When the specs for the special edition of Apocalypse Now Redux were unveiled, there was widespread disappointment that the documentary, Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse, was not part of the set. DVD Talk reviewer Preston Jones spoke for many critics and fans in his review:
This set is being touted as The Complete Dossier, [suggesting] that everything anyone who's a fan of the film could want is included. . . but until a DVD set is released either incorporating Hearts of Darkness or creating an entirely new production documentary using Eleanor [Coppola]'s footage (some of which is glimpsed in a few featurettes), Apocalypse Now remains a film not fully, completely and rightly recognized for the difficult achievement it is on DVD.
So it was a surprise to find that Hearts of Darkness was finally coming out on DVD in a special edition. It caught a lot of people unaware, including the co-director, George Hickenlooper, who wasn't very happy about the way he's been treated over the DVD. Posting on the Hollywood Elsewhere message board, Hickenlooper gave a comprehensive report of his own attempts to get the film out:
Uhm, guys, I only found out about this the same way Jeff did. Last night while surfing the net. I haven't talked to Fax [Bahr, co-director], but I am really surprised by this development. The only thing I know is that it is coming out on Paramount. I am also frankly bummed that I wasn't asked to do a commentary. . . It also saddens me that I spent many hours of time and energy talking to the folks at Criterion who are dying to put it out. I even flew myself to Denver to have lunch with Francis to talk him into it. That was three years ago. He said he'd get back to me but I guess he's been too busy. So here we are. I found out about it last night and it's coming out on Paramount DVD.
But then later he posts:
Having just viewed the packaging of my film, I have to say I am really pissed off. And I am not pissed off at Paramount. I spoke to Home Video guy Michael Harkin today and he told me Paramount had nothing to do with the packaging or mastering of the DVD. It was ALL delivered by Zoetrope. So this is all Francis' doing and he never even bothered to return my emails or phone calls. The last one in May reminding him about the Criterion offer.
Talk about hearts of darkness, eh?
— Faisal A. Qureshi
