Marlon Brando Talks About Acting To Survive | The Dick Cavett Show

Marlon and Dick disagree on the definitions of acting.
Date aired - 12th June 1973 - Marlon Brando
#MarlonBrando
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Dick Cavett has been nominated for eleven Emmy awards (the most recent in 2012 for the HBO special, Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again), and won three. Spanning five decades, Dick Cavett’s television career has defined excellence in the interview format. He started at ABC in 1968, and also enjoyed success on PBS, USA, and CNBC.
His most recent television successes were the September 2014 PBS special, Dick Cavett’s Watergate, followed April 2015 by Dick Cavett’s Vietnam. He has appeared in movies, tv specials, tv commercials, and several Broadway plays. He starred in an off-Broadway production ofHellman v. McCarthy in 2014 and reprised the role at Theatre 40 in LA February 2015.
Cavett has published four books beginning with Cavett (1974) and Eye on Cavett (1983), co-authored with Christopher Porterfield. His two recent books -- Talk Show: Confrontations, Pointed Commentary, and Off-Screen Secrets (2010) and Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic moments, and Assorted Hijinks(October 2014) are both collections of his online opinion column, written for The New York Times since 2007. Additionally, he has written for The New Yorker, TV Guide, Vanity Fair, and elsewhere.
#thedickcavettshow

[@joep8787]

Notice how cleverly Brando has turned the interview from being about Brando to being about Cavett.

[@kargs5krun]

✔✔✔

[@m.e.d.7997]

Rude!! Why come on?? Dick is just doing his job.

[@jasonwilson556]

I know, you see can see Cavett squirming in his seat.

[@sebasdebordeaux8347]

yes and to me with a full kindness.. I don't know if he was acting here but he seems to have affection for him..

[@sebasdebordeaux8347]

@Free Speech oh really?? your comment is so stupid that it makes it funny.. Brando was the greatest actor that's ever been.. all actors in the entire world say it..! Go back to your little anonymous life dude!

[@jessiewalker6918]

He is very right, the host is trying to come off like he's being himself and so genuine and Brando is just pointing out the fact that his entire existence is a act, the fake charisma, the forced comic relief, it's all a form of acting, human beings are acting the moment they leave their home and enter into the public world, we all put on a sort of performance, to be liked, to be attractive, to be accepted, it is a fact, whether you think you are doing it or not you are, it's just a part of the human condition

[@RookieN08]

Being an actor isn't even just about putting mask on from others. It also means that we're so immerse into our own role to the point where we no longer recognize our true selves. After all, we don't know much about ourselves regardless of what our conscious mind says about us. That is pretty much what psychoanalysis is about.

[@blackphoenix8932]

@@RookieN08 "So immersed into our own role to the point we no longer recognise out true selves." That is so true. We constantly sell ourselves out to become as socially marketable as possible until we forget who we actually are.

[@Morten_Nielsen1979]

@@RookieN08 Those are god damn true and wise words. We have this inner dialog going on constantly, and we tend to believe in almost anything this inner dialog tells us. But in actual fact, a large portion of what the inner dialog says and concludes is false.

[@zirak93]

@@Morten_Nielsen1979 That may be true, but if we don't believe in our innerself (inner voice if you want to call it that), then what should we believe in. Because if our innerself is fake, then tell me what is really the reality and our trueself.

[@Morten_Nielsen1979]

@@zirak93 Who says we have to believe in anything? If you really want to believe, then I suggest love, music and science. But even that you don't have to BELIEVE in. Being passionate about them is more than enough.

[@DGP406]

Brando seems to operate in another level of existence. He looks at the audience, camera and Cavett like they are circus animals playing humans.

[@chocho8036]

maybe compared to Brando, they are all circus animals. he is astonishingly present. he is observing, watching himself and others all the time.

[@funshine817]

LOL

[@Desmondbrown73]

It’s because he’s a narcissist

[@onlinexcp]

. haha- etc “sims”-

[@Shlogger]

he gets it

[@alex.starostin]

Brando's charisma is breaking through the screen, amazing. He could just sit and not say a word and still will be mesmerizing

[@davidfaustino4476]

Any weirdo dork can soak up the attention in a room. That's all you're seeing here.

[@cherylloman7859]

Absolutely - you cannot take your eyes off him no matter what he is doing or saying or not doing or not saying. Everytime I watch one of his movies I am blown away - he’s just brilliant. Love watching him here - he’s so compelling & in control & love his twinkle when he smiles / as you said mesmerizing!

[@rebelraccoon9018]

​@@cherylloman7859Yep. I can't forgot Brando's fantastic performance in Last Tango in Paris. Absolutely phenomenal specimen. His face expresses so much emotion in just a fraction of a moment that he doesn't need dialogue to make an impression. I bet he could read the phone book and make it one of the most fascinating things you'd ever listened to. He seemed so serene, intense, sexy yet a bit shy but also intimidating and enigmatic. Simply wow.

[@madstylesnz]

I was just thinking the same thing watching it, he has this magnetism about him even in an interview. You can see why he became a star, all the great actors have it this screen presence. It's like they say in Hollywood 'the camera loves them.'

[@giovanna722]

Somebody once compared him to a big cat, and boy do I see it. Laid back, in charge, noticing every detail in the room, enjoying playing with his prey. He hated hypocrasy, and wouldn't rest until he made someone hold the mirror up to themselves. Brilliant man.

[@Sadgamer-143]

@@steveskrobot5992 well she looks very self obsessed

[@mariamaria678]

Traducir al castellano por favor..

[@DippyHippie]

@@steveskrobot5992 oh,no!lolol😂

[@kdee8166]

Good comment, I agree.

[@dyar6759]

beautifully said

[@chronicsnail6675]

What a genius: "Acting is a survival mechanism"

[@razvanar]

What?You didn t know that?

[@zotsi1491]

It is for traumatized people like him

[@liquidbraino]

@@zotsi1491 Almost everyone on earth has had some kind of trauma in their life. But you are correct in one sense, the more trauma an actor has gone through in their life - the more they have to work FROM when they need to bring life to a character. If you've lived a dull boring life and never experienced any real hardship then you don't have much to draw from emotionally and have to fake it (which would make you a "Method" actor).

[@PKMNFan4664]

@@liquidbraino It helps make it more passionate, that's for sure.

[@signwriter1]

'Life is a survival'

[@zarmindrow5831]

Jimmy Fallon watched this and had a mid life crisis

[@ristonalaimo5048]

Oh. Man. Wow. MARLON BRANDO EVERYONE! Give it up! I. Mean. Really. C'mon! Guys. Wow! Not. Self. Acting. All that. WOW!

[@Kareragirl]

@@ristonalaimo5048 That just took the smile off my face immediately

[@donrobertoni]

Jimmy’s a terrible actor

[@pdaniel8]

Marlon would make Jimmy cry like a baby.

[@Andrea.G..69]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👏👏

[@drcorsetti]

Marlon Brando was exceptionally intelligent. I love how he is so honest he makes people cringe.

[@cameronpickard7456]

@@michaelsinclair9010 envious agenda?

[@joetursi276]

How do you know he was exceptionally intelligent? Because he says things that are controversial.?

[@whatISlife007]

He wasn't PC. People like that will always stick out because most people stay in the box. He was out of the box

[@tarusht2085]

@@joetursi276 because he spoke truth

[@pattycastillo8681]

Is a He is Female to male all hollyweird people are like that in politics too

[@digitalboomer]

I never realized before that Brando had such a great smile.

[@primosjcjm]

Really?

[@keshavummat378]

theres a gif of marlon brando smiling see that

[@m.e.d.7997]

Awesome!

[@harutha]

His smile reminds me of my Greek Poli Sci professor. Almost looks like him too.

[@elcheapo9444]

Brando's smile is legendary. You realized it just now?!!

[@jackt5617]

Brando was so big in Hollywood and around the world, that even though he was misunderstood, eccentric, and almost reclusive, he still was a giant in acting and Hollywood and never played the game. There are no actors alive today that can come close to that level.

[@SomethingSeemsOff]

@Shaken not stirred - What's wrong with sucking cock? If you're in the army then it's okay! (Your age is showing. Also, shaken martinis are much worse than stirred.)

[@AFO_AnalyRics]

I'll put Anthony Hopkins in that category. Easily.

[@howard1852]

Samuel L Jackson

[@JdTV79]

Daniel Day Lewis, probably.

[@heinzelias]

@Zia Smith on paper nothing , in reality communism is an impossible social outcome , i won't go in such boring details , just remember that people can't be equal even though in the big picture humanity is a big nothing !

[@PiCheZvara]

Brando is absolutely right that we all act. And not just at work, but with parents, family, friends, when we're ordering food in a restaurant. Every single social interaction has a certain preconceived, expected form and script, which usually includes appearing in control of your emotions, cordial and respectful towards the other person's emotions. It's all a performance. At work - forget about it, at work almost no one is just being themselves and those who are appear unprofessional or weird. We all pretend like we don't care what others think of us, but we all do. We pretend we care about people who we meet daily, colleagues, many times even family members, when in fact we don't at all. Even dressing is an act for many people - you put on clothes not just to wear what you like, but wear what you think looks good on you and what will make you look attractive to others. Another act we all put on is trying to appear content and happy and independent. Realistically, few people are just content and happy and almost no one is independent. We all depend on each other one way or another. But we all try to appear as if everything was going just fine and as if we didn't care about anyone else when in fact we're all observing each other. And people raised on TV, past few generations, we often pretend we're heroes in fiction. We have an inflated, larger than life image of our own selves that we want to project onto others and others onto us. And we compare our performances and compare how good each of us is at projecting this larger than life image. And it's all BS. If people actually started to behave just naturally, just exactly as they feel in the moment, it would completely destroy our way of life. This entire world is one giant act. The problem is, it takes the smarter ones to understand exactly how and why it's all an act. But Cavett is right too - if all of us had to perform each emotion on order, in front of a camera, we wouldn't be able to do it, because our performances in daily lives are always internally motivated by the current situation we're actually dealing with. We react to something. Actors have to pretend the current situation is actually happening that they are reacting to something when they know nothing is happening. That's the difference and not everyone can do this.

[@cherylcaardillo1702]

Very well articulated💯🤩

[@georgeeliot2012]

aka conditioning vs enlightenment

[@alan30189]

I think there’s a difference between acting like somebody that you aren’t, as Brando did and acting as a person to try to be who you are or be a better person. Big, big difference.

[@chunchuchunchu5612]

It reminds what osho said in his lectures

[@TheCoolermaster24]

I wish I could save your comment, it’s an eye opener for me :o

[@johnpoulsen7582]

This is one of the most important interviews in American talk show history

[@user-bl9hh1xm9w]

I totally agree! It is there for future poseurs & nullifying people that even if you nullify everything in your external world you must be “a Good Life’s Actor” & Nullify it WITH LOVE & in a Humble Way...If you don’t you will remain Dead Inside, cause we MUST REMEMBER that “the External Mirrors the Internal” & NOT ONLY “All the World is a Stage”! You are Not only the Actor but the Director also of this “harsh reality”! 😉

[@jordanlevo1747]

Fact

[@abhayyadav8537]

*World talk show history

[@clevortrever2511]

"The man is incorruptible and that's what I hoped." -Dick Cavett and Marlon Brando, two of the greatest to do what they do.

[@surudog4929]

That was by far the best ending of a segment I have heard. Marlon was straight and superior human. He was clear and he is a very intelligent person. Zero fake in this man.

[@Lbree1077]

It almost looked like Marlon Brando was gazing at him because he reminded him of his ex boyfriend and lover

[@bensk8in467]

This conversation is genius. Marlon is on another level than everyone in the room. The crowd is giggling but most of them probably aren’t really picking up what he’s saying. I can completely relate to what he means. I have worked at jobs where my heart wasn’t behind what I was doing and/or I didn’t believe in it. It was until I left or walked away from them I realized I was merely an actor playing a part. As I get older I can only do things I truly believe in and stand for. This is why many professional actors are very selective about the roles and projects they take on. Because they can’t give a good performance if they can’t be genuine and mean it and they know this.

[@brasidas33]

This is the most real interview I have ever seen. Brando, while a great actor admits that acting is in itself, nothing great.

[@jennemarapasispresentingaw8147]

Because its a gift.

[@liquidbraino]

That depends on your perspective. As an actor I don't consider myself "great" but I do consider the craft of acting to be a great thing. And I don't mean "getting famous" is great, I'm talking about genuine love for the craft of acting itself. You don't need to get famous in order to enjoy being an actor. There are plenty of people who simply play tennis because they love to play tennis, not because they want to get famous from it.

[@reservoirfrogs2177]

@@liquidbrainoBrando realized that acting is a completely useless part of society

[@brigittearroyo8327]

i always wanted to act but lately I think it is kind of vanity, a game. In the old days actors actresses were considered almost as prostitutes ad if I watch actresses kissing so many men just for the part, I find it weird or indecent, the older I get. Once I met the love of my life, I could never have kissed another man again. You give just too much of yourself. Actors think it is heroic to sacrifice all for a part, even commit sins but it is all just for make believe and vanity

[@natalijadimitrova47]

@@brigittearroyo8327 Yeah I 100% agree with you on this, being an actor doesn’t really change anything. It doesn’t make you a greater person, it doesn’t change society, doesn’t help people - nothing. Now if we’re talking about how they use their platform and money to help other people out through lets say humanitarian work, then that’s of course another story. But this whole fame concept and how most actors nowadays boast about how well they did, well sorry to burst your bubble but it doesn’t really mean anything. What is it really? Its an ego thing going on. Yeah Im sure playing a character for a couple months is hard but what is really hard is living with an unfortunate reality and dealing with it 24/7. I don’t listen to celebrities or what they have to say, but Ill see the movie or show if Im interested in the story and of course the art of it. That’s pretty much it.

[@johnkennedy9486]

This was one of the best interviews I think I've seen. The questions, awkwardness, Brando's insight, etc. Sad that the world at times isn't more honest and a more ideal place.

[@malic1950]

...very true, although is up to us to change it

[@TyB211]

What he's saying totally went over everyone's heads. The laughing of the audience when he wasn't making a joke but trying to make a point was wierd .

[@elia.8993]

Tata Starr He wasnt very happy that Cavett neither. Lol

[@estevaoscudese]

The laughing was an evidence that Brando was in another level.

[@mitza420]

I saw that in Jimi Hendrix interview he was talking about having nervous breakdowns and someone laughed like wtf

[@alexandrar.4900]

Their laughing is them acting thus proving Brando’s point

[@888Philskill]

Oh no, they knew exactly what he was saying. But had to laugh in order to relieve the tension that was building up inside of them, because that's one of laughters main functions, tension relief. If they were to sit there quietly and really listen, really reflect and absorb every word and interaction, their entire mode of being would have been in jeopardy. They would have to face every corner of their own artificiality. Most people can't handle that kind of realisation.

[@ADAPTATION7]

We are all actors in life. It's just that most of us are underpaid for the role we play.

[@EricScottBloom]

The Id, The Ego & The Super-Ego

[@Archetype77]

There's a difference between behaving a certain way and acting in a performance for a camera or audience.

[@Archetype77]

@@EricScottBloom Those aren't real things. They're simplifications for idiots made up by cokehead delusional elitists.

[@Uncletoast52]

François Dion 👍

[@domicioannioulpiano6845]

Didn't Shakespeare said it first? The idea we're all actors

[@justinhopper5941]

I wish they still had real discussions like this on talk shows these days. It’s so fake now it’s not even watchable.

[@user-jv9qz2bu1r]

ya they are all selling / promoting something now

[@bigblu54]

Justin Hopper and it’s ALL political.

[@DH_Artist]

Fr it’s all commercialism and skits and stories and games rather than real conversations. It’s supposed to be a talk show and instead it’s just one big billboard.

[@dylanjordan4747]

as a relatively young person it’s completely alien to me to see a talk show host disagree with the guest

[@princessjulia5646]

Yes firstly usually the person they are interviewing lives next door lol and all they do us sit giving each other huge compliment s fake fake of course

[@shraddhagurung19]

I love how he can SEE right through the human perception of self. I love his presence.

[@paulascott5701]

That is what made him a great actor. Extremely good powers of observation.

[@iamzlatan1442]

He looks young and old at the same time................ how's that possible???????

[@Mylo12321]

I AM ZLATAN I think maybe he was around 45 but his weight and grays made him look a bit older. Thus still looking somewhat youthful in the face. That’s my two cents.

[@golkeeper8517]

thw skin is the skin of a,pretty young man but the hair is white

[@TonyMishima92]

@High Plains Drifter I think that's his point.

[@JorgeGeog]

@@Mylo12321 actually he was 49 in that show, he was born in 1924 and this was broadcast in 1973

[@Michelle-pn9xt]

It is not possible. He does not look young. If this was a woman, you would simply say that she looks bad.

[@TheAgentAssassin]

I've been a room service server for 32 years. I've been acting like I give a shit for way too long. Brando is exactly right .

[@MM-le9en]

u are right, i ve been in hotel industry for 20 years and everyone is acting inside and outside, you cant really rely at anyone

[@PrgressiveHouse]

We all do

[@donrobertoni]

It’s called emotional labor

[@PrgressiveHouse]

@CAESAR oh yes

[@razvanar]

You re saying you didn t mean to bring the tea to the room with a smile on your face?

[@user-td4lf8ze2s]

Marlon Brando never disappoints. R.I.P. Legend.

[@theUroshman]

What a legend! He really dismantled Dick Cavett in this episode of the show! At the same time he unmasked all of us and exposed little games and roles we all play every time we step out of our homes.

[@Bradgilliswhammyman]

I don't think he dismantled Dick, I think he just dodged the question and derailed the interview...Brando was not keen on interviews anyway.

[@williamhenning4700]

@@Bradgilliswhammyman In what way do you believe he dodged the question?

[@liquidbraino]

@@williamhenning4700 The question was "Why do you downgrade acting as a profession?". At what point was this question answered? Dick was talking about acting as a PROFESSION and Brando changed the subject to some Shakespearean definition of acting ("All the world is a stage"). No all of the world is not a stage; the world is the world - a stage is a stage. Professional actors get paid to entertain audiences that KNOW it's for entertainment purposes. And Brando didn't dismantle anyone, the two simply disagree on the definition of acting - and that's Ok because the greatest acting teachers of all time never agreed on the definition of acting. In fact NONE of them ever put forth a clear concise and specific definition of acting except for Sanford Meisner and his definition is that acting is the "ability to live truthfully under the given imaginary circumstances". Dick Cavett was under no obligation to accept Brando's definition and Brando was under no obligation to accept Dick's definition. I encounter this all the time because I'm a Meisner trained actor and my best friend is a Method actor. But at least we can agree to disagree and move past the semantics. I've been at least interested in Method acting, it's just not for me. My best friend though was never interested in the Meisner system because it never made sense to him (all of the repetition exercises; doors and activities that we do). Then one day he was cast in a movie and ALL of the other actors were Meisner trained. One of them said "Hey you guys want to do some reps before we rehearse?". My best friend already had an idea of what this was because I had talked to him about it and he did nothing but criticize - now suddenly he's on set with a bunch of other actors DOING these exercises which he wasn't trained in but he still end up jumping into it and actually did the repetition exercise; before rehearsal; while working on a feature film. The next time I saw him he was all excited about it and said that he finally "got it". Never criticized Meisner again after that. Just to give you an idea of who Sanford Meisner was, this is a VERY short list of some actors that trained with him but there are many more which are not included in this list (like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean): www.imdb.com/list/ls063986017/

[@williamhenning4700]

@@liquidbraino People are rewarded benefits they otherwise would not receive for acting in a way that is most acceptable to their current audience. That was the point he was making. Where did I claim Brando “dismantled” anyone? As for the rest of your second paragraph, I never claimed otherwise. Seems like you have meant to respond to Uroshman and not myself based on your second paragraph. If not, your accusations are misdirected. Sounds like your friend was “acting” in order to fit in with a larger social group.

[@reservoirfrogs2177]

@@liquidbraino crazy how hard you went in on this yet you completely missed the point. The world is acting, you will do and say things you don't really mean just to get through your day every time you are with others

[@homepaintersmelbourne7581]

Acting is the lubricant of life. What a great line by Brando. And very true.

[@GhettoMonk108]

He's deep. He knows all about personas and someone that truly knows themselves.

[@billlozier5551]

The mind of Brando was truly fascinating. Arguably one of the greatest actors ever and certainly a remarkable individual. His interviews were must see T.V. back then. What a life he had.

[@kairoberts663]

I find it utterly hilarious that anybody would tell MARLON BRANDO what is and what isn’t acting.

[@edgesherun9880]

what isn't acting? when your boss make a joke you didn't laugh

[@liquidbraino]

I'm pretty sure Stella Adler could tell Marlon Brando what is and isn't acting because she's the one that trained him. And Sanford Meisner could also tell him what is and isn't acting but Brando had no obligation to accept anyone's definition, even his own teacher. Nobody does - I can tell you MY definition of acting but you don't have to accept it.

[@4Topwood]

What better way to get the famously elusive Brando to give his opinion?

[@richalderson6069]

He was intimidating but undeniably charismatic and when he smiled it was very charming.

[@robtberardi]

Definitely.... Malcolm X had that same balance.

[@beatricewoods8377]

He intimidated Connie Chung

[@billyroman1980]

"We're all conning ourselves in one way or another, just to get through life."-Irving Rosenfeld

[@SuperCacapedo]

This man had incredible insight on the nature of society, no wonder he revolutionized acting.

[@stevecox7075]

What a spectacular beauty he was, and what a brilliant mind he had.

[@whitleybayman123]

wow, how switched on and aware is Brando. great

[@seanfitzpatrick4730]

He's no Robert Mitchum that's for sure

[@MrRondonmon]

LMAO, he a fucking idiot. Only a dumb ass Liberal thinks this man has all his marbles.

[@MrRondonmon]

@@manzo6335 Hes a pervert........................I don't like perverts.

[@pickandhoop]

@@MrRondonmon Care to elaborate? Why would you waste time watching an interview with someone you don't appreciate?

[@MrRondonmon]

@@pickandhoop I can appreciate his acting, the guy above spoke of HIS IDIOTIC POLITICS, he was not SWITCHED ON he was a fruitcake like most all liberals. I can walk and chew gum at the same time, I am a big boy.

[@annierosha5946]

Brando made Cavett work very hard during this interview. It made people feel uncomfortable and that's why there are laughs in place where he is being serious - it is very awkward at times, but the two of them both held up their respective sides - it was like watching a tennis match. Brando won but Cavett made an excellent showing and came across as a good sport too.

[@arriuscalpurniuspiso]

Brando completely dominated Dick, who was his worshipper

[@DD-hu3rf]

THAT SMILE!!! Such a beautiful face he had! Not to mention his beautiful mind. Swoon.

[@blackcat5159]

Brando was a very switched on and intelligent guy then. Laid back, charisma, pity we dont have more actors like him now.

[@Archetype77]

We have plenty of douchebag actors who think they're wise and scoff at/play with interviewers. Sean Penn for example. It's a stereotype and Brando wasn't the first.

[@Coach15Advo]

You must watch the entire interview to realize how amazing the interaction was between these two men. This is just a small part. Cavett was tremendously respectful, allowed Brando to express his thoughts completely.

[@AnthonyJ74]

Later that night, as Cavett and Brando headed out to have dinner after taping the show, Brando punched out a paparazzo who was hassling him (Brando actually broke the guy's jaw!).

[@jtlampman]

This interview is the embodiment of the saying, “there’s a lot to unpack here.”

[@gpetaluma]

Brando is right "We all play our parts".

[@wiceorc5105]

This whole interview was propably the most truthful I have ever seen. Nowadays there is so much acting everywhere that I have lost the truth almost completely because so rare persons are being genuine.

[@Beautifulcoil]

Did you exchange a walk on part in the war For a lead role in a cage?

[@purveyoroffinefoodslaszlo9955]

All the world's a stage....

[@wiceorc5105]

@@purveyoroffinefoodslaszlo9955 dont ovetdo it tho or it will lead into permanent role and madness

[@debowiec3]

That's nothing new..............innit!!!!!!!!

[@johnnytroyano8870]

The definition of "coolness"...greatest of all time.

[@kionamcnutt8630]

Along with Deniro and Eastwood.

[@bluethunder6801]

@@kionamcnutt8630 ohhh yes!

[@deborahrobertson6618]

Marlon seems so relaxed in this interview. He's clearly brilliant but his relaxation might be what helps him answer Dick's questions so articulately. He doesn't look fussed in the slightest. I like it how Marlon explains his line of thinking until the very end of the interview without apology. He's not there to please. He speaks his truth and convinced me!

[@wolfborn6483]

I disagree. Look how he fiddles around and touches random things constantly. He doesnt look at Cavett directly, at least not at first. I enjoy Brando's movies but in this and most interviews iv seen him in..Brando is a massive introvert. He is uncomforable with the spotlight or/and he hates doing the promotions. Well spoken and educated for sure. But he is no doubt a solitary individual.

[@aishahdzol7916]

I was born in the 90s, but I love Marlon Brando. Every time I watch his interview, I always learn something new.

[@r3v001]

@1:59 That is the best "I dare you!" smile, I think I have ever seen. I believe Mr Brando was fully willing to embrace and run with any level of "crazy" Mr Cavett was willing to dish out, and dare I say, he was gleefully looking forward to it?

[@return2earthvideochannel]

Marlon just sitting in a chair, I could watch him all day. He looked fantastic in this interview - a real man. No one ever came close to his charisma on screen, before or since. Everyone should have a copy of Streetcar Named Desire in their video collection.

[@arminius301]

In a world full of actors Brando, even though he looks like he is acting, is the being himself and he's acting it at genius level. One of the most genuine people. He simply didn't give a rats ass what people thought and didn't talk out of his ass like most other actors!

[@firenze5555]

Wow, Brandon is so insightful. Impressive, and actually made Cavett nervous.

[@dwdunkley]

Brando was ahead of his time and is probably the best method actor of all time. He was simply a genius.

[@mwilliamshs]

Daniel Day Lewis is better

[@adamgoodword7888]

Actually Brando wasn't a very good actor.... he got by on his looks and later on in life on his heavily marketed name.

[@2Times22]

@@adamgoodword7888 That was Liz Taylor..she always played herself..She never had to act..But not Brando..

[@vysakhvenugopal5810]

@Viking Song Acting is not about being some one else. its always Givin the soul and life to the character one plays. ddl is not even close to marlon brando...when ddl "acts we can feel all the effort and the hard work he had and brando just lives the part....

[@NightRider0101]

@@adamgoodword7888 True, Brando was more of a marketing hype.

[@Lotus-Son]

What a great intellect and genuine guy

[@newton6850]

BRANDO IS TIMELESS !! He influences even GENERATION Z 🙋‍♀️ - LOVE HIM

[@jaekavalier]

I come back to this interview every few months. Really one of my favorites.

[@arcaneassylum6818]

he has the best smile in the world

[@RonWylie-gk5lc]

Brando is one of those special human beings that come from someplace else, he is of course quite right, we do all act to survive. Personaly he graps my attention every time he speaks as well as acts, we dont get many of these in one lifetime

[@jamesdykes517]

His discomfort in their praise speaks volumes. I will allow you to interpret this case study for yourself but man it makes my mind expand in such a beneficial way.

[@meganc5993]

Ugh his smile ❤️

[@artivism4068]

This made me cry. He was one of the most brilliant, empathetic human beings that has ever walked the face of this earth. He broke Dick Cavett down into pieces. What an incredible mind.

[@cindyfarmer1619]

Agree

[@jefffromjersey52]

Yes its quite amazing ... and you are intelligent for recognizing it ... most people cant ..

[@arleco12]

Dick Cavett was an excellent, smart and beloved interviewer, and he never tried to make anybody unconfortable. In fact, he never ofended anybody. So I really don't get that "he broke Dick Cavett into pieces" expression. This wasn't a competition of any kind, so I don't agree with you at all.

[@artivism4068]

@@arleco12 poor choice of words on my part. What I meant was he pierced through the facade of his tv personality or his persona. He didn't offend anyone I know. He is gone of the greatest interviewers ever. I hope to be like him someday for real. Marlon was merely pointing out that we all play roles in life in different situations with different environments and it made Dick Cavett visibly nervous that he called what he does 'acting'

[@arleco12]

Now I agree with you. :)

[@ferociousgumby]

Jesus, he is still so compelling, so smart, so gorgeous, even older and fatter. Such a tortured soul, there will never be another.

[@tshandy1]

​@Shaken not stirred - you forgot the scarf. The scarf looks stupid.

[@odincoulombe706]

oh like you know anything about him from what you see on tv,,shut up

[@haintedhouse3052]

so you really liked him?@Shaken not stirred

[@vigo894]

Look up Last Tango In Paris. He was a rapist, and so was the pervert director.

[@alexochoa5053]

No one's perfect we've all had a our great deal of mistakes Marlon wasn't perfect because he was fucking human just like everybody else. And dont forget he came from a different era. No I'm not condoning the shit he did. Because every one does fucked up shit at least once in thier lifetime but no one will point that out.

[@BossMandotnet]

4:26 onwards was an amazing moment in this video . In particular 5:05. The look on Cavett's face switched from tv presenter to earnesty. Brando spoke to the truth of Cavetts' job and the skills he uses, things people forget they actually do in their minds once they get good at their job. He took Cavett from seasoned pro to 1st week hire in minutes! It looked like Brando spoke to Cavett the individual and not Cavett the tv host.

[@zflynn2]

Listen to Marlon describe what made him one of the greatest actors of all time was merely understanding how we interact appropriately daily in society for any and every given situation is acting. It's his understanding of this that made what he did appear so easy and natural because we all do it every day but haven't the vaguest clue most of the time we're acting or as he puts it "lying for the situation". Brilliant.

[@bellamybomb]

Brando basically described the sociological theory of Dramaturgy as developed by Erving Goffman, in which life is a stage and we are all actors playing our part on the front stage when people are watching us. The only time we don't have to "act" is when we retreat to our backstage (which is different for each person), a place where we can truly be ourselves without needing to act out a persona. Highly interesting stuff, in case anyone is interested to know more. Hats off to you, Mr Brando

[@nikokaapa]

Dick Cavett is a real master-host. The way he appropriately reacts to anything without making it uncomfortable, dodging bullets by Brando especially with that last bit there. Great!

[@mikecathy3875]

“I just feel like all of my clothes have been taken off “ Brando had him pegged but truth be told, Cavett is a genius at how he comports himself.

[@stedbenj]

And Brando said as much.

[@starfan4019]

Brando’s great success as an actor is revealed in this short clip. He was clear sighted about human beings. Saying that everyone is acting may seem obvious now but back in the fifties, sixties and seventies this was not the common currency of thought. Brando was such an emotionally intelligent man. His defending of the rights of Native Americans was radical at the tine also. A man ahead of his time,

[@mayjohnson2296]

"All the world's a stage and we're all players in it"

[@fahadkhawar39]

His smile had a charm

[@nikradik]

They say he was a smooth mf

[@fahadkhawar39]

@@nikradik 😂😂

[@Missjunebugfreak]

Marlon had such a gorgeous smile it really lights up his face. He has such amazing screen presence it's hard not to be captivated by him even in an interview.

[@esclarmonde1156]

Wooooow, I would never ever ever have guessed His HIGH QUALITY HIGH ABOVE any other actor ever now and in history - I am very very pleased to learn that about Him - The Best !!

[@porkfrog2785]

wow...he's saying something very profound...and Cavet won't let him

[@randysaxon1961]

But could Cavett play The Godfather role as well as Brando? Point well made by Cavett there, you must agree.

[@lustforchanel3051]

Cavett was obviously just playing devils advocate. The conversation would’ve lasted 1 minute if he agreed and they didn’t have a discussion

[@LyricalTrain]

He’s doing the exact thing Brando said he does.

[@03Ryen]

I felt like they had a different kind of conversation prior to this and Cavett is trying to bring that back. Gotta admit, during the 1st few minutes, it felt a little gleam and pretentious. I think Cavett was trying to bring the conversation to a shallower and easy to consume format. Or at least back to what they were talking about over the phone.

[@TheHaiku2]

@@lustforchanel3051 Yes, and that's exactly what Brando was pointing out.

[@TheCondorjc]

Cavett acting like a wise guy, forgetting that Brando’s The Godfather.

[@johncarlollavor2146]

@EJSFilms2K What the heck are you talking about!??😂😂😂

[@scott-ci5is]

All the world's a stage

[@trysometruth]

If all Cavett did was nod his head in subservient adoration, then move on to the commercial, we wouldn't have this great back and forth to mull over and state all these opinions about. Cavett wanted more than the typical blah blah blah.

[@gopherstate777]

Cavett kept Brando off balance and could get him to relax. Brando loved Wally Kochs for the same reason they both brought out Brando's playful side. Love it when Cavett gets him to smile. They stayed good friends for many years.

[@robyoung9968]

I find him so intimidating. He was an odd character.. Very handsome at the time. And one of the greatest method actors.

[@liquidbraino]

He wasn't a Method actor, he was a Character actor. He trained with Stella Adler, not Lee Strasberg.

[@TheAverageGuy12]

What a brilliant man. Incredible to see a frank honest conversation in these horrendous times we live in.

[@arriuscalpurniuspiso]

This is indeed a horrible time compared to earlier decades

[@shriharihudli8596]

Even by the standards of the time, this was a deep and brutally honest conversation about human nature.

[@jackiepyzocha7380]

Brando was awesome, smart, handsome!

[@mrkeogh]

What a brilliant, humble man.

[@edgregory1]

Shakespeare said "All the world's a stage.."

[@theUroshman]

The reason why Brando looks both young and old at the same time in this video is because what you are watching and listening to is NOT the outer shell of Marlon Brando, but the SPIRITUAL part of him which is timeless. When listening to him you cannot even think about him as a person who is no longer alive. He was obviously able to show his true spiritual side - the part that never dies.

[@davidparsons3432]

Brando was a great lateral thinker.....contemporary actors do not have this perspective.

[@surferpam1]

You're incorrect.

[@seanfitzpatrick4730]

Brenda was great but Robert Mitchum was better

[@mick2spic]

^ I think we've found Brando's illegitimate bastard son.

[@halbronco7690]

@Shaken not stirred You're literally going to lick his boots in hell you wretched whelp

[@e_z_livn]

shamus jubenal that funny, I laughed hard at that. Thanks :)

[@sandbach7195]

He is SO smart!

[@TruthSurge]

I thought Marlon was gonna either walk off at the end or slug him.

[@hajimemash1375]

I think discussion started devolving when the personal statements escalated. It could have been avoided by making things impersonal. Marlon: We all act. [JAB] You are acting right now in this chair Cavett: [Feeling self-conscious] No, I'm motivated. [JAB] But if there was a schmuck/bore in this chair, you like frankness right, I couldn't do it at 9am. Marlon: [WTF did this guy just call me a schmuck and a bore] Yea you have to act happy and stuff on this TV show like you are right now Cavett: You don't even act, you just read lines lmao. I think Marlon realized afterwards that he could have stuck to impersonal examples, and used the ad agency guy, which wouldn't make Cavett feel exposed.

[@Seanryan2001]

Strange thing is that after this interview they both went outside for a walk and some famous reporter who Brando hated, followed them and Brando ended up hitting him.

[@PKMNFan4664]

@@Seanryan2001 That was Ron Galella, yep.

[@williamblake7386]

I think you do not understand what was this all about. If you know why and how are people acting you do not mad at them.

[@BrentWilkins7777]

@@calyorganic4002 It ended in 1975 on ABC, and continued on PBS through the rest of the 70's and into the 80's.

[@Zeshi185]

I just love to watch brando talk...its so beautiful. RIP Legend

[@wellbeing7607]

Marlon wasn't liked when he wouldn't sell the fantasy of it all...he's trying to be authentic with people, but they prefer the Hollywood script version of Marlon.

[@stockloc]

I think nowadays people would appreciate actors like Marlon. Back then, Hollywood was still growing. People had high hopes for it and they wanted to be sold on their fantasies.

[@lolaispure4296]

@@stockloc its still the very same today

[@Murtagh653]

marlon brando is one of the few actors i wasn't disappointed with when i found out what they are really like, he was real and that makes me like him more than if he was like george clooney who never stops acting off screen

[@happycube]

@@Murtagh653 ... isn't his point here that *nobody* ever stops acting?

[@jefolson6989]

I met him in about 97. He was by that time a nice old guy, who loved his dog, but rather sad. Personal, family tradgedies had beaten him down. He hired me to teach him how to make his own self-hypnosis tapes. I was a hypnotherapist in So Cal and spent an afternoon at his house .I never discussed it , or any of my clients. Many were actors and musicians because I specialized in performamce issues . I was known as" Hynoptist to the stars" but would never use names (therapist/client ) . I feel I can now since after Marlons death, someone found his tapes and turned them into a book! Taking the high road has cost me a fortune over the years!

[@davidwirth2716]

You did the right thing, that 's comes with being a professional at your chosen field.

[@jaclynmormile4102]

That smile! ,That Charisma!,soo handsome!

[@clovisdacruz6078]

“The lie is a condition of life.”-Nietzsche.

[@pauledmiston4883]

I love Nietzsche... Very true ! (like all of his aphorisms)... His sanity drove him mad...

[@dtzjones7632]

Marlon Brando was very handsome with a beautiful smile Great interview as usual Dick Cavett was the best American interviewer 👍

[@muslimahreacts]

how does he look so young pleaseee, the man aged like the finest wine

[@bentleygt3716]

Marlon looked so handsome. smart. elegant. and very cool.

[@brianyoung3]

Brando didn't do talks shows. The fact that he was even on Cavett is a testimony to the show. And even so, he turned the tables on Dick and it got pretty awkward. I wouldn't expect anything less.

[@jean-marieboucherit4716]

Brando’ s innocent smile is absolutely totally moving. Only John Lennon , I think, had this innocent disarming smile.

[@piranha5506]

Jean-Marie Boucherit it’s called a wolfish grin and it’s really attractive

[@jean-marieboucherit4716]

Sarah do you think so? I thought it was disarmingly innocent!

[@stevefowler5970]

typical hypocritical religious idiot's response

[@jean-marieboucherit4716]

Shaken not stirred are you angry about something? You know, hell is for people who do bad things, Hitler, Mussolini, Mao Tse Dung, Donald Trump, Cain, the KKK, Cortes, etc... in the catholic religion you’re supposed to have accès to heaven if you repent on your death bed, which opened up a lot of opportunities for the mafiosi. I think you are getting confused between people you don’t like and people who should go to hell. You are not God after all, so you can’t decide in His place, can you?

[@stevenevans8013]

@Shaken not stirred wreckon you talk a lot of shite just to put people dwn coz your a cock

[@adrianvera383]

They both are inspiring and the dialogue is truly authentic enough to miss that in today's discussions

[@norwegiantechnolover]

Jesus Christ, he's bang on about everything in this interview!

[@johndearden7931]

Brando hit the nail on the head. My respect for him has gone up 100%

[@MrFirstdance2000]

His hair and beard work very well for 2019!

[@loveyourselfandme1283]

MrFirstdance2000 at first I thought that was now days lol

[@adamgoodword7888]

@@loveyourselfandme1283 He's dead. He died back in 2004. How could it be "now days" as you say?

[@ignaciogodoy7095]

Marlon smile is amazing, in this interview you see him smile and you smile for inertia, he was really something special.

[@prateekbhore2264]

I thought Marlon Brando was really old when he acted in Godfather. No words for his acting.. Genius.

[@equisde8026]

he was only 47...

[@marial.rapaglia4041]

The late, great marlon brando.

[@dianebays5484]

Man, he was a handsome man!!

[@callmebitchacho2453]

I know!! I feel weird because I never found an elder looking man this attractive as I find him in his video.. Must be due to the fact I've seen how he looked when he was younger but doesn't change the fact he still looked attractive at this point.

[@porkerpete7722]

Well atleast you actually listened to what he said...

[@Michelle-pn9xt]

Why do people lie and say men look good when they do not, and tell women that they look bad when they actually look good?

[@darrylschultz6479]

@@Michelle-pn9xt Nearly everyone would agree Marlon Brando in this video would have been one of the best-looking 49 year-old men around.Also people might want to bring someone down coz they assume-often wrongly-that anyone with outstanding good looks are going to be big-headed.That may be part of the explanation for why some attractive women are called things like 'trashy','fat pigs'(think Trump when talking about Rosie O'Donnell)etc-coz there's jealousy or rivalry.

[@myahollandia3552]

@@callmebitchacho2453 omg yes !! A young marlon was insanely beautiful!!!!!

[@JoJo-xp6wr]

"I will make him an offer he can't refuse"

[@eloisehellyer6857]

This is a fascinating interview. Has anyone noticed how he turns around to the camera when it's not focused on him?

[@VarunStream]

And this is one of the insights that made Brando so damn awesome

[@koda158]

Cavett "I don't know what we can believe in this country " The truth

[@TheFoodieCutie]

When Brando smiles... wow 😳