-----Original Message-----
>From: Patrick King <
abrasax93@yahoo.com>
>Sent: Feb 2, 2007 5:13 PM
>To:
rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: RARA-AVIS: Re:The Long
Goodbye
>
>Elliot Gould was on the edge of the A list at the
time
>that movie was made. He's had a great success in
MASH.
>He wanted to be a leading man and he is a big fan
of
>Chandler. I'm sure he was in on the decision to
make
>this movie. This is a very common reason for
making
>movies in Hollywood and very few are successful.
"The
>greatest gift that God could gee us..." applys here,
I
>think.
>
>Patrick King
I don't even understand what the last couple lines in your
post mean, but, "It's okay with me."
Gould had nothing to do with developing this movie (until he
was cast, of course). Elliot Kastner and Jerry Bick had the
rights and were producing the film. They wanted Peter
Bogdonavich to direct. He passed and suggested Altman. Altman
had to convince the producers that Gould could do the work.
Gould was currently in hot water for erratic behavior on a
number of recent jobs (he had punched out Anthony Harvey on
one flick and even inspired Ingmar Bergman (!) to say he was
"difficult" on another). He was unhirable at the time, not
someone people were going to for advice on multi-million
dollar decisions. Like what movies he'd like to make to
bolster his career.
The producers made Gould go through physical and
psychological testing before they would hire him. Elliot
Gould's desires for "leading man" status, if he had any,
played no role in the producers decision to make this movie.
They would have made it without him. And they would have made
it without Altman. They owned the property and they were in
the power position until Altman was hired. From that point
on, everthing is a negotiation. It was Altman's belief in
Gould that got him the job. Not the other way around.
Yes, producers often cater to big star's egos to get them on
board their projects, but if a star is behind the initial
development of a movie, you will find his name in the
producer's credits. Often they will have their name there
even if they were merely a gun for hire.
Gould is not one of the producers of The Long Goodbye. Merely
the star.
TL
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 02 Feb 2007 EST