MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SEMINAR SERIES, THE: A CONVERSATION WITH JACK LEMMON {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio. In this seminar, Los Angeles Museum vice president and director, Steven A. Bell, talks with actor Jack Lemmon about his career in television.
Bell begins the evening with an introduction and screening of clips from Lemmon's appearances in television programs including "The Ad-Libbers"; "Ford Theatre: Marriageable Male"; "Studio One: June Moon"; "Studio One: The Wisdom Tooth"; "Ford Star Jubilee: The Day Lincoln Was Shot"; "Playhouse 90: Face of a Hero"; "Bell System Family Theatre: 'S Wonderful 'S Marvelous 'S Gershwin"; and "Get Happy: The Music of Harold Arlen." Clips from the following programs are also shown: "Mobil Showcase: The Entertainer"; "Long Day's Journey into Night"; "The Murder of Mary Phagan"; "A Life in the Theatre"; "Twelve Angry Men"; "Inherit the Wind"; and "Oprah Winfrey Presents: Tuesdays with Morrie." Lemmon then joins Bell onstage, and they discuss the following topics, among others: "the good old days" of live television; the high quality of recent made-for-television movies; Lemmon's first theatrical experience, which occurred at the age of eight; the failure of "Face of a Hero" as a stage play; his work on the live radio soaps "Brighter Day" and "Road of Life"; his first role on television in "The Arrival of Kitty"; the inevitability of the occurrence of mishaps on live television; and his first introduction to James Cagney. They also talk about Lemmon's experiences working with Harry Cohn; the importance of trusting a director; his fight against being typecast; his method of choosing scripts; his return to dramatic television in the late 1980s; his decision to turn down the role of Fast Eddie in "The Hustler"; and the classic roles he wishes he had played. Next, Lemmon fields questions and comments from the audience, leading to a discussion of the following topics, among others: Lemmon's work with Burgess Meredith; the differences between his preparation techniques for drama than for comedy; his memories of working on the films "The Out-of-Towners" and "The Great Race"; his research for "Tuesdays with Morrie"; his ability as a self-taught pianist; the constant rejection that young actors face; his respect for good comedy; his belief that his life experiences have vastly affected his work; the fun that he had working with Billy Wilder and Tony Curtis on "Some Like It Hot"; the importance of maintaining control while acting; and his toughest roles.
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: February 23, 2000 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:31:40
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:59652
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Steven A. Bell … Host, Moderator
- Jack Lemmon … Guest
- James Cagney
- Harry Cohn
- Tony Curtis
- Burgess Meredith
- Billy Wilder