Here's What It Looked Like Behind the Scenes of 1979's 'Apocalypse Now'

Carly Tennes Published 10/10/2024 in wow

Despite first hitting theaters 45 years ago, 1979's Apocalypse Now is still one of the most revered films in cinema history. With sweeping battle sequences, powerful cinematography, and a killer soundtrack it's a film for the ages.

From Martin Sheen preparing for his iconic role to Marlin Brando bonding with a bug, here's what it looked like behind the scenes of Apocalypse Now, in honor of its sapphire anniversary.

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1.
“The severed heads littered around the temple in Apocalypse Now (1979) were played by live extras sitting in boxes buried underground, staying buried between some scenes to avoid having to reset their position and makeup.”
2.
“Behind the scenes of Apocalypse Now (1979).”
3.
“Dennis Hopper in Pagsanjan, Laguna, Philippines during the filming of Apocalypse Now , 1978.”
4.
“F F Coppola with 2 local Filipino priests, during the long filming of‘Apocalypse Now’. Late ‘70’s.” 
5.
“Shooting Apocalypse Now on location in the Philippines, 1979.”
6.
“Martin Sheen receives a wet shave atop a toilet on set of the war drama "Apocalypse Now" (1979) ..The actor, then 36, suffered a breakdown and near-fatal heart attack during the shoot, which overran by around seven months.” 
7.
“Laurence Fishburne on the set of ‘Apocalypse Now’ (1979).”
8.
“Charlie and Martin Sheen on the set of Apocalypse Now (1979).”
9.
“Dennis Hopper & Francis Ford Coppola. 'Apocalypse Now'. 1979.”
10.
“Behind the scenes of Apocalypse Now (late 1970s).”
11.
“Robert Duvall and Francis Ford Coppola on the set of Apocalypse Now, 1979.”
12.
“Behind the scenes on 'Apocalypse Now', Francis Ford Coppola talking to a stoned Dennis Hopper, 1979.”
13.
“Apocalypse Now (1979).”
14.
“Marlon Brando, between takes, on the set of 'Apocalypse Now', 1978.”
15.
“Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now (1979).”
16.
“1979 Dennis Hopper & Francis Coppola, on the set of 'Apocalypse Now.’”
17.
“Laurence Fishburne, aged 14, on the set of ‘Apocalypse Now.’”
18.
“Dennis Hopper during the filming of ‘Apocalypse Now’, 1976.”
19.
“Dennis Hopper and other extras on the set of Apocalypse Now. (1976).”
20.
“My dad in the red beret on the set of Apocalypse Now with Francis Ford Coppola in 1978.”
21.
“Marlon Brando on the set of ‘Apocalypse Now’ (1978).”
22.
“Francis Ford Coppola shelters himself from the driving rain that added to the troubles of an already beleaguered shoot for "Apocalypse Now". Pagsanjan, Philippines, 1976 (Photo by Mary Ellen Mark)”

1.
“The severed heads littered around the temple in Apocalypse Now (1979) were played by live extras sitting in boxes buried underground, staying buried between some scenes to avoid having to reset their position and makeup.”
2.
“Behind the scenes of Apocalypse Now (1979).”
3.
“Dennis Hopper in Pagsanjan, Laguna, Philippines during the filming of Apocalypse Now , 1978.”
4.
“F F Coppola with 2 local Filipino priests, during the long filming of‘Apocalypse Now’. Late ‘70’s.” 
5.
“Shooting Apocalypse Now on location in the Philippines, 1979.”
6.
“Martin Sheen receives a wet shave atop a toilet on set of the war drama "Apocalypse Now" (1979) ..The actor, then 36, suffered a breakdown and near-fatal heart attack during the shoot, which overran by around seven months.” 
7.
“Laurence Fishburne on the set of ‘Apocalypse Now’ (1979).”
8.
“Charlie and Martin Sheen on the set of Apocalypse Now (1979).”
9.
“Dennis Hopper & Francis Ford Coppola. 'Apocalypse Now'. 1979.”
10.
“Behind the scenes of Apocalypse Now (late 1970s).”
11.
“Robert Duvall and Francis Ford Coppola on the set of Apocalypse Now, 1979.”
12.
“Behind the scenes on 'Apocalypse Now', Francis Ford Coppola talking to a stoned Dennis Hopper, 1979.”
13.
“Apocalypse Now (1979).”
14.
“Marlon Brando, between takes, on the set of 'Apocalypse Now', 1978.”
15.
“Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now (1979).”
16.
“1979 Dennis Hopper & Francis Coppola, on the set of 'Apocalypse Now.’”
17.
“Laurence Fishburne, aged 14, on the set of ‘Apocalypse Now.’”
18.
“Dennis Hopper during the filming of ‘Apocalypse Now’, 1976.”
19.
“Dennis Hopper and other extras on the set of Apocalypse Now. (1976).”
20.
“My dad in the red beret on the set of Apocalypse Now with Francis Ford Coppola in 1978.”
21.
“Marlon Brando on the set of ‘Apocalypse Now’ (1978).”
22.
“Francis Ford Coppola shelters himself from the driving rain that added to the troubles of an already beleaguered shoot for "Apocalypse Now". Pagsanjan, Philippines, 1976 (Photo by Mary Ellen Mark)”

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NEXT GALLERY The 25 Best and Worst Fails of the Week

1. “The severed heads littered around the temple in Apocalypse Now (1979) were played by live extras sitting in boxes buried underground, staying buried between some scenes to avoid having to reset their position and makeup.”

2. “Behind the scenes of Apocalypse Now (1979).”

3. “Dennis Hopper in Pagsanjan, Laguna, Philippines during the filming of Apocalypse Now , 1978.”

4. “F F Coppola with 2 local Filipino priests, during the long filming of‘Apocalypse Now’. Late ‘70’s.”

5. “Shooting Apocalypse Now on location in the Philippines, 1979.”

6. “Martin Sheen receives a wet shave atop a toilet on set of the war drama "Apocalypse Now" (1979) ..The actor, then 36, suffered a breakdown and near-fatal heart attack during the shoot, which overran by around seven months.”

7. “Laurence Fishburne on the set of ‘Apocalypse Now’ (1979).”

8. “Charlie and Martin Sheen on the set of Apocalypse Now (1979).”

9. “Dennis Hopper & Francis Ford Coppola. 'Apocalypse Now'. 1979.”

10. “Behind the scenes of Apocalypse Now (late 1970s).”

11. “Robert Duvall and Francis Ford Coppola on the set of Apocalypse Now, 1979.”

12. “Behind the scenes on 'Apocalypse Now', Francis Ford Coppola talking to a stoned Dennis Hopper, 1979.”

13. “Apocalypse Now (1979).”

14. “Marlon Brando, between takes, on the set of 'Apocalypse Now', 1978.”

15. “Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now (1979).”

16. “1979 Dennis Hopper & Francis Coppola, on the set of 'Apocalypse Now.’”

17. “Laurence Fishburne, aged 14, on the set of ‘Apocalypse Now.’”

18. “Dennis Hopper during the filming of ‘Apocalypse Now’, 1976.”

19. “Dennis Hopper and other extras on the set of Apocalypse Now. (1976).”

20. “My dad in the red beret on the set of Apocalypse Now with Francis Ford Coppola in 1978.”

21. “Marlon Brando on the set of ‘Apocalypse Now’ (1978).”

22. “Francis Ford Coppola shelters himself from the driving rain that added to the troubles of an already beleaguered shoot for "Apocalypse Now". Pagsanjan, Philippines, 1976 (Photo by Mary Ellen Mark)”

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1.
“The severed heads littered around the temple in Apocalypse Now (1979) were played by live extras sitting in boxes buried underground, staying buried between some scenes to avoid having to reset their position and makeup.”

2.
“Behind the scenes of Apocalypse Now (1979).”

3.
“Dennis Hopper in Pagsanjan, Laguna, Philippines during the filming of Apocalypse Now , 1978.”

4.
“F F Coppola with 2 local Filipino priests, during the long filming of‘Apocalypse Now’. Late ‘70’s.” 

5.
“Shooting Apocalypse Now on location in the Philippines, 1979.”

6.
“Martin Sheen receives a wet shave atop a toilet on set of the war drama "Apocalypse Now" (1979) ..The actor, then 36, suffered a breakdown and near-fatal heart attack during the shoot, which overran by around seven months.” 

7.
“Laurence Fishburne on the set of ‘Apocalypse Now’ (1979).”

8.
“Charlie and Martin Sheen on the set of Apocalypse Now (1979).”

9.
“Dennis Hopper & Francis Ford Coppola. 'Apocalypse Now'. 1979.”

10.
“Behind the scenes of Apocalypse Now (late 1970s).”

11.
“Robert Duvall and Francis Ford Coppola on the set of Apocalypse Now, 1979.”

12.
“Behind the scenes on 'Apocalypse Now', Francis Ford Coppola talking to a stoned Dennis Hopper, 1979.”

13.
“Apocalypse Now (1979).”

14.
“Marlon Brando, between takes, on the set of 'Apocalypse Now', 1978.”

15.
“Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now (1979).”

16.
“1979 Dennis Hopper & Francis Coppola, on the set of 'Apocalypse Now.’”

17.
“Laurence Fishburne, aged 14, on the set of ‘Apocalypse Now.’”

18.
“Dennis Hopper during the filming of ‘Apocalypse Now’, 1976.”

19.
“Dennis Hopper and other extras on the set of Apocalypse Now. (1976).”

20.
“My dad in the red beret on the set of Apocalypse Now with Francis Ford Coppola in 1978.”

21.
“Marlon Brando on the set of ‘Apocalypse Now’ (1978).”

22.
“Francis Ford Coppola shelters himself from the driving rain that added to the troubles of an already beleaguered shoot for "Apocalypse Now". Pagsanjan, Philippines, 1976 (Photo by Mary Ellen Mark)”