A documentary based on the book (Cimino hates) by one of the executives at United Artists at the time, tells the real story about the making of Heaven's Gate with most of those involved (but not Cimino) returning to tell their story.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424089/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdcRiPLp4oU
Narrated by Willem Dafoe!
Absolutely agree. I saw this documentary when it originally aired. I just can't remember right off the top of my head which Cable channel it was (it no longer exists), but the channel did a "Month of Flops", which included airing of such TV disasters as "Pink Lady and Jeff" and "Supertrain". Naturally "Heaven's Gate" fit into this category with the greatest of ease. I love that the documentary was on the one hand sympathetic, but at the same time did a fair amount of fingerpointing. For me it served as a great reminder that it wasn't just Michael Cimino who got wounded in this disaster. Just take a look at Kris Kristofferson as he talks about it. You can easily read the hurt in his face, while Jeff Bridges and Brad Dourif look perplexed over the hostility the film got. LORD I hope this documentary is included in The Criterion Collection release - it would make for a GREAT supplement.......
shareThe Criterion release in the USA doesn't include "Final Cut", but the UK release of the same Criterion/Cimino restoration (on the Second Sight label) DOES contain at least a "DVD Release Version" of the "Final Cut" documentary. It's "excerpted", I don't know by how much. The UK Second Sight edition bonus material also includes interviews with Jeff Bridges and Zsigmond the cinematographer, whereas the USA Criterion version has interviews with Kristofferson and the soundtrack arranger and assistant director (and an audio interview with Cimino and a booklet with a 1980 interview with him).
Second Sight edition available as 2-DVD PAL Region 2 disks or 2-Blu-Ray Region B disks, approximately the same price as you can find the Criterion in the U.S.
I haven't seen this documentary as yet, always considered documentaries hit pieces and this one doesn't sound ant different
"One " of the executives at United Artists, but has no input from the director????
So it's really just someone finding fault to cover their ass
But by now it is probably out there for free so I will search for it
You don't have to stand tall, but you have to stand up!