Cinema Science

One of my favorite documentaries will finally be released on DVD November 20. Hearts of Darkness was the documentary that followed the creation of Apocalypse Now (as well as the name of the source material). Martin Sheen was going through a bad period during this part of his life, battling alcoholism and almost dying of a heart attack during the making of this movie. Marlon Brando showed up grossly overweight, having refused to read Hearts of Darkness, not knowing any of his lines which he ended up having to improvise. All this is trivial compared to the complete breakdown Francis Ford Coppola had while directing this movie. His marriage almost fell apart, he had a nervous breakdown and allegedly threatened suicide on three different occasions. Hearts of Darkness is probably the greatest making-of documentaries ever made and it will include an extra documentary, called CODA: Thirty Years Later, and a commentary with Francis Ford Coppola and his wife Eleanor.