1982: JACK NICHOLSON on BRANDO, KUBRICK and declining THE GODFATHER | Film 82 | Movies | BBC Archive

"I understand you turned down The Godfather and The Sting?"
Academy Award winning actor Jack Nicholson is interviewed by Ian Johnstone on his acting career.
He talks about turning down the lead role in The Godfather, working with Marlon Brando and Stanley Kubrick, and the inspiration behind his accent in Easy Rider. He also recounts some of his early forays into the world of acting.
During the interview, Nicholson receives a phone call from his partner Anjelica Huston about their plans for dinner that evening.
Clip taken from Film 82 Special: Jack Nicholson, originally broadcast on BBC One, Monday 18 January, 1982.
Want to see what some other Hollywood Icons had to say when interviewed by the BBC? Then check out our playlist here - • Classic Movie Interviews
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[@snshull]

Articulate, confident, charismatic, engaging and certainly not aloof. Gotta love Jack Nicholson.

[@mr.invisible3123]

Very much well explained best batman nemesis 😊

[@kaljic1]

You've said it all. Jack in his prime.

[@dr.juerdotitsgo5119]

Prime Nicholson, the most suave mofo on the planet?

[@stephenterranova8455]

Well said, perfect assessment 🙂

[@timty8224]

Among the very best films of that very productive period of the seventies.

[@IsaacS2010]

The phone interruption was amazing...

[@robertacolarette1594]

I love how he looked into the camera at the beginning. So quintessentially Jack. He’s so relaxed like he knows something you don’t. He’s always been “the man” to me. Completely unique.

[@louise_rose]

Very interesting interview and yes, he seems completely at ease with the situation. My late mother was a big fan of Nicholson, having first seen him in Cuckoo's Nest and later in several mob dramas. :)

[@robertacolarette1594]

@@louise_rose I have to admit that the first time I saw him was a motorcycle flick at a drive-in in the mid to late 60’s. I had no idea who he was but you couldn’t take your eyes off him. No actor I ever saw before spoke like him either. After I wrote this I had to look it up. It was Hells Angels on Wheels 1967.

[@louise_rose]

@@robertacolarette1594 Haha , I've got that one on DVD! Bought it secondhand last year - haven't watched it yet for lack of time but I'm going to! :)

[@cfg7777]

He has a unique voice. No one sounds like Jack.

[@jimodirakallumkal5351]

The smoking helps

[@T-roc57]

Christian Slater kinda does...

[@djsamplesimon2971]

Slater deliberately attempted to imitate Jack@@T-roc57

[@T-roc57]

@@djsamplesimon2971-Yes I know but it was still pretty good.

[@danf1862]

John Malkovich sounds very similar

[@christianmatheron6444]

After the call, seamlessly back into giving the intelligent answer he had started with. Class act.

[@johnsimpson6670]

Yes. And that look to camera, around 6:34 is pure Shining.

[@MundiaKamau]

I liked that too, the way Nicholson went on with the interview as if they had not been interrupted by the telephone call🙂

[@bolshevikproductions]

He’s an actor. Nothing else 😂😂. Get a life and do something.

[@johnsimpson6670]

Considering you replied to comments that were made a week to near on two weeks ago, I would assume we have gotten on and done something. Additionally. Seeing as your comment is highlighted, I would wager that your effort took longer to complete than ours. You still cocked up your punctuation on this attempt as well. Hahahahaha!!! Up the revolution and Happy New Year :):):):) .@@bolshevikproductions

[@bolshevikproductions]

@@johnsimpson6670 are you actually acting too ? 🤣🤣🤣

[@Gutenmorgenside]

Just as charismatic off-screen as he was on. A unique character.

[@OtaBengaBokongo]

he's racyst. he called me the n-word in March, 2017, when I was working in the restaurant

[@HugoOffenbach]

@@OtaBengaBokongo great

[@MrPHUCKYOURSELF]

Yeah why you think Jack got so much 🐈

[@superhillsider]

These archives are real gems.

[@Scitch-et4vk]

😂

[@MundiaKamau]

They are🙂

[@Dreamskater100]

They really are. 💎

[@ShootMeMovieReviews]

I've always thought that the key to Nicholson's screen presence is the sense that he is absolutely self-possessed. Unflappable and unwavering in his confidence. You see it here. It wouldn't occur to him to be annoyed or embarrassed by either the questions nor the interruption of the phone call. He accepts it all with aplomb. And that's what makes him a star. He is himself, and nothing's going to shake him.

[@tuanjim799]

Well said, I definitely see that quality in him. I wish I had more of that in my own personality lol.

[@SeanLives]

​@@tuanjim799you can do it, a personality is just how you act, and your actions are controllable by you. So PRETEND to be the guy you Wana be ,study what Jack Nicholson does, and implement it into your daily life. Sure it will feel weird at first, you will feel shy, but eventually you will become that new identity and forget how to even be your old self...

[@RobinHood-fi4vp]

He called Marlon Brando the PERFECTIONIST. BRANDO IS THE GREATEST ACTOR EVER🎉🎉.

[@samuelmorse784]

@@RobinHood-fi4vp wrong

[@RobinHood-fi4vp]

@@samuelmorse784 You're 🙈 🙈 MR.CLULESS

[@Maza675]

This is just like his interview in the Shining

[@ieuancilgwri3230]

That first little gesture to the camera 0:17 - pure Nicholson 😂

[@MundiaKamau]

Indeed🙂 It's actually at 0:14 though.

[@ieuancilgwri3230]

@@MundiaKamau I realised that afterwards but couldn’t be bothered to edit. I also realised that it would draw in a pedant also, so thank you for the evaluation of my prognosis 😀.

[@MundiaKamau]

@@ieuancilgwri3230 I hear you🙂

[@ieuancilgwri3230]

@@MundiaKamau 🙏

[@sallynolan5928]

Wasn’t it though - I loved it.

[@chrysopylaedesign]

He's so comfortable w/ himself; naturally charismatic.

[@BigBoss-zi5ss]

He went right back to into his answer after the phone call...pretty impressive

[@cbwavy]

He said he had devices for dealing with lack of privacy lol

[@wildwine6400]

When you see the few scenes on his big screen debut in Easy Rider, you can tell he was special. He stole the screen every time. Naturally charismatic

[@Valkonnen]

Right, but if you watch him in early Roger Corman films, he has no charisma at all...NONE!

[@nikitamcconnell8027]

@@Valkonnenhe grew as an actor

[@jamesball5743]

Easy Rider was not even close to his debut

[@wildwine6400]

@@jamesball5743 it was his big screen debut. He just had bit parts and extra work in TV movies and various shows before then. If I recall, in Easy Rider, it says "and introducing Jack Nicholson".

[@Valkonnen]

@@jamesball5743 it was his debut of the " Jack Nicholson personality". In previous film , like for Roger Corman, he had no personality and was nothing like the Jack we all know.

[@jtr200747]

Great interview. No really stupid question and Jack is allowed to talk.

[@jimmyj1969]

Interviews back then...

[@chimitrey08]

I could listen to him talk for ages.

[@charold3]

One of Jack’s best interviews, and a bonus of a private conversation with Ms Huston!

[@MitchClement-il6iq]

Check out the story with Kevin pollack about Jack lol.

[@petemc5070]

Nicholson did some stunning early films, and 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' is the big one.

[@JarrodButali]

Probably has the coolest voice of any actor.

[@Redmartian2000]

The moment he takes that phone call, you can just see why this guy became an actor. So captivating, especially his voice.

[@shereinyoussef8581]

Omg when he called her darling lucky woman 😭😭

[@kailuakidd1512]

The guy is legendary. Great interview.

[@steph6498]

He never really gave/gives interviews. This is class, especially since this during the 80’s Nicholson haha

[@arkapackaging8660]

"Angelia" and that smile

[@Guigley]

Jack Nicholson will always be one of the greatest actors America ever produced.

[@lemorab1]

Well, looking at this certainly makes me realize that 1979-1980 was a long time ago. I miss seeing and hearing Jack Nicholson. I hope he is doing okay, wherever he lives now, Mulholland or Malibu? We miss you, Jack. Your like will not be seen again. Thank you so much for this clip!

[@SuperMrBlaze]

Through the whole clip, I thought I was watching 'The inteview' scene from the Shining!!! 😁😁😁

[@billwhite9703]

Intelligent, relaxedly pleasant and unadorned. My type of man. Good on you jack.

[@Marc-dj5fk]

The shining is my favourite movie of all time. I watch it probably on average every couple of months and theres no way I'll ever get bored of it.

[@Yungbeck]

I LOVE the Last Detail! So underrated.

[@paineintheass233]

yes

[@timty8224]

Among the very best films of that most productive period of the seventies.

[@brucekuehn4031]

Don’t forget - Five Easy Pieces (1970)

[@laotse_]

Yes, but there wasn't enough cussing in it

[@redbird1824]

One of the best actors of all time.

[@cleanslate2004]

The story about the two readings hit home for me. Him being a huge fan of the art & seeing that the gap between those he admired wasn't as great as he thought. Saying that gave him a lil more confidence that he could do it. I remember gushing about a drummer I got to play with years ogo. I gushed for a month about how great he was. My friend had recorded both of us, unbeknownst to me. I didn't initially know which was which. I loved both thinking it was just him. It motivated me.

[@garrison6863]

What a good interview this was. He is really open and honest and articulate.

[@johngammon963]

At the start when he looks mischievously at the camera - what a humble guy - to have it all yet to truly understand how lucky he is.

[@archstanton3430]

This was great to see. For all his quirks, Jack seems like a really genuine guy. I can tell when it comes to acting, he's not about vanity and ego; just doing the work.

[@robertbuchanan9234]

I went into Tootsie Playhound, a shoe store in Tribeca during a snowstorm. I was the only customer in the store, until Mr. Nicholson walked in. He had a walk around and left but not before turning his head round to me and the shopkeeper and giving the most outrageous grin/smile I have ever seen. The shopkeeper and myself didn't acknowledge him but respected his privacy. This was around 84/85. The bloke simply oozes charisma. Hope I got the name of the store correct.

[@dc1939]

Otto Tootsi Plohound

[@jamesanthony5681]

Are you sure that wasn't Robert Pine, the actor father of Chis Pine?

[@robertbuchanan9234]

Positive. I remember it well. Believe me, when you see the bold Jack in a shoe store there is no mistaking him.@@jamesanthony5681

[@begbieyabass]

Who else jumped when the phone rang,? 😅. I could listen to Jack talk for hours. RE China town Awesome movie

[@peru2174]

Witches of Eastwick?

[@misterd7843]

Taking a phone call in the middle of interview! Never heard of such a thing, and this in the days before cell phones.

[@Yungbeck]

The call about dinner lmaoo, "keep it in the oven" pure gold.

[@allys744]

Lol what’s the time stamp on that? I don’t recall him saying that over the phone

[@Yungbeck]

@@allys744 6:19 I guess it was the lady that said it but the fact that he even took the phone call was funny to me 😂

[@mattscott4286]

Takes call with no apology or explanation, then continues answer without missing a beat. What a boss.

[@jk3521]

The good old days, when Jack was 45 !

[@Comictalent]

LOL when the phone rings and Jack starts answering questions about dinner plans. What a great interview. He's very measured - it's interesting to hear his take on roles in The Godfather and The Sting too.

[@richhaytonNZ]

Pure gold! what wonderful archive footage.

[@user-wj4sl7mj6k]

Excellent interview! Jack explain everything perfectly.

[@kdizzle901]

Why aren’t interviews with actors still like this

[@LegendsWorkshop]

Because no one reads great books anymore. They talk about Gatsby like an old friend, and when you think about it, Jack talks very much like he is reciting a passage in a classic novel whenever he opens his mouth. It was commonplace among people in the arts then, but not common anymore.

[@jamesanthony5681]

Because most actors are boring, and not very funny, interesting or articulate. Tom Hanks is an exception. And there are a few others, but not many.

[@jamesanthony5681]

@jamesrkarolchyk1440 I've never heard them.

[@chrisbirch4150]

My take is the exposure celebrities have now. When Nicholson did this interview he probably approached it like he would a magazine interview and felt no need whatsoever to be anything but himself. Very few would see this interview, and if they did it would only be once. Now every second of footage of an actor, in an interview, on the red carpet, even on the street, virals and spreads like wildfire, so they are probably more self conscious about being entertaining or likeable. This may be a safe choice for the actor but it makes for hours and hours of shallow uninteresting dialogue.

[@tuanjim799]

The whole culture has gotten more mediocre and dumbed down, or at least it feels that way.

[@yorkyswe]

A truly fascinating clip.

[@basitk12]

Its almost incredible how much i resonate with him. Its almost unbelievable.

[@charlesbyers5912]

So happy to have seen this, thank you! Anjelica Huston on the phone, whoa..! I’ve seen the clip where he talks about Chinatown and the irony of working with Huston, apparently only at that time, having begun a ‘relationship’ with his daughter. True Hollywood Gold!

[@willsingourd2523]

Um, there was nothing ironic about that, it was merely coincidental. They are not the same.

[@tuanjim799]

@@willsingourd2523 The ironic aspect was because there's a scene in Chinatown where John Huston's character literally says to Nicholson's character, "Are you sleeping with my daughter?" At that time Nicholson, in real life, was indeed sleeping with John Huston's daughter, but John Huston didn't know about their relationship yet. So it definitely does add a level of irony to the situation. Nicholson said it was a very surreal moment lol.

[@Linda98671]

We love everything Jack N. Acts in, he is a superior scene stealer! Love his voice as so many state.

[@DippyHippie]

I LOVE & MISS HIM TERRIBLY!

[@panchel771]

My favorite actor. Great and intelligent interview!

[@DenkyManner]

"who's Toots?" 😅

[@swanvictor887]

I would have replied..."Eric Morecombe"!

[@larrymclarnon-pd8xf]

One of the very, very, greats.

[@PhilippAurand]

Interviewer: “Who's Toots?” Jack: “Angelica” Me: The beautiful Angelica Houston. She was so beautiful at that age/era. I had forgotten that they were together for a while.🥂

[@scotsbillhicks]

I know, blasphemy, but anyone not pondered Jack as Gomez Addams?

[@PhilippAurand]

@@scotsbillhicks hahaha yeah, I can see that. He had a way about him for sure. Not evil but not entirely good either💀

[@Jasoux]

The guy is incredible. Beautiful

[@desleykakoulidisgallaway3382]

Totally golden standard interviewer and guest 🎉

[@jerryrichardson2799]

An interview with Jack Nicholson, including an improvisation by Angelica Houston as "Toots".

[@saphireplayz5171]

Solid, engaging with a great delivery.

[@karsuli]

“Viv” is probably Vivian Kubrick, Stanley’s daughter who directed the behind the scene of the Shining which uses clips from the interview. I always thought she had directed these interviews since bits appear in the her film, but I guess someone at the bbc did them.

[@williampatrick2971]

That’s what I was thinking. Maybe she was just the camera-woman here

[@WintersWar]

this piece of film is now in the category of myth and legend.

[@stevegordon8474]

This is so great. We're seeing Jack at the height of his powers. It's hard to now see him in THE GODFATHER but only he could play Jake Gittes in CHINATOWN, a perfect film in my mind. And while he missed out on making a movie with Francis Ford Coppola, he did get to make a movie with both Roman Polanski and John Huston who was wonderful as Noah Cross in CHINATOWN, and he also got to act with Polanski too because he played a gangster in a couple of cameo scenes with Jack. That's unusual that he got to act with two great directors as actors. What's great about Nicholson in this interview is how reflective and intellectual he is, someone you could really sit down with and from whom you could learn a lot about acting and filmmaking. As most people know, Jack learned the craft in Roger Corman films but he never stopped learning, and that's what makes him so good an actor. Corman was responsible for employing many now-famous names in the business but Jack is one of his proteges that he is most proud of, and we see why here.

[@stevekarb6190]

great interview

[@PresentsCinema]

Great interview and actor but that abrupt phone call threw me off guard. Didn't know someone would call him on a telephone in a room while he's being interviewed lol

[@NoName-jq7tj]

The part when he takes the call his just insane. Doing this during an interview.

[@2ndservace]

Jack & I share the same birthday. Bam! He went straight back into his answer concerning 'fame' being a burden question. Jack is memorizing to listen to

[@petergivenbless900]

1982? The set-up for this interview, as well as the clothes Nicholson is wearing, is identical to his interview in Vivian Kubrick's documentary 'The Making of 'The Shining'', indeed, I suspect the off-camera "Viv" that Nicholson confers with during the phone call interruption, is Vivian Kubrick! This would date the interview around 1980 (the time of 'The Shining''s release) or earlier. In 1982, Nicholson would have been shooting/preparing to shoot 'Terms of Endearment' (1983).

[@willemhopman4702]

It is Vivian Kubrick

[@avalanche9026]

He’s fkng acting already in this interview all the way

[@cbwavy]

0:14 - That look at the camera was devilish lol

[@ravishc]

A great experience to watch this.Keep thinking of his performance in The Shining!!!!

[@nickmarsh9468]

What a guy.

[@nathansouthern3226]

I knew Polly Platt who was buddies with Nicholson and described him as one of the nicest people on the planet. She isn't alone - others have said the same. I get the sense that he's a genuinely kind guy.

[@tokyodirect4594]

Loved the phone call! lol

[@platero814]

Bad-ass, hipnotic, enchanting, edgy… his acting has always been gold

[@HenrikKarapetyan]

One of the few actors that both man and women are at owe with. The guys life and work are a single great class act!! As a heterosexual man I find myself going - “what a man!!”

[@tuanjim799]

Yeah, he's one of those guys where you watch how he talks and moves and just how he is overall, and you're like, "Damn dude, save some pussy for the rest of us" lol very charismatic and compelling guy.

[@teesrakinara]

You could never tell if Jack is acting or for real.

[@johnmorris7262]

A Brilliant Man and Thespian. 🤩

[@larry-om9tg]

I like the interview.

[@TheAndrewmcnelis]

need more

[@ef3371]

Fascinating.

[@32ModB]

The greatest performances are almost always an impression of someone you find very amusing😊 don't tell anyone and enjoy the awards😊

[@test-do1gc]

classic! Getting phone call from gf about dinner and “what time are u coming home?” Jack!

[@hilaryepstein6013]

When Jack was discussing the dinner arrangements with Anjelica I'm sure the other lady in the studio said "tell them to keep it in the oven". How wonderfully domestic.

[@rashidapittman8513]

Lol the “other lady” was Stanley Kubrick daughter Vivian Kubrick.

[@ethanmorris8108]

The Last Detail is such a great movie! Love Hal Ashby!

[@JonahsWail]

Had no idea he is almost 90!

[@sub-zero7008]

The greatest male actor of all time 💯🐐

[@leespiderpod]

It’s great that interviews are going back to this sensible format like Michael Rosenbaum’s YT channel

[@valuetraveler2026]

way ahead of everyone

[@johnr.7906]

What an interesting guy......

[@nledaig]

A very good speaker. A clever fellow.

[@avi1179]

Phone rings exactly at @6:00 what a coincidence

[@pjg_77]

I love the series: Film. Watched it for years

[@_Volt_Ron_]

That was great. A neat window to the past.

[@kenboydart]

My prime take away from this interview is Jack Nicholson acts in the movies like Jack Nicholson is in life, perhaps I'm wrong but I don't think so

[@DeeTeaDee]

6:03 so expecting him to go all Torence on her “You’re DISTRACTING ME!” 😂

[@VuotoPneumaNN]

Actors are not their characters.

[@DeeTeaDee]

@@VuotoPneumaNN jack Nicholson is 😂 Poor example dude

[@VuotoPneumaNN]

@@DeeTeaDee Bullshit.

[@SlowRide723]

Love this man. God bless you Jack Nicholson.

[@russtaiv9661]

Loved the phone call. Whatever you want to do honey lol. Stars or regular guys, it's all the same.

[@danieltossounian1962]

Please watch About Schmitt ….its a great performance

[@barrywatts875]

He was brilliant and the first movie I remember is an old horror flick with Boris Karloff and the next Easy Rider and One Flew Over The CooCoo's Nest.

[@bwaters735]

Never would have thought he was from new jersey originally

[@Monkofmagnesia]

Wait a sec! I, too, grew up in Neptune, NJ!!!!

[@michaelb.6004]

Interesting interview. The music at the end made me expect a giant foot coming down from the top of the screen. I don’t know why. #ni!