I remember being fascinated by this movie poster when I was a kid. It was cool and sinister. Wasn’t until years later that I saw the movie, which remains overlooked, but is now available on Blue Ray DVD. Dig this Q&A with Peter O’Toole in the New York Times:
Q: How is it that “The Stunt Man” was as well-reviewed and widely nominated as it was, and yet played in so few theaters?
A.Don’t forget this is a long time ago, and I wasn’t very au fait with everything that was going on in any way. But apparently the guy who put up the bread, the money, I think he was a supermarket builder or something. [Melvin Simon, the producer, was a shopping mall developer.] He had bought the script and the entire idea on the fact that it was an art film, and it made sense on his balance books to lose money. I think eventually it crept into 11 cinemas, which is a bit shameful. [After a successful test run for “The Stunt Man” in Seattle, 20th Century Fox picked up distribution rights for the film but ordered only about 300 prints.]
Q.Was it disappointing to have put in so much effort into something that was not seen by a large number of viewers, or is that just the way it goes sometimes?
A.It’s almost the nature of my line of work. [chuckles] I began in the theater, don’t forget. I was with the Classical Repertory Company, the Bristol Old Vic, and we did 12 plays a year. Over a period of four years you can imagine the number of times one had the highest hopes [laughs] and you find you’re playing to – as the old actors used to say – Mr. and Mrs. Wood. Which meant nobody was in the audience but the seats. I’m used to it, but it was a disappointment.
For more on O’Toole check out Gay Talese’s 1963 Esquire profile, “Peter O’Toole on the Ould Sod.”
Terrific flick and one of my favorite O'Toole performances. He's having fun in every frame. I love the Talese piece too - one of my favorites.
But Alex, really, "Blu Ray DVD?" You sound like you're 80! Get hip, son!
I'm sorry, what do you call it a-wipe--B Ray?
Man, I love Peter O'Toole. He's just cool.
And to paraphrase My Favorite Year -- he's a movie star.
"My Favorite Year," that's a good corny movie. O'Toole is wonderful in it.
[2] It's just blu ray. I'm sorry, man, you left that one hanging over the plate.
[3] My Favorite Year is a really good picture. Very funny throughout and the pathos actually works for me. It all hinges on O'Toole's performance and he delivers brilliantly. Great supporting cast too.
Wow what a poster!
And yeah Blu Ray is a different technology than DVD. Remember initially there was HD DVD? Ah the good old days.
5) Picture? We call them movies, Marty. Who is 80 years old?
LOL
Zing!
Hand to God Matt and I should have our own talk show.
Then I can be the Worst Announcer Ever.
[7] Hey, it's still the MPAA - MOTION PICTURE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA. I like calling movies "pictures." It's accurate, and finds a middle ground between the somewhat silly (when you break it down) "movies," and the too-serious sounding "films."
11) Nice rationalization. You are still old as fuck.
You're older than I am, cowboy, so what does that make you?
In other news...goddamn Joba.
Makes me your fuggin Daddy. 105 year old Depends-wearing Daddy.
[11] 'finds a middle ground between the somewhat silly (when you break it down) "movies," and the too-serious sounding "films."'
I've thought this too but the problem with "picture" is it is already used quite often to refer to ... actual pictures.
[15] Ah, but that's what movies are - a series of still pictures moving at 24 frames per second!
Viva Cinema!! RIP Adolfas Mekas, my old teacher at Bard College and and an avant-garde film giant.
Never seen The Stuntman, looks great.
[16] Right - pictureS!