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- “When liberty is taken away by force it can be restored by force. When it is relinquished voluntarily by default it can never be recovered.” — Dorothy Thompson
- “Art is theft, art is armed robbery, art is not pleasing your mother.” — Janet Malcolm
- “I’m one of those people who thinks you can have a happy life and still be an artist.” — Shelley Duvall
- “There’s a difference between writing about something and living through it. I did both.” — poet/novelist Margaret Walker
- “I believe what Camus says. When the curtain rings down, your job is done.” — Warren Oates
- Physical Media Booklet Essay podcast interview
- “My voice isn’t an instrument I can just hang up on a hook.” — Audra McDonald
- “You can’t be on top all the time. It isn’t natural.” — Olivia de Havilland
- “If I don’t feel it, I can’t play it.” — James Cotton
- “I don’t have to be an imitation of a white woman that Hollywood sort of hoped I’d become. I’m me, and I’m like nobody else.” — Lena Horne
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Category Archives: Actors
“How Bad Could I Be? What Would I Do? What Could I Do?”
Lee Marvin on playing the diabolically violent Liberty Valance in John Ford’s masterpiece (one of them, anyway), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: “It was fun for me to play that dangerous guy. It was a dangerous kind of a … Continue reading
Rourke Redux
Yesterday was Mickey Rourke’s birthday. In late 2008, on the eve of The Wrestler opening, I wrote a giant piece about Rourke’s career for The House Next Door. It was one of those pieces that was like the Energizer Bunny. … Continue reading
It Means So Much. So Much.
In Tickle Me (1965), Elvis plays Lonnie, an out-of-work rambling rodeo rider who makes extra cash singing wherever anyone will have him. Through a series of encounters, Lonnie gets a job at a ranch which operates as a “fat farm” … Continue reading
In Praise of Laurette Taylor: “The Rocks Became Real.”
If you know about 20th century American theatre, you know about Laurette Taylor. I never saw her live. How could I? She died in 1946, right after her triumphant raise-the-bar-for-everyone-for-all-time performance as Amanda Wingfield in the premiere production of Tennessee … Continue reading
The Rape Scene in Deliverance: “I Didn’t Read That Much Sex Into It.”
I was watching the 35th anniversary DVD of Deliverance (inspired by Kim Morgan’s recent interview with the four main guys), and while there is a lot of awesome information in the extensive documentary about the making-of this classic film, I … Continue reading
Brad Pitt: “I think the bong’s name was Russell.”
Brad Pitt on playing the stoner “Floyd” in True Romance, directed by Tony Scott: I got involved with the film because I was having early discussions with Tony about playing a much bigger role in the film. To be honest, … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, Directors, RIP
Tagged Brad Pitt, Quentin Tarantino, Tony Scott, True Romance
1 Comment
Mitchell Fain Presents: Part 2
Mitchell and me, yet again in the photo booth at Lounge Ax, a music club on Fullerton in Chicago which is, sadly, no longer there. I am pleased to present to you the second part of the marathon conversation Mitchell … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, Directors
Tagged Burt Reynolds, Claude Rains, Joan Crawford, Lily Tomlin, Woody Allen
35 Comments
Conversations with Mitchell, Part 1: Justin Timberlake, Lena Horne, Doris Day, Jill Clayburgh, Cary Grant, Don Rickles.
Mitchell and me. Years ago, in a photo booth at Lounge Ax, a grubby music club on Fullerton in Chicago, across the street from the fabled Biograph. This is an interview that has been in the works, at least in … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, Movies, Music
Tagged Cary Grant, Doris Day, Jill Clayburgh, Justin Timberlake, Lena Horne
30 Comments
Cagney
It was James Cagney’s birthday this week. My friend Luisa sent me this photo which I had never seen. He looks peaceful, intent, beautiful.