Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Bambi B (A) on March 21, 2007 at 05:30:59

In Reply to: Werner Herzog's "Fitzcarraldo." Originally, Jason Robards and Mick Jagger posted by tinear on March 20, 2007 at 08:19:26:

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