As I mentioned in my review of DUNE, Alejandro Jodorowsky was at one point slated to adapt Frank Herberts science fiction novel. He wanted to take numerous liberties with the source liberties, some of which Herbert despised, though the two had an amicable relationship throughout the project. Jodorowskys efforts resulted in an insanely massive pre-production effort. The bands Pink Floyd and Magma would have provided some of the music; H. R. Giger, Chris Foss, and Jean Giraud were hired for numerous set and character designs; and the cast would have included the likes of Salvador Dalí, Orson Welles, Gloria Swanson, David Carradine, Mick Jagger, and Amanda Lear. However, nearly a fifth of the $9.5 million budget had been spent on pre-production, and the screenplay as it stood would have resulted in a 15-hour film far too long for Hollywood standards. Ultimately, financial difficulties would prevail, with Dino and Rafaella De Laurentiis taking over the project and releasing the final film, directed by David Lynch, in 1984. However, all major film studios received a copy of the projects massive concept book, and the filmmakers argue that these would go on to inspire numerous other films and film series such as STAR WARS, ALIEN (many in Jodorowskys production team collaborated on the original 1979 film), TERMINATOR, and FLASH GORDON. Jodorowsky, I admit, seems to have a few screws loose, as some of his interviews and the snippets of his earlier films showed. The film might have been as strange as, if not more so than, the version finally released, but its still interesting to see what could have been and how, supposedly, it would go on to influence dozens of other films even without a single frame of film being shot. Above all, the guy has ambition—and quite a lot of it. Obviously, I dont have the overly lofty goal of making a 15-hour film, let alone a 3-hour film, but I do admit that many of my projects and series, particularly KT Cannon, are quite ambitious and I believe in them; I believe they can succeed in a way and that they have potential. And of course, ambition isnt the only thing required to make a film, but it is certainly important.
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 00:20:31 +0000
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