Ernest Borgnine in person

August 14. Went to see Ernest Borgnine interviewed at the Lincoln Center Barnes and Noble. 91 years young. Not boyish to be sure, but full of life, vigorous, and totally there, in the moment of life as it happens. The place was jammed, as usual; I had to stand to the side outside the main room but fine if it was worth it, which it was. This was an actor; more than 190 films, spanning 60 years; obviously not the most handsome guy, but always believable. He spoke about working with Gary Cooper and that what made Cooper great was that he always listened to the other actor and reacted; it wasn’t just two people blah, blah, blahing in turn. Not to mention, back in the 50’s, a more judicious use of the close-up.

A couple of great stories about Frank Sinatra. How when they were filming From Here To Eternity (1953), Sinatra was at a low point, having lost his voice and doing gigs for $50 a night. But then Sinatra won the Oscar, regained his confidence, and it was up, up, up from there, to the stars, the greatest song interpreter and singer until Van Morrison came along (go ahead, disagree; please, you know I love the e-mail). (Not saying Van is greater than Frank, and Ella’s sweet melodies are ringing in my ears, not to mention Billie’s sad truth. Just saying Van is up there with Frank, Ella and Billie, and dat’s dat. Ain’t no one else comin’ to mind.)

Also, how for years Borgnine was known as “the guy who killed Sinatra in that movie.” How a cop once pulled him over for a traffic violation and said “Hey, ain’t you the guy who killed Sinatra?” And gave him a ticket anyway. Or because of. And how when he was filming the great Marty (1955), he was on a break and two Italian guys were checking him out, one of them looking dark, saying to the other, in Italian, “We oughta beat this guy up, he killed Sinatra,” and Borgnine, born in Italy, says back in Italian, “I can understand what you’re saying and guys, it was only a movie.” So the second guy lightens up, “You’re Italian!” and buys Borgnine lunch, pizza and wine. But the first guy kept throwing him dirty looks. “I don’t know, I still think we should beat him up. Sinatra!”

See a nice appreciation of Frank Sinatra with good details of the 40’s and 50’s here:

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200707/sinatra

Also, concerning Marty, Borgnine recounted how Louella Parsons complained about him being cast, how he was all wrong for the part, but after the film came out and he won the Oscar, publicly apologized.

He even touched on Escape from New York (1981), telling how director John Carpenter wanted him for the part he eventually took of Cabbie, which Borgnine knew he could play in his sleep, so he asked Carpenter, pleaded, to be given the role of Hauk (the Warden), which was given to Lee Van Cleef. Carpenter stuck to his guns and Ernest Borgnine gave us yet another role tailor-made for him.

Listen to Ernie talk on the Leonard Lopate show here:

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/episodes/2008/08/12/segments/105606