9 Completely Pointless Preparations By Method Actors

2. Scott Glenn Embedded Himself In The Jungle For Months For His Non-Speaking Apocalypse Now Cameo

Scott Glenn considered it the most important film role he ever had, which you can sort of understand when you factor in that Glenn's part as Lt. Colby in Apocalypse Now allowed him to work alongside such greats as Francis Ford Coppola and Marlon Brando, that the production was like an epic, madness-inducing recreation of 'Nam itself and that Glenn was present for a whole seven months of it. The actor was there in the Philippines early at the insistence of Coppola, who wanted Glenn to get used to the environment before filming his scenes. In the time he spent waiting, Glenn assisted in production, helped train extras in how to pass for real military (Glenn was a former Marine) and - honest to God - helped to deliver a baby. He also did some actual role preparation, like living with and learning the language of the Ifugao tribesmen standing in as Col. Kurtz's personal army and learning from greats like Brando and Martin Sheen on-set. The result of Glenn's labours is there for all to see in Apocalypse Now's final cut; it's a masterful, wordless ten-second performance.