Actor-Director Vincent Sherman, Who Played Harry Becker
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
"Wyler knew how to get to the truth of each actor's capacity," actor-director Vincent Sherman, who played Harry Becker in William Wyler's "Counsellor at Law," told the Goldwyn Theater audience after a screening of the ftlm in July. "Counsellor at Law," Wyler's 1933 examination of the business and personal issues confronting a high-powered New York attorney, was screened as part of the Academy's centennial salute to the Oscar winning director. "Wyler wasn't always articulate about the details of the scene, TERENCE STAMP but he knew when it was right," Sherman said. "He knew how to squeeze every ounce of emotion that was in a scene and to get the best out of everybody." Sherman was joined on the panel by actor Terence Stamp, who starred in "The Collector," for WYLER'S BEN-HUR, CHARLTON HESTON , IS which Wyler earned the last of his directing nominations; actress Carroll Baker, who was directed INTRODUCED FROM THE AUDIENCE. by Wyler in "The Big Country;" and writer Fay Kanin, who with husband Michael was a colleague of Wyler. The panel was moderated by film critic Peter Rainer. Wyler earned a record twelve Academy Award nominations for directing, and during his career won Oscar statuettes for "Mrs. Miniver," "The Best Years of Our Lives" and "Ben-Hur." He earned nominations in the Best Picture category for "Roman Holiday" and "Friendly Persuasion," which also were among his directing nominations. He received the Irving G.ThaibergAward in 1965. When offered "The Big Country," Carroll Baker said, she was "a little bit self-conscious" because after "Baby Doll" she was being offered only "little sexpots." She mentioned her concern to Wyler. "Oh;' he said. "But 1 thought you were an actress." Wyler had "an incredible sonar for the emotional moments in people's lives," Rainer said. But that wasn't always an easy process for actors. Terence Stamp recalled his worry about Wyler's penchant for many takes. "I hear you torture actors," he said to Wyler during an interview about "The Collector." "I hear you make them do 40, 50 takes. And I have to tell you now, LUCAS RICHMAN, PETER MARK RICHMAN, 1 like to do one. Wyler smiled. He said WA LTER MIRISCH AND DELBERT MANN AT 'You give me what I want in one, THE PRE-SCREENING RECEPTION. we'll get along just fme.'" Wyler gave Fay Kanin a piece of advice she said she's "used through my whole professional life." "Good movies don't come from the head," Wyler told her. "They come from the gut." CARROLL BAKER AND VINCENT SHERMAN. .