Notes on the Making of Apocalypse Now [Paperback]

Eleanor Coppola (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2004

"It may be the most lucid account of the strain of epic moviemaking that we'll ever get. At its center there's a great artist-hero caught in a trap - struggling to find the theme of the picture he's already shooting." -Pauline Kael

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It may be the most lucid account of the strain of epic moviemaking that we'll ever get. At its center there's a great artist-hero caught in a trap - struggling to find the theme of the picture he's already shooting." -Pauline Kael

Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Limelight Editions (August 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879101504
• ISBN-13: 978-0879101503
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,348,043 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars i enjoyed the book...but i'm a big fan of the movie, January 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Notes on the Making of Apocalypse Now (Paperback)

to balance the reviews i have to add that i really enjoyed the book. i loved the film, the follow up documentry was as impressive (oscar winning i think), and this is a very interesting addition. i must add that one needs to be 'in' with the film making history already (i.e its no introduction to the most infamous 'touch-and-go' film productions) before one could appreciate this. its a well told tale.

36 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your time with this book!, July 21, 1998

By 

Stu McCorkindale ([e-mail]) (Ridgewood, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Notes on the Making of Apocalypse Now (Paperback)

Perhaps a better title for this book would have been Meaningless Notes on the Making of Apocalypse Now. The author, who was charged with making a behind the scenes documentary of how the film was made, wastes the reader's time on disjointed anecdotes about her family life during the three plus years it took to complete this film. While the book jacket teases the reader with suggestions of her invaluable insights, the actual text is much more heavily devoted to Ms. Coppola's observations of her children, her husband's (in)fidelity, and what various dinner guests were served while visiting with the Coppola family. We learn much more about how four year old Sofia Coppola spent her days than how Martin Sheen's heart attack impacted the production. Why was Sheen hired to replace Harvey Keitel?...... What about those rumors of animosity between Marlon Brando and Dennis Hopper?...... Why did director Francis Ford Coppola choose to ignore weather experts and watch as the sets were des! troyed by a typhoon? Unfortunately you won't get any answers to those questions in this book. You will however learn in great detail how each of the Copppla clan spend their individual birthdays and how the Phillipines can't compare to California when it comes to health food shops and clothing boutiques. Duh!!! If you are truly interested in learning more about this historic film, I suggest you use your browser in a search of magazine and newspaper archives for appropriate material. Your time will be better spent surfing the net than waiting for Ms. Coppola to tell you why Robert Duvall's character was so hung up on having his Air Cav troopers surf "Charlie's Point."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fluff-o-meter says........., May 18, 2010

By 

Mr. Jeremy Sale (Canada) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Notes on the Making of Apocalypse Now (Paperback)

Fairly interesting if you're a fan of Apocalypse Now but it merely provides background as opposed to insight. Eleanor Coppola is more interested in food, wealthy life styles, her husbands infidelity, decorating her houses, etc. No answers to some of the questions about some of the directors curious decisions, insights into the actors involved, local politics, you never have the sense of "you were there" that some authors can give you. Eleanor also makes some stunningly unconscious faux pas about her wealthy lifestyle which are quite grating. This is fluff, not serious stuff. Actually it fails on the fluff-o-meter, too. It's not even good fluff............