Apocalypse Now

Artist: Bob Peak
Format: UK Quad (30"x 40")
Condition: Very Good
Year: 1979

Description
Inspired by Conrad's "Heart of Darkness", the production of this Film proved to be almost as dramatic as the original story (it took 3 years to complete, Coppola had to fund it himself as the budget over-ran and Martin Sheen had a heart attack and almost died!). Now regarded as a classic, the film contains a number of memorable vignettes and signalled America's reluctant willingness finally to confront the trauma of Vietnam (a flurry of Vietnam related films ensued thereafter). The poster admirably conveys the sense of a descent into the unknown utilising the demonic face of "Colonel Kurtz" (Marlon Brando) to good effect. In Bob Peak's original artwork, both Martin Sheen & Robert Duvall's images are positioned above & to the left & right of Brando's head. However, tensions onset between Director Francis Ford Coppola & Duvall got out of hand & on Coppola's instruction, Duvall's image was exorcised from the finished work. The American Magazine "Illustration", # 6 March 2003, carries an extensive article about Bob Peak & concludes "In spite of the difficulties of working on "Apocalypse Now", Bob would later tell his agent, 'it was the most exciting thing (he) ever worked on'."