Posted on 05/31/2004 1:12:25 PM PDT by wagglebee
LOS ANGELES — A film paying tribute to Dwight D. Eisenhower (search) and his World War II D-Day achievement required precise casting, said writer-producer Lionel Chetwynd.
So how did Tom Selleck (search), definitely not an Eisenhower lookalike, end up with the title role in A&E's "Ike: Countdown to D-Day" (search)? It was all about character, Chetwynd said.
"This is about the loneliness of command, the extraordinary courage it takes to command men and send them into battle and not lose your humanity. ... It's the story of a man of courage, confidence and decency.
"That's what was important in the casting, not to get somebody who looked like him," said Chetwynd, whose TV credits include "Kissinger and Nixon" and the recent "DC 9/11."
Based on their longtime friendship, he said, "I would play poker with Tom Selleck over the phone -- he's that honest and decent a man."
An effort was made to give the husky, dark-haired actor a few of Eisenhower's physical characteristics: Selleck's hair is shaved and dyed, he's sans mustache and his eyebrows are less prominent.
Selleck, the former "Magnum, P.I." star, "Friends" guest star and recent lead in a variety of TV movies, wanted to approximate but not ape Eisenhower's appearance.
"I knew I had to get in a certain ballpark physically, but I didn't want to wear Eisenhower ears and Eisenhower nose and bald caps," the 59-year-old said. "With a known quantity like me, I sincerely felt the audience would be looking for the lines in the latex rather than listening to the lines in the movie."
The actor did modulate his voice in an approximation of Eisenhower's restrained, Midwestern speech, part of a persuasive and intelligent performance.
Selleck didn't want to take on the role as an acting exercise, he said, but because he felt a responsibility to history and the sacrifices the war demanded.
"My dad was in this war and all my uncles, and their wives waited at home and raised kids and hoped for the best. It (the film) was kind of a way of paying homage to all that," he said.
The movie creates battle-free but eloquent drama as it details Eisenhower's stewardship leading up to the June 6, 1944, Allied invasion of Nazi Germany-occupied France.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
.
For...
...WE WERE SOLDIERS ONCE...
...& YOUNG...
...4-FREEDOM.
http://www.lzxray.com
http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_collection.htm
.
Re: "So how did Tom Selleck, definitely not an Eisenhower lookalike..."
Tom looks more the part than Robert Duvall in "Ike: The War Years - TV (1978)." Most people forget that Ike was tall like Selleck.
IMHO I think he will do a fine job tonight.
BTW, anyone who wants to check threads on War Flicks and TV series go to:
Extra Memorial Day Favorite Films Thread - Revolution to World War One at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1145126/posts
Extra Memorial Day Favorite Films Thread - World War Two
at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1145144/posts
Extra Memorial Day Favorite Films Thread - Korea to Best of All at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1145174/posts
See ya'll there!
|
|
|
And most people forget he was born in Texas.
I sooooo much want to see this movie. I saw an ad for it back weeks ago and have been waiting for tonight like a kid waiting for Christmas.
Alas, the cable went out during the storms here last night, and with it being a holiday Adelphia has no one out working on it. It's now been almost 24 hours and I'm still cableless.
Re: "And most people forget he was born in Texas."
Wish that were true, but IMDB says 29 January 1945 Detroit, Michigan, as DOB and location of birth at http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0000633/
And I've never heard Tom say anything about being a native born Texan. I vote we give him honorary Texan status anyway!
I meant IKE. He grew up in Kansas, but he was born in Texas.
Re: "I sooooo much want to see this movie. I saw an ad for it back weeks ago and have been waiting for tonight like a kid waiting for Christmas. Alas, the cable went out during the storms here last night, and with it being a holiday Adelphia has no one out working on it. It's now been almost 24 hours and I'm still cableless."
Surely someone, some freeper near you will tape it for you...
I can hear you saying, "Don't call me Shirley!"
Well, Shirley, if you are near Corsicana, Texas, I'll tape it for you...
According to TVGuide:
Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2004), A&E May 31 08:00pm
Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2004), A&E May 31 10:00pm
Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2004), A&E Jun 01 12:00am
Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2004), A&E Jun 01 02:00am
Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2004), A&E Jun 01 10:00pm
Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2004), A&E Jun 02 02:00am
Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2004), A&E Jun 05 03:00pm
Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2004), A&E Jun 06 02:00pm
Unfortunately, the whole county is out. That's the problem with having a company way off in Ohio run a cable tv system in western Kentucky.
I see it's going to be shown several times over the next few days, so hopefully Adelphia will get it's act together and fix things by then.
What time does it come on tonight?
*BUMP*!
8:00pm est
On a History Channel special about Western Movies he was interviewed.
"One of the problems with approaching a part like this is that you KNOW John Wayne could have done it better."
Don't despair! It's playing 4 times tonight, maybe your cable will be back up for a later viewing.
It's also repeating this Saturday at 3 pm ET.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
