Fitzcarraldo (1982)
I watched the Werner Herzog- Klaus Kinski film Fitzcarraldo last night. An ambitious entrepreneur is determined to transport a steamship over the Andes mountains to access a rich rubber territory in the Amazon basin.
The production was troubled from the start:
Jason Robards was originally cast in the lead, but withdrew when he contracted dysentery after filming 40% of his scenes. Mick Jagger was also cast and filmed 40% of his scenes with Robards, but withdrew when Robards did. His character was cut from the film.
Several of the local tribesman were injured on set. A few died in the abysmal conditions. More were offended by the production and threated the cast and crew.
Klaus Kinski replaced Robards and was a terror on set. He would regularly get into fights with Herzog and other crew members. He even pissed off the otherwise unflappable Claudia Cardinale, who was as elegant and beautiful as ever in the film.
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | October 13, 2024 11:48 PM
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Production went from 1978 to 1982
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | October 13, 2024 6:50 PM
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[quote] When shooting was nearly complete, the chief of the Machiguenga tribe, whose members were used extensively as extras, asked Herzog if they should kill Kinski for him. Herzog declined.
Shame. That would have made the picture a legend.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | October 13, 2024 6:57 PM
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I bought an ebook book about the filming on Amazon for a few bucks several years ago. Not sure if I read or finished it.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | October 13, 2024 6:58 PM
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There is a documentary on the making of this film, Burden of Dreams (1982). Herzog and Kinski's volatile relationship was also the subject of the documentary My Best Friend (1999).
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | October 13, 2024 7:06 PM
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Claudia Cardinale was one of the most beautiful (and underrated) women in the world.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | October 13, 2024 7:07 PM
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I sure had a crush on that sexy, gruff, blue-eyed Daddy Bear Captain in the film. His name is Paul Hittscher. From the little I can find about him, he appears to truly be a German ex-pat living in South America, working as a riverboat Captain. woof!
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | October 13, 2024 8:09 PM
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R6 Sounds like a porn character, LOL
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | October 13, 2024 8:13 PM
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It was a great film no doubt. HIs early movies were so anthemic. The wrath of god is still how I envision the conquest of South America. .
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | October 13, 2024 8:25 PM
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The Burden of Dreams was great but I never got around to seeing the movie in question.
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | October 13, 2024 8:38 PM
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R9 You should! It is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | October 13, 2024 9:48 PM
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You mean 'My Best 𝐹𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑' (1999), R4.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | October 13, 2024 10:27 PM
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R11 Yes! Please excuse the typo!
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | October 13, 2024 11:48 PM
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