Badmovies.org Forum

Hey,

I seem to recall seeing a TV special (on TNT, IIRC) about Apocolypse Now that featured clips of an earlier adaptation of Heart of Darkness, starring Boris Karloff as Kurtz. Did I imagine this, and if not, does anyone have any info on it? I vividly recall seeing Boris saying "The horror... The horror..."

Okay.  Here's what I know.

I saw a special on Biography about Karloff where he appeared in a live TV production of "Heart of Darkness" with Roddy McDowall.  McDowall has,in his IMDb entry, a credit for HoD under the TV show "Playhouse 90".  However, Karloff doesn't have a simular entry, nor does IMDb list any joint ventures between Karloff and McDowall.

So, in summary, either IMDb doesn't have it's facts straight on this point (which is possible, even though the sites damn reliable on most things) or you and I both imagined the same thing.

I have a copy of documentary type film calledHEART OF DARKNESS, but I haven't seen it in years, but I recall that the story was attempted years before Coppola did it, I think Orson Welles was trying to do something with the story, but the story written by Joseph  Conrad was to much to put on the screen at the time, so it wasn't completed or possible never started. I think Coppola did a great job with APOCOLYPSE NOW.

I tend to side with the IMDb being mistaken on this one, as I'm 99% sure I saw that clip, and the IMDb doesn't always have their facts straight (until a couple of days ago, they had Jeffrey Combs listed as having died in the 9/11 attacks; while there was a Jeffrey COOMBS aboard one of the planes, ol' Herbert West is alive and well). Either way, thanks for the info.

I think you saw an episode of "Great Books" about "Heart of Darkness" on TLC. That's where I saw the clips of Karloff and McDowell. I would like to see the whole show someday. TLC or the people who produce the "Great Books" series might have some more information about the Karloff version.

Those old TV drama shows used to do lots of adaptations of classic literature. I saw parts of TV versions of "Frankenstein" and "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" on SciFi Channel's Retro TV a few years ago. It makes sense, source work in the public domain and stories the audience is already familiar with.

I know this is not what you asked about, but there is a straight-forward adaptation of "Heart of darkness" starring John Malkovich and Tim Roth. I think it was shot for TV, but I guess it would be worth a look.

Also, can anybody tell me if "Apocalypse now Redux" is closer to Conrad than the original? Nothing against the old version, really, but I am curious since it is difficult that ANR will make its way towards a theatrical release where I live.

But please, don't enumerate the differences between both cuts, because I have already read a lot about it.

By the way, all those interested can get an early draft of "Apocalypse now" at www.movie-page.com "scripts" section.  THAT one is quite close to Conrad, but I guess it was never shot as it is, though some parts of ANR are present, such as the French plantation episode.