Five Favorite Films with Ron Perlman
The star of Mutant Chronicles shares his favorite classic films and what it was like to work with his idol, Marlon Brando.
You once worked with Marlon Brando, on The Island of Dr. Moreau. What was that like?
Ron Perlman: I did work with him. The film I worked with him on does not fit into the category that we are grappling with at this moment in time [laughs], but it was amazing just to be in his presence.
Did you ever talk to him about how much you admired his career?
RP: He had two rules: You could talk to him about anything under the sun, except movies, and except the movie you were working with him on. Movies meaning acting; he refused to talk about acting to anyone. And if you happened to not know those rules going in, you know... that was going to be pretty much the last conversation you had with him. But he was a really cool dude, a very warm, friendly guy. He just didn't want to talk about acting or the movie you were working on, almost like, "Hey, I don't know how this stuff happens and I don't even want to discuss it." He was a magician; he was a Merlin. But he didn't want to open it up for discussion, even with himself. It was just a magical thing.
How do you feel about talking about your own craft?
RP: I'm more eager to talk about my craft than he was, but you know, I don't compare myself to him at all. I don't compare anybody to him. He occupied a place that is --- I don't know if I would say unachievable --- but we haven't seen anything like him before or since.
I'd love another crack at him, but you know... he loved, loved to laugh. The only time I had a really, really good day with Brando on the set was, I happened to be pretty funny one day and I got him going. From that point on, there was a kind of new gleam in his eye. But the first three or four days I was on set with him, I was so intimidated and so nervous that I was a complete asshole. And he never got to see the more relaxed, easy-going version of me, which I really regret. Which is why I'd love to have another crack at him now, but... it is what it is, and I thank God that I even got to be in his presence, just for a moment.
What other actors or filmmakers did you idolize when you were younger?
RP: Gary Cooper. Errol Flynn. I think my number one guy, if you asked me, "Ron, we're sentencing you to a month in your living room and you have to only watch one actor's work," it would be Cary Grant. I think he was the most entertaining, well-rounded, elegant gift to cinema that ever existed. Because his body of work is mind-boggling. He hit all the bases. To be able to have the same guy be the buffoon in Arsenic and Old Lace, and also the most sophisticated thing you've ever seen in Hitchcock movies like North by Northwest... he was fearless in his work. Fearless. There was nothing he was afraid to do or try. He had this elegance and handsomeness that's also undescribable. You can't put your finger on what made Cary Grant Cary Grant, you're just thrilled that he existed.
Monty Clift, Paul Newman, Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Gene Hackman. I carry around with me a couple of those CD carriers with movies wherever I go in the world, and that's my kind of guilty pleasure -- watching those guys' work whenever I'm depressed and just got the s*** beat out of me on the set that day. I just go home and turn on one of those movies, and I'm all well again.
Watch Ron Perlman, Thomas Jane, and John Malkovich in Mutant Chronicles, which opens this Friday in select cities and is available now on Video on Demand. Get the latest reviews and trailers here and check out more Five Favorite Films in our archive, including:
Five Favorite Films with Bai Ling
Five Favorite Films with Greg Mottola
arendr on 04-21-2009 12:59 PM
Seems like everyone picks either Godfather 1 or 2 for these lists.