Glynis Johns, George Cukor--1972 TV Interview, A Little Night Music

Legendary director George Cukor and actress Glynis Johns discuss their careers in this 1972 TV interview, including Johns' rehearsal of Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music," which later won her a Tony Award. Also appearing is comedian Alan King.

[@richardstanley973]

George Cukor was a close friend of mine for the last 5+ years of his life. I should share that this clip shows him in absolute top form. He was likely the most erudite and wittiest person I ever knew...and great fun to be with. Charm was his metier, and he used it to elicit great performances from the actors he directed and the friendships of those he knew. His accent? His parents spoke with Hungarian accents. His family, despite being immigrants, were ascendant. An uncle was a judge in New York City. George was a star student at Dewitt Clinton High School even though he played hooky to see everything playing on Broadway. Of course he acquired a Mid-Atlantic accent from his formal and informal educations. Should he have spoken as did his parents? Nonsense. He really didn't loathe anyone. True, he and Aimee did not jibe. She would not take his direction--in fact, she would do the opposite. Others? Not really. He even tried to patch things up with Bette Davis, but she rebuffed him--and she was someone George thought "disagreeable by nature". Bisset? George was going through a rough patch then with Darvon, which he took for a back injury. He became temperamental until he got off the pain killer. George had the greatest respect for Monroe, especially as a comedienne, but not for her Method Acting friends, who, he thought, gave her "cheap advice". She loved George, judging from what he told me. GWTW firing? George was the highest paid director of the Golden Era and a close friend of the Selznicks. He worked on GWTW for two years and cast every part but Gable's. Some scenes in the finished film were shot by George before Gable blew up a party and demanded that Selznick fire George. Presumably, Gable thought George would throw scenes to the actresses unless Gable performed off-set for George. George was so bored answering press firing questions he would let me answer them. He never wanted any public credit for GWTW. What he got instead werre friendships with DeHaviland and Leigh. He also chaffed at the "woman's director" attribution as can be seen in this clip. He knew it was code for "gay". What mattered most to George were his friends. As Kate Hepburn said, "If George Cukor was your friend, you really had a friend."

[@gforceeatingcorrect]

Wow !! Very impressive!!! ! I met him in L.A., at Joe Allen !!!

[@keithn4395]

Thank you for sharing this

[@Gardosunron]

He seems like a decent man.

[@antaxerxes3138]

LIAR

[@TodayFreedom]

What a marvellous summary of the man’s life! You have a superb talent with the English language.

[@photo161]

Glynis Johns is incredibly charming. I saw her at least twice in the original production of "A Little Night Music" and she was absolutely luminous on stage...a great talent.

[@susanmarie2231]

I saw Glynis in “A Little Night Music” as well. Early 1970s.

[@Gardosunron]

yum. and I love her voice.

[@eamonndeane587]

And Still with us in her Late 90s as well.

[@gerrynicol3951]

Sadlly Gllynis passed today aged 100.

[@leemclaury6251]

As of 3/1/2020 Glynis Johns is still alive at age 96 .

[@ruskinyruskiny1611]

98 now ❤

[@xavierbrown8053]

@@ruskinyruskiny1611just made it to 100

[@ruskinyruskiny1611]

"Lets hope that there are lots more to come" Ian Drury.@@xavierbrown8053

[@wackthegood8884]

Just passed away at the grand old age of 100 years. RIP Mrs Banks.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Glynis Johns is STILL ALIVE at the age of 96. She will be 97 on October 5th 2020! (As of July 3rd 2020).

[@ryanbrailey-tucker4935]

LOVE Glynis Johns!

[@danielbisson8032]

loved glynis john

[@jeremyrfritz]

Glynis Johns is great in her segment with Terry Thomas in Vault of Horror.

[@melreyes7237]

Happy 100th Birthday Miss Johns. 10/05/2023

[@gerrynicol3951]

The show has spent so much on cuker ok ive never heard of the guy but came on to see the late glynis johns who passed today 4 1 24.

[@aeichler]

One of the greatest directors in movie history.

[@bbrown333]

Alan, how do you not have over a million subs by now?. You are putting the best content out her on this site. As a film historian I am forever grateful!

[@aeichler]

Thanks so much!

[@NeilReynolds-hg9gh]

Happy 100th birthday Glynis 😁

[@beverlylawyer2286]

CUKOR, VERY INTELLEGENT, AND RIGHT ON POINT

[@XX-gy7ue]

what a show ! so GREAT !

[@Marckymarc71]

Amazing to think Cukor at this point still had 2 wonderful films with Katharine Hepburn yet to be made (Love Among the Ruins and The Corn is Green).

[@XX-gy7ue]

GRETA GARBO WAS THE ULTIMATE MOVIE STAR , SHE HAD THE ABILITY TO INTOXICATE THE SENSES , IN THE MOST FASCINATING WAY ! THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER , SHE WAS THE LAST UNICORN !

[@brettrosen8628]

She was funny in The Ref Rip George Cukor

[@oisindurkin]

Hi Alan, thank you for these gems. I spoke to you, over a year ago, about whether you has Veronica Lakes Cavett interview - could you post it? Thank you, no worries if you cant find it!

[@aeichler]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZKwaoiInNuej6s

[@oisindurkin]

Thanks, just watched. Your the best Alan.

[@lindaackerman3507]

George Cukor was among the best directors of all time, look at this incredible movie , they don't make directors like this anymore.

[@65wiseman]

I think that the actress he truly despised was Anouk Aimee. He directed her in a largely forgotten picture called JUSTINE (1969). It really is a much better film than some would have you believe. Aimee may or may not have been difficult to work with but she is ravishing in this movie.

[@clarequilty4962]

Cukor didn't like Jacqueline Bisset, either, nor Marilyn Monroe. He made a lot of popular films, but I thought "My Fair Lady" suk'd.

[@65wiseman]

@@clarequilty4962 So did I.

[@labbecedario1579]

My Fair Lady would be a slightly better movie with Julie Andrews, but nothing more

[@January.]

What a great mind

[@rakiee1016]

18:56 I recognized those eyes! Professor Mcgonagall. This is what you do in the muggle world? 🤣

[@c.joyceb.8991]

I prefer the old movies, good actors, good story, and no swearing, no sexual nudity, now Hollywood is trash only.

[@kyoopihd]

32:16 Yes! There’s so much to do in the world, it seems like a colossal waste of time to be sleeping. :)

[@briancumberland1293]

Cukor sounds like a thoroughly disagreeable man! I love how Glynnis Johns takes him to task all the while exuding humor and grace!

[@lauriewinek2453]

He was born in the lower east side. Why the mid-Atlantic accent?

[@SandySaunders9142]

Are people not allowed to evolve in your world?

[@javiervalverde2374]

Because people of that generation were taught to get rid of the lower class accent because doors would be closed professionally if they didn't adapt a Mid Atlantic accent.

[@angelacarleton9575]

I had no idea how political the movie companies screwed with the great actresses so much they left Hollywood and pursue other avenues of making a living. I remember the one I learned who was smart from the start was Claudette Colbert who made up to $30,000 per film and she wasn't going to take less. She was smart from the beginning but I believe Louis Mayer would bring these actresses from Germany like Luise Rainer and thought he can manipulate her like he did to Greta Garbo but to Louise B. Mayer he learned Luise Rainer was not going to play his game and left Hollywood after 3 movies. How sad to learn they messed with what these actresses not putting up with executors of those companies.

[@65wiseman]

Cukor liked most of the actresses he worked with and vice versa. A few notable exceptions whom he loathed: Anouk Aimee, Jacqueline Bisset, Marilyn Monroe.

[@beverlylawyer2286]

LEFT GARBO BEHIND , WAITING , THEN NEVER HAD HER ON FOR FISHER? THAT TAKES YOU DOWN A FEW NOTCHES

[@jaclynholland-strauss7054]

He was joking, as if to say how absurd it would be for any talk show host to not eagerly interview Garbo when they had a chance.

[@francescofonda6461]

Cavett is not going to shut uo for one second and let Cukor speak. How annoying. Mememememe

[@juliusmaloney]

And has been proven since Marilyn’s career was not in free fall...and many of the issues that occurred on the set of ‘Something’s Got to Give’ came from Cukor’s inability to run an efficient set being known for taking so many unnecessary takes...he was fired from GWTW for the same inefficiencies.

[@Omnicient.]

If you watch behind the scenes footage on youtube you should see what George had to put up with as M kept forgetting her lines time and time again. Of course there would need to be many more takes than normal!

[@feraudyh]

I find Alan King quite vulgar. When I saw Glynis Johns as a kid on TV I immediately fell in love with her.

[@audreythompson9846]

In in on

[@deniseelalahoho50]

It was 1972. Women were play things. Cattle, really. Feed it, they’re cute, slaughter it, etc...but wow, we re the only interesting, colourful thing about this interview.

[@puppetoz]

Dick Cavert is probably one of the worst interviewers of all time

[@christophergerety1263]

I agree. Just one small change. Substitute “worst” with “best”.

[@beverlylawyer2286]

I HATE WHEN TOO OLD OF ACTORS PLAY TOO YOUNG FOR THEM PARTS PRIDE AND PREJUDICE WITH MYRNA ECT. STEWART IN LIBERTY VALANCE

[@exquisiteevents8317]

"Women's Director" GAY!

[@borasmarlena2711]

🤮