Conquest of the Useless: Reflections from the Making of Fitzcarraldo (Hardcover)

~ Werner Herzog (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Originally published in the noted director's native Germany in 2004, Herzog's diary, more prose poetry than journal entries, will appeal even to those unfamiliar with the extravagant 1982 film. From June 1979 to November 1981, Herzog recounted not only the particulars of shooting the difficult film about a fictional rubber baron—which included the famous sequence of a steamer ship being maneuvered over a hill from one river to another—but also the dreamlike quality of life in the Amazon. Famous faces swim in and out of focus, notably Mick Jagger, in a part that ended up on the cutting room floor, and the eccentric actor Klaus Kinski, who constantly berated the director after stepping into the title role that Jason Robards had quit. Fascinated by the wildlife that surrounded him in the isolated Peruvian jungle, Herzog details everything from the omnipresent insect life to piranhas that could bite off a man's toe. Those who haven't encountered Herzog on screen will undoubtedly be drawn in by the director's lyricism, while cinephiles will relish the opportunity to retrace the steps of one of the medium's masters. (July)
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Review

"Those who haven't encountered Herzog on screen will undoubtedly be drawn in by the director's lyricism, while cinephiles will relish the opportunity to retrace the steps of one on the medium's masters." (Publishers Weekly )

"Hypnotic...Any book by Mr. Herzog...turns his devotees into cryptographers. It is ever tempting to try to fathom his restless spirit and his determination to challenge fate." (Janet Maslin, New York Times )

"Urgent and compelling. . . . A valuable historical record and a strangely stylish, hypnotic literary work." (Kirkus Reviews )

"Stands alone as a compellingly gonzo piece of reportage. . . . As a read, Conquest flies along-but not because it's especially plotty. Rather, it gathers its kick from the spectacle of a celebrity director escaping the late-'70s famescape into his own obsessions." (Time Out New York )

"Reveals Herzog to be witty, compassionate, microscopically observant and-your call-either maniacally determined or admirably persevering." (Los Angeles Times )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Ecco (June 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061575534
• ISBN-13: 978-0061575532
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #24,124 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Burden to create, August 28, 2009

By	S. Gutermuth "video guy" (near San Francisco) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Herzog is a masterful film director and his films are based on his own, rich, screenplays. This extremely dedicated artist is also a wonderful writer. I could not put this book down. Herzog captures the intensity of the jungle and the personalities of the actors as they fray in the humidity and heat. He captures the raw opportunism of almost all the locals, hoping to cash in on a real "Hollywood film crew", who instead encounter a film maker who is a crazy genius, filled with visions. Intellectual entertainment.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful text, October 2, 2009

By	S. Levine "knitmaster" (Silver Spring, MD USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm not even a huge fan of Herzog but this book is amazing. I have been reading it while in my first semester in grad school, especially when I need to read something beautiful. Herzog's descriptions are so lush and illustrative, both the lovely and terrible. This is a book I will return to again and again. Poetry for those who don't like poetry.

5.0 out of 5 stars Genius at work, October 27, 2009

By	Jonathan A. Weiss (New York, New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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Herzog is a unique geniuse who produced this unique work. These are almost hallucinatory notes reflecting his thoughts as he made Fitzcarraldo. Dreams enter into rich descriptions. Some sections may make little sense but the book as a whole reveals how his force of will and vision created the movie. For anyone interested in the making of movies, a creative mind under very difficult circumstances, or the life in a jungle or on a movie shot in location, this book is a must.