Post by chaney on Jan 4, 2011 22:25:44 GMT -5
Former casting director turned producer John G. Stephens wrote a book called FROM MY THREE SONS TO MAJOR DAD. He mentions Charlie a few times in the book, having known him back when he was still Charlie Buchinski. Stephens relates a humorous casting session with producer Richard Lewis for a filmed parlor game show called QUICK AS A FLASH. He describes Charlie as having a "very, very unusual presence; people were a little bit frightened of him." Here's how Stephens remembers Charlie's casting interview with Lewis.
Charlie - Hullo.
Lewis - So, Charlie ...
Charlie - Yeah.
Lewis - Nice to meet you.
Charlie - Yeah.
Lewis - Charlie?
Charlie - Yeah.
Lewis - Would you like to read for this part?
Charlie - You want me to read?!
Lewis - Well, you don't have to if you don't want to, Charlie."
Charlie - I don't really want to read.
Lewis - That's okay, Charlie, that's okay.
Charlie - Good. That it? Good-bye, thanks, Johnny.
Stephens describes Lewis as shocked, but then he he said, "Well, he's got a great face, Johnny. So let's go with him."
Stephens also cast BIG HOUSE USA and describes everyone on the film as drunk throughout filming with the exception of Charlie, Ralph Meeker, and himself. He says Lon Chaney, Jr., was a 24 hr a day drunk, Bill Tallman a mean drunk, and Broderick Crawford a happy drunk. He further mentions Meeker was usually mad and Charlie was always mad. When the cast walked through maximum security at Canon City the prisoners were scared of them according to Stephens.
Charlie - Hullo.
Lewis - So, Charlie ...
Charlie - Yeah.
Lewis - Nice to meet you.
Charlie - Yeah.
Lewis - Charlie?
Charlie - Yeah.
Lewis - Would you like to read for this part?
Charlie - You want me to read?!
Lewis - Well, you don't have to if you don't want to, Charlie."
Charlie - I don't really want to read.
Lewis - That's okay, Charlie, that's okay.
Charlie - Good. That it? Good-bye, thanks, Johnny.
Stephens describes Lewis as shocked, but then he he said, "Well, he's got a great face, Johnny. So let's go with him."
Stephens also cast BIG HOUSE USA and describes everyone on the film as drunk throughout filming with the exception of Charlie, Ralph Meeker, and himself. He says Lon Chaney, Jr., was a 24 hr a day drunk, Bill Tallman a mean drunk, and Broderick Crawford a happy drunk. He further mentions Meeker was usually mad and Charlie was always mad. When the cast walked through maximum security at Canon City the prisoners were scared of them according to Stephens.
