With appearances by Paul Bettany and Malcolm's wife Kelley. If Paul gets the role in "Going Mad" he's owes me! ;-)
Q: How did this tribute come about in NYC?
Malcolm McDowell: I was going to be in town for my daughter's graduation from Wesleyan and I was talking to Joanna (the director of the theater) and she had an opening in her schedule so it all fit together.
Q: The "knife fight" in The Collection reminded me a bit of Royal Flash with you and Alan.
MM: Yes, there is a funny story behind that. I got a call that I had to do some sword training before we started shooting and I'm 'like for a Pinter piece!?' They said yes and I thought 'well, OK. I'm game.' Turned out it was for the cheese knife scene where is was literally like (he holds his arm in front of him) and that's it! But Bates insisted calling them in for it! (Laughs)
Q: I have this picture of you from Royal Flash without any facial hair (handing it to him) what can you tell me about it?
MM: No idea. I never saw this before. I can't remember. Where did you get it?
Q: It is a German lobby card, there is another scene too. Was it a flashback scene?
MM: That could be it.
Q: Were the mustache and sideburns a prop then?
MM: No. I grew it all because I can't stand wearing fake ones. They feel awful. I wanted to show Royal Flash here, but I couldn't get a print.
Kelley: He kept the red army coat from the film. I wear it sometimes, because I am the same size he was then! He was so small back then that it fits me now.
Q: He's still in great shape.
K: That's because he walks three miles up a mountain everyday.
Q: What is going on with the Firestarter series?
MM: They are supposed to do a series, but I don't think I'm involved. I'd like to do a couple though, it would be fun.
Q: What can you tell me about this? (I hand him his Rugby picture from 1960.)
MM: Oh, my god! That's me - my old rugby team. Where did you get that?! I have a copy hanging in our bathroom.
Q: So have you learned how to turn on the computer yet?
MM: No. I know, I know...I'm still in the dark ages.
Q: (To Paul Bettany) Aren't you playing Sherwin (to Malcolm) and you are playing Lindsay in the Going Mad in Hollywood movie?
Paul Bettany: What?
MM: That would be great. I was talking to Sherwin and your name was bounced around. You should contact casting.
PB: I will. That would be great!
MM: Of course, then I would really be able to give you some serious shit. I'll push you around.
PB: (Laughing hard)
MM: You are too tall and a different build than him, but it would be fucking brilliant.
PB: I can play you again.
MM. Listen. You don't know a fuck about me. Let me tell you about Sherwin. He was a drunk, an alcoholic and a miserable wretch. Not some playboy he makes himself out to be.
Q: I brought the playbill for Twelfth Night, when you got the call for if.... (I hand to to him.)
MM: Ahh! Oh my god, that is absolutely the worst Shakespeare play. I defy anyone to do anything with that role. You can see how far my name is down the cast list. I was not a major player and the director was the worst.
Q: Thanks for getting me Gangster tickets.
MM: So are you excited to see it?
Q: I've already seen it, I have the DVD.
MM: He's already seen it?! You probably won't like my book, because you've heard all my stories. (Smiles)
Q: I'm here to support you and it is such a great film that I can't wait to see it on the big screen. Was "White Heat" an influence for Gangster?
MM: Probably. I've always be a great fan of Jimmy Cagney. He was also a great comic actor, I love, love, love what he did.
Q: What can you tell me about I Spy?
MM: I'm don't think I'm allowed to talk about it.
Q: Are you finished shooting?
MM: Yes, it is finished. I do play the heavy - he is selling a plane and has very special traits, but I can't tell you what they are. I had a great time with it. Owen Wilson I really enjoyed working with. Eddie Murphy is a great comic actor - a great actor. We worked on a professional level very well, it was great working with him. I've always admired him and it was exciting for me to work with him.
Q: You must get tired of people thinking you play only villains.
MM: When you are born with a face like mine what choice to I have? It took me 40 years to grow into it. I put the clip of the Puppet (from Hugo Pool for the clip film) in because you were talking about it the last time we met!
Q: Wow. How is the little guy doing?
MM: Kelley had it out on the mantle, but it kept falling. It is one piece and very soft. She put it away because she was afraid the nose would break off.
Q: Did you get to keep the motorcycle from if.... ?
MM: No, that was given away in a contest.
Q: Whatever happened to Christine Noonan?
MM: That's a good question. Apparently she is living in Canada.
Q: You were so good in Pearl, but when you weren't on I wanted to throw the TV out a window.
MM: Yeah, it wasn't a great show, but I stuck with it because Rhea was the nicest person all around.
Q: They should have had a spin-off called The Pynchon Show.
MM: There was talk about it for a while...
Q: The new print for OLM was amazing.
MM: I tell you it was beautiful. That was the first time I had seen it in around 20 years. It doesn't get much better that that. After seeing it, Clockwork will be anti-climactic. But I shouldn't say that in front of you because you'll put it on your website and everyone will see it!
Q: In Assassin of the Tsar did they tell you or did you come up with your own interpretation of what Timofev was? Was he demon possessed, schizophrenic, reincarnated or playing games?
MM: I don't know. He was nuts...I don't know how nuts. Is he in fact insane? I don't think so, the things that have to be opened. He's not really crazy, he's rather wise actually. He plays that game, he plays the doctor to its inevitable end. Is it a game? I don't know. There is a moment when he knows he's got it. It was great fun doing two parts. I'm not a method actor, it's organic. You dive into it. Who is not going to believe I'm Russian? I'm there in Russia, I look Russian. The only thing I had to ask Karen, this is honestly the truth, the first thing I asked him about this part was "How do you light a cigarette?" Because that's a dead giveaway. He showed me how to do it so I was on my way to the character. That was all I really needed to know.
Q: When you did the promotion for Get Crazy in a lot of the interviews you mentioned a roll in Tin Soldiers where you were going to sing ten songs. I always wondered what happened to it?
MM: In who? Was I? They must've backed out. The probably saw the film (Get Crazy).
Q: Are you doing another play in New York anytime soon?
A: I've been asked, but nothing yet. If I do, I'm sure I'll see you there.
This entire page © 2002-08 Alex D. Thrawn for www.MalcolmMcDowell.net