Coppola for an interview.
Thanks for the video.
That would be so cool! Thanks!
You're doing the highest level work here. I absolutely love it
You are too kind! Thanks!
Can’t wait for the next one! Wonderful work and analysis Tyler. It always brightens my day when you drop a new video!
I was 19 when this movie changed me. I can now report I'm back down to beautiful Earth. Thank God. God Bless.
Love this series, can't wait for the next episode!
I snuck into the Drive-In movie's exit on om my Schwinn bike with a new Hi Tech AM radio purchased with Paper Route money "Just" to watch this Movie!
I still remember how dark, disturbing and Real this work IS!
Thanks to all involved!
What a great instalment, thanks for making these!
Thanks!
Kilgore reminds me of my sergeant majors when I was in the armored cav.
I remember seeing this movie a few times in the theater when I was 14 years old. I saw the Redux in September 2001, in Santa Monica with my wife, and was amazed at the new footage and storylines. Excellent job on the 'Making Of' Apocalypse Now!
Most fascinating and beautiful movie ever made, even on an objective level. Watched it probably 1000s of times by now because it has become part of me. I'm endlessly enamored with this piece of what I consider High Art. It's the only movie to make me consistently cry my eyes out haha Thanks for your analysis man!!
thank you for caring, the napalm scene always tears me up because it is so realistic as I saw a mass napalm attack carried out by 4 C-130s that killed 300 NVA. None of us cheered, we all felt sorry for the victims, who thought they were in a rest area. Just ghastly like the whole war, which tore America apart and for which America never apologized, neither to the Asians or to us veterans.
For me the greatest Kilgore quote is not the "...smell of napalm in the morning" but "Someday this war gonna end".
Says so much about the character and his mindset and makes you to "get it" where is he coming from and how he sees the war.
Agreed
An amazing series Tyler, it fills in so much detail and the little gaps I hadn't picked up on after watching this film more than a dozen times over thirty-five years. Of course I Liked and Subscribed to the channel Immediately when I first started watching this series, and can't wait to watch the other episodes I haven't seen yet!
Just a few days ago i binged the playlist so i am even more glad to see this
Love this series, it's my favourite film and it's amazing how much info you find about it. Keep it up
I rewatched Apocalypse Now a few weeks ago and glad to see more videos about this film from you!
This is so well done! Thank you for this docu series!
I love the amount of information of work you put into these videos, they are full and detailed and extremely interesting, thank you a lot for this
10:26 I doubt that air cav officers wore their distinctive uniform items in combat, even in Vietnam. Looking unique is a terrific way to draw fire to yourself, spurs get hung on underbrush, Stetson offers no protection, etc. I think that the Kilgore character is written that way to emphasize his nonchalance and that "bulletproof" nature that Willard senses around him, not because it's the norm.
Eagerly awaiting the next installment, Tyler!
The depth of your research, amazing. Love it and subbed!
I love your videos, i am glad your channel has grown, congratulations on being one of the best essayist on RUclips, your videos are always inspiring!
Just subbed to your Patreon. Thank you so much for all the hard work you put into your videos. You’ve sparked such a fire inside me that is a love and appreciation of cinema. Thank you Tyler, I hope you’ve been doing well through these tough times. Keep up the great work!
My dad took me to see Apocalypse Now in 1979 just as it came out--I was 9 years old. Needless to say that was the end of childhood innocence for me. Seeing the trailer on TV back then was a mindf*ck in itself
Thanks for your work! You are doing a great service for the future, documenting the high water marks of cinematic history. Bravo sir!
These series are beautiful crafted and analyzed. Thank you very much
Thanks! Glad you like it!
One of the finest Cinema Productions EVER FILMED and there will be NO Other.
Brilliant, can't wait for the next episode.
It'll Come In Low Out Of The Rising Sun.:)
"Is this guy with you?" One of Kilgore's best lines.
Just realised I watched episodes 8 and 9 and missed 7. Guess I'll just have to go watch it. ...did that sound like a chore? BECAUSE IT SO ISN'T! This channel is amazing! Magnificent, thorough uploads.
LOLOL best comment I've read all day
great stuff! Can't wait for the next episode. Saw this movie when it 1st came out and it really left an impression on me. I watch it at least 2-3 times a year.
Duvall was the best character in the movie. He looked like he could actually be that character. Step right out and start commanding troops.
Amazing work, as usual, so enjoyable, thanks 😟👍
I want to watch these, FOREVER, Tyler!
I always thought of the cow + mass scene as an ironic quote to the dolce vita opening. thank you for your wonderful work, can't wait to see the next episodes.
Good point. You deserve more likes for this.
Your commentary on the busy cinematography, as well as the fact that Lucas was mentored by Coppola, actually does well to explain the "dense" background CGI and compositing in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.
Love your videos can't wait to watch! Thank you for the fantastic content.
This is a great piece. Well done! Cant wait to watch the other videos.
Very cool stuff OP! Great video. This is why I come to yT in the first place, for original videos like these quality
Thanks so much!
Waiting for the next ep.
Appreciate your hard work man❤
Who is downvoting this video? This is essential work.
Beyond Essential, Masterpiece.
Glad you’re making these videos. Cause I can’t watch this film anymore. I watched it at 13, thought it was awesome, watched it at 17 and loved it. Watched it at 21 and it really broke me and I haven’t watched it since.
I remember watching this when it came out in '79. A few years later I went into the Military. It was nothing like what's in the movie. There might have been a few similarities but for the most part not so much. We did still get to wear the green BDUs and the jungle boots. The Military was still making those small adjustments into today's Army. This was a weirdly awesome movie though.
But did you fight in any wars to begin with?
Like not to be insulting or anything.
But there is a huge difference between serving during peace times and war times.
I mean I bet the movie doesn't give a completely accurate depiction of the war.
But it is still able to portray the madness and contradictions of this war.
How war crimes clashed with honorability.
It is a very good depiction of that atrocity!!! How about grunts wearing ears as decoration.. The tomohawk was a favorite weapon... Used the "gooks" tied to trees for target practice...
2 million Vietnamese killed.. 2 million.. The movie is tame!!!
Thank goodness I was non combat!!!!!! But still a part of the atrocity... The second biggest mistake of my life... Allowing myself to be drafted... The real heroes went on the Merrikesh Express!! Just sayin'
Love your sources and the massive work this must have taken. Subbed and liked. Dunno how I started on Ep 9 but definitely rewatching from the first.
"Painting with reality". That's beautiful.
Great work for a film that deserves this deep dive!
I love the detail!
This series is genius. Keep up the good work!
Always pleasure to watch or rewatch your videos. Well done 👍
Waited a long time for this one
Fascinating detail!
Great job tyler!
Great work as always
Binged the whole playlist after the algorithm dropped me here, looking forward to the future episodes.
Full Metal Jacket is next.
Great work as always. Keep them coming.
Thanks! Will do!
Thank you for going back to the serious way of making videos. Keeps us more Interested. 💕
What do you mean?
No more jokes or comedy parts.
I have been to Baler 3 times, Beautiful place.
The image at 5:20 is from Ermita Hill.
The Kilgore scene is at what is now called Charlies Point, Baler Aurora.
These are SO good, Tyler! :0)
Brilliant! Both the scene AND this video!
This movie STILL is in my top 5 All Time war movies ❤️🔥 Thank You for sharing ❤️🔥
I just LOVE watching videos about Apocalypse Now. Fun fact, I watched the movie yesterday.
First of all Tyler- this is an epic documentary. Truly. Thank you. A great companion piece to arguably the greatest war film & one of the greatest films period. Thank you.
As for this sequence- beautiful cinematography, epic in scope but absolute chaos, like war itself. Brilliant. Number 3 in my all time perfect films. People struggle with ending. It's the the perfect ending to a perfect film.
Great video as always!
Great episode :) Thank you!
Thanks!
Great stuff, thanks for your efforts.
I saw the Tedux version last week. Cinematography and how much work goes behind to the Valkyrie scene is amazing. The precision and the care and how everything has to be well made an synchronised to get the take. Weeks before I saw Argyle, yes, the crew and everyone worked hard on that film but compared to Apocalypse Now, Argyle is a kid with a camera and access to AI for the effects.
This is amazing.
Keep,em back behind the treeline... GIVE ME SOME ROOM TO BREATH!!!!. Hay buddy very well put together . I personally learnt a lot from the heart of darkness, the video diery Coppola's wife put together while the crew filmed. Nice memory.
It`s interesting watching these videos as I was there as an extra, a New Zealand young traveller that happened to be in the right place at the right time
You smell that? YOU SMELL THAT?
That's Napalm, nothing else in the world like it.
It's that smell, that gasoline smell.
Smells like...............Victory!
Think I heard that . . . . 😬
@@paulsuprono7225 someday this war is going to end ☹
Excellent work. Thank you.
Admire, what you´re doing. "Apocalypse Now" is my personal best film of all time!! So keep on making another six or twenty episodes on this magic of film-making !!
Mine also I have the full version