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PEOPLE & ARTSThursday 3 December 2015
Acting Legend Michael Caine reflects on ‘Youth’ and old age
JAKE COYLE where the journalist said to
AP Film Writer the duchess, ‘What’s the
NEW YORK (AP) — Michael best restaurant in London?’
Caine sits down for lunch at And she said, ‘Where
the St. Regis Hotel in mid- you’re known, dear.’ And I
town New York clutching apply that to a lot of what
a copy of the day’s Daily I do.”
News given to him by the Caine, 82, is known just
hotel doorman, who’s ear- about everywhere. Some
marked a photo of Caine know him as the star of Brit-
and his “Youth” co-star ish classics like “Alfie,” ‘’The
Jane Fonda. Italian Job” and “Get Cart-
“You wonder why I stay er.” Others know him as Bat-
here,” he chuckles. “I al- man’s butler. Some might
ways remember the sort of even know him just by the
joke thing the British paper ubiquitous impressions of
This photo provided by Fox Searchlight shows Michael Caine as Fred Ballinger in “Youth.” The
movie opens in U.S. theaters on Dec. 4, 2015.
(Gianni Fiorito/Fox Searchlight via AP)
his indelible cockney ac- ies. Movies retire you. (AP: the pool.”
cent, like Steve Coogan Yet they’re not.) That’s the ON POOL SCENE OF ‘YOUTH’
and Rob Brydon’s duel- point. I retire and they say, WITH A NAKED BEAUTY
ing Michael Caines in “The “Oh, no you’re not.” MODEL
Trip.” In Paolo Sorrentino’s ON HIS BREAKTHROUGH Paolo never told us about
“Youth,” in which he plays “Alfie” was a stage play that, you know. He said to
an aged, regretful classical which I auditioned for Harvey (Keitel) and me,
composer, Caine puts a and never got. I was the “Get in the pool. There’s
capstone on a career that last choice of anybody. I no dialogue.” He said “Ac-
has traveled from working- shared a flat with Terence tion!” and Madalina (Ghe-
class upstart to cinema in- Stamp and he was offered nea) walked in. Well that’s
stitution. Like most things in “Alfie.” I spent two days try- the best acting you’ve ever
life, he’s enjoying it. ing to talk him into doing it. seen on our faces because
“I’ve been nominated (for Laurence Harvey, Anthony that’s absolute reality.
best actor) four times and I Newley were offered it. ON PLAYING OLDER PARTS
have never won,” he says, Funny enough, everyone I had had great success in
smiling. “I fly for 11 hours turned it down because movies. I had done 61, 62.
to clap another actor and there was an abortion se- And I got a script and I sent
then go home. It’s a long quence in it. It was the first it back to the producer
way! So I’m not exactly time I was nominated for with a note saying I didn’t
clearing shelves. I’ve got an Oscar. But I had seen want to do it, the part was
two Oscars, anyway.” Paul Scofield in “A Man too small. And he sent it
Sorrentino, the Italian direc- for All Seasons,” so I didn’t back with a note saying, “I
tor of the Oscar-winning even bother to turn up. didn’t want you to read the
“The Great Beauty,” want- ON COMING TO HOLLY- lover. I wanted you to read
ed Caine for his combina- WOOD the father.” That’s when, as
tion of authority and levity The first party I went to in I like to say, you stop get-
-- a description that hits on Hollywood, Shirley Ma- ting the girl, but you get the
Caine’s unique blend of cLaine gave to welcome part.
good cheer and gravitas. me to Hollywood. The first ON ONE SIMILARITY WITH
Caine doesn’t share his people to walk in were HIS ‘YOUTH’ CHARACTER
character’s melancholy, Gloria Swanson and Frank There’s a scene at the doc-
but he’s similarly reflective, Sinatra. I was dumbstruck. tor’s where I go to see the
and an eager, colorful sto- Then she took me to din- results of my exam and he
ryteller. ner at Danny Kaye’s house. says to me: “What’s it like
ON RETIREMENT There were only two other feeling old?” And what
What am I going to do? Sit people there. One was struck me is the line I said
around and watch soaps Cary Grant and the other to him, which is: “I don’t un-
on television all day? That’s one was Prince Philip. I’m derstand how I got here.”
why I never retired. I retire sitting there. I’ve been in Six years ago I was 35. How
mentally every time. I re- Hollywood for three weeks. the hell have I gotten to be
gard myself retired now. I I took Shirley home. She 82? A reporter once said
don’t have another script lived in the Valley. As we to me, “How do you feel
to do, so I’m retired. I al- got near to her home, I about growing old?” And
ways had this phrase that I said, “Look! Your house I said to him, “Well, con-
said many times to report- is on fire.” She said, “Mi- sidering the alternative,
ers: You don’t retire in mov- chael, that’s steam from fabulous.”q
