Naghatid ng kalituhan ang mga pahayag ni Elizabeth Oropesa sa panayam sa kanya ng broadcaster na si Julius Babao dahil sa mga ikinuwento ng veteran actress tungkol sa kanyang partisipasyon sa 1979 Hollywood movie na Apocalypse Now.
Ang Apocalypse Now ay isang American psychological epic war film na mula sa direksiyon ni Francis Ford Coppola.
Una itong ipinalabas sa Cannes Film Festival noong Mayo 19, 1979, at nagkaroon ng theatrical release noong Agosto 15, 1979.
Kabilang sa cast ng pelikula ang legendary actor na si Marlon Brando, Harrison Ford, Robert Duvall, Laurence Fishburne, at Martin Sheen.
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Kinunan ang karamihan ng mga eksena ng Apocalypse Now sa Pagsanjan, Laguna.
Matagal namalagi sa Pilipinas ang cast ng pelikula dahil inabot ng mahigit isang taon ang shooting na nagsimula noong Marso 20, 1976 at natapos noong Mayo 21, 1977.
ELIZABETH OROPESA AS MARLON BRANDO'S WIFE
Napag-usapan ang partisipasyon ni Elizabeth Oropesa sa Apocalypse Now dahil tinanong siya ni Julius tungkol sa Hollywood movies na ginawa niya noon.
“Maniwala ka't sa hindi, ako yung leading lady ni Marlon Brando sa Apocalypse Now,” sagot ni Elizabeth.
“Grabe, Apocalypse Now? Classic yun. Hollywood classic. Kumusta naman ang naging experience mo?” reaksiyon ng broadcaster.
“Beautiful,” sambit ni Elizabeth.
Lahad pa ng aktres: “Dun ko na-realize kung gaano ka-barriotic ang paggawa natin ng pelikula kumpara sa kanila, Hollywood.
"Kasi yung kanilang kukunan today, yesterday, the whole day, papraktisin, rehearsal.
“Yung mga papatayin na kalabaw, praktis pa lang, pinapatay na. Saka yung crowd control, a mile away.
“E, dito sa atin, nagdadrama pa, di ba? O ayan, sa likod ng kamera, may kumakaway sa yo. May nagha-heart sa yo. Dun, hindi.”
Na-upload ang interview ni Elizabeth sa Julius Babao Unplugged YouTube kahapon, Hunyo 17, 2025.
Kinumusta ni Julius kay Elizabeth ang pakikipagtrabaho niya sa "great Marlon Brando."
Ayon kay Elizabeth, “He’s a good actor. Very, very good actor.
"But I cannot say that he’s better than us. Ang dami nating aktor dito na kagagaling."
Paglalarawan pa ng aktres sa kanyang role sa Apocalypse Now: “Ako ang leading lady niya.
"Ako yung native wife niya na topless pero mahaba ang buhok. Nakatakip sa dede ko.
“Magkasama kami lagi. Tinuturuan niya akong magsalita ng English. Sina Martin Sheen, nandun din.
“Naku, ang daming lihim! Hindi ko na lang ikukuwento pero masaya ang mga nangyari doon.
"Ang dami naming nakitang artista na Pilipina na gustong sumali.”
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ELIZEBETH OROPESA'S SCENES "MERCILESSLY EDITED OUT"
Para sa mga nakapanood ng Apocalypse Now, hindi nila matandaan o nasilayan man lang si Elizabeth sa kabuuan ng pelikula.
Sa artikulong isinulat ng pumanaw na entertainment editor na si Ricky Lo tungkol kay Francis Ford Coppola na nilathala sa The Philippine STAR noong Abril 27, 2002, ipinahiwatig ditong na-"edited out" ang mga eksena ng noo'y "newcomer" pa lamang na aktres.
Bahagi ng ulat ni Lo: “The famous filmmaker must really love the Philippines so much that he can’t forget his memorable experience here in the late ’70s when he shot Apocalypse Now in Laguna.
“That movie, featuring then newcomer Elizabeth Oropesa in a cameo role (that was mercilessly edited out of the final print, leaving only another Filipino actress, Gigi Dueñas, in a brief scene with Marlon Brando), did a lot in promoting the Philippines as an ideal setting for Hollywood movies.”
GIGI DUEÑAS REPLACED ELIZABETH OROPESA
Iba rin ang kuwento ng actor-assistant director na si Henry Strzalkowski noong Hulyo 2015.
Sinabi ni Henry na ang mahusay na aktres na si Gigi Dueñas ang ipinalit kay Elizabeth bilang asawa ni Colonel Walter Kurtz, ang karakter na ginampanan ni Marlon Brando.
Pagbabalik-tanaw ni Henry sa kanyang Facebook post sampung taon na ang nakararaan: “I knew Gigi when I was in university. At the time she was hanging out at the Last Unicorn (predecessor of the Hobbit House and formerly Indios Bravos, a popular hangout in the 70's). It was also a favorite hangout of the Apocalypse Now crew.
“It was there where she was discovered to play the part of Kurtz' woman. Originally, the beautiful Elizabeth Oropesa was cast as Kurtz' woman. But being much taller than most of the villagers and I would say, affluent looking, she was replaced by Gigi.
“My first day in Pagsanjan, at the Tropical Resort where production offices were, I saw her at the canteen. She was dressed in just o.d. green soldiers top, a floppy hat and flip-flops.
“I said, 'Gigi, what are you doing here?' She stuck her nose up in the air and said, 'I'm Mrs. Kurtz!'"
Ang testimonya naman ni Don Gordon Bell ang patunay na si Gigi at hindi si Elizabeth ang leading lady o gumanap na asawa ni Brando sa Apocalypse Now.
Si Bell ang casting assistant ng naturang Hollywood film.
Sa kanyang Facebook post noong Hulyo 2015, nagbigay ng detalye si Bell tungkol sa mga nalalaman niya sa Apocalypse Now.
Unang pinabulaanan ni Bell ang urban legend na umalis si Elizabeth sa set ng Apocalypse Now dahil sa diumano’y paghawak ni Brando sa dibdib ng aktres, na napakaganda noong kabataan nito.
Saad niya: “I was a casting assistant on set under Ken Metcalfe and later heard the 'alleged breast grabbing' tale. No breasts were grabbed by Marlon Brando.
“Decision was made to replace Ms. Elizabeth because of scheduling (one story I heard) or because certain person-related-to-director endorsed Gigi.
“I personally think Gigi was best for the role as a young maiden, not a very sexy full grown woman.
“Powers that be changed lead role of Capt. Williard after first rushes. Director Francis F. Coppola was able to make huge decision like that because he wanted a different 'look,' a character who didn't come off as a killer right away.
"Nothing was done because of the artists, it was the director’s decision.”
Ang Apocalypse Now ay nanalo ng Palme D'Or sa Cannes Film Festival noong 1979.
Na-nominate din ito sa Oscars noong 1980 para sa walong kategorya, kabilang ang Best Picture at Best Director. Ngunit ang tanging napanalunan nito ay Best Cinematography.
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