The ultimate put-down of Hollywood?

[LVSteve]

British actress Joan Plowright passed this week, aged 95. She was far better known for her time on the stage, and maybe even radio, rather than in films. Apparently, she had this to say about the movie industry.

The Tony and Golden Globe-winning actress once said movies were a fall-back to pay the bills, saying: "You do films if the roof needs mending."

OUCH!!!!

Dame Joan Plowright: Acting legend dies at 95

Dame Joan Plowright: Acting star whose first love was theatre

A very talented lady, may she rest in peace.

 

[TXBryan]

I remember an old interview with Paul McCartney where he was asked about Hey Jude, which according to polls at the time was the second most popular R&R song of all time behind Stairway to Heaven.

Paul expressed the Beatles were a bit surprised by its success as he and John Lennon wrote it to finance new swimming pools they were contemplating building.

Sir Alec Guinness had to be sold hard to appear in Star Wars - he apparently needed the money at the time. He was further cajoled into opting for a share of the profits rather than a straight salary by his agent but had serious reservations about doing so for "such a silly movie." He admitted late in his life that he looked forward to the quarterly dividend check appearing in his bank account and that Star Wars exceeded all his other lifetime sources of income by many fold.

The motivation for art is not always for arts sake alone. Some times the roof needs mending. She was a wonderful lady!

Bryan

 

[SWFan27]

There are a lot of actors who take roles just for the money. Musicians do it as well with their involvement in musical projects and recording certain songs. Not every artistic project is a labor of love.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Acting is a job like any other. John Wayne referred to many of his later films as “Pay the bills movies”. Michael Caine rarely if ever turned down a role…no matter how bad a film. He never forget the poverty of his youth and was always afraid that could happen again.

Many old-time actors grew up poor and never forgot it.

 

[30-30remchester]

Acting is a job like any other. John Wayne referred to many of his later films as “Pay the bills movies”. Michael Caine rarely if ever turned down a role…no matter how bad a film. He never forget the poverty of his youth and was always afraid that could happen again.

Many old-time actors grew up poor and never forgot it.

Charles Bronson was the same as Micheal. He did any project just so he didn't have to go back to the coal mines.

 

[SlamFire]

Getting enough money to fix the roof is probably more compensation than 99% of "actors" ever receive. I remember seeing on stage, the musical "A Chorus Line", and the whole plot was about 17 individuals auditioning for work. The opening song was "I really need this Job!"

Anyone remember the 1968 song, "Do you know the way to San Jose?" I still member parts from the refrain:

L.A. is a great big freeway
Put a hundred down and buy a car
In a week, maybe two
They'll make you a star
Weeks turn into years, how quick they pass
And all the stars that never were
Are parking cars and pumping gas

Due to inflation, that $100 for a used clunker now takes $1000.

I remember listening to the song on AM radio in 1968, don't recall FM till the 1970's.

https://youtu.be/-2UpwpTAd8U?si=il1rQBbaLgi6rngr

 

[sigp220.45]

Michael Caine made Jaws 4: The Revenge. It stunk. He famously said: I haven’t seen it. But i have seen the house it bought my mother, and it is marvelous.

Its just people doing a job.

 

[swsig]

Quote attributed to writer Ed Gardner but popularized by Oscar Levant:

"Strip away the phony tinsel of Hollywood and you find the real tinsel underneath."

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Jack Oakie said he made the B-movies that cost little and made money and paid for the prestige productions that didn't pay for themselves.
John Carradine said "Be a character actor-you'll work more." He made such cinematic masterpieces as "Billy The Kid meets Dracula" that garnered no Oscar or SAG nominations but had a paycheck attached. When TV took off the B-movie actors got the roles since they could work fast and accepted more modest salaries.
I have seen Alec Guinness quoted saying he read the script for "Star Wars" and decided it was good. IMDB quotes as saying his favorite role was as Hitler.
Then there's all the big name actors who got big paychecks for bomb movies.

 

[swsig]

John Carradine said "Be a character actor-you'll work more." He made such cinematic masterpieces as "Billy The Kid meets Dracula" that garnered no Oscar or SAG nominations but had a paycheck attached. When TV took off the B-movie actors got the roles since they could work fast and accepted more modest salaries.

A classic example of that is stage actor turned movie character actor, Keenan Wynn. I've often said he's been in every movie ever made. Not true, of course, but IMDB credits him with 283 movie and television performances over his 44-year career -- quite an impressive record.

 

[quikdraw67]

Donald Sutherland was offered a choice for his role of Professor Jennings in "Animal House". $40,000 up front, or 2% of the gross earnings.

$40 grand in 1978 was very good money indeed. He took the up front offer, thinking the movie wouldn't be a big hit.

But "Animal House" ended up grossing 141 MILLION.

Oopsie.

 

[Rudi]

A man's gotta make living somehow. Acting is a pretty easy job.