"Apocalypse Now", filmed in 1979 and directed by Francis Ford Coppola is still today considered one of the greatest war film masterpieces ever. It is honored for its great special effects, at its time, and most of all the breathtaking sound. The sound, produced by Walter Murch, plays a tremendous role in the story line. Diegetic, internal and external, and non-diegetic sound is used all throughout the movie. Lots of source music, or diegetic sound, is used from many well know bands from that time. The use of this diegetic sound in this movie is one of the key components to the thrilling feeling the movie has. Also the use of non-diegetic sound, or the drama type sounds in the movie also play a very immense role in the story. Both of these types of sound contribute large roles to the story line and plot. .
The story starts off with Willard played by Martin Sheen, a military captain and assassin, stuck in a hotel room in Saigon. Willard is stuck in the room battling with him self internally, wishing for a mission to get him out of where he is. His wish comes true when in the morning Willard is brought form the hotel room to be briefed. At the briefing are General Corman, Colonel Lucas, played by Harrison Ford and a civilian, played by Jerry Ziesmer, who is the assistant director of the movie. Willard has orders to infiltrate the renegade general that has gone crazy and set up base in Cambodia. Willard's orders are to terminate the crazy general's command by any means necessary. Rather than parachuting Willard into the Cambodian jungle, which would make too much since, the story has him riding down a river on a small mostly plastic military river boat. As Willard and the small crew aboard the vessel travel down the river they encounter many assaults from guerillas on the shores of the river. Finally they reach what they have come for after loosing many of the crew members due to attacks made on them.
