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If you look closely, Harrison Ford’s character’s name can clearly be seen on an identification patch on his uniform. The name “Lucas” was sewn just below the right label of his army fatigues. According to Brad Duke’s all-encompassing book, Ford added the homage in the wardrobe department, a loving nod that’s more obvious in “Apocalypse Now Redux” because of the higher picture quality. Funnily enough, when George Lucas originally watched Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam epic, he didn’t even notice the reference. In fact, Lucas didn’t even realize Ford was playing Colonel Lucas until about halfway through the scene.
Ford’s response was evidently proud, “I’m an actor. You were not supposed to recognize me.” Maybe it’s the mirror? Ford certainly isn’t the center of attention in the mission briefing scene, with closeups of Sheen taking up most of the frame and actor GD Spradlin taking up most of the oxygen. Ford’s total time on the set of “Apocalypse Now” lasted only four days, although the newly in-demand actor was scheduled for nine full days. The performance was in a small role, but upon rewatching, Ford was absolutely convincing as a weary soldier forced to command Capt. Willard to hunt down and silence Marlon Brando’s unhinged Colonel Kurtz.
It’s up for argument if the “Apocalypse Now Redux” is an improvement on the original, but the decision to re-insert a legendary lost plantation sequence with a French colonial family went up being a textbook example for master filmmakers to know what to leave out or remove the last edit. Maybe leave Harrison Ford’s name off the poster next time?
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