1980 was not that long ago. It was great that George was available for an interview at that point in his life. One of my treasured belongings is a telegram Vivien Leigh sent Cukor for his birthday with his handwriting. In his estate he still had the telegram!! I'm honored to have this piece of history.
HE was a dreadful director. he had actors do the same scene over and over as with Monroe in "Somethng's Got to Give" Even with Cyd Charise, the same sentence over and over. take after take, "Taking the children for an outing Miss Tick ", not unlike Stanley Kubrick. they didn't kno w what they wanted until they got it!
@@thomasdelvin3683 It's not a matter of not knowing what they wanted. They wanted it done until it was right and directors like Kubrick and Cukor knew what was right. Making a film is not an instant process, there is always trial and error going on.
One of the greatest film directors of the industry; Cukor directed Garland and Mason in A Star Is Born, her greatest performance; The Philadelphia Story with Grant, Hepburn, and Stewart; Camille with Garbo and Taylor; My Fair Lady with Harrison and Audrey Hepburn; Adam's Rib with Tracy and Hepburn; and Woman Of The Year with Tracy and Hepburn.
@Irwin Miller, James Mason was unbelievably good in his role in a Star is born, it gets to me every time I watch it especially when he overhears that terrible conversation about himself. James Mason is an outstanding actor in anything was ever in. Lolita just to name another.
Too bad Cavett only was interested about Cukor's views on Katharine Hepburn. Cukor worked with many other greats including Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Marilyn Monroe.
I dunno. Cavett seemed lost for questions to ask one of the greatest Hollywood directors. A missed opportunity considering the wealth of knowledge Cukor had of the industry.
I agree, and the questions he did ask him were really dumb. "Did you see my interview with Hepburn?" Then he goes on to ask him a dozen questions about Hepburn. Focus, Dick ! Kate is not your guest.
Totally agree. A wasted opportunity. Cavett serving up a very tabloid, Hollywood Babylon view of tinseltown and expecting Cukor to go along with it. As if such an intelligent and eminent film maker would acquiesce to that. Instead he was unfailingly polite and ready to talk about his work when asked. Kate Hepburn entirely got the measure of him arriving for a perusal of the theatre studio and then ambushing the process with a 'let's do this now'. Clever lady. She remained in charge throughout and it was fascinating, but not on Cavett's account.
Cukor, far too smart to dish any dirt. Also, to him his work was probably just a job and he worked with who he worked, they drifted into his attention, and out. We are the one's who hold the fascination. To him it was day to day.
Looking forward to 'casting' this on my television later, along with some Johnny Carson and Tom Snyder and Colortini. I remember the theme to his show during the PBS era, and I thought "that song sounds busy." I didn't appreciate Dick Cavett, but I like his style of interviewing now.
Garbo loved Geo. Cukor and they remained close friends until the great director's death in 1983 (Greta followed in 1990). In 1955, when Greta Garbo was awarded a special Oscar ("for a long and luminous film career") it was Mr. Cukor who accepted it on her behalf - and made the trip to New York City (where Greta lived) and personally handed it to his dear friend.
This was a good interview, but I don't like the strong focus on Katharine Hepburn. I love Hepburn, but Cukor has worked with many interesting people in his career, and Hepburn was just a piece of it.
The normally gracious Cavett spends far too much time digging for dirt in this interview. Cukor is savvy in ignoring his insinuations. You don't get to be one of the most gifted and accomplished directors in the history of Hollywood by being stupid or gullible.
I got the impression that certain things were off-limits to talk about. He says "I don't remember" when asked if a certain actor had ever been fired. The cult of Monroe was growing huge around this time and he probably did not want to upset anyone by discussing her.
Cukor never got a lifetime achievement Oscar OR a Kennedy Center honor. I’ve always wondered if a bit of homophobia figured into that. Surely people saw that he was getting up in years and they knew his body of work. When you look at who’s getting those awards now it’s pretty odd.
@@RSmith6948 I wish it was. We met at the Garden District, a popular restaurant in West Hollywood. Cukor held court at the head of the table. I don't remember Isherwood sayiing much. He was kind of old and frail. Bachardi was friendly. I was there with my friend and client Charles Ludlam.
Yeah because Dick was taking about himself and his own perceptions and the questions he does as Cukor are for the most part dumb. Dick was best with guest who didn't have to be drawn out but just talked away -- like Orson Welles and Richard Burton. There Dick gracefully got out of the way and let his guests speak.
"Sabotaged?" Therre were a lot of reasons for the "failure" os "Soething's Got to Give," but it wasn't Cukor. Marilyn Monroe was a wonderful actress, but she drove proinent director nuts with her tardiness on the set. That was the case with Cukor, but also with Billy Wlder when he made "The Seven Year Itch" and "Soe Like It Hot." One other factor was that the film was over budget because she wasn't showing up for work or was showing up late. At that time, 20th Century-Fox was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. There were many reasons for this. One was a series of bad flms. Also, the fiasco called "Cleopatra." But also , Marilyn's tardiness on SGTG. Also, the studio had to pay off Dean Martin, who wouldn't work with anyone but Marilyn.
@@williamsnyder5616 cukor didn't want to work with marilyn again from the start ,but he was under contract to fox and had to.dean Martin had co star approval in his contract and was loyal to his friend .
So when did Cavett ++++ Louise Brooks? When she was living in the old people`s home? You can see the interview with Brooks at the OAP home on RUclips. Turns your stomach! Why ARE they so horrible to the aged? George Cukor...Sandra Shevey interviewed Cukor in the Seventies when teaching seminal Gender in Film course USC. Cukor was boring, snobby, campy. As he himself admits: He was NOT a women`s director. If anything he was provocative toward women. When I arrived for the interview late afternoon rather than offering tea or a sherry he plied me with MILK and biscuits. Provocative!! He is however a superb gossip and told me (and I have it on audio) one superb piece of gossip re: The Kennedy Assassination and Jackie Kennedy. You can listen to sound bites from some of Sandra Shevey`s interviews at sandrasheveyinterviews RUclips
@martinflores9322 You must have listened to a totally different interview. Cukor said that he didn't admire the cast or the acting of those in "Moviola" - and he pointed particularly to the actress who played Joan Crawford, saying that "she wasn't good-looking enough". Cukor even went on to say "I think she (Joan Crawford) was a beauty"!
![Bette Davis on The Dick Cavett Show 1971, Nov 17th [complete]](/img/1.gif)
1980 was not that long ago. It was great that George was available for an interview at that point in his life. One of my treasured belongings is a telegram Vivien Leigh sent Cukor for his birthday with his handwriting. In his estate he still had the telegram!! I'm honored to have this piece of history.
Stephanie. How did you acquire it?
@@MrBounce01 My dear friend that lives in Spain bought it on eBay years ago for me for $50. I love it so.
I think you have been fooled, someone making money from the gullible. You don't get Cukor memrobelia eBay
Now that was worth watching. No wonder George was a great director. Razor sharp.
HE was a dreadful director. he had actors do the same scene over and over as with Monroe in "Somethng's Got to Give" Even with Cyd Charise, the same sentence over and over. take after take, "Taking the children for an outing Miss Tick ", not unlike Stanley Kubrick. they didn't kno w what they wanted until they got it!
@@thomasdelvin3683 It's not a matter of not knowing what they wanted. They wanted it done until it was right and directors like Kubrick and Cukor knew what was right. Making a film is not an instant process, there is always trial and error going on.
Thanks for uploading this interview with the one and only George Cukor
there is another copy here on youtube been up for years
What a kind man. He is a father figure for sure.
One of the greatest film directors of the industry; Cukor directed Garland and Mason in A Star Is Born, her greatest performance; The Philadelphia Story with Grant, Hepburn, and Stewart; Camille with Garbo and Taylor; My Fair Lady with Harrison and Audrey Hepburn; Adam's Rib with Tracy and Hepburn; and Woman Of The Year with Tracy and Hepburn.
@Irwin Miller, James Mason was unbelievably good in his role in a Star is born, it gets to me every time I watch it especially when he overhears that terrible conversation about himself. James Mason is an outstanding actor in anything was ever in. Lolita just to name another.
@@Hummingbirds2023 I agree. A remarkable performance by Mason. Judy's greatest performance. He was the top director.
His body of work will live forever.
George Stevens directed Woman of the Year. She supposedly didn't want Cukor to direct because he was a gay and didn't have a sports sensibility.
**Hepburn
I envy Dick Cavett for he's interviewed so many people I wish I had.
legend
Too bad Cavett only was interested about Cukor's
views on Katharine Hepburn. Cukor worked with many other greats including Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Marilyn Monroe.
he was obsessed by her. He even get to have her on his show. What more????
What a lovely man
What a treasure trove of films he helped give us.
Love hearing about Kate, Mae, W.C., and Garbo.
Sad that this is so brief.
Hollywood gold. Other than David Frost, Dick Cavett had my favorite talk show. Wonderful.
I dunno. Cavett seemed lost for questions to ask one of the greatest Hollywood directors. A missed opportunity considering the wealth of knowledge Cukor had of the industry.
I agree, and the questions he did ask him were really dumb. "Did you see my interview with Hepburn?" Then he goes on to ask him a dozen questions about Hepburn. Focus, Dick ! Kate is not your guest.
Totally agree. A wasted opportunity. Cavett serving up a very tabloid, Hollywood Babylon view of tinseltown and expecting Cukor to go along with it. As if such an intelligent and eminent film maker would acquiesce to that. Instead he was unfailingly polite and ready to talk about his work when asked. Kate Hepburn entirely got the measure of him arriving for a perusal of the theatre studio and then ambushing the process with a 'let's do this now'. Clever lady. She remained in charge throughout and it was fascinating, but not on Cavett's account.
Cukor, far too smart to dish any dirt. Also, to him his work was probably just a job and he worked with who he worked, they drifted into his attention, and out. We are the one's who hold the fascination. To him it was day to day.
@@robertjackson5645 Are you nuts? Cukor committed himself the art, the realm of celluloid.
Looking forward to 'casting' this on my television later, along with some Johnny Carson and Tom Snyder and Colortini.
I remember the theme to his show during the PBS era, and I thought "that song sounds busy."
I didn't appreciate Dick Cavett, but I like his style of interviewing now.
Garbo loved Geo. Cukor and they remained close friends until the great director's death in 1983 (Greta followed in 1990). In 1955, when Greta Garbo was awarded a special Oscar ("for a long and luminous film career") it was Mr. Cukor who accepted it on her behalf - and made the trip to New York City (where Greta lived) and personally handed it to his dear friend.
This was a good interview, but I don't like the strong focus on Katharine Hepburn. I love Hepburn, but Cukor has worked with many interesting people in his career, and Hepburn was just a piece of it.
In youth Katherine Hepburn admitted that she liked to break into houses. That is the crime Dick was referencing.
when did he talk about Crawford?
cuckor and gable had a brief interlude together and cukor made him nervous
Really enjoyed this. There is a life lesson @53:30. Listen closely for 30 seconds. Tough, but true.
The normally gracious Cavett spends far too much time digging for dirt in this interview. Cukor is savvy in ignoring his insinuations. You don't get to be one of the most gifted and accomplished directors in the history of Hollywood by being stupid or gullible.
I was wishing so much he would talk about Marilyn Monroe and making her last unfinished movie something’s got to give. So disappointed 😞!
I got the impression that certain things were off-limits to talk about. He says "I don't remember" when asked if a certain actor had ever been fired. The cult of Monroe was growing huge around this time and he probably did not want to upset anyone by discussing her.
Cavett wasted this interview
Agreed! It could've been sooooo much juicier! 😢
Cukor never got a lifetime achievement Oscar OR a Kennedy Center honor. I’ve always wondered if a bit of homophobia figured into that. Surely people saw that he was getting up in years and they knew his body of work. When you look at who’s getting those awards now it’s pretty odd.
I agree 1,000 percent! I was lucky to once have Sunday brunch with him, Christopher Isherwood, Don Bachardi, and Charles Ludlam!
@@aeichler
Was that one of Cukor’s famous Sunday parties with lots of handsome young men?
@@RSmith6948 I wish it was. We met at the Garden District, a popular restaurant in West Hollywood. Cukor held court at the head of the table. I don't remember Isherwood sayiing much. He was kind of old and frail. Bachardi was friendly. I was there with my friend and client Charles Ludlam.
When you consider how they rehabilitated Elia Kazan.
Alan Eichler What kind of food did they serve? Was it like a French Market type of place? How long was the restaurant there?
I was only 12 years old in 1980 .
I never heard of this sitcom.
It was a talk show, not a sitcom.
It's the dick cavett show was a great interview show of its era with many different people on it
@@aeichler No! You're not understanding Alan. Cukor's famous Sunday parties with lots of handsome young men was a sitcom.
The most interesting story was about Garbo. Not much else unfortunately.
Yeah because Dick was taking about himself and his own perceptions and the questions he does as Cukor are for the most part dumb. Dick was best with guest who didn't have to be drawn out but just talked away -- like Orson Welles and Richard Burton. There Dick gracefully got out of the way and let his guests speak.
Meanwhile, Peter Bogdonavich was at home watching this and frothing at the mouth.
This couldve been a juicy, fantastique sitdown... disappointed 😢
Cukor fired Marilyn Monroe but Cavett stays away from it .
The executives at Fox fired Monroe. Directors don't have the power to fire stars as the stars work for the studio.
He sabotaged SGTG
"Sabotaged?" Therre were a lot of reasons for the "failure" os "Soething's Got to Give," but it wasn't Cukor. Marilyn Monroe was a wonderful actress, but she drove proinent director nuts with her tardiness on the set. That was the case with Cukor, but also with Billy Wlder when he made "The Seven Year Itch" and "Soe Like It Hot." One other factor was that the film was over budget because she wasn't showing up for work or was showing up late. At that time, 20th Century-Fox was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. There were many reasons for this. One was a series of bad flms. Also, the fiasco called "Cleopatra." But also , Marilyn's tardiness on SGTG. Also, the studio had to pay off Dean Martin, who wouldn't work with anyone but Marilyn.
@@williamsnyder5616 cukor didn't want to work with marilyn again from the start ,but he was under contract to fox and had to.dean Martin had co star approval in his contract and was loyal to his friend .
So when did Cavett ++++ Louise Brooks? When she was living in the old people`s home? You can see the interview with Brooks at the OAP home on RUclips. Turns your stomach! Why ARE they so horrible to the aged?
George Cukor...Sandra Shevey interviewed Cukor in the Seventies when teaching seminal Gender in Film course USC. Cukor was boring, snobby, campy. As he himself admits: He was NOT a women`s director. If anything he was provocative toward women. When I arrived for the interview late afternoon rather than offering tea or a sherry he plied me with MILK and biscuits. Provocative!! He is however a superb gossip and told me (and I have it on audio) one superb piece of gossip re: The Kennedy Assassination and Jackie Kennedy. You can listen to sound bites from some of Sandra Shevey`s interviews at sandrasheveyinterviews RUclips
Whatever Menjou's politics, I disagree he was a bad actor.
He wasn't terrible but he wasn't very good.
We'll have to disagree on that. Would Stanley Kubrick have hired him for Paths of Glory, if was not a very good actor?
@@irish66 He got the role because he was right for it and not necessarily because he was a fine actor.
@@ricardocantoral7672 ok
Horrible interview by Cavitt . So much to talk about and he hangs on Hepburn .
This guy is so boring. Having George Cukor and zero info.
amfchance I got a lot outta it.
Man, he talks about Joan Crawford like she was fugly.
@martinflores9322 You must have listened to a totally different interview.
Cukor said that he didn't admire the cast or the acting of those in "Moviola" - and he pointed particularly to the actress who played Joan Crawford, saying that "she wasn't good-looking enough". Cukor even went on to say "I think she (Joan Crawford) was a beauty"!
All that Hollywood history inside Cukor's head and what a totally boring interview.
D.Cavett is very boring zzzzzz