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Rod Taylor interview
Blog item posted by author Dwayne Epstein on his now-defunct website about
his book, "Lee Marvin: Point Blank." IN MEMORY OF ROD TAYLOR,
MY COMPLETE 1995 INTERVIEW
By Dwayne Epstein, Jan. 9, 2015
Sadly, the ranks continue to thin as we recently lost the great and
shamefully underrated Rod Taylor. Since he had worked with Lee
Marvin in Raintree County, I was fortunate enough to secure and
interview with him back in July of 1995.
Most of the wonderful anecdotes he told me went into the text of
"Lee Marvin: Point Blank," but in tribute to him, I’ve reposted the
entire interview below, complete and unedited.
The reason is simple. He was a genuinely nice guy who had no
illusions, ego or airs about himself, or the amazing work that he
did. I think that shows in the transcript below so I’ll allow his
words to speak for him. Rest in Peace, Mr. Taylor. We shall not see
your like again.
Dwayne: Thanks for getting back to me. I really, appreciate it.
Rod: I wanted to apologize again for not getting back to you sooner
but the fucking note pad that had your number on it got misplaced
somewhere.
D: Don’t worry about it. I’m sorry I had to run this morning but you
started to tell me some anecdotes about working with Lee Marvin.
R: Yes, well like I said, I don’t know how much help I can be
because I don’t remember that much. I do have some interesting
anecdotes about working with Lee. He had a great sense of humor.
D: Almost everybody I’ve spoken to has said that to me. He must have
been something.
R: (Laughs) Yeah, well Lee, and I, used to say we must have had a
fucking ball because we don’t remember a thing.
D: I’m guessing you guys must have imbibed a time or two.
R: Those were the days when you could drink like that and still
function the next day for work. What was the name of that musical he
made?
D: Paint Your Wagon?
R: Yes. He told me he didn’t remember making the entire film. He
even sang a song with a monotone. He didn’t remember a thing about
it.
D: You worked with him on "Raintree County." I know there was lot of
problems on that but do you remember what it was like working with
him then?
R: Well, the problems were because of Monty Clift’s terrible
accident. The studio wanted to make a big-budget return to an old
type of movie. When you called I was trying to think of some stories
and I do remember this one time when we shooting in Kentucky. Monty
was with Liz taking their time on a scene working so the rest of us
weren’t really needed. Lee and I and another actor, a British actor
named Nigel Patrick.
D: He played the Professor.
R: Wow, what a memory. Anyway we were floating down this murky
backwater swamp with a still photographer named Bob…
D: Willoughby.
R: Now how the fuck did you know that?
D: He published a book of his work called “The Platinum Years.”
R: He lives in Ireland now if you want to reach him. I think there’s
a publicist named Jim Mahoney who knows how to contact him.
D: I’ve been in touch with him. He used to be Lee Marvin’s
publicist.
R: Yeah, he was mine, too. He would know how to reach him. Anyway,
so Lee and I with Nigel and Bob went on this picnic. Now I’m from
Australia and have some knowledge about waters and what not. Bob
accidentally dropped this very expensive camera into the water.
Everyone looked to the fucking swimming champ. I jumped into this
murky water to look for the camera. I looked and looked. Nothing.
Lee put down his tall, frosty mint julep, cut through the water like
a knife and brought up the camera as if guided by the hand of god
while I sputtered and choked on the swamp water.
D: That’s amazing. How did he get along with everyone?
R: Oh, he got along fine. The thing you had to appreciate about him
was his sense of humor. He had a great sense of humor but it could
be very caustic because it was based on total honesty. I used to
work over at Revue and I would see him there because he did a show,
what was it “M-Squad”? It later became Four Star when David Niven
built it. That’s where I made "The Time Machine."
D: I love that movie. That’s one of my favorite movies from my
childhood.
R: Yeah, it’s held up well over the years.
D: Do you remember any examples of his humor?
R: Not off hand, unfortunately. There was a story you may have heard
because it’s been around so long.
D: You never can tell. Which story is it?
R: Somebody, I think it was a casting director asked him what he had
done lately. This casting director asked Marvin, “What have you done
lately?,” and Marvin responded immediately, “About what?”
D: (Laughing) That’s a great line.
R: That’s the kind of sense of humor he had.
D: How did he get along with Montgomery Clift?
R: Well, to tell you the truth, they didn’t work that much. I think
he felt like I did and felt sorry for him. Lee didn’t socialize much
with him. I did that and I was the one who had dinner with him and
got mashed potatoes thrown in my hair.
D: Yeah, I heard that Clift did some really bizarre things. Did they
get along? I ask because I know they had several scenes together…
R: Lee got along with everybody. People respected Lee for his
honesty, his acting ability and he was his own man.
D: Do you remember the last time you saw him?
R: Well, I didn’t see him much but I think I saw him in Malibu after
the break-up of his marriage and that whole mess. I took Lee’s side
so I didn’t talk to Betty.
D: Did he ever talk to you about that?
R: Lee understood that to be a private matter and kept it private so
I never asked. I know he moved to Arizona when he was smoking too
much. But I didn’t see him much after that.
D: One last question. Do you know anybody else I can contact for a
possible interview?
R: Have you spoken to Toshiro Mifune?
D: No, But I’d love to.
R: Mifune loved Lee. I had heard a story but it’s third person so
you would have to get it confirmed. During "Hell in the Pacific,"
when Lee was up in the tree and was supposed to pee on him, Mifune
wouldn’t do the scene unless Marvin really pissed on him. Wouldn’t
use water or a double. He told Lee to go drink some beer and come
back to do the scene.
D: (Laughs) I know some people who would pay good money for that
now. Hugh Grant comes to mind. I’m sorry, that’s a cheap joke.
R: That’s okay . I’ll tell you somebody else you can talk to. The
guy who does that show “Walker, Texas Ranger.” He’s a real fucking
asshole, though, nothing but ego.
D: Chuck Norris? Yeah, I’ve heard that but it’s part of the job.
I’ve talked to all kinds of people. I don’t have a problem with
that. I also just remembered something. I read that you worked with
Paul Newman in "The Rack." Is that true or is that a misprint?
R: No, that’s a misprint. I did audition for "Somebody Up There
Likes Me." They thought I was a Brooklyn kid.
D: Well, you pulled the accent off well in "The Catered Affair."
That’s also a favorite movie of mine.
R: Thank you very much. You really are a movie fan.
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