Marlon Brando

2018

Movies and TV

Colonel Walter E. Kurtz, a fictional character, is most prominently featured in Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 film Apocalypse Now, based on Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness. He is portrayed by Marlon Brando in the film.

Prior to his descent into madness, Kurtz was a highly respected and decorated officer in the United States Army, a potential candidate for General. He was known for his intelligence, strategic brilliance, and dedication to his country. He graduated top of his class at West Point and had a promising career ahead of him.

However, during the Vietnam War, Kurtz became disillusioned with the conventional methods of warfare and took matters into his own hands. He established his own command deep in the Cambodian jungle, where he ruled as a god-like figure over a tribe of Montagnard people. He employed brutal and unconventional tactics, exceeding his authority and violating the established rules of engagement.

The Army, concerned about Kurtz's actions and potential for scandal, tasked Captain Benjamin L. Willard with finding and assassinating him. Kurtz's character represents the moral and psychological toll of war, and the dangers of unchecked power and ideological extremism.