ROBERT OBSORNE often has his work cut out for him when he has to interview a director--or star--who needs to be prodded to talk or discuss his or her film career. Not so with NORMAN JEWISON. He's amiable, witty, eager to talk about the films Osborne mentions and always has a good story to go along with each one, either from a casting viewpoint or the overall work on the film.
He warms up to the subject from the very beginning and gives us some fascinating details about a number of his best films, including THE CINCINCINNATI KID, THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING, THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING, IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT, THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, A SOLDIER'S STORY, MOONSTRUCK and THE HURRICANE.
Particularly interesting are his tales about working with stars like EDWARD G. ROBINSON, STEVE McQUEEN, FAYE DUNAWAY, TOPOL, SIDNEY POITIER, ROD STEIGER and DENZEL WASHINGTON.
He talks affectionately about Steve McQueen's bad boy streak, an actor in search of a father and how he told him he could protect him but he would do so as a friend, not a father. McQueen was a little unsettled about working with Edw. G. Robinson (who can blame him?), but in the end everything worked out fine. Jewison also tells about not wanting Steve originally for THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR but how Steve talked him into having him do the sophisticated role. He tells how Steiger chewed gum vigorously while his character was supposed to be thinking and then stopped suddenly when the idea hit him. And how hard Denzel Washington worked to get himself into shape for his role as a prizefighter in THE HURRICANE.
Filmed before an appreciative audience, Osborne was mostly able to sit back and let Jewison talk about each subject--and he did so in a manner that was entertaining, humble, and very observant.
Summing up: One of the better Robert Osborne "Private Screenings" interviews.
He warms up to the subject from the very beginning and gives us some fascinating details about a number of his best films, including THE CINCINCINNATI KID, THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING, THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING, IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT, THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, A SOLDIER'S STORY, MOONSTRUCK and THE HURRICANE.
Particularly interesting are his tales about working with stars like EDWARD G. ROBINSON, STEVE McQUEEN, FAYE DUNAWAY, TOPOL, SIDNEY POITIER, ROD STEIGER and DENZEL WASHINGTON.
He talks affectionately about Steve McQueen's bad boy streak, an actor in search of a father and how he told him he could protect him but he would do so as a friend, not a father. McQueen was a little unsettled about working with Edw. G. Robinson (who can blame him?), but in the end everything worked out fine. Jewison also tells about not wanting Steve originally for THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR but how Steve talked him into having him do the sophisticated role. He tells how Steiger chewed gum vigorously while his character was supposed to be thinking and then stopped suddenly when the idea hit him. And how hard Denzel Washington worked to get himself into shape for his role as a prizefighter in THE HURRICANE.
Filmed before an appreciative audience, Osborne was mostly able to sit back and let Jewison talk about each subject--and he did so in a manner that was entertaining, humble, and very observant.
Summing up: One of the better Robert Osborne "Private Screenings" interviews.
