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began filming as its stars but a serious illness struck Robards, forcing Herzog to make changes. The delays meant Mick dropped out because of concert obligations.
Herzog, all-too-familiar with the zaniness of Klaus Kinski from earlier collaborations, had serious doubts that Klinski's tenuous grasp on sanity could withstand months of arduous shooting in the depths of the Amazon. He was right, it seems. Herzog is on record detailing the immense battles they waged, month after month, to complete this film.
The story is that of a visionary who wanted to bring an opera to the Amazon port of Iquitos, some 1200 miles upstream from Manaus, the Brasilian town in which forty rubber barons constructed an opera house for themselves and their families private entertainment.
Fitzgerald, or Fitzcarraldo as the natives mangled his name, devises a scheme to market rubber from an immense stand of trees heretofore unreachable because of treacherous rapids. His plan is to steam up a parallel river and then transport the ship itself over a hillside and down the other side to a point downriver from the rapids. After gathering the rubber, he then plans on reversing the journey, taking the ship back over the hill.
As in "Aguirre," Herzog makes the viewer feel as if he is on this "journey of madness" along with the participants. It almost seems like months pass by as one witnesses the construction of the wooden planking, the massive turnscrews, and the inch-by-inch winching of the ship up the hill.
Herzog is a director like no other.
It is impossible to separate him from his alter-ego, the very mad Klinski.
If you think "Apocalypse Now" was a frightening journey into madness, you need to see this film...
Follow Ups:
tinear,As a life-long obsessive myself, I'm a big fan of "Fitzcarraldo" and Herzog in general who does seem to stick to that theme- "Aguirre, Wrath of God" and even "Incident at Loch Ness" is an -amiable comedy for Herzog- satire on the obsessions of the monster/UFO realm.
The stories of the making of "Fitzcarraldo" are as interesting as the movie and I really recommend the dcumentary "My best Fiend" - note the missing "r"- in which Herzog relates the whole love/hate relationship between Herzog and Kinski. Herzog is a surprisingly calm and rational person and in "My best Fiend", Herzog visits an apartment the two men shared in Munich. The stories of Kinski's insanity- he lived in the attic, which had a foot of leaves on the floor- naked, locked himself in the bathroom for 48 hours, broke down a door to complain his shirts weren't ironed properly, and other stories of the flatmate from Hell. It's quite funny that the apartment-which must have been a semi-hovel when they lived there was yuppiedised and the contrast of the very clean German couple that own it are bowled over by the descriptions of what happened in their apartment- it has an almost ghost story quality. And Kinski was madder than you think. Apparently, Kinski had an improvised stage show in which he acted the role of Jesus and he and the audience would taunt each other for four hours. During the filming of "Fitzcarraldo", Kinski was as barmy as a March hare, sleeping separately and raving about the food. And they really did take that ship over the mountain. One memorable, graphic anecdote was that a workman was bitten in the foot by a snake whose bite is always fatal and to save his life, they instantly took a chain saw and amputated his leg before the venom got into his body. Remind me NOT to apply to be on the crew for a Herzog movie! After seeing "Fitzcarraldo, see "My best fiend" is essential viewing.
"Incident at Loch Ness" too is a lot of fun in it's way: Herzog goes to Loch Ness to see what the fuss is about and a crazy- and an obsessed and simulataneoulsly naive and calculating American producer makes all kind of troubles for the quizzical Herzog- very, very funny. The producer gets goofy matching team jumpsuits and hires a cute, large breasted woman in a tight bathing suit as the "sonar operator". The "sonar system" is an old laptop that the producer "borrowed from James Cameron"- lots of fun details. And- is it possible they find and film the Loch Ness monster?
I've met a few directors over the years, but I'd dearly love to have dinner with Herzog. The next best thing though is "My Best Fiend".
Cheers,Bambi B
I think that's the title. There also is a recent film made by Herzog based on his own documentary: I haven't seen that. Anyhow, the documentary is brilliant (you can search here my original commentary).
Herzog is as crazy as Klinski, just more controlled...
I think all his works are based on non-fiction characters or outright documentaries.
almost unbelivable story. that's what i call 'living the life to the fullest.'
One aspect of Incident that I like is that he does not let you in on the joke until at least half way into the film. Until that point in the film, it appears that this is a serious inquiry. A very fun film.
life imitating art; the actor getting paid for just being himself
I think Kinski is *really* creepy; he makes a great vampire in Nosferatu, with Isobel Adjani as the "cute victim"Grins
The Herzog/Kinski doc is coming up soon on my queue as well.
Don't piss on my shoe and tell me it's raining.
But his reading of Villon may sanctify him.
the documentary of the making of Fitzcarraldo, is excellent too.Both are mezmerizng
as
I realized my error after posting - but see Burden of Dreams if you have not...
Klinski.
Two intense guys and it's amazing they could work together so long, so well.
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