WIDE WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT: THE DICK CAVETT SHOW {LAURENCE OLIVIER} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of interview programs hosted by Dick Cavett. In this program, taped in England, Dick Cavett interviews actor-director Laurence Olivier. Olivier discusses the following topics, among others: his discomfort over recently being made a Lord; his family background; his belief that one inherits one's gifts "obliquely" from one's parents; the importance of physical conditioning to the actor; the vocal training he undertakes before a demanding stage role; his early childhood acting and singing experiences; injuries he has sustained on stage; the "actor's nightmare"; working with actor Michael Caine in the film "Sleuth" (a full scene of which is then presented); a comparison of film and stage acting and directing; how he came to kiss Sir Ralph Richardson during a production of "Othello"; the interconnectedness of his temper and his artistic temperament; the film he directed, Chekhov's "The Three Sisters," in which he performs with his National Theatre company; the importance of theater to society and his belief that more national theaters should be developed in England and the U.S. At this point, Olivier performs a dramatic reading from Shakespeare's Sonnet #116 ("Let me not to the marriage of true minds ..."). Discussion continues on the following topics, among others: getting fired from his role as Greta Garbo's leading man in the 1933 film "Queen Christina"; a story -- in which Olivier does an uproarious impression of Sam Goldwyn -- recounting Goldwyn's distaste for Olivier's appearance and acting style during the shooting of "Wuthering Heights"; the appreciation of film he gained from director William Wyler; how life experience improved his ability to play the role of Macbeth; his thoughts about Rudolph Valentino and Marlon Brando; the marriage of the emotional and technical necessary in acting; how he develops the unique gaits of his characters; studying a 1914 film of Eugene O'Neill's father, James O'Neill, playing "The Count of Monte Christo" while preparing for his current stage role as James Tyrone in "Long Day's Journey into Night"; and why he publicly disclosed his recent bout with cancer. Olivier then performs a selection from Milton ("Much pleasure we have lost whilst we abstain from this delightful fruit..."). Finally Olivier discusses his five-year battle with stage fright and how he overcame it. Commercials deleted.
(Cavett hosted several talk shows under the title "The Dick Cavett Show," which aired on ABC from 1969 to 1972, on PBS from 1977 to 1982, on the USA network from 1985 to 1986, and on CNBC from 1989 to 1995. During 1973 to 1975, the show aired irregularly as part of "ABC's Wide World of Entertainment." Other versions of "The Dick Cavett Show" include a variety series on CBS in 1975 and a talk show on ABC in 1986.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: January 24, 1973 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:08:17
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T84:0254
- GENRE: Talk/Interviews
- SUBJECT HEADING: Acting; Actors; Biography; Films; Talk/Interviews; Theater
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1973-1976
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Dick Cavett … Host
- Laurence Olivier … Guest
- Marlon Brando
- Michael Caine
- Greta Garbo
- Samuel Goldwyn
- Ralph Richardson