Hollywood has produced many films based around and about the Vietnam War. Most of which were created to try and illustrate the actual events and effects of the war; Apocalypse Now (1979) is one such film. From Paramount Pictures, produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Apocalypse Now is about a US Army assassin's (Martin Sheen) mission, both a mental and physical journey, to 'terminate' a dangerously-lawless warlord and former Colonel (Marlon Brando) who rules a band of native warriors in the jungle's of Cambodia. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Art Direction, and Best Film Editing; but the film won only two well-deserved awards: Best Cinematography and Best Sound. The film also received Golden Globe awards for Best Director, Best Motion Picture Actor in a Supporting Role, and Best Original Score, as well as a nomination for Best Motion Picture. Apocalypse Now portrays the aspects of the Vietnam War accurately; revealing the effects on the mind while inactive, the confusion and inexperience of the troops, and the drugs which filtered their way into the routine of many servicemen.
The opening scene reveals US Army Captain Willard in a hotel room in Saigon, Vietnam. He is haunted by the memories of the war and his earlier missions. After a week of inactivity he is brought to General Corman and Colonel Lucas who inform him of his new mission. His orders are to seek out and terminate the command of Colonel Kurtz, a once brilliant American officer and war hero. Kurtz is said to have gone totally insane and is charged with executing Vietnamese intelligence agents who he said were double agents. He runs his own private army in the jungle in Cambodia and is worshipped as a god by a native tribe's people. .
Captain Willard travels up the Nung River into off-limits Cambodia to follow Kurtz's trail to his remote stronghold island by means of a Navy Patrol Boat.
