The Layman's Review: The Italian Job

Welcome to the Layman's Review, where we give you a simple overview and a rating of some of history's most famous films. We're here to entertain you with facts and trivia, and to help you decide if any of these films are worth your time and interest. For a full list of movies on review, check out my previous post 'The Very Sciency Science Behind Film Choices'. 

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Film: The Italian Job

Director: Peter Collinson

Year: 1969

Running Time: 99 minutes

Big Names

             Michael Caine - Charlie Croker 

             Noel Coward - Mr. Bridger 

             Benny Hill - Professor Simon Peach

             Raf Vallone - Altabani

             Margaret Blye - Lorna

             Rossano Brazzi - Beckerman 

Plot Summary

Upon his release from prison, Charlie Croker is given a very important - and very dangerous - job. Croker’s task is to steal $4 million worth of gold from an escorted van in the piazza in Turin, Italy. To do so, Croker and his team must evade cameras and the police, as well as the Italian mafia, which has already killed Croker’s predecessor Roger Beckerman. With the backing of the rich and powerful Mr. Bridger, Croker begins to put Beckerman’s ‘Italian Job’ scheme into action. 

Top Quotes

“You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!”

             - Croker 

“Camp Freddie: everyone in the world is bent.”

             - Mr. Bridger 

“It’s a long walk back to England, Mr. Croker. And it’s THAT way.”

             - Altabani

“Keats? I think we’d better arrange a funeral.”

             - Mr. Bridger

“You wouldn’t hit a man with no trousers on, would you?”

             - Croker

“Are they big? I like ‘em big!”

             - Professor Simon Peach

“Hang on, lads; I’ve got a great idea.”

             - Croker

Fun Trivia

• Michael Caine couldn’t drive at the time of filming, so his character is rarely seen behind the wheel of a car. When Croker arrives at the hotel, Caine steps out of a stationary Aston Martin; during the heist itself, Croker is always a passenger. 

• In an ironic twist, the actual Italian mafia helped cause traffic jams all around Turin in order to allow production to continue. Authorities had refused the filmmakers use of the city streets, and the traffic jam in the film is real.

• “Camp”, meaning effeminate or gay, is now a common phrase in the United Kingdom, but might have originated in ‘The Italian Job’. Mr. Bridger refers to his deputy as “Camp Freddie” (Tony Beckley), insinuating that his character is homosexual.   

• The car that Lorna says belongs to the ambassador of Pakistan actually belonged to the High Commissioner of Pakistan. 

• Robert Redford was considered for the role of Charlie. 

• Noel Coward is Peter Collinson’s godfather, and the character of Mr. Bridger was re-written to better suit Coward’s demeanor. 

• Fiat donated dozens of vehicles to the film, but the British Motor Corporation refused to contribute the Minis for free. 

• Director Peter Collinson and his wife both make cameos in the film; Hazel Collinson has appeared every one of her husband’s films for good luck. 

Ratings

Jessica’s Rating:

I really enjoyed this film! It’s a classic that you hear about all the time, especially since the remake appeared in 2003, but I had just never gotten around to it. Well worth the wait! Very funny, fast-paced, extremely quotable and a brilliant ending. 

Jeni’s Rating:

Classic Michael Caine, classic 60s/70s British film genre and still very quotable. It has mostly stood the test of time. I did find the blatant sexism no longer entertaining to my 21st-century palate, but the complex heist and escape, followed by the cliffhanger (that I always know is coming, but love watching again and again) still left me with a grin on my face and humming to the tune of ‘Self Preservation Society’.

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Got a fun fact of your own? Want to give us your two cents? Feel free to use the comment box below to submit Readers' Ratings, queries and thoughts. 

The Layman's Review: Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse

Welcome to the Layman's Review, where we give you a simple overview and a rating of some of history's most famous films. We're here to entertain you with facts and trivia, and to help you decide if any of these films are worth your time and interest. For a full list of movies on review, check out my previous post 'The Very Sciency Science Behind Film Choices'. 

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Film: Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse

Directors: Fax Bahr and George Hickenlooper

Documentary Footage By: Eleanor Coppola 

Year: 1991

Running Time: 96 minutes

Big Names

             Francis Ford Coppola - Himself

             Eleanor Coppola - Herself

             Orson Welles - Himself (voiceover)

             John Milius - Himself

             George Lucas - Himself

             Martin Sheen - Himself

Plot Summary

This 1991 documentary by Fax Bahr and George Hickenlooper gives their audience an inside look into the production of ‘Apocalypse Now’. One of Hollywood’s best-known films, both for its influence and its infamy, ‘Apocalypse Now’ is an extraordinary case of not one adventure, but two; rarely does the fictional story mask a true tale that is tantamount in its level of carnality, callousness and strength. One need only peruse the list of trivia facts for ‘Apocalypse Now’ (read my abbreviated list here or see the full IMDB list here) to know that there was more going on beneath the surface than what we were shown on the silver screen.  

Top Quotes

“There were too many of us, we had access to too much equipment, too much money, and little by little, we went insane.”

             - Francis Ford Coppola

“Studio executives, you know, are not noted for their social courage.”

             - John Milius 

“My movie is not about Vietnam. My movie is Vietnam.”

             - Francis Ford Coppola

“The film Francis is making is a metaphor for a journey into self…It’s scary to watch someone you love go into the center of himself and confront his fears: fear of failure, fear of death, fear of going insane. You have to fail a little, die a little, go insane a little, to come out the other side.”

             - Eleanor Coppola

Fun Trivia

• Eleanor Coppola remained by her husband’s side for the entire 16-month shoot of ‘Apocalypse Now’, despite going over schedule by an astounding 14.5 months. All of the documentary footage was shot by Eleanor, meaning that ‘Hearts of Darkness’ would not have been made possible without her contribution. 
• It is refreshing for many of us to delve into the background of this twisted classic, and even more refreshing to finally acknowledge Eleanor Coppola’s essential role in its production. The movie itself depicts no female actors, save for the local tribeswomen and a few scantily-clad USO girls. 

• The documentary debuted in 1991, but Coppola prevented its release onto DVD until 2007.

• Marlon Brando was reportedly paid $3.5 million for his role as Colonel Walter Kurtz, but refused to be interviewed for the documentary. Brando claims that Coppola still owed him $2 million for his work in ‘Apocalypse Now’. 

Ratings:

Jessica’s Rating: 4 Martini Glasses

Although I would happily go the rest of my life without seeing Francis Ford Coppola shirtless, it is a worthwhile sacrifice for the sake of watching this documentary. Bahr and Hickenlooper did a phenomenal job weaving together film footage and Eleanor Coppola’s personal shots, integrating interviews with cast and crew members to illustrate the true story behind ‘Apocalypse Now’. A must-see for any Coppola and/or ‘Apocalypse Now’ fan. 

Jeni’s Rating: Additional review pending until the end of ski season. Please feel free to blame France. 

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Got a fun fact of your own? Want to give us your two cents? Feel free to use the comment box below to submit Readers' Ratings, queries and thoughts. 

The Layman's Review: Apocalypse Now

Welcome to the Layman's Review, where we give you a simple overview and a rating of some of history's most famous films. We're here to entertain you with facts and trivia, and to help you decide if any of these films are worth your time and interest. For a full list of movies on review, check out my previous post 'The Very Sciency Science Behind Film Choices'. 

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Film: Apocalypse Now

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Year: 1979

Running Time: 153 minutes

Big Names

             Martin Sheen - Captain Willard

             Marlon Brando - Colonel Kurtz

             Robert Duvall - Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore

             Laurence Fishburne - Tyrone ‘Clean’ Miller

             Harrison Ford - Colonel Lucas

             Dennis Hopper - Photojournalist

Plot Summary

An adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s classic novella ‘Heart of Darkness’, ‘Apocalypse Now’ follows Captain Benjamin L. Willard on a journey to find a rogue lieutenant by the name of Walter Kurtz. Kurtz, once heralded as a top soldier and commander, is now considered a threat to US operations taking place during the Vietnam War. Alongside his hodgepodge crew, Willard is sent into Cambodia and travels up the Nung River in search of Kurtz, moving ever-deeper into the bleak obscurity of war, wilderness and a web of ethical indecencies. 

Top Quotes 

“I love the smell of napalm in the morning. You know, one time we had a hill bombed, for 12 hours…the whole hill. Smelled like…victory.”

             - Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore

“Everyone gets what he wants. I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one. Brought it up to me like room service. It was a real choice mission, and when it was over, I never wanted another.”

             - Captain Willard

“Terminate with extreme prejudice.”

             - Civilian 

“Charlie don’t surf!”

             - Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore

“This is the way the fucking world ends!…Not with a bang, but with a whimper.”

             - Photojournalist 

“No wonder Kurtz put a weed up Command’s ass. The war was being run by a bunch of four-star clowns who were gonna end up giving the whole circus away.”

             - Captain Willard

“You’re an errand boy, sent by grocery clerks, to collect a bill.”

             - Colonel Kurtz

Fun Trivia

• Finding the right actor to play Willard turned out be a bigger task than expected. Nick Nolte, among others, practically begged Francis Ford Coppola for the role, which the director originally gave to Harvey Keitel. However, within a week of shooting, Coppola fired Keitel and replaced him with Martin Sheen. 
• Clint Eastwood and Al Pacino were first choices for the role of Willard, but both turned it down. Steve McQueen agreed initially, but was put off by the probability of ongoing on-location shooting, and backed out. Jeff Bridges also auditioned for the part, but was not chosen.
• Al Pacino was also considered to play Kurtz, alongside Jack Nicholson and Robert Redford. Coppola had selected the three men as backup options, because he knew it was possible that Brando would pull out of the project. 

• Speaking of Marlon Brando, the iconic actor gave his director so much grief, there were times when Coppola asked his assistant director (Jerry Ziesmer) to take over. Coppola also - allegedly - threatened suicide more than once over the course of the 16-month shoot. 
• Ziesmer also appears as an unnamed civilian at the beginning of the film, when Willard is being given his assignment (see Top Quotes section above). 

• Sheen’s performance in the hotel room was completely unscripted. Sheen got drunk and tapped into his character, and Coppola instructed his crew to keep the cameras constantly rolling. 

• Despite being two paramount characters in the film, neither Robert Duvall nor Marlon Brando actually appear onscreen for very long. Duvall’s scenes add up to 11 minutes in total, and Brando only appears in the last 20 minutes of the movie. His scenes amount to approximately 15 minutes. 

• Marlon Brando arrived to set late and overweight, and proceeded to argue with Coppola over the script. Brando had never read ‘Heart of Darkness’, the book on which ‘Apocalypse Now’ is based. 

• After being told he could name his own character, Harrison Ford settled on Colonel Lucas, in honor of George Lucas, who had originally been slated to direct the film. 

• The film is set almost entirely in Cambodia, but was shot almost entirely in the Philippines. Coppola was even given use of Pilipino government aircraft and soldiers; however, pilots were often called away for military duty, making continuity very difficult for Coppola. 

• Laurence Fishburne was 14 when filming began, and became addicted to heroin with the “help” of fellow-actor Dennis Hopper. It is also rumored that Emilio Esteves (Sheen’s son) lost his virginity while he was visiting the set; he was also 14. 

• Martin Sheen suffered a heart attack during filming and had to be removed from set for several weeks. His brother, Joe Esteves, was brought in to help out as a double for scenes where Willard’s face is not shown. Coppola lied and claimed that Sheen had suffered from “heat exhaustion” to avoid the bad news getting back to investors and executives. 
• By the time Sheen returned, there was concern that he looked too healthy to play the now-worn-out Willard. Keen audiences will notice the change in Sheen’s face and body in the final boat scenes before he encounters Kurtz. 

Ratings

Jessica’s Rating: 5 Martini Glasses

I absolutely love and highly recommend both ‘Apocalypse Now’ and its inspiration, ‘Heart of Darkness’. Now-renowned director Francis Ford Coppola threw himself, his heart and his soul into an extremely provocative and very risky film - a risk that many would agree more than paid off. Coppola chose to update Conrad’s original story (‘Heart of Darkness’ was published in 1899 and follows a transport sailor on a mission along the Congo River), translating it in a way that both reconciles and rebuffs the inherent self-indulgence and barbaric violence of mankind. Each tale - at it its core - is a reflection on human nature, and each begs the question: where will we go from here?

Jeni’s Rating: Additional review pending until the end of ski season. Please feel free to blame France. 

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Got a fun fact of your own? Want to give us your two cents? Feel free to use the comment box below to submit Readers' Ratings, queries and thoughts.