Along with the Dave Chappelle episode, Bravo and Shout Factory is releasing a box set entitled Icons. Icons is a 3 disc collection featuring interviews with Clint Eastwood, Paul Newman, Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand. As with the Chappelle disc, Icons includes a bonus feature of unaired clips for all the interviews entitled, “Great Moments That Didn’t Make The Cut”.
Lipton describes the show as a circus without a net. The one stipulation from the beginning for Lipton was the show would never have any pre-interviews. Most talk shows have a “Segment Producer” who interviews the stars and the day of the taping the interview has a basic script of questions and answers. Lipton instead spends a minimum of 2 weeks for preparation for each of his 17 interviews each year. The results are a wealth of questions ready to challenge the star and inform the viewer.
First up is Paul Newman who was the very first guest back in 1994 when he was the President of the Actors Studio. Lipton talks in his introduction to the episode of the show’s infancy. Lipton is obviously nervous but then again who wouldn’t be with such a giant like Paul Newman. From the furniture to Lipton’s performance you can see how far the show has come and the raw quality of this episode is a testament of that.
As with the Chappelle disc, Icons is full of revealing moments that are sometimes funny and other times very serious but all completely entertaining. As you can expect with legends such as these there are a plethora of moments and the following are a few to look forward to seeing.
Working on the "Color of Money", Newman receives a lesson by director Martin Scorsese on trying to not be funny in a funny scene. Newman also reveals that one of his secrets of acting is “nagging dissatisfaction keeps me on my toes”. He also reveals that he was originally going to play Sundance if Marlon Brandon came in to play Butch Cassidy. On the deleted scenes Newman talks about being on Nixon’s enemy list and how he learned to hustle.
On the same disc is the interview with Robert Redford. Redford talks about his relationship on and off the screen with Newman. In particular, a practical joke Newman and Redford played on one another that to this day have never admitted to one another. Redford also talks about his early struggles as director on "Ordinary People" with not knowing how to express himself because he did not know the language. On acting and ones performance he tells Lipton, “You’re not the best judgment of your own work. Just do it”.
Clint Eastwood talks about originally declining the “Spaghetti Western series and that the he actually brought his own wardrobe and the virgin cigars from Beverly Hills to the set. Originally the "Dirty Harry" role was offered and declined by Paul Newman because he found it to be too political for his tastes. In regards to doing his own stunts Clint responds, “Once you’re in the character you can do anything”. Eastwood also on the disc does a surprisingly good impersonation of Brando and John Wayne.
Barbra Streisand shares that she was originally turned down by Columbia Records because they didn’t know if she was black or white. On singing in movies, she explains on why she is bad at lip syncing. On the Academy Awards, she talks of making a bad decision on what to wear in which she eventually won for "Funny Girl". “The sound of orgasms”, Barbra answers with a smile on the question of her favorite sound and eventually semi-jokes about getting some snacks to keep her stamina.
If I have anything bad to say about these discs is the fact they have no chapter titles for the main interviews and they are still censored as they were originally broadcasted on Bravo. It would have been wonderful if they could have gone back and unbleeped them.
Regardless, you will not be disappointed by these interviews and the fabulous journey James Lipton takes you on. The Icons and the Dave Chappelle episodes are perfect for anyone who is a fan or just a fan of the craft and a perfect stocking stuffer for the holidays.
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