Comparing Apocalypse Now and Heart of Darkness Essay

Comparing Apocalypse Now and Heart of Darkness In the opening scenes of the documentary film Hearts of Darkness-A Filmmakers Apocalypse, Eleanor Coppola describes her husband Franciss film, Apocalypse Now, as being loosely based on Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness. Indeed, loosely is the word; the period, setting, and circumstances of the film are totally different from those of the novella. Yet, a close analysis of character, plot, and theme in each respective work reveals that Conrads classic story of savagery and madness is present in its cinematic reworking. The story of Heart of Darkness is narrated by its central character, the seasoned mariner Marlowe, a recurring figure in Conrads work. Apocalypse Now†¦show more content†¦The idea of company man turned savage, of a brilliant and successful team-player, being groomed by the Company for greater things, suddenly gone native, is perfectly realized in both novella and film. In the film, Kurtz is portrayed by Marlon Brando, the father of American method actors, who lends weight (both physically and dramatically) to the figure of the megalomaniacal Kurtz. Brandos massive girth is all the more ironic for those familiar with Heart of Darkness who recall Conrads description: I could see the cage of his ribs all astir, the bones of his arms waving. It was as though an animated image of death carved out of old ivory had been shaking its hand with menaces at a motionless crowd of men... (Conrad, p.135). One could speculate that Coppolas Kurtz is a graphic analogy of the bloated American war machine dominating and perverting the innocent montegnards of Cambodia; however, after viewing Eleanor Coppolas documentary, one finds that the casting was more based on a combination of Coppolas wanting to work with Brando (remember The Godfather) and Brandos own weight problem. (It should also be noted that the cult-like following of Kurtz in Heart of Darkness is brilliantly and subtly updated by Coppola in a foreshadowing scene in which missives to Willard from headquarters are intercut with scenes of newspaper clippings about Charles Manson.) Also present in Coppolas film is the loveable, addle-headed harlequin/foolShow MoreRelated Comparing Marlow of Heart of Darkness and Willard of Apocalypse Now1512 Words   |  7 PagesComparing Marlow of Heart of Darkness and Willard of Apocalypse Now      Whenever books are adapted for film, changes inevitably have to be made. 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History is loaded with examples of atrocities that have occurred when one culture comes into contact with another. Whenever fundamentally different cultures meet, there is often a fear of contamination and loss of self that leads one to discover more about one s true self, often causing perceived madness. Heart of Darkness, a novel written by Joseph Conrad