MovieChat Forums > Exotica (1995) Discussion > Maury Chaykin

Maury Chaykin

posted 17 years ago by Kastore
7 replies | jump to latest

At the very beginning of the film, I instantly spotted Maury Chaykin as one of the strip club's clients, getting a private dance from a nude stripper. But that's all you ever see of him! I know he's worked with Atom Egoyan several times, he may have agreed to a small cameo as a favor. But why have a great character actor on the set and not give him any lines? Or did Chaykin actually have a small scene, but it was cut from the film?

If I ever go down, I hope I don't get the Potato Judge.

[–] TopFrog 17 years ago

I don't know the answers to your questions, but at one point Egoyan was considering casting Maury Chaykin as Francis. Apparently Chaykin couldn't take the part because of scheduling problems.

-- TopFrog

[–] Kastore 17 years ago

That's an interesting tidbit to know. It would have made this a very different movie with Chaykin in the Bruce Greenwood role. I'm a fan of both actors, I can't say which would have been better. I supposed I'll have to watch the other films Egoyan made with Chaykin, instead. Thanks for the info.

If I ever go down, I hope I don't get the Potato Judge.

[–] 666Night999 17 years ago

As you know, Egoyan uses many of the same actors in all of his movies. I assume he didn't have many roles to cast in this movie, so as a favor, he had some of his regular actors show up as clients at the strip club. I recognized a few other actors he has used before. If you can find the screenplay for EXOTICA, it has 2 interesting essays on the movie and Egoyan(part interview).

There is no night as deep as this
Inevitable mind's abyss
Where I now dwell with foes alone

[–] georgeoscarbluth 17 years ago

Didn't I see Spaulding Gray as a club patron too?

[–] 666Night999 17 years ago

Chaykin was actually considered to be the lead(Francis) in this movie. Maybe scheduling conflicts forced him out of it, but that would have been a very different movie. I think the movie is better for Bruce Greenwood playing the lead. Now, if Egoyan would go back to making this kind of movie, that would be awesome. This and The Sweet Hereafter are masterpieces, but the rest so so. Maybe he should write something original again.

There is no night as deep as this
Inevitable mind's abyss
Where I now dwell with foes alone

[–] jexline 15 years ago

I thought Bruce Greenwood did a much better job with the role than I can imagine Maury Chaykin do. I personally liked seeing his cameo in the movie. I thought it was very fitting for the Egoyan ensemble.

[–] WarpedRecord 14 years ago

He was a very good actor and it's sad he's no longer with us, but I would have trouble imagining Maury Chaykin as Francis in this film. Bruce Greenwood was mesmerizing here.

I also love spotting all the familiar Egoyan faces in his films, even if they don't have, uh, speaking parts. It's almost Hitcockian and forces me to study each frame closely -- which I'd be doing anyway with his films.