Despite one of the most chaotic productions in film history, as depicted in Eleanor Coppola’s sterling documentary Hearts Of Darkness, Francis Ford Coppola’s monomaniacal excesses nevertheless gave audiences one of the towering achievements of American cinema. The film underwent numerous changes from its first screening in Cannes in 1979 as a work in progress, where it shared the Palme d’Or, to its theatrical release and the ‘Redux’ version released in 2001 before Coppola presented his preferred ‘Final Cut’ in 2019. A loose adaption of a Joseph Conrad novella, updated to the Vietnam War, it follows Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) on a mission into the jungle to assassinate the rogue Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando). A magnificent spectacle, filled with fine performances and superb dialogue, any opportunity to witness Apocalypse Now on the big screen is not to be missed.

Notes by Kevin Coyne.