Images - The Films of George C. Scott

Contents of Issue #4

The Films of George C. Scott

article and interview by Paul Riordan -- page 5 of 5

In 1978, Scott starred in director Stanley Donen's Movie Movie, which featured two films in one, both send-ups of 1930's-style B-movies, one a boxing tale, the other reminiscent of a Busby Berkeley musical.

George C. Scott with Harry Hamlin and Red Buttons
in Movie Movie.

Scott ably played boxing promoter Gloves Malloy in the first story, and Broadway producer Spats Baxter in the second. "It was very inventive," he recalled. "It was written by Larry Gelbart (with Sheldon Keller), who's a brilliant writer. It was a grand romp."

During the same year, Scott appeared briefly as "The Ruffler" in Crossed Swords, a remake of The Prince and the Pauper: "Yeah, I did that as a personal favor for Richard Fleischer."

Scott's next theatrical film, Hardcore (1979), was considerably less entertaining, although the actor gave a very powerful and effective performance in it. He starred as Jake Van Dorn, a strict Calvinist mid-westerner searching for his runaway daughter amid the urban jungle of prostitution and porno film-making. Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver) wrote and directed the controversial film. "That was a very depressing film," Scott related. "It was shot in horrible locations. Schrader filmed it down in those actual porno districts. It beats the hell out of me why I did it. I had sympathy for the (character of the) father, I guess, and I had sympathy for the daughter. Schrader writes dark stuff."

Scott subsequently made a film in Canada called The Changeling (1980), directed by Peter Medak, a combination ghost story/mystery thriller. Scott plays composer John Russell, trying to rebuild his life after his wife and daughter are killed in an auto accident. "My wife, Trish (Van Devere) and I did it in Vancouver. It won several Canadian film awards. I enjoyed the character, and it was nice to work with Melvyn Douglas - that was his last film."

Also that year, Scott worked with another veteran actor, Marlon Brando, in The Formula, scripted by Steve Shagan from his novel of the same name, and directed by Rocky's John G. Avildsen. "That was filmed in Germany," Scott said. "I enjoyed working with Brando. He's a very sweet-natured man, and a very funny man. It's a shame that his personal life is kind of a shambles right now. Who knows what will happen with that."

In 1981, Scott played the small but pivotal role of retired General Harlan Bache in Taps, giving a memorable performance as a man nostalgically obsessed with the military life. The film featured early performances by Sean Penn and Tom Cruise. "Yeah, Harold Becker (the director) asked me to do that part for him. He also later asked me to do a very small part in Malice (1993)."

George C. Scott with Timothy Hutton and
Brendan Ward in Taps.

One of the actor's most recent memorable television roles was in 1984's A Christmas Carol: "I didn't want to do it, because of Alistair Sim's version--that seemed to be the definitive version--but I found a (different) way to approach the character. I decided that he was the loneliest man in the world, and that's how I played him."

Scott is not particularly fond of his next movie, Firestarter (1984), directed by Mark L. Lester. Scott is excellent, though, as sinister assassin John Rainbird: "I didn't care for that picture too much. It's one of those half-assed, sci-fi, Stephen King things. I did it to work with Marty Sheen, who's a good buddy of mine. The part was fun, though. I had a glass eye made for it."

The actor has similar contempt for his next theatrical film, The Exocist III, written and directed by William Peter Blatty from his novel, Legion. Scott plays the role of Detective Kinderman, played by the late Lee J. Cobb in the original Exorcist (1973). "Peter Blatty asked me to do it, I guess. I didn't like it, though. I'm not too fond of those occult pictures." Scott later provided the voice of the villain, McLeach, in Disney's The Rescuers Down Under (1990). In addition in 1990, Scott appeared in a made-for-cable movie, Descending Angel: "That was filmed in Toronto, with Eric Roberts, and a very nice girl named Diane Lane."

Scott's most recent theatrical film performances include the aforementioned Malice (1993), as Dr. Kessler, and as Ivan, a feisty grandfather, in Angus (1995). He also continues to work on stage and for various television productions. "I just did a new version of 12 ANGRY MEN that's going to be on Showtime, for (William) Friedkin," Scott said. "Jack Lemmon's in it, Tony Danza, Ossie Davis, William Peterson, and Armin Mueller-Stahl. I also recently did Inherit the Wind on the New York stage. I've always tried to go back to the stage. I'm 69 years old, and still working."

Perhaps the recent resurgence of character-driven films, as exemplified by the strong presence of independent films at this year's Academy Awards, will provide more theatrical film opportunities for one of our finest living actors. When audiences tire of empty-headed plots and visual razzle-dazzle, they may yet welcome the return of competent scripting and excellent performances.

You can move through the article by selecting "previous page," or you can go to the George C. Scott filmography and select a specific movie.

page 5 of 5

Paul Riordan has written about film for several magazines, including Monsterscene and Filmfax

© 1997 Paul Riordan. All rights reserved.