This film made ‘The Godfather’ director Francis Ford Coppola bankrupt: Forgotten cult classic now in home theaters

With films like ‘The Godfather’, Francis Ford Coppola became a walking directing legend. But he also made a historic crash landing: his follow-up project ‘Apocalypse Now’ ‘Einer mit Herz’ (original title: ‘One From The Heart’) was an ambitious, contradictory experiment that combined conflicting film eras that bankrupted him for decades. .

However, the film, which is now also known in Germany under its original title, has since built up a close, prominent fan base. Now you can experience the film in a whole new way. Because From now on, “One From The Heart” is even available in beautiful 4K:

In addition to the restored theatrical version, the set also includes Coppola’s recent Reprise Cut, which contains previously unused material but is also tighter. At the same time, the cinema failure celebrated its success Blu-ray Premiere* – also with theatrical version and reprise version. Both editions are packed with extras!

And if you’ve already sworn off physical media, our hearts are bleeding a little, but you can still do it Theatrical release on Amazon Prime Video* acquire, as well as that Reprise cut*.

“One From The Heart”: Love and Suffering in Las Vegas

Mechanic Hank (Frederic Forrest) and his girlfriend Frannie (Teri Garr) lead a lackluster life. Even sex has become an exhausting chore. Then it happens: an everyday argument turns into a real relationship crisis, including confessions of infidelity. Frannie, who works in a travel agency, then meets the elegant Ray (Raúl Julia), while Hank charms the radiant circus performer Leila (Nastassja Kinski). Frannie and Hank can hardly believe their happiness, nor their nagging feelings of guilt…

On the one hand, ‘One From The Heart’ is the last gasp of the New Hollywood era. Behind the scenes, when Coppola bought artistic freedom. Substantive because ‘One From The Heart’ contains casual nudity and revolves around two grumpy characters who deliberately commit missteps. On the other hand, the romantic drama is a throwback to Hollywood’s golden studio era. Because the film was shot entirely in Coppola’s studio and in his parking lot.

Production designer Dean Tavoularis’ elaborate sets sometimes strive for realism, but at other times they declare theatrical artificiality their own art. All this to show (despite ugly arguments) an exuberant view of romance!

A legend listens to his heart – and is punished

The title “One From The Heart” is no coincidence: During the 1970s, Coppola repeatedly took on projects that began as career plans. He took on the best-selling adaptation of “The Godfather” because he needed a real hit. He made ‘The Godfather II’ because Martin Scorsese turned him down. He then joined the anti-war film ‘Apocalypse Now’, which was initially intended for George Lucas – after which the project escalated.

His next film must come from the heart from the start – and also challenge the limitations of real locations. Once this decision was made, Coppola began trying to combine the sparkling, theatrical playfulness of previous Hollywood musicals with a new kind of effort.

What was initially a $2 million undertaking turned into a massive $26 million project – with tons of miniatures, gigantic sets and tons of neon lights. In addition, a method was developed to check on video on set what had just been captured on celluloid. This helped Coppola conjure up and resolve countless scene transitions with almost unparalleled accuracy. That’s impressive, but its confident idiosyncrasy made it a tough sell in 1982:

In the US, the $26 million film grossed just $636,796 – a complete economic catastrophe. However, Coppola feels no sadness: he is enthusiastic about the fact that he made his film with heart and soul. He now also has famous fans such as Baz Luhrmann, who uses similar images in films such as ‘Moulin Rouge!’ and ‘Elvis’.

Denis Villeneuve also has a soft spot for “One From The Heart”: He and production designer Dennis Gassner of “Blade Runner 2049,” who worked as an assistant on Coppola’s expensive flop, repeatedly used the musical drama as a reference!

It was like a cinematic family reunion. Not just because “Blade Runner 2049” star Gosling is the opposite known as a “One From The Heart” fan. But also because the original ‘Blade Runner’ owes a lot to Coppola: Loud Ridley Scott and his team bought a lot of “One From The Heart” neon lights from him for their sci-fi noir!

That’s why ‘One From The Heart’ deserves respect

Coppola’s detour to Las Vegas is an experience for music fans who admire alternative genre approaches. As well as a good musical introduction for movie fans who might otherwise get irritated when characters sing and dance in situations where almost no one else would sing and dance. Because here the dance scenes that are partly responsible for the music legend Gene Kelly of “Singin’ In The Rain” only take place during the celebration of Independence Day and in intimate togetherness.

And only Kinski’s eccentric circus performer teasingly hums a song that coaxes Hank out of his restraint. Take care of the rest Crystal Gayle And Tom waitswho classify, exaggerate or counteract the events with smoky blues. Instead, the renunciation of reality takes place in magical, fluid transitions and mergings of parallel events – but also in the intense, pathos-laden illumination:

Coppola and cameramen Vittorio Storaro & Ronald Victor García shower footage with them vibrant, seductive red tonesdive in melancholic, longing midnight blueto throw dramatic poison green on envious faces and makes Vegas flash in neon lights as if it were a miniature Las Vegas in a pinball machine.

It’s this wild blaze of colors, the lofty editing by Rudi Fehr, Anne Goursaud and Randy Roberts, as well as the off-screen songs that illustrate what the characters can’t do. Because they are too vain. Too offended. Too much pretending to impress her new conquests. Because they are communication overwhelmed. Or speaking too late on a tense dream date to express their true nature.

At the same time, “One from the heart” a feverish dance between exaggerated romantic hope, dramatic disillusionment and the cautious approach to a well-founded compromise: It’s about not being satisfied with the minimum and not getting lost in alien dreams that lack the friction of everyday life.

No wonder this film, which takes the characters to the stars and brings them back to Earth, is one of Damien Chazelle’s inspirations for “La La Land”. Individual scenes were even shot in the same studio building as Coppola’s somewhat brittle but always hypnotic failure full of passionate inspiration.