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- SL Rez
- 2002
Since we don't have this thread here yet, let's start it, because not every movie or tv series needs an own thread.
I've been watching a documentation about the production of "Fitzcarraldo" by Werner Herzog. A very insane movie with even insaner actor Klaus Kinski and director Werner Herzog.
The story is about a rubber baron who pulled a steam boat over a hill in the jungle to put it into another river. Herzog build a real 300 metric ton steamboat, 10x heavier than in the original story, and indeed pulled it over a hill in the jungle of Peru. The main role wants to build an opera house in the middle of nowhere in the jungle to be able to listen to Enrico Caruso.
The first choice for the main role of Fitzcarraldo was Jack Nicholson. But wanted too much payment, so this was skipped. Warren Oates was also considered, but didn't make it. So the first actor who got the main role was Jason Robards, about 60 years old at the time of filming and totally convinced the jungle will kill him. As his aide Mick Jagger was cast. Production started, but at about 40% done Robards became ill and went back to America, he never returned. Mick Jagger went on tour with the Rolling Stones, so all he didn't make it on the big screen, his part was removed entirely.
So the film script was being rewritten, the aide removed and the new main actor became Klaus Kinski. Herzog knew how Kinski behaved, but did it anyway, because at the point he didn't have much luxury of choice, Kinski was also bored and delighted to sign for the role. Before Kinski mostly worked only for small roles in filmes, meaning he was 1-3 days at set. Here he was at the set for months.
Well the rest is history - after much pain the movie despite all odds made it on the big screen, the ship really was moved and is today considered a classic.
Later a documentation "Burden of dreams" by Les Blank was released, who showed the production in the jungle, including Klaus Kinski shouting around.
One time Kinski was getting angry because his coffee was just lukewarm. Herzog managed to appease Kinski by dragging out a piece of Toblerone and eating it before Kinski's eyes. The indigenous people offered Herzog several times to kill Kinski. At one time he also considered it himself.
Here's one of the - supposedly tamer - tantrums for which Kinski was famous, he had them multiple times a day, which is why working with him was a burden to the team.
The trailer:
Mick Jagger with Robards ringing the bell:
Same scene but with Klaus Kinski:
I've been watching a documentation about the production of "Fitzcarraldo" by Werner Herzog. A very insane movie with even insaner actor Klaus Kinski and director Werner Herzog.
The story is about a rubber baron who pulled a steam boat over a hill in the jungle to put it into another river. Herzog build a real 300 metric ton steamboat, 10x heavier than in the original story, and indeed pulled it over a hill in the jungle of Peru. The main role wants to build an opera house in the middle of nowhere in the jungle to be able to listen to Enrico Caruso.
The first choice for the main role of Fitzcarraldo was Jack Nicholson. But wanted too much payment, so this was skipped. Warren Oates was also considered, but didn't make it. So the first actor who got the main role was Jason Robards, about 60 years old at the time of filming and totally convinced the jungle will kill him. As his aide Mick Jagger was cast. Production started, but at about 40% done Robards became ill and went back to America, he never returned. Mick Jagger went on tour with the Rolling Stones, so all he didn't make it on the big screen, his part was removed entirely.
So the film script was being rewritten, the aide removed and the new main actor became Klaus Kinski. Herzog knew how Kinski behaved, but did it anyway, because at the point he didn't have much luxury of choice, Kinski was also bored and delighted to sign for the role. Before Kinski mostly worked only for small roles in filmes, meaning he was 1-3 days at set. Here he was at the set for months.
Well the rest is history - after much pain the movie despite all odds made it on the big screen, the ship really was moved and is today considered a classic.
Later a documentation "Burden of dreams" by Les Blank was released, who showed the production in the jungle, including Klaus Kinski shouting around.
One time Kinski was getting angry because his coffee was just lukewarm. Herzog managed to appease Kinski by dragging out a piece of Toblerone and eating it before Kinski's eyes. The indigenous people offered Herzog several times to kill Kinski. At one time he also considered it himself.
Here's one of the - supposedly tamer - tantrums for which Kinski was famous, he had them multiple times a day, which is why working with him was a burden to the team.
The trailer:
Mick Jagger with Robards ringing the bell:
Same scene but with Klaus Kinski:
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