"Paul was 76 when I worked with him on Road to Perdition. Conrad Hall, another great man who is now sadly gone, was the cinematographer. He was about Paul's age, and he'd also shot Harper, Cool Hand Luke and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, so they had been shooting together from their mid-thirties to their mid-seventies. They had grown old together. At one point he was shooting a close-up of Paul looking into a fire and I turned around to find that Conrad was crying as he lit the shot. I asked him what was wrong and he just said, 'He was so beautiful'. And I said, 'Well, he's beautiful now,' and Conrad repeated, 'Yes, but he was so beautiful.' I think he was crying for both of them. But unlike Conrad, who fought the idea of death, I always got the feeling that Paul was at peace with it. He knew what an incredible life he had led and how fortunate he had been. 'Yeah, I've had a great innings; it's about time I give all this up. It's all a bit silly.'"
- Sam Mendes
OMGG the article is beautiful and so is this photo of them: http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/i/partypictures/09_28_08/7114a.jpg
ReplyDeleteFAVE OAC FO SURE.
Yeahhh there's like a treasure trove of pictures of them out there on the internet. I am gradually amassing a big collection.
ReplyDeleteI never thought of him as an OAM but you're right!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaZ1gs2sIO8&feature=related
He was the first ever guest on Inside the Actor's Studio; watch from the 5th minute onwards, classic OAM moment when he feels the need to spontaneously show off previously unseen musical talent.