Michael Caine, the acclaimed British actor behind iconic roles in films like Alfie, shares insights on the power of voice and the challenges of intimacy in film. He reveals why raising one's voice isn't necessary to command presence and shares his disdain for love scenes. Robert Duvall, the versatile American star of classics like The Godfather, reminisces about his unforgettable character Tom Hagen and the pressure of delivering powerful lines in Apocalypse Now. Together, they explore acting's intricate dance between authenticity and performance.
Michael Caine highlights the transformative power of vocal technique, emphasizing its role in delivering authentic performances across varied characters.
Robert Duvall reflects on iconic film roles, illustrating how dialogue and character nuances can define an actor's legacy in cinema.
Deep dives
Michael Caine's Unique Voice and Acting Journey
Michael Caine emphasizes the significance of an actor’s voice, describing it as the second most important asset after their eyes. He recounts how he initially struggled with his Cockney accent, which he transformed by lowering his voice placement to the diaphragm for better projection in theater. During his career, Caine found that American audiences struggled to understand British accents due to differences in speed and rhythm of speech. His journey involved learning how to adapt his voice for different roles, including mastering American loops to make his character in 'Alfie' more comprehensible to American viewers.
The Complexity of Character Accents
Caine shares that his ability to perform various accents was honed through extensive repertory theater experience, where he played diverse characters weekly. He notes that he kept his own voice while adapting to different roles, which allowed him to enter the acting space authentically. In 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels', he portrayed an upper-class womanizer using a smooth British accent, while in 'Mona Lisa', he showcased a menacing gangster voice demonstrating authority through minimal movement. This ability to convey distinct personalities through accent and delivery highlights the intricacies of his craft.
The Art of Film Acting
Caine differentiates between stage acting and film acting, explaining that the latter requires listening and reacting rather than traditional acting techniques. He suggests that authentic film performances come from behaviors rather than forced acting, emphasizing the importance of subtlety in front of the camera. Caine's approach is to observe real-life interactions and behaviors, which aids in creating believable characters. By doing this, he aims to make the actor disappear, allowing the audience to connect with the character on a deeper level.
Handling Love Scenes and Personal Reflections
Caine expresses discomfort with love scenes, explaining that they create a challenging dynamic, where sincere acting leads to complications in personal relationships. He points out that while playing a murderer may evoke admiration, performing a romantic scene can generate unwanted suspicions from loved ones. Additionally, he reflects on how his unique experiences shaped his understanding of acting, stating that using his 'difficulties' has always been an integral part of his approach. This self-awareness and introspection contribute to the authenticity he brings to his roles.
From now through Labor Day we're featuring interviews from our archive with great actors and directors.
Robert Duvall talks about his role in the Godfather films as Tom Hagen, the Corleone family lawyer — and about speaking the most famous line in Apocalypse Now. And we'll get some insights into acting from Michael Caine, including why you don't need to raise your voice to be intimidating, and why he hates doing love scenes.