John Houseman has become a success the hard way: he e-a-r-r-r-r-n-e-d it. In ”Entertainers and the Entertained” (Simon and Schuster), he discusses his show-biz career of more than half a century as a producer, director, teacher and Academy Award-winning actor.
Q–What was the golden age of American films?
A–Some would argue it was the era of the silent films, from 1912 to 1925. Some would say it was during the reign of the studios, from the middle
`30s to the middle `50s, when the producer was king. Others now welcome the more recent rise of the independent producers.
Q–What do you think?
A–I`m biased. I belong to the era of the producer. That`s when I produced the films I really love: ”The Bad and the Beautiful,” ”Executive Suite,” ”Lust for Life,” ”Julius Caesar,” ”Letter from an Unknown Woman,” ”They Live by Night,” ”All Fall Down.”
Q–What exactly does a movie producer do?
A–At his best, he chooses the property, the writer, the director and the actors. After the filming, he participates in the editing, the scoring and the marketing and oversees all of it.
Q–Of the many jobs you`ve had, which do you prefer?
A–I`ve enjoyed them all, though acting came so very late in my life that it`s something of a novelty. When you get to be my age, you have a feeling that you`ve done it all.
Q–How did your role as Prof. Kingsfield on ”Paper Chase” come about?
A–It was entirely the invention of a young friend of mine, James Bridges, whom I`d known for a long time. He thought he had James Mason to play the part, but then Mason signed to do another picture. He tried very hard to find an old, disagreeable gentleman to play it, and finally, in despair, he asked me. I refused at first and then agreed to make a screen test. It ended up quite well, and there it was.
Q–What was the one role you wish you had played?
A–Every actor dreams of playing King Lear. I`ve directed it three times, and now I`m much too old. It requires unbelievable energy.
Q–Robin Williams was a student of yours when you taught drama at Juilliard. What was he like?
A–He was a very nice boy, always full of gigantic energy. His energy was such that when you had him in a play, he took it over.
Q–Does it bother you that despite your distinguished career, you`re best known for your Smith Barney commercials?
A–Not at all.
