When he first conceived "Fitcarraldo", Herzog realized that in order to shoot this story, a real ship must be pulled over a mountain. The 20th Century Fox Company expressed great interest in the film, but they suggested using ship models and rockeries to complete the filming. Herzog did not agree and insisted not to use any special effects.
During the filming, the crew found a 340-ton steamboat and pulled it over a steep hill for more than 1,600 meters. According to the original design, the slope of the mountain was 60 degrees. Later they changed the requirement to 40 degrees. The hill is located in the jungle, and the nearest town is 1,200 kilometers away. The budget for pulling the boat over the mountain was only 6 million U.S. dollars, and most of the funds were not in place when the auction started, so Herzog initially invested his own money to run the entire project, hoping that the project could attract investors when it first took shape.
Fearing that the plan could not be completed, the Brazilian engineer who provided logistics services for Herzog withdrew from the crew, and Herzog had to continue to complete the original plan without the guidance of engineering experts. Despite the adoption of a fixed pulley system, in order to ensure the safety of personnel, Herzog still does not allow anyone to approach the ship being towed, especially not allowed to stand behind the ship. He sealed the area behind the ship so that even if the steel cable breaks, the ship will not hurt anyone when it slides down the mountain.
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