Overcooked but still interesting article on Klaus Kinsky in Salon. The author is a bit too thrilled with that romantic vulgarity that Kinsky embodied, but the descriptions of Woyzeck and Cobra Verde in particular are perfectly accurate.
For those not familiar with Herzog, with whom Kinsky made all of his important films, he's the fellow who made that documentary about Gesualdo which I reviewed a while ago.
Posted by Alan Hogue at December 29, 2004 11:46 AM"My headache gets so unbearable ... the pains get worse and worse."
I saw Kinski only in Zhivago, Aguirre, and Fitzcarraldo; and each time I thought, here is a guy with a terrific headache.
Posted by: Bobby Farouk at December 30, 2004 05:50 AMI remember seeing Aguirre on TV when I was a kid--never forgotten the casual beheading. The sight of Kinski makes me laugh and his best quote does: 'I'd rather wash dishes in New York than be a movie star in Germany.'
He was a total rage monster. The local Indians on the set of Aguirre approached Herzog and offered to kill Kinski if the director wanted.
Anyone who's more interested in their relationship or who just wants to see a fascinating documentary narrated by a maniac with a Bavarian accent should see My Best Fiend.
It's biased, of course, but certainly more reliable than the absurd Kinski autobiography which his fans seem to swallow whole.
Posted by: Alan Hogue at December 30, 2004 11:27 AMI think the author is absolutely right that Kinski's mania was really starting to seep into his role in Fitzcarraldo. No one has ever been able to explain to me why that movie is considered their best. It is by far their worst, hands down.
Posted by: Alan Hogue at December 30, 2004 11:30 AM