MovieChat Forums > Torn Curtain (1966) Discussion > Paul Newman's interference

Paul Newman's interference

posted 14 years ago by rexshard93
11 replies | jump to latest

SPOILERS

Hello Everyone,
Here is a video about the missing scene in Torn Curtain (Gromek's brother scene).

http://blog.writingwithhitchcock.com/2010/06/killing-of-gromek-and-his-brother.html

Hitchcock himself tells Truffaut that the factory scene with Gromek's brother is a good scene in Truffaut/Hitchcock Interview. This video explains about this scene and there are few photographs of this scene in the video. Wolfgang Kieling wrote in his autobiography that it was Paul Newman who wanted the factory scene to be cut. This is mentioned by Steven De Rosa.

[–] tsrts 14 years ago

This sounds fishy.
I doubt Paul Newman was the reason they cut the scene.
Even though he was the star, unless he is the producer,
he doesn't have the power to make this call.

[–] victor-w2 13 years ago

You know that back in 1938 Clark Gable had the power to fire director George Cukor from filming Gone with the Wind after a few weeks? Stars of that size and with some ego always have power: they don't have to be producers. They have agents who threaten the producers: you want him for that other film / you want my other client for your other film? Well then do what we ask for. Paul Newman always has his own creative agenda. And maybe he was right about it? Maybe the scene with the identical looking brother was just too distracting or over the top? I think Newman was a few decades younger than Hitchcock and probably more into the taste of cinema audiences of the Sixties.

[–] rexshard93 13 years ago

In Interview with Truffaut, Hitchcock admits that Gromek's brother was a good scene. Hitchcock should have gone with his original choice - Anthony Perkins for Professor Armstrong.

[–] TrentinaNE 12 years ago

Anthony Perkins would have been an interesting choice. Newman played the part with an odd lack of gravitas. He came across more like a dockworker than a world-famous physics PhD and professor.

[–] hisgrandmogulhighness 12 years ago

I think Newman was trying to do the best he could with that inept script . . . any actor would've been stymied in giving a good performance in this story . . .

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] lizcarlo87 11 years ago

Anthony Perkins would have been interesting.

[–] hisgrandmogulhighness 11 years ago

True, but I don't think Perkins would've make the film any superior . . . we're stuck with what we have . . .

[–] lizcarlo87 11 years ago

I think Anthony Perkins would have added more than Paul Newman. True. There is other things wrong the movie. Its is not terrible. I only watched it because Newman and Hitchcock. After I watched it I thought it was okay. Its nothing I would want to watch again. Torn Curtain and From the Terrace is the only movies where I don't like Paul Newman acting. I even like all the movies Newman directed himself.I do own a lot of his movies that he acted in and some that he directed. I wish I could get some of the other movies he directed. There is only one movie of his I have not seen. I just did not like him here. Oh well. Difference of opinion.

[–] hisgrandmogulhighness 11 years ago

Liz:

I actually liked Newman in this film . . . I thought he was doing the best possible job with this story . . . I don't blame him so much, as he was very good in The Prizse, but that film was an exciting one, whereas this movie is not put together properly . . .

[–] lizcarlo87 11 years ago

Im not saying he is bad because of the movie not being good. I've seen some actors act very well in mediocre and below mediocre movies. I don't think he did good job in this movie. Oh we'll. Were never going to agree.