Apocalypse now

[Pastor Chris]

I just finished watching Apocalypse Now-Redux which aired for Memorial Day here in the US. Dennis Hopper's photojournalist character had an arsenal of no fewer than five cameras around his neck in his scenes. Most were SLRs and at least one with a motor winder. Can anyone comment on what cameras he was using? Just useless curiosity on my part really.

[Greyscale]

I think that they are Nikkormats. Perhaps with a Nikon F or two mixed in.

[intheviewfinder]

Nikon 'hockey pucks' - most of them were Nikon F's. If I remember correctly I thought I spotted an F2 with a Photomatic Finder and another with a waist level viewfinder.

--Rich

[Phil_F_NM]

It's an interesting character, as Dennis Hopper himself is quite an accomplished photographer. Taschen printed up a limited number of books featuring his photography. I wish i could get my hands on one.

Phil Forrest

[dave lackey]

Ditto on the above Nikons...

Thanks for this thread, Chris as I am now a proud owner of a Nikon F2 (Thanks, Gil!). The mention of a waist-level finder has me intrigued....

[pggunn]

Originally Posted by Phil_F_NM

It's an interesting character, as Dennis Hopper himself is quite an accomplished photographer. Taschen printed up a limited number of books featuring his photography. I wish i could get my hands on one.

Phil Forrest

I wish I could my hands on one of those books too. I do have a copy of Black & White magazine, issue 51, June 2007, with Hopper on the cover. There's a a good article about him with an interview and over a dozen of his photographs.

[Pastor Chris]

Originally Posted by intheviewfinder

Nikon 'hockey pucks' - most of them were Nikon F's. If I remember correctly I thought I spotted an F2 with a Photomatic Finder and another with a waist level viewfinder.

--Rich

Their nickname intrigued me so I checked it's origins. This might be starting a new thread, but do they live up to their reputation for durability? Dennis Hopper was really swinging them around in his scenes.

I wonder to what degree Hopper was given the latitude to create this character himself. It kind of reminds me of how Johnny Depp created the Captain Jack Sparrow character himself, makeup, costume, accent, mannerisms.

Was he allowed to choose his own kit? Five cameras like that seems a bit over the top to me, almost farcical. Is this unnamed character Dennis Hopper's own critical commentary on photojournalists, or a homage to the profession? Don't you know that "if" is the middle word in "life"? (man)

[intheviewfinder]

Actually you can get a copy of Dennis Hopper: Photographs 1961-1967 for under $50 if you look around a bit.

--Rich

[pggunn]

Originally Posted by intheviewfinder

Actually you can get a copy of Dennis Hopper: Photographs 1961-1967 for under $50 if you look around a bit.

--Rich

Thanks! Just found it on Amazon for $44.09, brand new.

[Nokton48]

I believe they were all Nikon F's, one with an F36 Motor Drive. I'm recalling from memory, not from watching recently. The F2 came along much later, I'm sure Hopper and Copolla wanted realism. I know I remember seeing a 200mm F4 Nikkor (had one when I was in High School).

EDIT: Definately all Nikon F's. Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...qFwVuQ-Hg&NR=1

[rbelyell]

interesting thread. btw, and somewhat OT, i just have to say this is my all time favorite movie. the filming/cinematography is just superb, especially in the Redux version. combining certain scenes with iconic music was i think something of a first as well.

the first time i saw this film i was in college. when it ended my friend and i were both so totally speechless amd thoroughly engrossed, we sat silently until the film started again, and sat through it a second time!
tony

[kbg32]

Yes, all Nikon Fs. The F2 was not introduced until 1971. The movie takes place in the '60s.

[Pastor Chris]

Capt. Willard: "Why did he want to kill you?"

Photojournalist: "Because I took his picture. He said if I take his picture again, he would kill me, and he meant it!"

How would Col. Kurtz have handled Bruce Gilden on the street?

[Aristophanes]

Originally Posted by Pastor Chris

Capt. Willard: "Why did he want to kill you?"

Photojournalist: "Because I took his picture. He said if I take his picture again, he would kill me, and he meant it!"

How would Col. Kurtz have handled Bruce Gilden on the street?

How about the poor guy in the processing lab. What would he have done to him?

[michaelbialecki]

I just watched that movie yesterday here in Bangkok......the redux version.....classic movie......I used to live in Vietnam and I've traveled a lot in Cambodia.....the quote above by Pastor Chris is classic......

cheers, michael

[intheviewfinder]

Nokton48's link to the film clip surely shows nothing but the infamous 'hockey pucks'. And yes the F2 was introduced in 1971. I seem to recall Dennis talking about using them during the filming. I'm pretty sure I've seen them in relation to this movie - maybe stills or out-takes since Hopper was a Hollywood 'bad boy'.

--Rich

[naruto]

I just re-watched the movie recently, and I am still awe of the movie, and characters. I love the scene when Dennis Hopper comes in resembling a photo mannequin.

[Deep Fried]

The Colonel would have chopped off Gilden's hands and feed him a finger each day.

[rbelyell]

Originally Posted by Deep Fried

The Colonel would have chopped off Gilden's hands and feed him a finger each day.

'clarity'.
tony

[Pastor Chris]

Originally Posted by Deep Fried

The Colonel would have chopped off Gilden's hands and feed him a finger each day.

That is thoroughly disgusting, yet probably true to form for the character.

[tom.w.bn]

I've seen the original film quite a few times and the directors cut once. The 50 minutes more add nothing relevant to the movie I think. Sometimes it's not too bad to take the final editing away from the director.

[Pastor Chris]

Originally Posted by tom.w.bn

I've seen the original film quite a few times and the directors cut once. The 50 minutes more add nothing relevant to the movie I think. Sometimes it's not too bad to take the final editing away from the director.

I think I agree with most of what you had said, nothing relevant, but some additional background and color to the broad picture. I now know a little more about why Lance all of sudden showed up in a scene with camo face paint. Too long for the cinema, perhaps, but not bad for Tivo!

[tom.w.bn]

Originally Posted by Pastor Chris

I think I agree with most of what you had said, nothing relevant, but some additional background and color to the broad picture. I now know a little more about why Lance all of sudden showed up in a scene with camo face paint. Too long for the cinema, perhaps, but not bad for Tivo!

In the next director cut they should explain how dennis hopper get's his film down there in the jungle

[Vics]

Originally Posted by tom.w.bn

I've seen the original film quite a few times and the directors cut once. The 50 minutes more add nothing relevant to the movie I think. Sometimes it's not too bad to take the final editing away from the director.

I agree completely. My favorite movie, by the way. Conrad was an amazing storyteller, especially considering he was not writing in his native language!

[Pastor Chris]

The version that I most recently watched was the redux version, which I had not seen previously. I had not watched this movie since I was in my teens, more than 20 years ago. It was interesting to return, and of course wait for some of my favorite lines, "Charlie don't surf!" and see more, and different issues in the movie. I found the scenes where Capt. Willard was dining with the French plantation owners far up the river. The tension in that scene was incredible; all of the political opinions coupled with near insanity, and Willard just as a quietly listening bystander almost. It was a long, and enjoyable time sitting on my couch on a hot Memorial Day after services in our little town.