One of my favorite actors. He comes across in interviews and on screen as a real person, not someone looking to simply provide PR info.
I never would have considered him to play Eisenhower. Apparently, neither did he. But in retrospect, it may have been the perfect match. He isn’t about to try and immitate Ike’s looks, but wants to capture his persona, much as Scott did with Patton. He spoke with Ike’s son to get a personal perspective. John Eisenhower spoke first of how Ike was two people: His father and the General.
The other thing [John Eisenhower] said that really made me understand the spirit of [his father]: he said, “It must be hard for an actor to play someone who was so ordinary.”
Eisenhower was certainly ordinary. Yet he rose to the occasion. I’ve spoken with several men who worked for him in Europe, and every one spoke of him in terms that left no doubt that Ike was tough.
I’m looking forward to the film–an excellent actor portraying one of the most effective men of the last century.
Actually I thought George C. Scott came pretty close to looking like Patton. At least there were noteable similarities.
Comment by Wallace — May 27, 2004 @ 10:34 am