Epilogue

This element is a wrap-up of who Ridley Scott is as a man and filmmaker. The epilogue discusses Scott’s process of gathering material for future projects, what constitutes a Ridley Scott film, and his personal characteristics. Also explored are how his drawing abilities impact his productions, his use of lighting and of size and space in his movies, and how his dark nature draws him to particular material. The epilogue investigates Scott’s evolution from the early days of the British New Wave of the 1970s and 1980s. Now an octogenarian, Ridley Scott continues to work as hard as ever, on as many projects as ever. His stamina and consistency of vision give him a very special place in film history.

True Crime Again

This film follows the real-life story of the kidnapping of mega-rich John Paul Getty’s grandson, who was held in a remote area in Italy. Kevin Spacey was cast and filmed as Getty. After the film was complete, a major scandal broke out concerning allegations of the actor’s sexual misconduct. Scott made the difficult decision to remake the parts of the movie in which Spacey had appeared, an extensive undertaking. Veteran actor Christopher Plummer took on the role. Scott was applauded for his moral stance and for pulling off a major cinematic feat―he completed the reshoots and editing just before the release date.

Adventures Not in Paradise

White Squall is based on the book The Last Voyage of the Albatross, co-written by Chuck Gieg, who was a survivor of a prep school ship that sank during treacherous weather on the high seas. The voyage was planned to expose young men to different locales as they studied academic subjects during the trip. They also were part of the ship’s crew and learned to be seamen. White Squall is a rare successful re-creation of the early 1960s: the dawn of an era that saw much change but still maintained its innocence. Much of this picture was shot on a real schooner at sea. Scott directed many strong performances, especially from Jeff Bridges playing Captain Christopher “Skipper” Sheldon. The boys represent many different personality types and all are impacted by the voyage and the crew. The white squall event left many dead. In the real-life story, no punishment was given to the skipper, but Scott decided to end the film on a dramatic note so a fictional scene was created. Here the skipper faces a tribunal with his license at risk. The boys come to his aid with solid support and the issue is then resolved.