Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Update: Transcriptions

As I just wasn't getting off my duff and transcribing any of the interviews that I'd done since start of this project (going on five years!), I decided to hire some transcribers via Craigslist. Fortunately, when I sent out the ad to some of my friends, one of them volunteered. That said, I've gotten back about half or more of the transcriptions and I'm excited to see them coming in and remembering the conversations.

Oddly, I seem to have the most interviews around Matilda and may start there with writing.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Project Gould

Way back in December, 2010, I posted about the filmography of Donald Sutherland and Elliott Gould in the 1970s with the idea of doing a book about these two actors' careers during my favorite decade of cinema.

It's over three years later and that project has yet to come to fruition. One of my first stumbling blocks was Donald Sutherland's publicist who has acted like a successful roadblock. I was taken aback by his publicist's first question to me; "Why would you talk about them [Gould and Sutherland] together since they were only in one movie together?" Apparently, she'd remembered M*A*S*H but forgotten S*P*Y*S, Little Murders, and the friendship that the two men shared in the early 1970s. This exclusion of Sutherland may have been a blessing in disguise, however, Gould's filmography from 1969 to 1981 includes an astounding 28 feature films, not to mention his numerous appearances on television specials.

Since 2010, I've been working to track down people involved with these films and interviewing them. I've had a lot of luck with some films (California Split, Little Murders, etc) and horrid luck with others (Harry & Walter Go to New York, The Lady Vanishes, I Will... I Will... For Now, etc). I've been working for a few years to try and get a response from James Caan, Malcolm Marmorstein, Claudia Cardinale, Steven Paul, and Kim Darby (to name a few). I've gotten turned down by Diane Keaton, Mark Rydell, and Cybill Shepherd.

I'm very sad to say that during my research Ted Post (Whiffs) and Charles Jarrott (The Last Flight of Noah's Ark) have passed away. However, I was very fortunate to have talked to Mel Stuart (I Love My Wife) just a few weeks prior to his passing. He died owing me $108.00 (a story I hope to include in the book).

Even without input from some of the aforementioned folks, I'm still planning on finally getting my ass in gear and going ahead with the project in 2014.

And what about the man himself? What about Elliott Gould? He may be interested in participating and, of course, that would be invaluable. I need to show him that I can do more than just write blog posts and proposals about a book. After I wrap up a few things for BearManor Media, I'm going to buckle down and write a chapter on California Split and Getting Straight. Of course, I'm going to go beyond the films themselves and talk about their sources, what other films compare with them, the times in which they were made, and their influences on other films/culture.

Why am I posting this? I'm hoping that it will help hold my feet to the fire as well as maybe shake some fruit from the trees. I can hope.

Interviews in the Can
Joseph Walsh (California Split)
Jules Feiffer (Little Murders)
Peter Hyams (Busting + Capricorn One)
Brenda Vaccaro (I Love My Wife + Capricorn One)
Mel Stuart (I Love My Wife)
Richard Rush (Getting Straight)
Albert Ruddy (Matilda)
Timothy Galfas (Matilda)
Gary Morgan (Matilda)
Fred Williamson (M*A*S*H + Mean Johnny Barrows)
Jack Gold (Who?)
Joss Ackland (S*P*Y*S)
Paula Prentiss (MOVE)
Sandy Glass (The Last Flight of Noah's Ark)

Interviews I hope to get
Alan Arkin (Little Murders)
Albert E. Lewin (I Will... I Will... For Now)
Allen Garfield (Busting)
Alvin Rakoff (Dirty Tricks)
Anthony Page (The Lady Vanishes)
Bill Cosby (The Devil & Max Devilin)
Christopher Plummer (The Silent Partner)
Curtis Hanson (The Silent Partner)
Cybill Shepherd (The Lady Vanishes)
Diane Keaton (Harry & Walter Go To New York + I Will... I Will... For Now)
Donald Sutherland (MASH, SPYS, Little Murders)
Geneviève Bujold (The Last Flight of Noah's Ark)
Geneviève Waïte (Move)
James Caan (Harry & Walter Go To New York)
Malcolm Marmorstein (SPYS + Whiffs)
Mark Rydell (The Long Goodbye + Harry & Walter Go to New York)
Mary Rodgers (The Devil & Max Devlin)
Max von Sydow (The Touch)
Nina Van Pallandt (The Long Goodbye)
Robert Blake (Busting)
Steven Hilliard Stern (The Devil & Max Devlin)
Steven Paul (Falling in Love Again)

Gould and Sutherland

This is one of my latest obsessions... going through the filmographies of Donald Sutherland and Elliot Gould in the '70s and seeing what an amazing body of work these two guys had. I smell a future article...

Year Title Role
1970Start the Revolution Without Me 
1970M*A*S*HCaptain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce
1970Kelly's HeroesSergeant "Oddball"
1970Alex in WonderlandAlex Morrison
1970The Act of the HeartFather Michael Ferrier
1970MoveHiram Jaffe
1970Airport(uncredited) - Voice
1970I Love My WifeRichard Burrows
1970Getting StraightHarry Bailey
1970M*A*S*HTrapper John
1971Little Murders 
1971KluteJohn Klute
1971Johnny Got His GunChrist
1971The TouchDavid Kovac
1971Little MurdersAlfred Chamberlain
1972F.T.A. 
1972The Special London Bridge SpecialThe Villain
1973Steelyard BluesJesse Veldini
1973Lady IceAndy Hammon
1973Don't Look NowJohn Baxter
1973Alien ThunderSergeant Dan Candy
1973Who?Sean Rogers
1973The Long GoodbyePhilip Marlowe
1974S*P*Y*SBruland
1974California SplitCharlie Waters
1974BustingVice Detective Michael Keneely
1974S*P*Y*SGriff
1975The Day of the LocustHomer Simpson
1975Mean Johnny BarrowsThe Professor
1975NashvilleHimself
1975WhiffsDudley Frapper
1976End of the Game 
1976The Eagle Has LandedLiam Devlin
1976Il Casanova di Federico FelliniGiacomo Casanova
19761900Attila Mellanchini
1976I Will, I Will for NowLes Bingham
1976Harry And Walter Go To New YorkWalter Hill
1977Blood RelativesSteve Carella
1977The Kentucky Fried MovieThe Clumsy Waiter
1977The DisappearanceJay Mallory
1977Bethune 
1977A Bridge Too FarCol. Bobby Stout
1978National Lampoon's Animal HouseProfessor Dave Jennings
1978Invasion of the Body SnatchersMatthew Bennell
1978MatildaBernie Bonnelli
1978The Silent PartnerMiles Cullen
1978Capricorn OneRobert Caulfield
1979Murder by DecreeRobert Lees
1979A Man, a Woman and a BankReese Halperin
1979The Great Train Robbery 
1979Bear IslandFrank Lansing
1979Escape to AthenaCharlie Dane
1979The Lady VanishesRobert Condon
1979The Muppet MovieBeauty Contest Compere