Fitzcarraldo

Name: Fitzcarraldo
Genre: Drama, Adventure
Released: 1982-03-02
Duration: 2 h 37 min
Rating: 7.9
Cast: Klaus Kinski, Claudia Cardinale, José Lewgoy, Miguel Ángel Fuentes, Paul Hittscher

Dare to dream the impossible.

Fitzcarraldo (1982)

Timing: 2:37 (157 min)

7.9/10
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7.9/10
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Everything about the movie

Video 8

Photo 51

Actors and characters

Video for the film Fitzcarraldo — Fitzcarraldo (1982) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]

3:09

Photo 51

Release date

1982-03-02

Country

Germany, Peru

Production

ZDF, Pro-ject Filmproduktion, Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, Filmverlag der Autoren, Wildlife Films Peru

Genre

Drama, Adventure

Budget

$7 362 000

Box office

Website

Director

Werner Herzog

Actors

Klaus Kinski, Claudia Cardinale, José Lewgoy, Miguel Ángel Fuentes, Paul Hittscher, Huerequeque Enrique Bohórquez, Grande Otelo, Peter Berling, David Pérez Espinosa, Milton Nascimento
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

Werner Herzog, Lucki Stipetić, Walter Saxer

Camera operator

Thomas Mauch

Composer

Popol Vuh

Artist

Ulrich Bergfelder, Henning von Gierke

Audition

Editing

Beate Mainka-Jellinghaus
Whole Team (25)

Short description

Fitzcarraldo is a dreamer who plans to build an opera house in Iquitos, in the Peruvian Amazon, so, in order to finance his project, he embarks on an epic adventure to collect rubber, a very profitable product, in a remote and unexplored region of the rainforest.

What's left behind the scenes

The leader of the indigenous people employed as extras seriously offered Herzog his assistance in killing Kinski, if he so desired. The director, of course, refused. Later, Herzog jokingly said he regretted the refusal.
The film was difficult for its creators - several intense days were followed by a complete halt to the entire process. After numerous delays and constant reshoots, the American producers (Jason Robards and Mick Jagger) refused to extend Herzog's contract, as the money had been spent and the bank accounts were frozen.
The actual ship belonging to the real Irishman Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald weighed 28 tons. The Duke's ship weighed 328 tons, and two completely identical vessels were used in the filming.
Werner Herzog's film received the Cannes Palme d'Or for directing, and in 1982 the documentary 'Burden of Dreams' about the filming of 'Fitzcarraldo' was released.
When Kinski wanted to abandon everything and leave Peru, where filming was taking place, and even got into a boat, the Duke showed him a revolver, saying he would shoot all the bullets into the temperamental actor except for the last one – which he would put in his own head. After that, “working with Kinski became a pure pleasure.”
The stunning scene of the ship slowly cresting the hill dividing the rivers was shot without any special effects, using ingenious engineering devices. Werner Herzog wanted the viewer to physically feel the scale of what was happening, and he succeeded completely. Moreover, the episode with the snapped cable, where the vessel—having already covered part of the distance—suddenly begins to slide back down, reflects a situation that actually occurred during filming.
The film was a struggle for its creators—several intense days were followed by a complete standstill of the entire process. After numerous downtimes and constant reshooting of material, the American producers (Jason Robards and Mick Jagger) refused to extend Herzog's contract, as the funds had been spent and the bank accounts were frozen.
Originally, Mick Jagger was planned to play the role of Fitzcarraldo's assistant. However, his world tour prevented him from filming, and Werner Herzog then removed the role from the script.
It was originally planned that Mick Jagger would play the role of Fitzcarraldo's assistant. However, a world tour prevented him from filming, and Werner Herzog subsequently removed the role from the script.
The chief of the indigenous people employed as extras in the film seriously offered Herzog his help in killing Kinski if he so desired. The director, of course, refused. Later, Herzog joked that he regretted the refusal.
It took four years to make the film.
The stunning scene of the ship slowly being hauled over the hill separating the rivers was filmed without any special effects, using ingenious engineering devices. Werner Herzog aimed for the audience to physically feel the scale of what was happening, and he succeeded completely. Moreover: the episode with the broken rope, when the ship, having already covered part of the way, suddenly begins to slide back down, reflects a real situation that arose during filming.
According to Herzog, if Kinski had not appeared as an actor in the nick of time, he would have had to play the role of Fitzcarraldo himself.
In 1981, Herzog began filming "Fitzcarraldo" after 2 years of preparation. It was assumed that the main role would be played by American Jason Robards. However, during filming, he became seriously ill. Herzog turned to Mario Adorf, but he declined the offer because he "was frightened by Herzog's obsession." In the midst of working on the film, Herzog was left without an actor. Unexpectedly, he received a telegram: "If you want, you can hire me. Klaus Kinski." As a result, the role of Fitzcarraldo went to Herzog's favorite actor, Klaus Kinski, but his capricious behavior drove not only the director, but also the chief of the local indigenous tribe, who offered Herzog to kill Kinski, to the brink.
According to Herzog, if Kinski hadn't appeared as an actor in time, he would have had to play the role of Fitzcarraldo himself.
The main character was based on a historical figure – Carlos Fermín Fitzcarraldo.
The Duke regretted that stereo recording was not used during filming, as the sounds made by the ship being hauled over the mountain were “unlike anything at all.”
Herzog regretted that stereo recording was not used during filming, as the sounds made by the ship being hauled over the mountain were "unlike anything else."
When Kinski decided to abandon everything and leave Peru, where the filming was taking place, and even boarded a boat, Herzog showed him a revolver and told him that he would put every bullet into the temperamental actor except for the last one, which he would use on himself. After that, "working with Kinski became a complete pleasure."
In 1981, after two years of preparatory work, Herzog began filming 'Fitzcarraldo'. It was intended that the lead role would be played by American Jason Robards, but he became seriously ill during filming. Herzog turned to Mario Adorf, but he declined the offer because he was 'frightened by Herzog's obsession'. In the heat of production, Herzog found himself without an actor. Unexpectedly, he received a telegram: 'If you want, you can hire me. Klaus Kinski'. Ultimately, the role of Fitzcarraldo went to Herzog's favorite actor, Klaus Kinski; however, his temperamental behavior drove not only the director but also the indigenous chief to a breaking point, with the latter suggesting that Herzog kill Kinski.