Interesting that he doesn't appear in any behind the scenes footage, nor does he contribute an interview. I would have liked to have seen some of his footage an an extra feature, but they probably would have had to pay him for the convenience. Is there bad blood between him and Coppola?
shareYeah I would've loved to know why he was recasted and for what reason. I guess we'll never know.
shareYeah I would've loved to know why he was recasted and for what reason.That is my one big question that I would have liked to have seen answered. Rather odd, when the film is so transparent, that it wasn't addressed.
Coppola realised that Willard had to be more like a witness and mainly passive until he had to spring into action. Keitel's more demonstrative, dynamic style was not best suited to what Coppola had come to the conclusion was the correct tone for the character.
Glasgow's FOREMOST authority Italics = irony. Infer the opposite please.
There is a brief test shot of him in full makeup and outfit. About 40 minutes in.
There's very little about this in the book "The Francis Ford Coppola Encyclopedia" but still, I think it belongs here.
On page 153:
"Harvey Keitel was originally cast to play Willard in Apocalypse Now, after negotiations had failed with a number of other actors, including Steve McQueen, AL PACINO, JAMES CAAN, and JACK NICHOLSON. By April 16 of 1976, however, Coppola had decided to replace his leading man. According to biographers Michael Goodwin and Naomi Wise, Keitel hated the
jungle and was beginning to hate the assignment when he was replaced by MARTIN SHEEN."
So maybe there's more on the book "On the Edge: The Life and Times of Francis Coppola" by Goodwin and Wise.