cult film freak: NATHAN GEORGE ("SHORT EYES")

Written by James M. Tate / 3/01/2010 / No comments / blaxploitation , exploitation , jack nicholson , nathan george , seventies

NATHAN GEORGE ("SHORT EYES")

3/01/2010 | No comment

Nathan George, an energetic, talented African-American actor, appeared in a handful of films in the 1970s, all of them intense, timeless classics including SERPICO (as a bad cop); SHORT EYES (as a tough, wily convict) and the Oscar winning ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST...

When did you first realize you wanted to be an actor?

Right after I got out of the military, and something went off in my head where I knew I could do this.

What were some of the most memorable experiences working with Al Pacino in the film “Serpico”?

Well, Al and I would have lunch every day, but that all changed after the scene where I threw him up against the locker. He really took exception to that, and wanted us to do it over. But Sidney Lumet thought it looked real, so it stayed. The friendship was pretty much over after that.

How were you cast for “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” as one of the assistants under the Head Nurse?

Michael Douglas (producer) saw me in a play in NYC, and thought I would be right for the movie. Also, Milos [Foreman] really liked rehearsing. We rehearsed for that film for months.

Was there any adlibbing during the pool scene?

Jack [Nicholson] and I worked on it a little bit, but that scene was acted as written. It was a tense scene, but it called for a lot of emotion.

Any other memories working with Jack "R.P. McMurphy" Nicholson?

Jack was a real ham; he really liked the camera. Whereas most everyone else involved in that film, was theater-based...including myself. I wasn't as aware of the camera, as Jack was.

Was the climax as intense as it looked?

Yes, incredibly. However we did numerous takes, so it loses intensity as you play it out over and over again.

Where was “Short Eyes” filmed?

Shot at the Tombs, which was a rundown prison in NYC.

Who was the toughest con in the prison?

Well, I think Ice is up there on the top, but I'm a bit partial.

Any memories of the climactic scene of “Short Eyes”?

Robert (Young) the director was going to throw Bruce Davison down the table, and they were having trouble setting up the shot. It was my idea to have the DP put the camera on a blanket, and pull it down the table. They used it... and it worked.

NATHAN GEORGE INTERVIEW BY JAMES M. TATE

Share This Post :

Tags : blaxploitation , exploitation , jack nicholson , nathan george , seventies

James M. Tate

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

FAVORITES SHORTLIST

1)OTLEY 2)HELL IS A CITY 3)ROBBERY 4)THE FEARMAKERS 5)CANYON PASSAGE 6)VIOLENT SATURDAY 7)HOT CARS 8)JUNGLE STREET 9)ANATOMY OF A MURDER 10)THE CROWDED SKY 11))THE MAN FROM LARAMIE 12)SHARKS' TREASURE 13)SWEENEY TWO 14)RAIDERS FROM BENEATH THE SEA 15)HARDCORE 16)THE SYSTEM 17)WHITE HEAT 18)AL CAPONE 19)HIDDEN FEAR 20)FALLEN ANGEL 21)NIGHT CREATURES 22)CURSE OF THE DEMON 23)ASH WEDNESDAY 24)THE BREAK 25)AIR PATROL 26)DUEL IN THE JUNGLE 27)EASY LIVING 28)WILLIAM CONRAD'S BRAINSTORM 29)FRENZY 30)THE ROARING TWENTIES 1)DANA ANDREWS 2)JAMES CAGNEY 3)STANLEY BAKER 4)MARLON BRANDO 5)JACK NICHOLSON 1)VIRGINIA MAYO 2)SUE LYON 3)GENE TIERNEY 4)MERRY ANDERS 5)FAYE DUNAWAY DIRECTORS 1)JACQUES TOURNEUR 2)RICHARD FLEISCHER 3)STANLEY KUBRICK 4)ORSON WELLES 5)OTTO PREMINGER 6)JOHN LANDIS 7)JOHN GUILLERMAN 8)VAL GUEST 9)JOHN CARPENTER 10)MICHAEL WINNER