About
"We were on a boat, and a television executive, who was rather corpulent, said to me and Jessica [Tandy], 'I'll ask you one question. If you could, next year, be in the position that Lucy Ball is today, would you do it?' And I looked across at Jessie who was shaking her head 'no.' He said, 'All right, that's it,' and he got up and he dived overboard. Of such small trivial things, are memories made."
In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Hume Cronyn (1911-2003) talks about his long career in the theater, in television, and in film, often opposite his late wife Jessica Tandy. He recalls his television debut in a 1939 NBC production called Her Majesty's Voice. He discusses his film association with director Alfred Hitchcock, starting with his screen debut in Shadow of A Doubt and later Lifeboat and Under Capricorn. He describes his appearances on live television on such series as Omnibus and Studio One. Cronyn talks about his work with Jessica Tandy on the first network series to be seen in color, The Marriage (1954), based on their radio show. He details his later work in television as well as his long-running Broadway show opposite Jessica Tandy, The Gin Game, which was filmed and shown on PBS in 1984. Michael Rosen conducted the interview on June 24, 1999 in Fairfield, CT.
Highlights
Hume Cronyn on meeting and marrying Jessica Tandy and creating the Actor's Laboratory Theater
Hume Cronyn on appearing in the series The Marriage with wife Jessica Tandy
Hume Cronyn on directing live television in the '50s
Hume Cronyn on the Hollywood Blacklist
Hume Cronyn on the craft of acting
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences
On books he read as a child; on deciding he wanted to be an actor; on joining the National Theater
Chapter 2
On his early theatrical roles; on his theater education; on his Broadway debut
On going to Hollywood to appear in films; on working with Alfred Hitchcock on "Shadow of a Doubt"
Chapter 3
On his earliest appearance on television; on writing screenplays; on meeting and marrying Jessica Tandy and creating the Actor's Laboratory Theater
On producing early plays by Tennessee Williams and getting Jessica Tandy the lead in "Streetcar Named Desire"; on directing live television in the '50s
Chapter 4
On appearing on Ominbus; on appearing on the series The Marriage with Jessica Tandy; on the Hollywood Blacklist
On appearing on Studio One; on the craft of acting; on preparing to act on live television
Chapter 5
On appearing in Moon and Sixpence with Jessica Tandy and Laurence Olivier; on appearing in the made-for-television movie The Gin Game with Jessica Tandy; on what attracts him to a script
On continuing to act in his later years; on how he regards live television and his favorite role; on television news
Shows
Actors Studio
Hume Cronyn on directing Jessica Tandy in "Portrait of a Madonna" for Actors Studio
Gin Game, The
Hume Cronyn on appearing in the made-for-television movie The Gin Game with Jessica Tandy
Marriage, The
Hume Cronyn on appearing in the series The Marriage with wife Jessica Tandy
Moon and Sixpence
Hume Cronyn on appearing in Moon and Sixpence with Jessica Tandy and Laurence Olivier
Omnibus
Hume Cronyn on appearing as John Quincy Adams on Ominbus
Studio One
Hume Cronyn on appearing in Studio One's presentation of "A Member of the Family"
Topics
Anthology Drama
Hume Cronyn on directing live television in the '50s
Hume Cronyn on directing Jessica Tandy in "Portrait of a Madonna" for Actors Studio
Hume Cronyn on appearing as John Quincy Adams on Omnibus
Hume Cronyn on appearing in Studio One's presentation of "A Member of the Family"
Comedy-Variety
Hume Cronyn on appearing in the series The Marriage with wife Jessica Tandy
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Hume Cronyn on memorable teachers at The American Academy of Dramatic Art
Hollywood Blacklist
Hume Cronyn on the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Hume Cronyn on the Hollywood Blacklist
Television Industry
Hume Cronyn on the Hollywood Blacklist
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
Hume Cronyn on directing live television in the '50s
Hume Cronyn on directing Jessica Tandy in "Portrait of a Madonna" for Actors Studio
Hume Cronyn on appearing as John Quincy Adams on Ominbus
Hume Cronyn on appearing in the series The Marriage with wife Jessica Tandy
Hume Cronyn on appearing in Studio One's presentation of "A Member of the Family"
Professions
Actor
Hume Cronyn on the craft of acting
Hume Cronyn on preparing to act on live television
Hume Cronyn on what attracts him to a script
Performers
Hume Cronyn on the craft of acting
Hume Cronyn on preparing to act on live television
Hume Cronyn on what attracts him to a script
Genres
Comedy Series
Hume Cronyn on appearing in the series The Marriage with wife Jessica Tandy
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Hume Cronyn on appearing in Moon and Sixpence with Jessica Tandy and Laurence Olivier
Hume Cronyn on appearing in the made-for-television movie The Gin Game with Jessica Tandy
People
George Abbott
Hume Cronyn on going to Hollywood to appear in films
Don Ameche
Hume Cronyn on being mistaken for Don Ameche
Horton Foote
Hume Cronyn on appearing in Studio One's presentation of "A Member of the Family"
Alfred Hitchcock
Hume Cronyn on going to Hollywood to appear in films
Hume Cronyn on appearing in Alfred Hitchcock's feature "Shadow of a Doubt"
Laurence Olivier
Hume Cronyn on appearing in Moon and Sixpence with Jessica Tandy and Laurence Olivier
Jessica Tandy
Hume Cronyn on meeting and marrying Jessica Tandy and creating the Actor's Laboratory Theater
Hume Cronyn on directing Jessica Tandy in "Portrait of a Madonna" for Actors Studio
Hume Cronyn on producing early Tennessee Williams plays and getting Jessica Tandy the lead in "Streetcar Named Desire" on Broadway
Hume Cronyn on appearing in the series The Marriage with wife Jessica Tandy
Hume Cronyn on appearing in Moon and Sixpence with Jessica Tandy and Laurence Olivier
Hume Cronyn on appearing in the made-for-television movie The Gin Game with Jessica Tandy
Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver
Hume Cronyn on NBC executive Pat Weaver