- American Photojournalist
Infobox character
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name = Photojournalist
caption =Dennis Hopper as Photojournalist in "Apocalypse Now "
first =Apocalypse Now
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gender = Male
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portrayer =Dennis Hopper The American Photojournalist is a
fictional character in "Apocalypse Now ", portrayed byDennis Hopper . His character was inspired by a number of real life American photojournalists who worked in Vietnam and Laos during the 1970s.Biography
The Photojournalist is first seen in the Kurtz compound when Willard, Chef, and Lance arrive. Like the rest at the compound, the Photojournalist is deeply affected by Kurtz' teachings and praises him, ranting about how his words change everything and how his legacy will stand once he is gone.
What are they gonna say when he dies? They gonna say he was a kind man? He was a wise man? He had plans? He has wisdom? BULLSHIT, MAN!
While never really helping the crew, he serves as their only real connection at the compound.Despite his devotion, Kurtz has little respect for the Photojournalist. In the final scene in which the Photojournalist appears, he is talking with Willard while Kurtz reads
T. S. Eliot 's "The Hollow Men ". Kurtz throws the book at him, and proceeds to call him a "mutt". To this, the Photojournalist leaves, and is never seen again.The Photjournalist's name is never revealed, and it seems clear from his erratic behaviour, mood swings and forceful literal nature that he has gone insane, much like Kurtz only in a very different direction, or is simply mentally stricken by drug use.
Deleted Scene
The Photojournalist feautures heavily in scenes deleted from the finished film. In the black market 'Rough Cut', he has a number of extra scenes as the length of the film set at Kurtz's compund rises to about an hour. In the 'Rough Cut', Willard tries unsuccessfuly to ask him for his name, and he makes numerous other appearances including a scene where Willard is humiliated and taunted by the entire tribe while in a cage. His eventual fate is also revealed, as he prepares to finally leave the compound, he is gunned down by Colby because he had taken Colonel Kurtz's picture, something Kurtz had already threatened him over.
External links
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