Page 198 - OVATION Magazine (Issue 1)

The Horror and the Horology
Mary Ellen Mark’s images from Apocalypse Now capture an infamous moment in time—and a timepiece that became a legend in its own right. BY JOHN LYON
Chaos was commonplace during the production of Francis Ford Coppola’s
classic film Apocalypse Now. But the behind-the-scenes stills of photographer Mary Ellen Mark also reveal moments of serenity, includ- ing this portrait of Marlon Brando—who played the enigmatic Colonel Kurtz— posing with the 1972 Rolex GMT-Master he wore during his scenes.As Apocalypse Now celebrates its 40th anniversary this year—and a new direc- tor’s cut hits theaters—
the auction house Phillips (phillips.com) is selling the cinematically significant Rolex during its Game Changers sale on December 10 in NewYork City.
Mark is best remembered for her socially conscious art, but she was often employed
as a production photographer, working on films ranging from Gandhi to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. For Apocalypse Now, she was in the jungles of the Philippines during the turbulent shoot, which saw lead actor Martin Sheen suffer a heart attack, multiple suicide threats from the director, and rampant
drug and alcohol abuse. The rough conditions
were an excellent test for the GMT-Master, a pilot’s watch with a second-time-zone indicator and chronometer- certified precision. Brando described the Rolex as “a tank” when he gifted it to
his daughter Petra in 1995. She later gave the watch to her husband as a wedding present, and it ended up being tucked away for years in one of the family’s drawers. Its whereabouts unknown to the public, the GMT-Master was the source of much specu- lation by horological aficio- nados, and it was assumed
lost to history. Its reappear- ance—Brando’s daughter and her husband have put it up for sale, partially to benefit a charity for abused children— is drawing keen interest from collectors.
Adding to the Rolex’s provenance, the watch is mis- sing its bezel, which Brando had to remove for filming because it was too distracting. The actor also hand-engraved his name into the caseback of his GMT-Master, the bidding for which is expected to start in the six figures.
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FALL 2019
The 1972 Rolex GMT- Master Marlon Brando wore during the fifilming of Apocalypse Now is coming up for auction.
LOOKING BACK
IMAGES COURTESY PHILLIPS; TOP: MARY ELLEN MARK