This is how you do it. Mark Cousins has researched his subject, gone through his films. Rod Steiger is erudite, humorous, honest, intelligent and researched Cousins as well. Steiger appreciates where Cousins is coming from. The result is a fistful of dynamite.
It starts off with On the Waterfront. Steiger is visibly upset that Marlon Brando walked off when Steiger had to do his close ups. Someone had to stand in for Brando.
Steiger also does not pull his punches when it comes to director Elia Kazan. He became a millionaire in the theatre. Talked about the theatre being about truth and honesty. Then Kazan ratted on his friends and associates and they were not millionaires. Instead Kazan consigned them to poverty.
There is a scene from the television play Marty. Steiger talks about the immediate impact that play had on the American public.
Steiger is incredulous when Cousins suggests that Run of the Arrow is his favourite film. Not The Pawnbroker is Steiger's reponse. Steiger remembers little about the film, had little time for Samuel Fuller the director but came to appreciate why Cousins might like the movie from his own Irish perspective.
Long regarded as an actor's actor. He won an Oscar for In the Heat of the Night. However Steiger was also plagued with depression and is honest about the impact it had on his life and career. Admitting that he still takes medication.
Depression meant that he had to do poor movies for the money, even ham it up a little such as in The Amityville Horror. The 90s were kinder. Steiger could make glorified cameos in movies, get well paid and live his lifestyle. He knew that his glory days were over he was too old.
He died a few years after this interview. So this is a honest appraisal of Steiger's work.
It starts off with On the Waterfront. Steiger is visibly upset that Marlon Brando walked off when Steiger had to do his close ups. Someone had to stand in for Brando.
Steiger also does not pull his punches when it comes to director Elia Kazan. He became a millionaire in the theatre. Talked about the theatre being about truth and honesty. Then Kazan ratted on his friends and associates and they were not millionaires. Instead Kazan consigned them to poverty.
There is a scene from the television play Marty. Steiger talks about the immediate impact that play had on the American public.
Steiger is incredulous when Cousins suggests that Run of the Arrow is his favourite film. Not The Pawnbroker is Steiger's reponse. Steiger remembers little about the film, had little time for Samuel Fuller the director but came to appreciate why Cousins might like the movie from his own Irish perspective.
Long regarded as an actor's actor. He won an Oscar for In the Heat of the Night. However Steiger was also plagued with depression and is honest about the impact it had on his life and career. Admitting that he still takes medication.
Depression meant that he had to do poor movies for the money, even ham it up a little such as in The Amityville Horror. The 90s were kinder. Steiger could make glorified cameos in movies, get well paid and live his lifestyle. He knew that his glory days were over he was too old.
He died a few years after this interview. So this is a honest appraisal of Steiger's work.
