Saturday, April 17, 2010

Gates Of Heaven + Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe


Here is one that was so hard to find/dig up (no pun intended) that I was shocked when I found it. Gates of Heaven is a 1978 documentary film by Errol Morris about the pet cemetery business. The film, like Morris' other works, is unnarrated and the stories are told purely through interviews. It is divided into two main sections. The first concerns Floyd "Mac" McClure and his lifelong quest to allow pets to have a graceful burial. McClure's business associates and his competitor, a manager of a rendering plant, are interviewed. Eventually the business fails and the 450 animals have to be dug up and transported to the Bubbling Well Pet Memorial Park. This operation is run by John "Cal" Harberts and his two sons. This business is far more successful, and continues to operate today, run by Cal's son Dan Harberts.
Noted director Werner Herzog pledged that he would eat the shoe he was wearing if Morris' film on this improbable subject was completed and shown in a public theater. When the film was released Herzog lived up to his wager and the consumption of his footwear was made into the short film Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe- I provided the link to this as well below.
Enjoy!

Gates Of Heaven


Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe

Part 1


Part 2

No comments:

Post a Comment