Review of Fitzcarraldo (1982) by Sean C — 03 Jul 2012

Werner Herzog's Fitzcarraldo was that strange beast: a big budget dramatic epic. The most famous of these was Apocalypse Now, and like that film the making of Fitzcarraldo was a hellish experience.

Halfway through production Herzog had to replace the sickly Jason Robards with Klaus Kinski, a brilliant but erratic actor who had made three other films with Herzog. Their strange relationship devolved into antipathy.

It also included one of the most lavish film feats in history. Herzog decided to move a 320-ton steamship over a hill without using special effects. Such an expensive and arduous undertaking made the film infamous and Herzog aptly described himself as the "Conquistador of the Useless" for his accomplishment.

Shortly afterwards, the film was followed by an acclaimed making of documentary, Burden of Dreams. The film was a critical success, but it nearly destroyed the relationship between Herzog and Kinski, one of the finest creative teams in movie history.

Anyway, Fitzcarraldo remains a favorite with Herzog's fans, but the film arguably never achieved the legendary status it seemed destined to enjoy. Herzog and Kinski had one more collaboration, and dramatic epics made at the whim of half-crazed directors were fast falling out of favor.

Fitzcarraldo was perhaps the most audacious Parthian shot of a dying trend.