Final Cut is the best starting choice for most viewers. It runs 183 minutes, sitting 30 minutes longer than theatrical but 19 minutes shorter than Redux, according to the Tribeca Film Festival archive 40th-anniversary restoration listing. Apocalypse Now is Francis Ford Coppola's Vietnam War river journey toward Colonel Kurtz. The three finished cuts differ in length, pace, and restored scenes.
Table of Contents
- How long is each cut?
- What does Redux restore?
- Which version should you watch first?
- How do picture, sound, and labels differ?
How long is each cut?
The original 1979 theatrical cut is the shortest finished version. According to Wikipedia, it runs about 153 minutes in 35mm and about 147 minutes in 70mm Wikipedia film page. It premiered at Cannes in May 1979 and opened in the U.S.
in August 1979. Apocalypse Now Redux arrived in 2001 with about 49 added minutes. According to the TIFF Bell Lightbox film page, it reaches 202 minutes after Coppola and editor Walter Murch restored cut footage TIFF Bell Lightbox film page.
What does Redux restore?
Redux debuted May 11, 2001 at Cannes. Screen Daily notes its most famous return is the French-plantation sequence with Aurore Clément and Christian Marquand.
Screen Daily also lists an expanded Playboy Playmates episode. The same report lists added voyage material and more Kurtz/Brando material.
Which version should you watch first?
Coppola calls Final Cut his preferred or perfect version. ComingSoon, reporting Coppola's Deadline remarks, says he found the 1979 release abruptly shortened and Redux too long.
The same account says Final Cut keeps much Redux material with tighter editing. Use this quick match:.
- Choose theatrical for the shortest sitting and fastest pace.
- Choose Final Cut for restored depth with tighter editing.
- Choose Redux for the longest sitting and full detours.
How do picture, sound, and labels differ?
For Final Cut, American Zoetrope remastered visuals in 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision from the original camera negative. Meyer Sound reports the sound remix in Dolby Atmos with Meyer Sound Sensual Sound low-frequency enhancement.
The Film Stage reports listed runtimes vary by credits, format, and rounding to 182-183 minutes. The Film Stage notes buyers should check labels because the 40th-anniversary 4K set and digital releases separately list Final Cut, Redux, and the theatrical cut.