Favorite Interviewees

I interviewed him in NYC in October 1983 when he came to shoot a scene of "Romancing the Stone" and preparing to produce "Starman". He was a true team player, enthusiastic about crew members' contributions (including a costumer) on the shoot, as well as calling Kathleen Turner the true star of the film and predicting her future major success.

My interview with her in NYC at her suite in the Plaza Hotel in October 1991, for a tribute to Vittorio De Sica being held at MoMa, and she was such a regal presence! She recalled the experience of working with De Sica and Chaplin, and how their expericence as actors affected their method of directing.

I interviewed him at the Mayflower Hotel near Columbus Circle in June 1989 about his performance in "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" which he was particularly proud of, dealing with the sensitive topic of euthanasia. We also covered in depth his career at Paramount beginning as a contract player in 1947, as well as later crucial influence from director Edward Dmytryk and of course "Trek"'s creator Gene Roddenberry. I wasn't the only fan there: our talk was briefly interrupted when no less than recently married Reba McEntire came to our table to have her new stepson Brandon meet his hero (no doubt DeForest was a hero of hers as well).

I interviewed her twice: first in June 1984 at Old Homestead restaurant in NYC (w/German producer Manfred Durniok) to shoot Wayne Wang's "Dim Sum" and audition for Cimino's "Year of the Dragon"- her name was Chong Chen at that time; and then in 1989 to discuss her success in "Twin Peaks" and the difficulty of breaking through in Hollywood.

I met him in 1965-66 performing with Horace Silver and later Kenny Dorham at Boston's Jazz Workshop, and kept in touch, eventually amassing a complete collection of his recordings and writing up his complete discography. Our last interview was at NY's Empire Hotel in 1995 when he was working on releasing the live recordings he made three decades earlier with pianist Wynton Kelly's group.

I interviewed him many times, sometimes in tandem with James Ivory. Most memorable was at a party in January 1986 before the release of "A Room with a View" when he introduced the New York press to Helena Bonham Carter, who also discussed her completed but yet to be released "Lady Jane" as well; in July 1984 re: release of "The Bostonians" & new projects with Rank Org. of England; in March 1988 re: 3-picture deal with Gary Hendler for TriStar release, starting with "Slaves of New York"; in February 1989 re: prepping release of "Slaves of New York" as well as his next project "Mr. & Mrs. Bridge"; in February 1990 re: many new film projects, inc. Merchant-directed "In Custody", "Howards End" and "Jefferson in Paris"; in November 1990 re: financing completed for "Howards End", plus foreign success of "Mr. & Mrs. Bridge" before its U.S. release; in June 1992 re: deal with Disney to produce "Jefferson in Paris"

I did an amusing stand-up interview with him at Elaine's restaurant in Manhattan in 1980 for the movie "Venom". Every time Klaus wanted to make a point he would grab me by both shoulders for emphasis. He was especially proud of how he had got the crew to gang up with him to get director Tobe Hooper fired, after disagreements during filming.

My Variety interview with the great writer-director took place at his home in Bedford, N.Y., covering his career and work in Hollywood labor issues (DGA and Screen Writers Guild). The guest bathroom had a blowup of a New Yorker magazine cartoon making fun of his famous movie "Cleopatra", its display there reflecting his own sense of humor.

My review of his debut movie "Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop" in 1984 was the first critique published in Spike's career, and I later had the first published review of "Do the Right Thing" which I filed for Daily Variety right after the 9 a.m. press screening at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival, where his entourage included Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, both amazing to meet and chat with. I covered his other films, interviewing him about the production of "Malcolm X".

My full-length interview with Malcolm in 1980 was transcribed and appeared in Mise-en-Scene film magazine published by my alma mater Case Western Reserve University. He was in NY performing in "Look Back in Anger" at the Roundabout theater directed by Lindsay Anderson, and was especially animated, acting out scenes from his movies. A treat was when his fiancee Mary Steenburgen joined us late in the talk.

I reviewed "Ms. 45" in 1981 prior to its debut in NY. My first interview with Zoe Tamerlis was years later, in December 1985 re: her avant-garde movie "Curfew U.S.A." (never completed), directed by Christian De Lorent. Our 1992 interview took place at Union Square Cafe in Manhattan, covering her career, writing screenplays including the never-made John Holmes biopic that had Chris Walken cast as Holmes, and in particular "Bad Lieutenant". She later was my guest along with her husband Robert Lund at the awards ceremony in 1993 of the NYFCC.

We got to know each other in the 1980s and I interviewed him in February 1989 about his return to filmmaking, with son Mario in "Identity Crisis"; in April 1990 re: planned movie on the Black Panthers, collaborating with Mario; in March 1991 re: impressive growth in film releases from Black directors for my survey story. One memorable occasion was my taking him to see Oliver Stone's "The Doors" at the Ziegfeld theater and hearing first-hand Melvin's strong feelings on how badly Stone had handled that subject and era.

A longtime fan of her Warhol movies, I interviewed her in December 1988 when her autobiography was published, and she had great stories about her relationship with Salvador Dali. Amusingly she signed my copy: "Don't be a vampire Larry". I must have rambled on a bit about horror movies, and so many years later I'm glad I never interviewed Herschel Walker!

I interviewed him in NY in February 1982 covering the U.S. release of "Das Boot" -Jurgen Prochnow was also present for the "Das Boot" talk we had; in July 1984 re: release of "The Neverending Story" and taking over direction of "Enemy Mine"; in October 1989 re: filming "The Plastic Nightmare" (a project he first planned a decade ago) as well as WW I drama "Fields of Honor"

I interviewed her together with her director husband Pasquale Squitieri in NYC in December 1991 when their film "Act of Sorrow" opened the series "RAI-2: Italy, the Other Cinema" at MoMA.

He was my favorite film producer, based on such movies as "Rider on the Rain", "Le Trou", "Bob le Flambeur", Kurosawa's "Ran" and all the later Bunuel features. Our interview occurred in NY in January 1982, where he was overseeing the production of James Toback's movie "Exposed" and I unexpectedly appeared in it fleetingly as an extra -my back to the camera.

I interviewed her twice for the opening of two films: "Sheer Madness" in January 1982 and subsequently "Rosa Luxembourg".

I did two interviews, one during the press junket in December 1984 for "A Passage to India" and in January 1989 (by phone) for the opening of "Little Dorrit", also discussing the restoration of "Lawrence of Arabia" for which he revoiced his role in footage previously cut from the negative post-initial release of the David Lean classic

My 1st interview took place at the Gulf & Western Bldg. in Columbus Circle, when he recalled in detail his direction of "Star Trek III" and the preparation for his first feature as helmer. I'll never forget the moment of shock when I stood at the elevator in the lobby and the doors opened to reveal inches away from me: Spock! Certainly a fan's dream.

I interviewed her with husband Simon McCorkindale and their star Derek de Lint at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1988 for their production "Stealing Heaven", plus projects "Woden's Day" and Susan starring in "The Lifeguard" in Yugoslavia; also in April 1989 re: her campaign to rescue "Heaven" from U.S. distributor, as well as presenting 2nd production "That Winter of White Roses" at Cannes

Our interview in October 1982 for "La truite" and its American release included fascinating information about a dream project he ultimately was never able to film: the adaptation by Harold Pinter of Proust's "Remembrance of Things Past", emphasizing "Cities of the Plain" section.

Her production of James Cameron's "The Abyss" was our subject, and at the time was of special interest since independent U.S. filmmaker Earl Owensby was making a big splash (pun intended) with his brand-new production facilities Hurd & Cameron used in South Carolina.

Another animated interviewee who one can't imagine remaining seated, but given to acting things out, he was long my hero in movies and on TV, and it was exciting to hear his thoughts on his release "Out of the Blue".

He was in NYC attending a SoHo gallery presenting his collages artwork. We had a chat pre-opening about his movies. His knowledge of many subjects greatly impressed me, and almost comically in our conversation he said casually: "You know Larry, the Jacobeans would often take the lead roles in their plays...". As if I knew that!

We did several phone interviews, including in December 1986 as I covered her early Corman productions and transition from acting to directing; then in July 1987 re: quickie production history of her vampire movie "Half-Life"; my enthusiasm for her work eventually inspired Larry Kardish to book her "Poison Ivy" with Drew Barrymore at MoMA with Katt in attendance.