Latest news with #PeterFalk
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dick Cavett Says John Cassavetes ‘Chewed Out' His ‘Husbands' Co-Stars After Infamous Talk Show Appearance: They Were ‘Total A***s'
Dick Cavett is still miffed about a publicity stunt 50 years later. The iconic talk show host, who led his own eponymous series for decades, visited the Criterion Closet (in the below video) to reminisce about a few of his most beloved films — and most infamous moments on his series. Cavett recalled how the cast of 'Husbands' were some of the most 'crappy' guests on 'The Dick Cavett Show' in 1970. Actors Peter Falk, Ben Gazzara, and John Cassavetes, who also directed the film, appeared on Cavett's show on September 18, 1970. The trio pretended to faint, stripped off their socks, and had a meandering discussion onstage. Watch it here. Apparently, it was so bad that Cassavetes preemptively blamed whether or not 'Husbands' flopped in theaters on the talk show appearance. More from IndieWire Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen Want to Help You Get Your Movie Made Dakota Johnson: 'I Dream of Playing' a Psychopath 'That's the movie that these three guys came on and made total asses of themselves. You can find it online: 'The Worst Show Dick Cavett Ever Did,'' Cavett said. 'They goofed around the whole time and did very funny things, like taking off your shoes and smelling their feet. Afterwards, John Cassavetes himself chewed them out mercilessly, and said, 'You have just unsold most, if not all, of the tickets to this movie.'' He added, 'And they were like three kids being smashed with criticism. It was sort of sad to say, but it didn't make up for how crappy they were on the show.' 'Husbands' went on to premiere at the San Francisco International Film Festival in October 1970. Though now a respected classic, the film did not initially land with audiences: ticket buyers apparently walked out of the premiere, and the Los Angeles Times said the film was 'the most unanimously detested' film at the festival. IndieWire's Ryan Lattanzio wrote in a retrospective essay that 'Husbands' was later critically acclaimed and became an inspiration for directors such as Judd Apatow. 'The dark night of the soul shared by Cassavetes, Gazzara, and Falk in 'Husbands,' captured with the in-your-face quality of a cinéma vérité documentary by cinematographer Victor J. Kemper, lands all the characters in the doghouse with themselves, their wives, and each other… 'Husbands' remains a must-see Cassavetes classic as a look into what's happening on the other side of a woman's panic.' Also while in the Criterion Closet, Cavett quipped that the late Katharine Hepburn would be frustrated with the modern 'The Philadelphia Story' Blu-ray cover. 'Katharine Hepburn I think would be annoyed that she's only a small figure in this picture,' he said, adding that he had a unique bond with Hepburn. 'It never occurred to me that I would ever get her to do these shows [like 'The Dick Cavett Show']. She called and she said, 'You know you've made me a goddamn saint. Everywhere I go, if I go shopping, people suddenly adore me more than ever before.'' And despite his trip to the viral closet, Cavett won't be doing his Letterboxd four favorites anytime soon. ''What's your favorite movie?' sort of irritates me,' Cavett said. 'Is there really any one movie that tops them all? I would rather people not ask me what my favorite movie is. But if you want to know, my favorite movie is 'The Third Man.'' Check out Cavett's full visit to Criterion below. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See
South China Morning Post
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Natasha Lyonne on her role in Poker Face season 2, and leaning into her eccentricity
Her hair is red, voluminous and wild. She walks with a swagger. Her voice is raspy, and not in a sexy kind of Lauren Bacall way but more like Peter Falk. Advertisement Long before finding her groove with unconventional roles in Orange Is the New Black Russian Doll and now Poker Face, there were not many options for a free spirit like Natasha Lyonne, especially when she aged from a pliable child actor into a self-aware adult. 'It's weird that all of a sudden, one day, everybody looks at you differently and you're aware of it,' says Lyonne, 46. 'I remember the Lolita audition, and it was like, 'Will you slowly eat this apple?' And I was like, 'I know what you're asking of me. I can eat it for you comedically'. But no, I will not simulate sex with an apple on camera. 'I mean, I'd studied the history of film. These were not revelations.' Advertisement Lyonne forged a career by finding and later creating projects that capitalised on her undeniably intrepid personality, wrapping the roles around her eccentricities rather than conforming to what was expected of a female performer in Hollywood.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kevin Pollak Jokes He Was Once 'Accosted' by Peter Falk at the Grocery Store About His 'Columbo' Impression (Exclusive)
Peter Falk appreciated a good Columbo impression — at least according to actor and comedian Kevin Pollak! Pollak — who is known for his stellar impressions — recently spoke to PEOPLE exclusively while attending the premiere of the new show Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue in Culver City, Calif. During the conversation, Pollak revealed that Falk once 'accosted' him in a grocery store in order to compliment his impression of him. 'Oh, he loved it,' Pollak, 67, recalled, adding, 'After the first time I did it on The Tonight Show, I ran into him a few weeks later in the produce section at Ralphs where he accosted me in front of the produce with, 'Excuse me: How do you do that with your eye? Me, I understand, but how do you do that?' That's a quote. And we became friendly from that moment on, and he was a hero and a unicorn in every regard.' Falk, who died in 2011 at the age of 83, per The New York Times, famously had a glass eye, which became a signature trait of his detective character. Pollak went on to say that he has been 'very lucky' in that all of the people he has impersonated in his 40-year career — from William Shatner to Christopher Walken — have seemed to enjoy the experience. 'I really did people that I loved and admired as opposed to feeling the need to attack. And I've spent time with everyone from Shatner to Christopher Walken to Alan Arkin, and I just did a two-hour interview on stage in San Francisco with Albert Brooks — my ultimate comedy unicorn hero — and he loves the impression. And Peter absolutely adored it. So yeah, I've been very, very lucky.' Related: Daughter Claims Peter Falk Has Alzheimer's Pollak — who worked with 2025 Oscar nominees Demi Moore and Mikey Madison in A Few Good Men and the series Better Things, respectively — also weighed in on which actress he hopes to see take home the Academy Award for best actress this year. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! 'It's difficult for me because I played the uncle to Mikey Madison in Better Things. And so I'm a tad torn, but [...] I believe, especially now that I've seen Mikey in Anora, that there are maaaany brilliant performances ahead of her, and she's already won so many awards. So let's give the Oscar to Demi,' he concluded. Pollak went on to recall his time on set with Moore in the now-iconic 1992 military courtroom drama, which also starred Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson, noting that The Substance actress was a caretaker to everyone around her. Related: Demi Moore Recalls Studio Executive Wanted Her and Tom Cruise to Have a Sex Scene in A Few Good Men 'That movie for me was being brought up to the majors, and I was rooting for everyone in such a big way. And what I was surprised and delighted and adored Demi for what a mother hen she was to everyone, cast and crew. Just lovely.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Pollak also revealed to PEOPLE that he is a part of one of Hollywood's most delightful unofficial clubs: The Character Actors Dining Society (CADS), which also includes the likes of fellow character actors Richard Kind and Steven Weber, as well as about 10 other performers. He shared that in addition to a group chat, the crew attempts to meet up for in-person dinners once a month. 'It's a great group with great stories. It's really the heart and soul of the group — and having each other's backs,' he added. Read the original article on People
