Apocalypse Now - Willards Odyssey (A discussion about the workprint and the The various release versions unseen cut)

I got the title Willards Odyssey off of a map detailing willards desent into madness.

I think that is really what apocalypse now is all about. A descent into madness.

Givem Technological advancement of video repair software especially for VHS sources I was wondering if parts of the workprint could be brought up to good dvd quality or to perhaps 720p but I do mean decent. Any suggestions on any free software to do this? Or anyone feel like having a go?

The thing is the theatrical version is extremely good but Redux and even final cut feel too bloated due to the plantation sequence which is a very different tone to the rest of the film.

I don’t mind the playboy bunny scenes showing sexual repression and such they seem to fit the ever forward motion even to stop for a bit. The plantation scene however brings the whole thing to a grinding halt and personally although there are aspects of Redux I do like very much this scene feels like quite a departure from a very paranoid and weird trip down the river into madness.

When examining the list of scenes from the workprint there could be some simple things like establishing shots and things of this nature or alternates but in terms of whole scenes these few stand out.

1. A scene where a minuature toyboat passes the Navy PBR Lance trys to grab it Chief yells at him claiming it is a booby trap. Chief shoots it and it explodes.

2. When lance is reading letterd on the boat he suddenly stops to shoot a machine gun at a water buffalo.
   Chief tells him off.

3. The Monkey Sampan scene

4. Once we reach the compound re-instating photojournalist (Dennis Hopper) scenes and Colbys scenes including both their deaths and a somehow shortend / edited Willard in the cage ritual.

As for Kurtz he is better off being mysterious I think.

5. Include the bombing of the compound by airstrike over credits.

I think I would go with Redux but remove the Plantation scene and add those aforemention scenes. Especially good reason to go with Redux is because the extra Robert Duvall stuff is so good.

Do you really admire the plantation sequence or do you think it is better without it?

Are there any scenes from the workprint you really think should have been restored?

Did you feel the Final cut was a missed opportunity?

I kind of feel what I am saying here is that the workprint scenes I mentioned keep the film in the same vein as the theatrical cut but extend the film in the same paranoid weird mood… But the Redux stuff does not really hurt and if anything give some levity until the the plantation sequence and longer films need levity. But yeah I think the plantation sequence is just too much of a departure.

Looking at this attempt…

https://youtu.be/M2IWFgjSt8I?si=80HacdbL2LwiGBYr

Not sure it looks better than the original workprint. Before any upscaling would be better to deal with the chromatic abberation?

The purple hue looks like it could be brought back around to red fairly easily with selective correction. Perhaps a better way to deal with this?

Better attempt by sompne else.

https://youtu.be/Koi3EMf-Xuo?si=puAQJYyIsOU0e73u

Seems much more even handed approach seems like it can be salvaged a bit image wise.

Audiowise it would be tough but would need new sound effects and everything else to construct new mix.

Yeah It did look like a stretch. However the scenes on the DVD are slightly better on the DVD full disclosure edition probably the same as on Bluray too. Probably same video source. That is what that 2nd attempt is from on 2nd youtube link. Where as the 1st youtube link is the VCD as you say.

It seems we are looking at some censorship in Apocalypse now too. But it is not anything that alters the plot.

I think realistically. What is in the workprint that is’nt in the film (Redux) is not that much.

I have just studied the workprint vs the Redux version and this is my observations.

On opening sequence with “The End” song by the doors. Willard with the prostitute would be placed where the flash forward to Kurtz compound would be placed. This is strange choice to include Kurtz compound here. Music is also combined with Jim Morrison saying “fuck, fuck yeah”

Martin Sheen doing handstand and full frontel nudity would probably first choice version of scene but perhaps Martin sheen had reservations on it

On streets of Saigon only the final bit with the Army truck is relevant.

Upon landing in the helicopter to get the mission briefing Martin Sheens voiceover here in Redux makes no sense. That voice over should come later after the briefing on the montage linking up with the rest of it. This then raises the question about the surrounding footage in the workprint being intercut with sound of helicopter blades. Perhaps people on the base and the Ranger sign on lieu of that narration moving.

Pretty much everything else is included as of this point until the “booby trap” shootung at the toy boat scene.

I think if the chromatic abberation could be solved on the VCD then it would be possible to then start thinking about then trying to sharpen and upscale it. Willard in the opening montage would probably be somewhat Opaque or could be on some other B-Roll of flames or something. I reckon done in the right order could get a somewhat better result.

Noticed Lance shooting at water buffalo not in deleted scenes only on VCD.

Monkey Sampan is fairly decent quality. Would be useable but Just considering the plantation. The funeral bit is good I wonder if the french “conspiracy theory” bit was to perhaps intercut with footage from the monkey Sampan scene making it much more brief.

There is quite alot of opacity effects in the film to show time passing / surrealism and dreamlike smoke for instance. A lot of smoke.

Well a recent VHS clip from a workprint of Dune 1984 sparked my curiosity if something could be done with this footage.

The Dune clip had chromatic abberation too. Search restored lost deleted scene Dune 1984. On Max Evry channel. There is a restoration explaination too.

I reckon the official DVD version of workprint scenes are marginally better but not all are shared. Most things are snippets or brief things to be fair. But really I guess where we start to get real story is at the end with Colby and photojournalist deaths.

I guess one day technology will catch up.

I reckon Redux and Final cut are close to being the complete story but it just stops short in execution with that plantation sequence. All the drive and momentum just peels away.

By the way I did not check who was indeed on the boat in Monkey Sampan scene so no idea if it could intercut with plantation scene. But obviously it did not intercut with the compound as presented. It might intercut with shot’s of Brando / Kurtz from the hollow men stuff though.

Does Coppola even still have the U-Matic workprint. I know it hasn’t been offered as a bonus video in SD resolution.

I went through the Special features and they do indeed present a slightly better quality version of it in those documentaries.

When looking through the documentaries on full disclosure edition R1 they openly admit the plantation sequence was troublesome and could not get it working.

Furthermore the Redux version was struck from tri color technicolor prints. As the film was being assembled in the fashion of Redux and the day before a decision to cut the films running time for theatrical release. It was only that day before a first acceptable kind of working version of the plantation scene was made. Redux is struck from that longer version that was assembled before they stripped it out. Also of note the tiger scene looks much better not being blue or day for night photo chemical effect. Should have just left it. Actually looks darker in the Raw form.

In the documentaries also upon talking on the edit. When the decision was made to cut the film down in length the ending was not decided upon or assembled. It was a mish mash of improvisation with no clear vision. There was a lot of commitee and debate frequently on putting the film together. There were multiple cut’s by different editors of scenes before a vision was taken forward. So it was very meticulous yet it would seem the ending kept being put on hold.

As far as I can tell regarding the endings various material. Where Willard is locked in the shipping container and Colby killing Dennis Hopper then Willard killing Colby are in the same story line of events.

Regarding the bombing of the compund credits scene. Even if Coppola did not want Willard to look like he was ordering bombing of all the people at the temple compund. They people clearly were no longer there. So Willard did indeed turn off the radio on “Almighty”. Perhaps he lead by example put down weapons and left and it is clear the tribe or people there also laid down weapons and most likely left. If anything that is more worrying because there would be many dangerous including willard and crazy including willard people on the loose. But the whole power structure was broken up I guess.

The workprint is clearly the basis for the released film anyway It is just a matter of what you can get working better.

I do think the Monkey Sampan scene is the alternate to the french plantation. They shot that as the alternate choice. However it is not in the workprint.

Just to add there was a severe creative disagreement on the ending where an editor threatened to destroy the film if his voice and choice was not heard on the ending. That editor was removed and they got the film back. I wonder what he disagreed with so much?

Something else just came to me the exchange between Willard and Kurtz.

Willard “If I’m wrong and your right why don’t you just kill me and get it over with?”

Kurtz suddenly looks up his facial features coming into the light…

I think hear would be a smash cut to willard in solitary confinement. Sound of container door slamming. Whilst in the darkness should be surreal showing passing of time. The whole Kurtz in the Light or in the dark is very interesting artistic decision. I am not sure I personally would go with Kurtz reading the times article to willard but I would have him just open the door.

Ok I found the missing monologue for when the helicopter lands before mission briefing… It’s in the Original theatrical trailer.

“I’ve been a soldier since I was 19 and still have’nt learned to wait for it…I wanted a mission for my sins and they gave me one… Nobody ever went on a mission like this before…And when it was over, I’d never want another one”

I think that’s the monologue before the briefing that was meant to play.

Just dropping some thoughts regarding the material available for the ending.

Whilst none of it particularly conflicts with the outcome that Willard completes his mission.

I think that at one time, the intention was although you see Willard complete his mission in every version the intention may have been that the viewer was not meant to be sure if it was real or imagined. There is a sense of that in the film but it is not as pronounced as it perhaps could have been or should have been.

This I have concluded because of the flash forwards at the start of the film. The prostitute by the window blinds although we don’t see willard in bed with her has the same posture and squatting as a woman straight after kurtz is killed mourning.

So within the compund should have been more surreal than it already is.

But although the callbacks to the start montage are there there at “the end” there is no outro montage as such a bit is there though. I think this was really the intention at one time to be more of a surreal montage so you were not sure if it was real or not within the moment the past or the future But it never got to the same level as the opening section montage. But the seeds of it are there within the story. Showing images Kurtz alive in the shadows after he was killed would achieve this in full. Showing willard escape but then still be trapped in a cage. Colby eating bugs after his death and so on.

Anyway this may have been the creative difference and was chosen to play it down and more straight and conclusive… Rather than Inconclusive and delibetately confused but with clarity enough within that confusion willard completed his mission however real or imagined it was is up to the individual to decide.

Edit:

Something also springs to mind when think8ng of the opening montage. Going off or riffing off hearts of darkness and Willard feeling that the home he knew was not there anymore and the imposing one culture on another instant gratification theme. Something that would have really rammed the theme home would have been a city skyline dissolving into the napalm strike footage. Willard was divorced that day from his wife hence the prostitute I guess.

Bookending this at the end Willard took Kurtz notes and writings and was to originally either speak with Kutz Wife or Son (ending had about 10 rewrites). Willard was to lie and not be entirely truthful about what happened to Kurtz or his last words to family. I don’t think this ending would have worked at all yet Willard still takes the writings.

This again is paradoxical as he has left the army no need to prove anything to his superiors yet takes the notes still he is also not going to Speak to Kurtz son or wife for that matter. So the notes are taken to be… Destroyed?

Kurtz wanted death but his writings to potentially live on past his moment of realization as he died.

This is why I think it should have played the slug on the razor blade speech angle with Willard dreamed it up in a cage after escape, Kurtz still lives after death the camp is bombed as the tribe dances. All opaque. Like it all happened and it all never happened. The truth is that nobody will ever know anyway and that is the point nobody is supposed to know. The mission never existed Nothing would be resolved which ever way you look at it. There was no redemption. Kurtz does not exist in the land of city skyscrapers “real world” neither does Willard.
But whatever did happen would just be a conspiracy theory there would be no reality that accepted the truth. So it must all be a lie. So the truth is that it is all lies. Kurtz says as much and his death should be treated no diffetent as should Willards escape and living on…all lies.

This 8mm behind the scenes footage is very interesting and may point to the reason Colbys death was left out which in turn meant dennis hoppers death was also removed.

https://youtu.be/FAGq9pnfzOE?si=mm00M6cWrRxvFHTW

There is some good air cavalry coverage in this shooting but reference Colbys death right near end of video looks like the special forces knife was on a wire. Well the wire is plain as day to see in sunlight. Seems this explains Colbys line that he explains as he dies “special forces knife…” because they felt it neccesary to crop out the knife flying on the wire I suppose. Also dennis Hoppers squibs or bloodbags when shot by Colby shotgun is shown uncropped. Look pretty graphic.

If Coppola cut the scene because the wire looked bad I can understand that. But could easily be removed digitally today. Choice would be knife shown (without wire) in Colby’s chest no dialogue falls straight off ledge into water. I lean towards him only saying “Kill Kurtz” i really like his bug eating scene too. Quite entertaining.

So to summarize on this.

I think Coppola did a good job on Redux but it falls short with some bad decisions. I have not seen the final cut version yet but this for all intentents and purposes is a halfway house affair between theatrical and Redux.

I would very much like to see a fourth attempt at this considering Redux took and drew from the cut assembled prior to the decision to slash the running time.

The Booby trap scene is good.

Lance Shooting at the water buffalo is good anf it gived up thete position which led to Cleans death.

I think cleans funeral could be shown just the shot of his flag wrapped body would be enough disdolving over chief looking whilst tape recorder is playing.then go with the monkey sampan sequence without intercutting.

The scene with Kurtz and Willard talking at the Bamboo cage about “Right and Wrong” from the workprint is much stronger scene than of the shipping container scene in Redux. But I think the Solitary confinement should be shown as more torture until Kurtz decides to put willard under guard. It just should not have hime reading times magazine.

That is a difference in the film Redux and theatrical Willard is let to roam freely as per Willards narration lines. The actual intention or story was Willard was NOT allowed to roam freely. So that creates conflict about Kurtz wanting to die and choosing Willard to sacrifice him. Tbat does indeed mean Kurtz did not want to die or give up his power. But it is inferred that people under Kurtz were growing tired of him killing people indiscriminately for little or no reason. That Willard was being chosen by the people as an alternative to Kurtz. Kurtz did indeed accept his fate when it came and knew he had lost support.

The workprint has a few occasions were gun’s can be heard going off too no doubt to kill someone indiscriminately although not shown nor cut to visually That whole indiscriminate killing is not shown at all. Kurtz I think may have shot the french guy he was talking to. Although it happens off screen.

Still an excellent film in any version that won’t change. But the way I see it. If you are going to create an extended version keep the extra stuff in that is Strong and cut out the stuff that is weak. That was the basis of the theatrical cut and I guesd thinking on the final cut, but Coppola seems hung up on the plantation scene. He should just let that go and serve uo the stronger material and sort out the narration problem before Willard goes to the briefing. Brilliant bit of film making though amid a very messy production.