:03:00
doing the entire scene, and
we shot it from every conceivable angle.
:03:03
I mean, literally, from the backs
of our heads we even shot it.
:03:07
But every time we shot that scene,
every time I'd bring out the greetings...
:03:11
I would hear George snickering
off-stage and off-camera.
:03:15
He was so enthusiastic,
and it was catching for actors.
:03:20
He was a joy to work with.
:03:22
I asked a lot of people
who had worked with him:
:03:26
"What's it like to work with him?"
:03:28
And they all, to one, said:
:03:32
"Just make yourself a piece of putty,
and put yourself in his hands...
:03:37
"and he'll do it all."
:03:39
He also had great skill
at working in the editing room...
:03:43
to help actors...
:03:46
in terms of performance, as it were,
protecting them...
:03:50
by choosing the right takes...
:03:52
by maybe not being on their face...
:03:54
on a scene they're having trouble with
at a certain part of it.
:03:59
He would go to great pains...
:04:03
to go all the way around,
over this way and that way...
:04:07
to make me think it's my idea, so that
I'd come up to him and say, "George...
:04:11
"I have a good idea for this scene. "
He'd say, "What's that, Rock?"
:04:16
And I'd tell him.
And he'd say, "Yes. That's a good idea. "
:04:19
And it was his all along.
:04:21
And he caught me every time.
:04:23
Every time.
:04:26
But it was really true,
what everybody said.
:04:28
"Make yourself a piece of putty, and
put yourself in his hands and rely on him."
:04:33
I was in a very good position...
:04:36
when the Giant proposal came up...
:04:40
because, as I said,
I had just starred on Broadway.
:04:42
I had gotten wonderful reviews.
:04:44
I was getting starring parts
on television shows.
:04:48
But I was a little bit scared of movies.
:04:52
I had several other offers, but I decided...
:04:56
I'd rather take it a little easy.
:04:58
I'd rather have a part
that didn't have to carry the film...