APOCALYPSE NOW (1976)
In June 1976, I was contacted by Francis Ford Coppola asking if I was interested in working on Apocalypse Now in the Philippines. Of course I was interested. Working with F.F. Coppola and Vittorio Storaro (director of Photography) was not an experience to be missed. A week later I was on my way. I assume that I was hired because of my portfolio, which had a section with images I’d taken while I worked as a combat photographer in S.Vietnam and Cambodia, from 1968 to 1970 and in Chile (1973-74.)
I had no idea what lay ahead of me, but I didn’t care. I loved the tropics and it couldn’t be worse than covering the wars in Indochina. But guess what? Admittedly, working on a film set is a lot safer and better paid, but in S.Vietnam or Cambodia, I didn’t work at night nor in the rain, or in dense smoke: smoke against the millions of mosquitoes and other bugs which surrounded the arc lights when we worked at night. Or the nearly constant smoke created for the different moods of Apocalypse Now. (as in the above image.) Still, I loved every minute of my six months long ‘Apocalypse Now’ experience.
Many of these images are in the photo book ‘‘Apocalypse Now The Lost Photo Archive’
Group of people, including a man in a blue t-shirt and shorts and uniformed military personnel, gathered outdoors in a tropical setting with trees and a thatched-roof building.
After a week of persuasion by FFC, Dennis Hopper finally accepted the fact that a combat photographer carried more than one camera. But not yet convinced that they didn't tape their plastic films canisters to the webbing.
Finally! The Photojournalist.
Large group of indigenous people and tourists on a hillside with stone carvings and statues in a jungle setting, some holding weapons and cameras.
Director, Francis Ford Coppola
Capt. Willard, Martin Sheen
Lt.Col. Kilgore, Robert Duval
The Photojournalist, Dennis Hopper (and the middle finger)
Holy Mass, Village One
Three young children with dark hair and smiling faces, squatting on a log outdoors, holding yellow fruits, with a blurred natural background.
A group of children and a man sitting outdoors, with dense green foliage in the background. The man is reading a newspaper while the children watch attentively.
Nighttime scene of fires on the shoreline with thick smoke rising, a boat on the water, and bright lights illuminating the area.
A person standing on a stone wall holding a rifle, facing away, with smoke and string lights in the background.
A person carrying a rifle walks along a barrier at night, surrounded by smoke and fire, with string lights hanging in the background.
Silhouette of a person wearing a helmet amid a scene with fire and smoke, with lit string lights and smoke explosions in the background.
A man dressed in military uniform and a beret crouches on a table with sandbags, surrounded by smoke and fire, during a battle scene.
Sam Bottoms, Puppy on 'Killer Dick' helmet
Soldiers taking cover and crouching during a military operation near burning helicopters and a thatched hut amid chaos.
Military soldiers watching a helicopter and tank amid an explosion and fire with smoke in background.
Close-up of indigenous women with traditional jewelry, participating in a cultural event.
A river scene surrounded by palm trees and mist with pink smoke or fog.
Indigenous people paddling long boats on a river surrounded by lush trees with smoke in the background.
People dressed as zombies on boats and a large vessel in a river, with tropical trees and ancient ruins in the background, during a festival or event.
From the film set of Apocalypse Now: Dennis Hopper, the Photojournalist, walking on bamboo bridge in a lush jungle with palm trees, carrying cameras and wearing camouflage pants. | Chas Gerretsen
Scott Glenn and Dennis Hopper
From the film set of Apocalypse Now: Two young children with dark hair and dark clothing sitting on rocks outdoors, one brushing the other's hair, with a background of large rocks and greenery. | Chas Gerretsen
From the film set of Apocalypse Now: A group of children and adults, some wearing traditional attire, carrying a bamboo structure amid a scene with thick pink smoke in the background. | Chas Gerretsen
A family portrait.
From the film set of Apocalypse Now: People carrying makeshift bamboo cart up stone steps, with others standing around holding flags and umbrellas, and stone statues and carvings on the ruins in the background. |Chas Gerretsen
French Plantation, Family dinner
From the film set of Apocalypse Now: A woman smoking a cigarette in a dimly lit indoor setting, with other people seated at a table, some of whom are also smoking or resting their heads on their hands. | Chas Gerretsen
From the film set of Apocalypse Now: A women and a man a dimly lit room, lying on a bed, and one smoking an opium pipe, with a colorful lamp and a window in the background. | Chas Gerretsen
From the film set of Apocalypse Now: Martin Sheen with short hair and a serious expression reading, with the face of a statue looking over his shoulder. | Chas Gerretsen
A group of armed men in camouflage and tactical gear in a jungle setting, with one man sitting on the ground holding a rifle, and others standing or sitting on makeshift wooden structures surrounded by trees and vegetation. | Chas Gerretsen
Group of people dressed in camouflage and tribal costumes with weapons, standing on stone steps in a jungle setting, with one person raising their arms and another sitting at the front holding a rifle.
A man with a beard, red bandana, and layered necklaces is holding a camera above his head. He is surrounded by people with face paint and military-style clothing in an outdoor setting with stone walls in the background.
People participating in a nighttime cultural or religious ceremony with smoke and torches, large statue or sculpture in the background, and traditional banners.
Man in dark clothing holding a sword standing next to a colorful lion dance costume with a crowd of people in the background, outdoors in a tropical setting.
Col. Kurtz, Marlon Brando
A topless woman with long braided hair and multiple body jewelry holding a bowl in a dimly lit stone interior.
Close-up of a person’s face with dark makeup or paint, looking over their hand in a dark environment with a few out-of-focus lights in the background.
A person wearing camouflage pants and a hat, holding a rifle, standing over another person lying on the ground, with sandbags and a smoky, fiery background.
A shirtless man lying on a bed in a dimly lit hotel room, with one arm extended above his head, surrounded by personal items on the bedside table, with a bathroom visible in the background.
A shirtless man lying on a bed in a dimly lit room, with a window and curtains behind him, and various items on a bedside table.
A young man taking a mirror selfie in a bedroom with vintage decor, including patterned curtains, a wooden bed, and a nightstand with books.
A shirtless man lying on a bed, looking up, with a pillow supporting his head. There are various items on the bed including a yellow ashtray, a pack of cigarettes, and a black object. The background shows curtains and some dark furniture.
A shirtless man with messy hair, bleeding and clutching his chest, appears to be in pain or distress in a dimly lit room.
A man in military attire is shaving another man who is squatting on a toilet, with shaving cream on his face, in a small bathroom.
People setting up for a USO show on a circular stage at night, with water and illuminated structures in the background.
A woman dressed in a Western-inspired outfit with a cowboy hat, top, shorts, and cowboy boots, sitting on top of a black car with a Playboy bunny logo. She is striking a pose with one arm raised and the other resting on her leg, against a dark background.
A person sitting in darkness, holding a radio or speaker, near a wall with large, detailed carvings or sculptures, possibly of ancient or Asian style, with some ropes or wires hanging in front of the carvings.
A man with painted face and upper body, looking intensely to the side in a dark environment.
A woman with dark hair and traditional jewelry, holding a steaming bowl inside a dimly-lit rustic hut with wooden walls and some greenery visible outside.
A person with their face covered in mud or clay, with a serious or contemplative expression, partially illuminated in a dark setting.
A bald man with a serious expression surrounded by a group of shirtless boys and young men, outdoors in a natural setting.
A shirtless man with curly hair and a mustache, sitting amid lit candles and debris, holding a weapon. In the background, a hooded figure stands amidst the smoke and darkness.
A man with a beard and intense gaze, wearing a black beret with a patch, has face paint and is smoking a cigar. He is dressed in a navy uniform with red decorations and scarves.
A group of people on a river with a military boat in the foreground and an active firefight on the riverbank in the background.
F.F. Coppola, Vittorio Storaro, Dean Tavoularis
A soldier kneeling next to a fallen friend during a battlefield scene with smoke and a helicopter in the background, while a woman with a camera takes photographs nearby.
A man dressed as a U.S. Army officer with a dark wide-brimmed hat, reflective sunglasses, and a yellow neck scarf, standing outdoors with palm trees in the background.
A man dressed as a cowboy with a black hat and yellow neckerchief talking to soldiers in camouflage uniforms, viewed through a vintage slide or film slide frame labeled "Mega Productions, Inc." and "Chas Gerretsen."
Group of people gathered outdoors in a forested area, some sitting on a platform, others standing around, with a natural rocky setting and greenery in the background.
Fred Forrest
A woman standing on a balcony surrounded by tropical plants and trees, with a bamboo or wicker chair nearby, at night
A man dressed in casual clothing and a red bandana is sitting in shallow water near a large black buffalo. He is holding a clapperboard with the words "Mattino" and other production details, and is making a gesture with his hand.
Sam Bottoms
A group of children and a man are gathered outdoors, with some children sitting and others standing, closely observing what the man is doing. The man is reading a newspaper.
Gigi Duenas
A man with face paint and tribal attire holding a young child, surrounded by native children in a forest setting.
A man in silhouette stands over a young person crouching or sitting on the ground in a dark setting, with a faint light source behind them.
'The Chief,' Albert Hall
Two individuals, one holding a gun and the other holding a sword, are standing in the rain during a night scene, with fire and debris in the background.
A man with sunglasses and a red headband taking a photo with a camera, smiling, surrounded by other people in an outdoor setting.
Three children peeking through a dark hole with torn edges, peering out with curious expressions.
A woman dressed in a revealing cowgirl costume, wearing a large white hat, stands in front of a large crowd of men in military uniforms cheering and clapping.
A young woman dressed in a turquoise backless top and shorts, wearing a white cowboy hat and cowboy boots, sitting on a stage at night during a performance or event. In the background, other performers are visible, some in colorful costumes, and stage equipment, including a camera crane, is present.
Mr. Clean, Laurence Fishburne
Back view of a female performer in a Western-themed outfit, wearing a white cowboy hat, a star-studded crop top, and matching shorts, with hands on hips under stage lighting.
Director and Playmates: L-R Colleen Camp, Linda Carpenter, Cynthia Wood.
Capt. Colby, Scott Glenn
A film crew working on a rooftop with a camera and equipment, beside a large ancient stone carved face, under a palm tree with a clear blue sky in the background.
'The Thinker,' Marlon Brando
Suffering, Martin Sheen
Blowing bubbles amongst the corpses
Person taking a photo in a forest while holding a camera up to their face, with additional cameras hanging from their neck and shoulder.
Two indigenous men with traditional clothing and spears posing with a tourist in a jungle setting
Chas Gerretsen, © unkown & Dennis Hopper (The Photojournalist) on the set of Apocalypse Now.
Chas Gerretsen & Francis Ford Coppola on the set of Apocalypse Now. © unkown
A man with a camera on his neck standing on a boat in a river surrounded by children and villagers, with greenery in the background.