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Vol.
12, Issue 225 - Monday, August 13, 2007
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UNIVERSAL STUDIOS Richard Dreyfuss' movie career also included a starring role in "Jaws" (1975), with Robert Shaw and Roy Scheider. |
In a wide-ranging discussion that
rarely follows a traditional question-and-answer format, mention of his
approaching 60th birthday in October causes the movie star to shift
uncomfortably in the rattan chair. "When you're 60, you look in the mirror
and say, 'Who is that?' That's when you realize the software is screwed
up, because you're not meant to be puzzled by something so fundamental. I
think God is, once again, proving that he has the most ironic sense of humor.
When we die, the first thing we're going to hear is a voice that says, 'Was that
funny?'"
The punch line arrives at a dramatic, too-loud-for-the-Kahala-coffee-bar volume.
But with the burst of energy and wit comes a spark that notifies anyone within a
certain radius that the average-looking guy is, indeed, a celebrity. All
it takes is a smile. Or a direct, unbroken gaze, and the man who charmed
nearly every woman in America 30 years ago in "The Goodbye Girl" returns.
Dreyfuss hopes his presence will help draw a large audience to a "great evening"
of education and entertainment. "As long as it's air-conditioned," he
says, "we'll have fun."
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WARNER BROS Richard Dreyfuss' movie career also included a starring role in "The Goodbye Girl" with Marsha Mason (1977), for which he won an Oscar. |
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GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Richard Dreyfuss, right, listened Friday as Joe Moore recited the part of Gen. Billy Mitchell during a rehearsal of "Prophecy and Honor." |
On one hand, Academy Award-winning
actor Richard Dreyfuss seems bored with his celebrity and the clichés
masquerading as journalistic inquiries (and he probably despises assessments
drawn from a first meeting as well). Yet he also is engaged, passionate
and incredibly captivating when it suits him. This is especially true when
he steers the discussion to the topic closest to his heart: the
re-introduction of civic responsibility in America.
Whether he's lecturing at Oxford or developing new curricula for schools, fame's
"double-edged sword" becomes a useful tool to make an impact. Because he
knows as well as we do that people pay attention to what movie stars say -- on
all subjects.
"I have opinions about things I know nothing about, so imagine how many opinions
I have about things I know about," he quips. The latter category includes
an impressive knowledge of constitutional history.
Eager to share his convictions, Dreyfuss quickly dispenses with the obligatory
interview answers. Favorite role? He doesn't have one; it's all
about his "body of work," which, incidentally, dates back to a single line in
"The Graduate" in 1967, following many television appearances. Any movies
he didn't like shooting? Several, but he won't specify. What does he
plan to do with his free time while he's here? Maybe some scuba diving.
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GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Richard Dreyfuss, left, and Joe Moore chatted Friday evening before the start of a rehearsal of Moore's play "Prophecy and Honor" at the Hawaii Opera Theatre. |
In Honolulu to perform in Joe Moore's
"Prophecy and Honor," Dreyfuss views the play's subject matter as an ideal segue
to a more substantial issue. Dressed in shorts and armed with a spy novel,
he chats for a few minutes at the Kahala Hotel before joining his wife on the
beach. With the exception of a few spontaneous, unguarded moments, he
chooses his words with care.
"We don't teach civics, which means we lack basic common sense," he says of our
country. "It's as if the person flying the plane into Hawaii turned to you
and said, 'Excuse me, I'm not feeling very well; could you fly the plane?'
We've decided that it's not fun. It's boring and it's not necessary, which
means that we're running the country by happenstance and luck." Does he
intend to change this? He nods confidently.
"It's a good piece to hear now," he says of the play that chronicles the
court-martial of Billy Mitchell (played by Moore), an American general whom many
regard as the patriarch of the U.S. Air Force. "It's a fascinating bit of
American history. All history repeats itself but it never repeats itself
exactly, so it's going to resonate with a lot of people. And they'll be
introduced to various creatures who are interesting. ...
"Some warriors are so great that they mislead, and the people that come after
think their answer is the answer for everything. And there's nothing
dumber than for the United States Army to fight a guerilla war while using
Ulysses S. Grant's combat documents. Mitchell saw the game board in 3-D.
That's a pretty unique talent." He pauses. "But lonely."
Technological advancements complicate matters further, according to Dreyfuss.
"When King Philip of Spain insulted the Queen of England, it took her three
weeks to find out about it," he notes. "And the lag time that was built
into human political behavior saved the world. Because we have instincts
that say that we are willing to kill everybody, if we can. And we have
technology that allows us to do that."
Now information is delivered "instantaneously, all around the world -- and by
image, not by text."
What's missing as a result? "Rumination, contemplation, thoughtfulness.
We are removing the factor of time from decision-making."
Dreyfuss' formidable acting skills and interest in military and constitutional
history inspired Moore to approach the star's agent. "I've always admired
and respected his work, especially some of his lesser-known performances in
'Prisoner of Honor' and 'The Day Reagan Was Shot,'" Moore says of Dreyfuss, whom
he met last week when they started rehearsing together.
"It just struck me that if I could get him the script, he might be interested --
in both the story and the character. It just seemed to me that it was
right up his alley."
Moore was right, so much so that Dreyfuss leans forward in his chair in a
specific address to Star-Bulletin readers: "Is there anyone against the
teaching of American civics from fourth grade up? Civics being the ability
to learn reason, logic and to raise up the values of dissent, debate and
civility? And if there's anyone out there, I'd like to know their names!"
Article URL:
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