About
"Willy Loman's wife had that line in that wonderful Arthur Miller play, 'Death of a Salesman': 'Attention must be paid.' I think our attention span in this business is so short. We're worried about some little starlet temporarily on all the covers of all the magazines. That's kind of shallow. Attention must be paid to those talents that are real, that are viable, that are lasting."
In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Cliff Robertson (1923-2011) talks about his training at the Actors Studio and his early career on the New York stage. He talks about working in anthology series during the "live" television era of the 1950s. He discusses his role as "Charlie Gordon" on both television (The U.S. Steel Hour's "The Two Worlds of Charlie Gordon") and in film (Charly, which earned him an Oscar for Best Actor). He speaks in great detail about his work with director John Frankenheimer on the Playhouse 90 show "The Days of Wine and Roses." Robertson talks about being personally selected by President John F. Kennedy to play him in the feature film PT 109. He describes his two appearances on the classic anthology series The Twilight Zone and speaks about series creator Rod Serling. Robertson discusses his blacklisting by the industry following "Hollywoodgate," in which he accused Columbia Pictures head David Begelman of forging a check. Robertson speaks about several of his television movie appearances as well the television series Rod Brown and the Rocket Rangers and Batman. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on March 1, 2005 in Beverly Hills, CA.
Highlights
Cliff Robertson on being selected by John F. Kennedy to play JFK in the film "PT 109"
Cliff Robertson on the premise of the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"
Cliff Robertson on appearing on The Twilight Zone episode "The Dummy"
On his blacklisting by the industry following "Hollywoodgate," in which he accused Columbia Pictures head David Begelman of forging a check
Cliff Robertson on his acting mentors
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early years and influences; on being raised by his grandmother; on his interest in aviation; on his talent for journalism and his start in acting in New York
On his formal acting training at The Actors Studio; on his acting style
On being cast to star in the feature film "PT 109"; on meeting John F. Kennedy
On moving to New York; on his first television work in dramatic anthologies
Chapter 2
On working on Robert Montgomery Presents; on his predilection for live television when he was younger
On starring in the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"
On the ensemble feeling of working in live anthology dramas and the prestige level of television in the early 1950s; on encouragement he received from Bosley Crowther
On U.S. Steel Hour's "The Secret World of Charly Gordon" and the film version of "Charly"
Chapter 3
On his involvement with William Goldman's first movie; on winning an Oscar for the film version of "Charly" but not being allowed to attend the ceremony
On his work on Philco Television Playhouse and Hallmark Hall of Fame; on the writers for the classic anthology series, including Rod Serling
On on appearing on The Twilight Zone episode "The Dummy"
Chapter 4
On his two appearances on The Twilight Zone and on series creator Rod Serling; on appearances on shows including The Outer Limits and Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers
On his blacklisting by the industry following "Hollywoodgate," in which he accused Columbia Pictures head David Begelman of forging a check
On going back and forth between film and television; on differences between production on feature films and classic TV anthology dramas
On the possibility of a sequel to "Charly"; on his guest appearances on The Untouchables, Wagon Train, and Ben Casey
Chapter 5
On his fun experience on Batman; on guest-starring on Falcon Crest; on his appearances in television movies including "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" and "Henry Ford, the Man and the Machine"
On being a spokesperson for AT&T; on advice to aspiring actors; on then-current projects and voiceover work
On his proudest career achievement and his biggest career regret; on the best advice he's ever received; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Ben Casey
Cliff Robertson on appearing on Ben Casey
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Cliff Robertson on his work on Hallmark Hall of Fame
Cliff Robertson on his work on a production for Hallmark Hall of Fame
Outer Limits, The (1963-65)
Cliff Robertson on appearing on The Outer Limits
Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
Cliff Robertson on his work on Philco Television Playhouse
Playhouse 90
Cliff Robertson on starring in the Playhouse 90 live production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"
Cliff Robertson on the premise of the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"
Cliff Robertson on his character and the importance of the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"
Cliff Robertson on John Frankenheimer's directing process on the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"
Playhouse 90: "Days of Wine and Roses"
Cliff Robertson on starring in the Playhouse 90 live production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"
Cliff Robertson on the premise of the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"
Cliff Robertson on his character and the importance of the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"
Cliff Robertson on John Frankenheimer's directing process on the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"
Robert Montgomery Presents
Cliff Robertson on acting in live Robert Montgomery Presents productions
Cliff Robertson on his work on Robert Montgomery Presents>
Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers
Cliff Robertson on appearing on Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers
Twilight Zone, The
Cliff Robertson on appearing on The Twilight Zone
Cliff Robertson on appearing on The Twilight Zone episode "The Dummy"
Cliff Robertson on the classic Twilight Zone episode "The Dummy" (SPOILERS!)
United States Steel Hour, The
Cliff Robertson on The U.S. Steel Hour's "The Two Worlds of Charly Gordon" and the feature film "Charly"
Cliff Robertson on being nominated for an Emmy for The U.S. Steel Hour production of "Charly" and why he wanted to make a film version of "Charly"
Untouchables, The
Cliff Robertson on appearing on The Untouchables
Wagon Train
Cliff Robertson on appearing on Wagon Train
Topics
Advice
Cliff Robertson on advice to aspiring actors
Anthology Drama
Cliff Robertson on starring in the Playhouse 90 live production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"
Cliff Robertson on The U.S. Steel Hour's "The Two Worlds of Charly Gordon" and the feature film "Charly"
Classic TV Series Episodes
Cliff Robertson on the classic Twilight Zone episode "The Dummy" (SPOILERS!)
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Cliff Robertson on receiving encouragement from Bosley Crowther
Drama
Cliff Robertson on the classic Twilight Zone episode "The Dummy" (SPOILERS!)
Hollywood Blacklist
Cliff Robertson on his recollections of The Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Cliff Robertson on his recollections of The Hollywood Blacklist
Pivotal Career Moments
Cliff Robertson on receiving encouragement from Bosley Crowther
Cliff Robertson on receiving encouragement from Bosley Crowther
Pop Culture
Cliff Robertson on the classic Twilight Zone episode "The Dummy" (SPOILERS!)
Television Industry
Cliff Robertson on his recollections of The Hollywood Blacklist
Cliff Robertson on advice to aspiring actors
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
Cliff Robertson on starring in the Playhouse 90 live production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"
Cliff Robertson on The U.S. Steel Hour's "The Two Worlds of Charly Gordon" and the feature film "Charly"
Professions
Actor
Cliff Robertson on his formal acting training at The Actors Studio
Cliff Robertson on actors who inspired him
Cliff Robertson on his acting style
Cliff Robertson on advice to aspiring actors
Performers
Cliff Robertson on his formal acting training at The Actors Studio
Cliff Robertson on actors who inspired him
Cliff Robertson on his acting style
Cliff Robertson on advice to aspiring actors
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
Cliff Robertson on his involvement with the early television anthology dramas
Cliff Robertson on the ensemble feeling of working in live anthology dramas and the prestige of television in the early 1950s
Cliff Robertson on starring in the Playhouse 90 live production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"
Cliff Robertson on The U.S. Steel Hour's "The Two Worlds of Charly Gordon" and the feature film "Charly"
Cliff Robertson on the writers for the classic anthology series
Cliff Robertson on being nominated for an Emmy for The U.S. Steel Hour production of "Charly" and why he wanted to make a film version of "Charly"
Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
Cliff Robertson on appearing on The Twilight Zone episode "The Dummy"
People
David Begelman
On his blacklisting by the industry following "Hollywoodgate," in which he accused Columbia Pictures head David Begelman of forging a check
Michael Caine
Cliff Robertson on winning an Oscar for the film version of "Charly" but not being allowed to attend the ceremony
Bosley Crowther
Cliff Robertson on receiving encouragement from Bosley Crowther
Bill Dozier
Cliff Robertson on appearing on Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers thanks to Bill Dozier
Dominick Dunne
Cliff Robertson on acting in live Robert Montgomery Presents productions
John Frankenheimer
Cliff Robertson on starring in the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"
Cliff Robertson on his character and the importance of the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"
Cliff Robertson on John Frankenheimer's directing process on the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"
William Goldman
Cliff Robertson on his involvement with William Goldman's first movie and asking him to write the film version of "Charly"
Buck Houghton
Cliff Robertson on working with Buck Houghton
John F. Kennedy
Cliff Robertson on being selected by John F. Kennedy to play JFK in the film "PT 109"
Cliff Robertson on meeting John F. Kennedy
Piper Laurie
Cliff Robertson on his co-stars in the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"
Jack Lemmon
Cliff Robertson on Jack Lemmon starring in the film version of "The Days of Wine and Roses"
JP Miller
Cliff Robertson on meeting with writer JP miller when working on the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"
Elizabeth Montgomery
Cliff Robertson on acting with Robert Montgomery's daughter, Elizabeth Montgomery
Sydney Pollack
Cliff Robertson on appearing on Ben Casey and working with Sydney Pollack
Rod Serling
Cliff Robertson on working with writer Rod Serling and appearing on The Twilight Zone
Kim Stanley
Cliff Robertson on acting in live Robert Montgomery Presents productions
Robert Vaughn
Cliff Robertson on a stunt gone wrong with Robert Vaughn