Cayahuari Yacu, the jungle Indians call this country,
"the land where God did not finish Creation. "
They believe only after man has disappeared
will He return to finish His work.
We're going to miss Caruso if you don't put some fire under it.
Oh, you've wiped oil all over your face.
Isn't that better?
Oh, Molly, please.
Come on, for God's sake!
Champagne for the horses! The best!
We're gonna make it.
Sir, Madam. This is a gala performance.
We come from lquitos, one thousand two hundred miles down the Amazon.
I had to row because our motor broke down.
Look at his hands.
For two days and two nights I've been rowing to see Caruso once in my life.
You have no tickets.
This man needs to go in there. He has no ticket but he has a right.
Sir, Madam, you can't go in there.
I'm going to build an opera house in lquitos and Caruso'll open it.
It'll be the greatest opera of the jungle. Please, let us in.
You'll work with us. Let us in, please.
I'd like to be in there myself, believe me...
Follow me!
Make sure to be quiet and press yourselves right up against the wall.
He pointed to you.
He pointed to me. You see him... he means me.
Fitzcarraldo? How do you spell it?
What an interesting name!
My father was Irish. My real name is Fitzgerald.
Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald.
They had trouble saying it in Peru.
Fitzgerald? Lquitos? You're not the man with the railway are you?
Yeah, that's me.
Well... the Trans-Andean Railway, but...
...the project fell through.
But the idea was a bold one.
At the moment I'm trying my luck as as ice producer, to make money.
Here, all people want...
...for their money are the big names from Europe.
Sarah Bernhardt, an actress who can't even sing.
But her wooden leg is the talk of the town.
The ice, ah, I mean...
I'm doing all this because I have one dream...
...the opera.
The Great Opera in the Jungle!
Fitzcarraldo will build it and Caruso will sing at the premiere.
It's only the dreamers who ever move mountains.
For five years now we've been the richest town in the whole world.
It's like gold fever.
May I show you the house?
When this opera was built there were only a few huts here.
The building was practically in the jungle.
Prices are ten times higher here than in New York.
There are palaces being built with tiles from Delft and Florentine marble.
And lquitos is catching up. It's still a filthy frontier town...
...but the rubber business is growing by leaps and bounds.
The better-off citizens in Manaus, if I may put it like that...
...send their laundry to Lisbon...
...because the water in the Amazon is felt to be impure.
Aren't you going to stay?
I don't mind you're running a brothel.
Come on. I train the girls for the best households.
Much better than sending them out on the streets.
I've nothing against the girls, Molly.
I just can't stand the sight of dandies who think money can buy everything.
And the opera... I've got to work on this ice production.
You could take a crack at respectability, you know. Wouldn't kill you.
Respectability just made me bankrupt.
I'm better off down there by the river.
Got my real audience down there now...
The kids?
Yeah, that's my public. And a pig.
One of those lean racing pigs loves me.
How could she help it.
When I build my opera house...
...I'll see to it you have your own box and a red velvet armchair.
It works through a chemical reaction of two different salts.
Just imagine the possibilities ice has, but people don't see it.
The children love it.
Yeah, they eat it.
Imagine, one day...
...ice in every warehouse, on every ship.
What do you think of it?
I'll tell you what I think. You can read up about ice in any school book.
It's out of the question to apply for a patent.
But I have the experience, and it's experience that counts.
What good is ice here? To cool the rubber?
Maybe we should magically create some glaciers in the jungle.
And then we'll build the Trans-Andean Railroad on sled skids...
...loosen the brakes, give her a push...
Come on, come on.
Don't take it to heart.
Here, this is for you.
Use this, play a hand with us.
The precious feeling of losing money!
Nothing like it! Ecstasy!
The church remains closed 'til this town has its opera house.
I want the opera house!
I want my opera house!
I want to have an opera!
This church remains closed 'til this town has an opera!
I will build my opera!
I could have let you cool your heels in there for two weeks.
Thanks. Two days were more than enough.
I'm sure Molly is behind this.
You're mistaken. But come with me.
I'll show you the real reason I'm letting you out so soon.
They won't budge. I felt moved. Even a horse would be touched.
That shouldn't be too hard to arrange.
All of them together, at the same time?
Don Aquilino, The Borja brothers...
I have my ways. Don't worry. I'll bring all my girls with me.
We'll have all the rubber barons gathered together like flies.
And I guarantee you, they'll be feeling good.
I'll bring my phonograph.
You need some sprucing up first.
I'm not letting you out of my house like that.
A steam bath for Mr. Fitzcarraldo! Full treatment.
And then deliver him to my bedroom.
This is serious... help... Hey Molly, tell them... Help!
Everyone wants money from me. The hospital, the fire brigade...
...and now you keep talking my ear off about your opera.
It gives expression to our deepest feelings.
What is he talking about?
Our deepest feelings!
Just take a look at this.
Come a bit closer.
A little demonstration.
1000 dollar bills seem to taste best.
See how fast our money goes down the drain?
You must have experienced this.
How thrilling it must be to go bankrupt.
Let's return to our friends.
Yes, such a chance to meet all one's friends and rivals in one place...
...does not present itself very often.
Rosita, over there!
Take the champagne over there!
Please, may we have your attention?
Please, come a bit closer.
Servant! Hold him!
He can't get away with this.
One moment! Please, please, please!
Ladies and gentlemen, don't worry.
This man is harmless, he's just had a soul-stirring experience.
My servants will escort you to the kitchen.
My dogs' cook will prepare you a meal.
Thank you very much, sir, you were superb.
To your dogs' cook.
To Verdi.
To Rossini.
To Caruso.
To Fitzcarraldo, the Conquistador of the Useless!
Cheers!
As true as I am standing here, one day I shall bring grand opera to lquitos.
I will outnumber you.
I will outbillion you.
I am the spectacle in the forest.
I am the inventor of rubber.
I will outrubber you.
Sir, the reality of your world is nothing more...
...than a rotten caricature of great opera.
Fitz, Fitz, let's go.
He's as dead as a doornail. He is no opponent for you.
Madam, I'm still standing firm on both my legs.
You're a big game hunter, aren't you?
What's that got to do with it?
Then you should know: When you shoot an elephant...
...he sometimes stays on his legs for ten days before he topples over.
Come on, girls, we're leaving. This way!
Rubber. That's the way to do it. Forget about the ice.
You need a big steam-boat. And most of all you need land.
And hundreds of workers.
The rubber barons have divided up the land. But there's still some left.
How do you know?
Through Don Aquilino. Why don't you pay him a visit?
Forget about it.
Why don't you try him out?
My territory begins right here where the Pongo ends...
...and reaches downstream for 80 miles.
And above the Pongo?
I'd like to have that myself.
We've thought about building a road across the mountains...
...but it would be an impossible venture, and there still wouldn't be...
A ship... And nobody has made it upstream?
Want to see for yourself? We can go a little further by foot.
What's he saying?
We must be quiet.
He says, whoever talks...
The Indians call the rapids Chirimagua, "the angry spirits."
Anyone who falls in there is lost.
The native bare-asses also say, "The water has no hair to hold on to."
Is this a rubber tree?
Right. Hevea brasiliensis.
They call the rubber tree caoutchou...
..."the tree that weeps."
These bare-asses love flowery language.
Bees, "father of honey."
You know, it's no easy job to civilize them, believe me.
How much do you think this stinky stuff weighs?
132 pounds! And I presume you're familiar with the market price.
How long does it take to make one of them?
Three men one week.
Presently I have a staff of 8,500.
But I am thinking of increasing to 10,000.
You're a strange bird, but I must say I like you.
That's my area. From the Pongo to the mouth of the Ucayali.
Up there you see the Peruvian Amazon Company, a joint stock company...
...and there, the Borja brothers.
What does that square mean?
That's the rubber region of the Ucayali, about 14 million trees.
It's the only area still unclaimed.
Because of the rapids of the Pongo das Mortes...
...you'd have to have wings to fly into this area.
What about up on the Pachitea?
No rubber trees, maybe a few, but not enough to make it worthwhile.
The only thing you'll find there are savage Indians.
No gold, no rubber, no nothing.
Only head hunters...
The two rivers almost touch each other.
What?
How exact is this map? Is there anything more precise?
Oh, it's a pretty good map.
In 1896 a group of surveyors and soldiers got to the Upper Pachitea...
...but most of them were murdered.
Then some missionaries got as far as Saramiriza, their farthest settlement.
From there on you'll find only savage Jivaros and Campas.
Two padres ended up as shrunken heads.
Yes... I mean...
No... sort of...
Have you made your choice?
I can't decide... I guess I'll take both.
I need your money, every red cent you can spare.
An amazing idea!
I've bought some maps, I can explain everything to you.
First I have to contact a lawyer, then get a ship.
But my money is not gonna buy you a ship, Fitz.
The act of territorial acquisition is done step by step.
You and your partner sign, you pay the money...
Before you sign, I'd like to direct your attention to the option clause.
What option clause?
Through its executive organs, the Peruvian government is insistent...
...with no exceptions, that a region of this size be taken into possession...
...by deed and by proof within nine months.
You will have to prove that real operational steps...
Otherwise your right of exploitation will be terminated.
The point is that the state is concerned that areas such as this...
...are productively used by competent men of business...
Come on, we are wasting time.
May I ask you a question of a personal nature?
Do you really know what you're doing?
We're gonna do what nobody's ever done.
We're going to be very, very rich.
Please, sir, sign on the dotted line.
That's it.
Isn't it marvelous?
We should be able to fix it up.
Watch out here.
Everything's rotted.
The engine room.
Up the stairs.
Wait a moment.
Wait. Let me go first.
To our contract! Please come in, gentlemen.
Now that the purchase of my ship is settled, let me be quite frank.
I forced you to take Cholo as mechanic or you wouldn't have gotten the ship.
I realize that.
He's a first-rate mechanic, I'll tell you that much.
Now, what else is he?
The reason behind it all, excuse my bluntness...
...is that I wish to be kept informed about the activities of my competitors.
I don't want my territory contested.
Don't worry.
Every steamship owner is a potential enemy...
...but those with just a canoe can't hurt us.
The two of us have a bet going...
Oh, don't take it personally, please.
No, only one of us.
I shall move a mountain.
When is she gonna be ready?
Tomorrow. For days he's been telling me tomorrow.
I hope she'll be ready for launching.
I wonder what this character's really up to.
What's your name?
Paul Resenbrink. I'm Dutch.
They call me Orinoco Paul...
You haven't sailed for some time.
That's right. My last ship was the Adolfo.
My eyesight isn't so good, but I cannot be fooled.
What do you mean?
The jungle plays tricks on your senses.
It's full of lies, demons, illusions.
I have learned to tell the difference between reality and hallucinations.
I see that you took part in the Pachitea expedition in 1886.
Yes, as helmsman.
On the return trip I was the captain.
The captain died. There were only five survivors.
Paul Resenbrink, you have captain's authority.
Help me choose the crew.
I'm afraid we'll find few good men here.
First of all we need a pilot.
Does anyone have experience as a pilot?
Scram, you puny runt! I'm Huerequeque.
Brethren! I am Huerequeque!
I am the best cook in all of el Amazonas.
I have been on every ship.
And amigo, I'm not stupid. I know what your plans are.
Huerequeque may tip the bottle now and then...
...but up here... electric, electrico!
Also, I am the best gunman on the entire Amazon.
- What do you think of him? - Upstream and downstream.
- Is he really a good gunman? - I would have to say, yes.
What was your name? Huere...
Huerequeque, you are our cook.
Who bought the ship? Who paid for the crew?
Molly, you can't leave the girls. What are they gonna do without you?
And what will I do without you?
I'll be back.
Fitz... do you still love me?
We are partners, you and me.
Oh Fitz, you're crazy!
Oh Fitz, it's wonderful!
This is your day, Molly!
You've given the ship my name!
Now comes the official part.
Here. Throw it... hard!
I don't want those seņoritas on board my ship.
These are my assistants. I can't cook without them.
Why isn't he going down to the Ucayali?
I thought he was going to the Pongo das Mortes.
You saw right.
We're going upstream! What's the idea?
We're going up the river. That's the idea.
And, from now on, you only leave the engine room if I say so.
What do you think you're doing? Getting around my girls!
Don Fitzcarraldo! Don Fitzcarraldo!
Look here, Amazon Terminal ready for action.
I see you've become a father.
I knew you'd come back.
I thought you'd forgotten about me when the railroad construction ceased.
Every year I repaint the first class booking office.
It looks a little weather-beaten...
...to the Pacific, then everything will change.
I've been here six years now, without payment.
The engine is in good working order.
But I must confess...
They need it for their machetes and things.
They used to come at night to steal parts.
So I thought...
I had to do it. I was left alone and deserted on this post.
I thought you'd been sent home like everybody else.
Let me show you outside.
Come with me. I made an invention to scare off the Indians.
They've become more cautious. I do the same thing with the snakes.
I connect an electric line to the tracks.
I chase the snakes onto the rails with a stick.
On the first rail they get fried, on the second they turn to ash.
Every year, I cut back the bushes...
When will you resume construction?
The thing is... we've come here on a different project.
Our whole financial situation will change overnight, if it works.
What I'm trying to say is...
No, not those from under the engine, not those...
Don Fitzcarraldo.
I'm begging you, leave me just a few yards to roll it back and forth.
Hey, leave those under there! There's more out in the forest.
Thank you, thank you.
We should have reached the Pachitea a long time ago.
No, we haven't.
But according to the map...
I don't rely on maps.
How can you be so sure about that?
No river tastes like the Pachitea. It's just ahead of us.
Brimming over!
Oh, these women!
That's what I need.
What's going on here?
We're going up the Pachitea.
Is that so?
Where are we going?
Amigos, welcome to the Pachitea!
Something is going on down below.
What?
I told you in lquitos I needed men, not cowards who shit in their pants.
Whoever wants to leave, step forward.
Welcome to Saramiriza!
Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald.
We thought you were a government commission.
How can anyone learn patriotism from a school book?
The Government requires it.
The natives get used to it like vaccination.
The children already feel like Peruvians.
The other day I asked them...
"No," they said, "not us, the ones up the river are."
Then I asked, "What are Indians?"
...who can't read and who don't know how to wash their clothes."
And what do the older people say?
We can't seem to cure them of the idea...
...behind which lies the reality of dreams.
I am very interested in these ideas.
What do you know about the Jivaros on the upper Pachitea?
I was there during the disaster in '96.
Some years ago, two of our brothers set off with some natives.
One of them came back a few days later...
The expedition vanished without a trace.
A few weeks later, one of our brothers was washed up.
They'd filled his stomach with heavy stones and his head was gone.
Anyway, what do you want up there?
I'm planning something geographical.
Paul.
The crew.
Quiet down, you drunken idiots! Stop it!
You have to crack down on the men, or you can find yourself a new captain.
Who's causing trouble?
Evaristo Chavez and Fabiano, the Brazilian. And the two women.
They must go ashore immediately, they're the main ones.
And Huerequeque, he's smart but not to be trusted.
Your services are no longer required. I give you two minutes to get ashore.
You'll see, we're the lucky ones.
And the women.
See to the rest!
And all of you, back to work. Go on!
Reduce speed! Half speed ahead!
What are the men doing?
They've armed themselves.
Under no circumstances are they to shoot.
That was our mistake on the first expedition.
Go down and tell them that, or there'll be a disaster.
What the hell are you doing?
Just trying to have a little conversation with our invisible friends.
Idiot, this will cost us our lives. Yours first.
There are silences and silences.
And this one, I don't like at all.
There's something on the water.
Where?
Something black, floating towards us.
What's an umbrella doing here?
It must have belonged to one of the missionaries that the Jivaros killed.
Strange.
Seems to be a last warning. The bare-asses love flowery gestures.
I wish they would show themselves.
Now it's Caruso's turn.
Do you see the Indians in the canoe?
It doesn't look like one. No, I don't think so.
They would attack at night. And in bigger groups.
Shall we stop and try to make contact?
No, don't stop. They wouldn't talk to us anyway.
Something's moving over there.
Those bare-asses have never seen the likes of this. Teach 'em some respect.
Everything depends on how we behave.
Tell me everything you know about them.
These Jivaro probably left the interior of Brazil about 300 years ago.
For ten generations they've been criss-crossing the jungle...
...in search of a white God in a divine vessel.
At the end of their pilgrimage he would show them...
...a land without sorrow and death.
We're gonna take advantage of this myth.