Mr. Huston Mr. North by Nat Segaloff

Author:Nat Segaloff [Segaloff, Nat]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BearManor Media
Published: 2015-07-25T00:00:00+00:00

13. The Acting Judge

“Hell, I think I know the script better than you guys do right now,” Judge Thomas Needham ruled from the Bench. Needham, as Judge Cadwalader, got to preside over the stars, extras, and crew of Mr. North while keeping order in the trial of Anthony Edwards, a.k.a. Theophilus North. Unlike his usual domain, this time Needham had to follow the orders of a man half his age: director Danny Huston. Still, the jurist regarded the film as a pleasant way to spend his summer vacation. He even beamed when he could correct his young director on a point of dialogue.

“That’s his line,” Judge Needham pointed out, stopping a take (a huge Hollywood no-no) to correct a point. In Hollywood, only the director may say “cut.”

“I’ll start to blush soon,” Danny admitted, letting it go.

“Let’s be serious,” begged assistant director Tony Cerbone, who was trying to keep the show on schedule. “After all, there’s a Judge here!”

Cinematographer Robin Vidgeon, Danny Huston, and script supervisor Karen Golden positioned themselves at strategic spots around the room, taking empty seats where the stars would be sitting, and read the lines aloud to help the Judge make the proper eye contact for the editing process.

It was only 8:25 in the morning, but it must be 90 degrees so far in the room, and soundman Bill Randall was turning red.

“It’s all I can do to keep the sweat from rolling down in my eyes,” he griped.

Danny was giving the Judge direction. In the scene, he will have his character deflated by Mrs. Cranston (Lauren Bacall) who will admonish him, “Nicholas!”

“You probably had an affair with Mrs. Cranston at some time and you don’t want it to come out now,” Danny suggests. The dignified jurist is game, especially considering the elegant Bacall. “It’s all right if you want to fix me up!” he joked, but warned, “I’ve never had anybody use my first name in a courtroom before.”

But after several takes Danny still had not gotten the reaction he wanted. “Pretend you’re gay and this is a man,” the director whispered. “Be more startled that Cranston is here — play a little more shock.” The director knew that the revelation would be a good laugh, but after three more takes, he leaned over to Karen Golden.

“Can we cut it with his look? ” he asked her. She shook her head “no.” Danny called for take six.

“Too much,” he said at the Judge’s over-broad next attempt. “You moved your head too far; you’ll sue us for whiplash.”

Take seven was perfect. The judge looked relieved. “Takes a hell of a lot of work, my friend,” he decreed after his acting debut. “I had some reservations about this, to be honest. But I’m on vacation. And I’ll tell you, off the record, that I’ve never felt less in charge in a courtroom before!”

Did the crowd of extras make Judge Needham, the man who fended off the international media when Klaus von Bulow appeared in his Court, nervous?

“No,” he smiled impishly.

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