Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe (1980)

Welcome! I have been very poor at keeping this up, but times have been quite busy lately. However, no worries. I am back and will have a lot more time for new (to me) movies and share my experiences with you!

For those of you who have not yet read the first official entry of this blog, scroll down and read my experience with Truffaut's The 400 Blows.

This week, I write to you regarding a short 20 minute film. The focus of this short is filmmaker Werner Herzog. I have only seen 3 of HIS films (Rescue Dawn, Grizzly Man and Wrath of God) and I must say, I have not really been too impressed. However, he is considered a master filmmaker, so I will continue to try to find a film of his that I enjoy.

This is not one of his own films. This film is directed by Les Blank, who according to IMDB, has 36 films credited to him as director. I had not seen, nor heard of any of them prior to this. Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe, as stated in the film, started as a bet. Herzog's friend Errol Morris had an idea for a documentary but seemed to be to unsure of himself to go out and make it. The friend that he is, Herzog challenged Morris with a bet, that if Morris can finish his documentary (Gates of Heaven, wonderful fim) that he would eat his own shoe.

Yes. The title is literal.

So, in this 20minute short, we are invited to watch Herzog cook his shoe with salt, garlic, duck fat etc., and yes, EAT HIS LEATHER SHOE in front of a live audience.

I had heard of this short years ago, but after my experiences with Herzog's films, I had intended to avoid him as well as I could. However, this title popped into my head recently and I had luckily found the film on YouTube (Which will be posted below) and I gave in.

I think I do like Herzog, the man, a bit more. It is apparent that he is a man of his word (obviously, he eats a shoe.) not only in elation to this bet, but as you will see in the film, on set of one of his own films (Even Dwarfs Start Small) he bet the cast that if they all survive the shoot, he would jump into a cactus bush. He points out that he still has some cactus pins in his knee, years later.

So, in short, this film has led me to believe that there is still hope in my finding a Herzog feature film that I can enjoy. The search continues!

Before the film though, I must say that I grew a fondness for this man near the very beginning with this one quote:

"I'm quite convinced that cooking is the only alternative to filmmaking."

Well said sir. And nooooow the movie folks!

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-Arthur Born

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