Today I have the immense pleasure of welcoming a very special guest, actress Susan Blakely, to CINEMATIC REVELATIONS for an interview. Susan has acted in many motion pictures over the years such as THE WAY WE WERE, THE LORDS OF FLATBUSH, REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONER, DREAMER [my review of the film can be found here] THE GENESIS CODE, THE TOWERING INFERNO, and EMILY OR OSCAR, to name a few examples. In this interview Susan will be discussing her role in DREAMER, acting, television, and The Actors Studio.
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| (Courtesy of Susan Blakely) |
Welcome to CINEMATIC REVELATIONS Susan!
Athan: When did you first realize that you wanted to be an actress?
Susan: As an Army family, we were traveling all around the world when I was a kid. We didn’t have TV until I was a little older, so I was addicted to reading. Often I would identify so much with a character in what I was reading that I felt like I could just step into the part. Also back then no one ever talked to me about what I wanted to do when I grew up so acting seemed like fun. I just thought I would do plays. It never really dawned on me that I would be in films even after I had some game as a model in New York City. I was studying acting during all that time and doing a lot of commercials, so I sort of fell into acting.
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Athan: Your performance as Karen in DREAMER was admirable, a young woman who knew her own heart and mind, made mistakes, and had regrets about these, which made her all the more real. What it is that drew you to the part of Karen?
Susan: Well you said it perfectly…It was all of those things, a woman who knew her own heart and mind, made mistakes and had regrets about them. In today’s world she would’ve been much further along in her career but at that point in time she had to be smarter and more competent than a man doing the same job...and for less money. But she was also very vulnerable and madly in love with Dreamer. Ironically, even in my acting classes, I was always drawn to characters from rural America. I did get to do some of those types throughout my career but if I had made different choices about big projects and had had a bigger career, I would’ve done many more. Even in "Rich Man, Poor Man" my favorite part of that mini-series was when my character was young living in a small town in upstate New York. Ironically, most of the roles that I have been offered have been for more upscale women. Also fun to do but I feel my heart is with women like Karen.
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Athan: DREAMER had an excellent cast with yourself, Tim Matheson, and Jack Warden as the main focus in the picture. What was it like working with these performers?
Susan: Honestly, it was such a thrill for me. Tim had already been working as a professional actor for longer than I had and was an incredibly accomplished, and very serious actor. I learned a lot working with him. He was also a very generous actor to work with. Jack Warden was of course, one of the most remarkable character actors of our time. He was also hysterically funny between scenes and after work. DREAMER was filled with so many remarkable character actors. Again, all who had worked much longer than I had… Barbara Stewart, Matt Clark, Richard Schull and Merrya Small who has changed her name to Mews Small. The whole cast and crew stayed at the unassuming local Ramada Inn in Alton, Illinois, so we had a lot of fun together.
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Athan: DREAMER was set in the world of ten-pin bowling, with its main character striving for success in this sport. The film featured many scenes in the bowling alley, which gave it a sense of realism in this respect. After shooting the movie, did you see the sport in a different light than how you previously envisioned it?
Susan: Somewhat. It certainly was fun to meet some of the sport's stars like Dick Weber, who played himself in the film just to observe the concentration and prowess that bowling demands. But I honestly think that bowling is a difficult sport to make exciting on film. I think Noel’s experience with editing really helped. What I will always remember is the smell of that bowling alley that we worked in…the cigarettes, stale beer, and rental bowling shoes. I loved it because I felt like I was really there in that small town working in that bowling alley.
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Athan: For you, what was the most demanding, but emotionally satisfying segment of filming DREAMER?
Susan: Well, I just remember it being physically challenging especially when we were shooting on the river because of the humidity and the mosquitoes.
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Athan: Have you kept in contact with any cast members and crew from DREAMER?
Susan: I did get together with Barbara Stewart and Jack Warden a few times after shooting, but as so often happens we sort of lost touch later. And I’ve seen Tim Matheson and Mews Small occasionally at events. I think we always mean to stay in touch but we all go on our separate ways. But I have such fond memories of all of them.
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Athan: DREAMER was directed by Noel Nosseck, who also directed the motion pictures BEST FRIENDS, LAS VEGAS LADY, YOUNGBLOOD, and KING OF THE MOUNTAIN. What was it like being directed by Mr Nosseck in DREAMER?
Susan: He was quite lovely. Very smart, kind, very organized and easy to work with.
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Athan: You have been very prolific on television over the years, beginning with both instalments of blockbuster mini-series Rich Man, Poor Man, series The Love Boat, Twilight Zone, Hotel, In The Heat Of The Night, Falcon Crest, over thirty telemovies, and more recently in series Southland, NCIS, and This Is Us. What are some of the main differences between film, and television from your perspective?
Susan: I was very lucky to be in some incredible TV -- even groundbreaking TV films, like the mini-series "Rich Man Poor Man" and the movie, "The Bunker," playing Eva Braun opposite Anthony Hopkins as Hitler. And I am grateful for the two films I did with Walter Matthau, "The Incident" and "Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore." I also was pleased to have played Frances Farmer in her own real autobiography, "Will There Really be a Morning?" Of course I loved doing any comedy series like, "Two and a Half Men," and "The George Carlin Show." But a lot of the series that I was offered back then didn’t really excite me whereas TV today is in general incredibly exciting and innovative. I’m quite addicted to watching TV now probably even more so than most of the movies. Especially all of the big action hero franchises that they have out now.
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Athan: From your standpoint, what is the main difference between film, and television production?
Susan: The main difference is time. Time and preproduction, perhaps for rehearsal or to work with the director and writers and customers, etc. Unless of course it’s a low budget film which then has the same amount of time as most TV movies. Nowadays, some of the best TV shows have a lot more time than they used to.
In general I think TV now is really exciting because it attracts a lot of the best writers, directors, and actors. I am really addicted to TV now. So many amazing shows not just from the United States but from all over the world. We still have a lot of wonderful movies, but so much of production is Tentpole/action films and franchises.
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Athan: You studied acting at The Actors’ Studio, a very prestigious acting school which boasts many equally high-profile alumni such as Eva Marie Saint, Paul Newman, Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, Jane Fonda, Anne Bancroft, to name a few performers. In retrospect, what is it that you remember most fondly after attending The Actors Studio?
Susan: Actually, I only took classes at The Actors Studio from Lee Strasberg for a couple of years. I never became a member of The Actors Studio because I was also studying with another highly regarded acting teacher at the time -- Warren Robertson. I had been in this wonderful class of his for a few years and then he put me into his advanced class of all professional actors, many of whom were already famous. Actors like Diane Keaton, James Earl Jones, Madeline Kahn, Burt Young and all these other Broadway stars. It was really challenging and I learned a lot but honestly, I was relieved when I started to work in films and had to move to LA because it was so nerve-racking to work with and in front of those incredible actors. But then, of course, one of my first films was with Paul Newman and Fred Astaire and Steve McQueen, Bill Holden and Faye Dunaway. All in one film… The Towering Inferno.
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Athan: You have been designing jewellery for many years with Susan Blakely Designs, crafting beautiful and original pieces such as necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. The pieces contain semi-precious stones such as ruby, onyx, garnet, amethyst, and peridot, which make these appropriate for either formal, or more relaxed attire. What is it that you most love about creating your jewellery pieces?
Susan: I think what I’ve always loved the most is creating something beautiful out of these gorgeous stones. I love them as accessories to wear with simple basic fashions.
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Athan: Do you have any upcoming projects of which you would like to tell readers?
Susan: No, I don’t have any upcoming projects. I haven’t had any offers lately that have really excited me and I thoroughly enjoy my time off. Reading and watching films and TV, with my husband -- hanging out with our dog and spending time with all of my dear friends. I feel very blessed.
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Thank you so much for your time today Susan, and for the insight you have provided into the art of acting, DREAMER, cinema, television, and The Actors Studio. It has been wonderful having you on CINEMATIC REVELATIONS. You are welcome to return whenever you wish.
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Susan Blakely links
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| (Courtesy of Susan Blakely) |
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