TMT: Now, Back Then
This is the next entry in a Theatre… a Movie… and a Time, a series that was begun here. My colleague Kevin, based on the strength of his writing and reader reaction to his wonderful guest post here, gets the credit for bringing this film and memory to the fore:
“Not only in its projection of overall firepower with Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries”, but also in the wide variety of mechanized mayhem. From the Air Cavalry’s troops and their assembled M-16s. To the pintle mounted M-60s, pylon mounted quad M-2 Heavy Barreled .50 caliber Browning Machine Guns and pod mounted High Velocity Artillery (HIVAR) Rockets. The soundtrack fits the montage like a custom fitted suit. Scratchy voice overs and all. Culminating in a piece of film that is powerful, random and deadly.”
Theatre
The Picwood Theatre:
[pictures are care of the Cinema Treasures site]
Movie
Time
October, 1979: anyone who graduated twelfth grade in ’72, like me, had the spectre of Vietnam in their collective thoughts growing up. All through junior and senior high, I reckon. How could the war not what with the news footage or body counts in our homes and television screens from the mid-60s on. Knowing that, and registering for the draft come your 18th birthday, meant for many the southeast Asian conflict was a possible and uneasy fate. The stories of those returning from there (or who didn’t make it back), only seared it all in.
It’s no small thing to say the Helicopter War, and the period that ended with it by April 1975, left a mark. One that’s lasted to this day, in fact. Like others, it’s shaped what I read, watched and thought in the years since. So when historians, novelists, and filmmakers turned their pens, typewriters, and cameras toward the subject, my interest was forever piqued. Francis Ford Coppola and John Milius’ unique cinematic treatment of the war was likely the early touchstone event on the subject late that decade few could ignore.
In what seemed a start of films in the had-to-see category presented back then, the Picwood Theatre in West Los Angeles screened Apocalypse Now on a multiple-week run. Twenty-six, as reported by commenters at the Cinema Treasures site. To packed houses, too. I took she-whose-name-must-not-be-mentioned there on one of our first-year movie dates for this. The film only spurred my absorption in the war and those who served (she, on the other hand, had less interest).
Ten years later, and another life, the only father-in-law I ever had, a Korean War vet, confided to me one day this was his all-time favorite film. He watched it annually on VHS, IIRC. It meant a great deal to him. The film, and the man’s sentiment, had somehow coalesced byway of marriage. While he’s no longer here, when I think back on the film, strangely, it’s him I think of… but with fondness.
The entire TMT series can be found here. If you’re interested how it’s put together, click here.
It Rains... You Get Wet 
16 Responses to “TMT: Now, Back Then”
That’s really cool you got to see Apocalypse Now in theaters. It’s my favorite film and it’s one I would love to see on the big screen.
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On the big screen, it’s one of those films with the power to simply blow one away. Thanks, ckckred :-).
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Surprisingly powerful “a Theatre… a Movie… and a Time” Big Cat. Great pic, super powerful… and I’m sure being of the Viet Nam generation made it all the more powerful.
My first time cant compare, we were a group of stoned collegiates safe and sound many years removed from the conflict. 😉
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Thank you very kindly, Fogs. Means a lot to me.
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Well earned, sir!
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🙂
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How did I not know that Coppola made Apocalypse Now?? Great TMT once again Michael, I should give this a rent at some point. I’m not a huge war film fans though, again my feeble nerves are to blame.
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You might consider viewing the fascinating ‘Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmakers Apocalypse’ documentary, first. That’ll tell you if experiencing this film might be something you’d enjoy (or become involved with). As always, many thanks, Ruth.
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Great piece, Michael. I would have loved to see this on the big screen. That’s one cool-looking theater, too.
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Thanks so much, Eric. Yeah, the old, and long gone, Picwood Theatre was indeed somethin’.
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Good story Michael, Apocalypse Now is one of my favorite films ever, it has that nightmare feel to it. I would love to have seen it on the big screen.
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Oh, yes it does, Ted. Thank you, my friend.
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Excellent piece, Michael!
I had the old Langley Theater in just outside Adelphi, MD. to grow up in watching films on Saturday afternoon. Huge carpeted, very 1950s retro velvet seated theater. With a balcony! Saw “Dr. Strangelove’ there many, many times. Nothing beats a huge screen, plush seats and a massive sound system!
The last film I saw there was ‘Full Metal Jacket’, but by them the theater had been split in two.
I saw DC’s premiere of ‘Apocalypse Now’ at the old Uptown Theater on Wisconsin Avenue. And still have its hand out brochure.
Nicely done, my friend.
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That sounds like the perfect venue for a film such as this, Kevin. I hate it when a grand movie palace is split via ‘twinning’. The theatre I once worked at suffered that fate after I left, sadly. Wonderful memories. Many thanks.
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Great piece, Michael, as always. Also, that theater is very beautiful!
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Thank you very much, Fernando :D.
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