Tennessee Williams--Rare 1974 TV Interview

[@alwaysblake148]

It's rare to get to see a penetrating interview with an authentic genius, but here it is.

[@MahmoudIsmail1988.]

That is just What Tennessee Williams needed at those distressing times of his life, a genuinely kind and soothing interviewer like Dick Cavett to present him gently to the public

[@kapple654]

Omg so brilliantly put. I was just thinking that myself. Dick cavette is very gentle, which is great for eccentric sensitive artists... Gets the best out of them.. for us;-)

[@michealkelly9441]

Sipping tea in a new Orleans courtyard with Tennessee Williams...what a dream

[@puppetoz]

For T Williams suddenly realising Dick Cavett would be doing the interviewing it must have been a nightmare.

[@susanedrington4878]

I lived in New Orleans for over 20 years. Tennessee and I share the same birthday!!❤

[@michaelcelani8325]

​@@puppetoz...Mr. Williams knew that Cavett has no real understanding of the art of writing, so he kept his answers superficial . Also when Cavett tryed to ask about the evil woman, Williams must have heard that story but denied any knowledge of it....keeping Cavett at a respectable safe distance. 45:45

[@itsmechristy2409]

Humble. Kind. Unassuming. You can't watch this interview and dislike him. Responsible for a lot of great works I read in college.

[@jcmilosmith4622]

A time warp. What a great pleasure to witness this.

[@victoriahaas9364]

what a lovely man. how lucky we are to have this interview. so grateful......

[@kahlodiego5299]

I loved this.

[@KJ-xc6qs]

Wonderful interview. Always loved TW and have collected and consumed all his works.

[@Ontario100]

Thanks so much for posting this! Tennessee Williams has always been one of my favorites and I was captivated .

[@creature57]

How brilliant is this interview/setting. Wish this could happen now.

[@AlexanderArsov]

Tennessee is one totally cool character. Love the interview and the tour of the French Quarter.

[@smck001]

God bless Tennessee Williams, a beautiful soul who, by this point, was profoundly 'medicated'.

[@deirdrewilson8957]

sean mack sometimes you need medicine

[@briangoldy8784]

Mr. Williams is NOT medicated or drunk.....This is How people like This Spoke.......My Grandmother an her Sister spoke with such Magnificence.. What a Interesting Person........

[@AmericasChoice]

He is slightly buzzed toward the end, which is fine.

[@nolapeaches1]

What a gem! I was thrilled to find this interview. I moved to New Orleans in 2008 to walk in the footsteps of Tennessee Williams, 6o be inspired by the things and places that inspired him. This is magnificent.

[@sergeirakmaninov]

Thanks for this gem. He's in ideal form here.

[@robhowen]

Simply wonderful. Thank you for sharing this.

[@keyanna2633]

Well this is Pleasent,sipping tea and having a conversation with Tennessee Williams. He is so graceful and delightful. Wish I could of been there,it sure would of been fun. 😁

[@keltonwater1102]

This is awesome bit of history, thanks for posting!

[@dizmation]

Fascinating

[@marcychristoff219]

This is a gift and delightful.

[@timirish2563]

I recall when this was first broadcast. Williams was a legendary figure by this time--almost mythic. He was often depicted (even by his friends) as a sort of lunatic recluse, which he was not. By the 1970's he had become a non-celebrity. After his golden time--the Broadway of the 1950's--his plays nearly closed before they opened and, since theater is judged by its box office not its quality as literature, Williams was tossed to the curb. Can you imagine if William Faulkner's work was judged by how many copies of books he sold during his productive years? Cavett is eager here and a bit too fast at first in this interview; it takes some time for him to adjust to the pace of Williams thought pattern and speech, but he does come around.

[@aeichler]

I saw several of the Williams "flops" and they were more interesting than many hits.

[@wendyw4487]

@@aeichler which is one of the reasons Williams needed the booze and the valium to deal with his producers. constantly trying to transform his ART into their bank accounts................

[@cosmicman621]

...well said...and very true as the other comments above.May God Bless the Beautiful Soul Of our brother..Tennessee Williams.Amen.

[@terr777]

I never got enough sleep through high school because I'd stay up and watch DC. It probably made me smarter than high school did.

[@terr777]

His brother (who was cut out of the 10 million dollar will) ignored the wishes in his will and gave him a catholic burial in St. Louis. Personally, I think that was a terrible thing to do.

[@linniem5982]

Thank You. Tennessee is on my family ancestry tree as a cousin.

[@brian_nirvana]

I know St. Louis is not perfect. I've lived in LeMay all my life. It's a wholesome place. When the Bosnians moved in in the 2000s, they rebuilt the city and moved south to south St Louis County, where I live. If you think it's bad to take refugees remember, they believe in freedom more than me. I am slack-jawed, I've never been oppressed. But if you give an oppressed man an opportunity it can be magic. But I will say that Tennessee Williams should have been buried at sea, near the body of Hart Crane. (edit) Now pour me a sherry.

[@williamdavis3858]

Fascinating interview

[@BrettOwen71]

I miss interview shows with hosts like Dick Cavett. I just love the easy, natural conversation without sounding like they were forcing in a joke before the commercial break.

[@raydavison4288]

Me too.

[@kapple654]

Cavettes wife's walk on is fabulous, and her accent, how was she not more well known? She's s proper ol' Bette Davis! (who im aware is a northerner!)

[@pamelamacneil1331]

They don't have interviews like this anymore. Maybe because there are no more Tennessee Williams and no more Dick Cavett. or am I being too cynical?Tennessee Williams is my favorite playwright.Oh, to be able to see at least one of his plays live. I still read them.

[@jacobadams5924]

thank goodness no more Cavett!

[@kapple654]

No you're not cynical, depressingly you are 100% correct. Pick any of those old writers from Alice walker to Margaret Mitchell they are just interested in ideas rather than doing PR which is what shallow writers do now. Also interviewers now are ghastly... The old Oprah was great and thoughtful when she interviewed writers in the 90s, but even she sold out... eventually. And now they are all aggressive, shallow, time conscious market sharks:-(

[@pamelamacneil1331]

@@kapple654 What an interesting, intelligent response. Go Well!

[@kapple654]

@@pamelamacneil1331 lol bless. My intelligent response was to an original intelligent comment:-) thnx

[@edwardlittlefield447]

What an utterly incredible interview! Heavenly! Heavenly!

[@CJBlanda]

Brilliant. Who do we have today to equal his talent?

[@mtngrl5859]

Interesting exchange about meeting William Faulkner, quite poignant about his realization of the tragedy of Faulkner, perhaps something only another gifted writer would sense.

[@geico1975]

I do not believe this has had only 63K views, not for the life of me do I believe that adsurdity. In-fact, if this hasn't had at least 750K views I would still remain skeptical.

[@maaidakausar9802]

Incredible incredible incredible brilliant

[@annstillwell730]

He talked like his characters. Never heard his voice before. Like all his plays even though they are most depressing. Just all so well written one can forgive the sad endings.

[@AmericasChoice]

Night of the Iguana has a somewhat happy ending.

[@kapple654]

Cavette: "it's been said that your women characters are the most interesting. And there is something about Southern women that is undoubtedly witty, veracious, bold, stylish, dramatic.... But never dull" Tennessee Williams:" no, Southern women are difficult... But never dull" lol

[@slimedog]

Such a great writer, so intelligent and so aware and yet, so humble and so not pompous. Yes, I know he was gay but really- so wonderful and can we leave it at that?

[@danielwhittaker695]

exactly and no matter his situation he certainly understood women! they are the true heroes in almost all of his plays!

[@michelez715]

You seem to imply being gay diminishes a person? A person's sexual orientation does not affect his artistic ability. TW would be a great writer whether he was heterosexual or gay. His ideas, or point of view may have been different, but his genius would still be there.

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

So unimportant that I had forgotten that.

[@OctPSfever]

His writings was remarkable...

[@timirish2563]

Williams acts with the ease of someone utterly unaware that he is appearing on a TV show. He is so lucid here, so very gentle and charming. He was a goliath of American Theater--few have attained his level since. He's been gone long enough that I think it is safe for a rediscovery of his genius. The Russians love him--they call him "The American Chekov". He's all that and more.

[@bromleysimon7414]

When you plug his name into the Internet Broadway Database, it is immediately clear that big money is backing a revival of one or another of his plays every few years. Stars burnish their reputations by appearing in his works, and stars paired with TW titles sell tickets.

[@kennethwayne6857]

True. I understand the Russians admire Jack London as well.

[@michelez715]

Williams always said he loved Chekhov's plays above all others, and he loved Hart Crane's poetry, too. I don't see too much resemblance to Chekhov - in themes possibly, in treatment, no. But I'm sure Williams wd have been pleased by the compliment. To me, he is an authentic American genius. His passion, his compassion, his understanding of human frailties is wonderful.

[@denisehansen9055]

I love his accent.

[@bodieismael9244]

i guess Im asking randomly but does anybody know a tool to log back into an Instagram account? I somehow forgot my login password. I would love any tips you can offer me!

[@kevinreid5871]

@Bodie Ismael Instablaster ;)

[@schmittyhanrahan8126]

If you have not had the pleasure yet - watch the taped play of "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof" with Rip Torn/Sybil Shepherd/Tommy Lee Jones. The film with Taylor and Newman has been abridged and of course lacks the energy of a stage performance. It will not disappoint.

[@Orfeo68]

This is AMAZING!!! Thank you.

[@kerstinnorberg8323]

Watching this feels like being right there with them

[@wickfields]

There’s so little footage of Tennessee, much less lucid. Thank you.

[@rharvey2124]

There was an hour or two hour documentary made on Tenn about this same time. I know it was part of a box set of movies based on his work.

[@ninettagegen6978]

thanks for this video

[@ernestmendez5487]

The simple-hearted good-natured candor from Tennessee is absolutely refreshing. He could have easily eaten up praise from sycophants over the years but chose to be true to himself. And if the interviewer had a sense of humor and didn't take things so seriously Tennessee would have liked him and would have said more.

[@MK-oi8wr]

thank you thank you Loved it

[@LuvJewels7]

Thank you 🙏🏻❤️

[@JoeyMayo]

At 00:24 Dick Cavett takes a seat at the fountain with his hand in his pocket. I don't think that I have ever sat down and kept my hands in my pockets.

[@llongdong]

Oh, glory! Wee WEEEE! To be back in '74. THAT is intoxicating (along with the 14 Stella's I have ingested). Where the HELL did the time move to? Where are the days? the hours? the minutes? Where the HELL did they move? Wee WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

[@AmericasChoice]

1970-74 were great years to be young.

[@glennfromthebronx]

...I saw a PBS show...involving the renovation of Cavett and his late wife's involved renovation of their HAMPTONS house called TICK HALL. Tennessee was a regular visitor...fascinating viewing.

[@justinb.1459]

Oh what a world it used to be! ......... simple pleasures used to thrill me........

[@MissPerriwinkle]

legend !!!!

[@dafinker3443]

A Southern writer of this genius typifies all his greatest depictions

[@bagofhammers7479]

I adore Tennessee

[@January.]

I wish I knew him.

[@michaelturman1397]

beautiful New Orleans, I miss you so

[@budmckechnie]

Very interesting that Williams' body language initially is 100 percent defensive with his leg crossed away from Cavett, but at the end of the interview although his leg is still crossed away from Cavett, his upper torso is leaning towards Dick Cavett. Apparently Williams' self description is introverted and this complies with his body language during this interview.

[@mysticqueen3551]

I think I would've liked to have been friends with him. I'm actually doing a protocol for a Dramaturgy class on his most autobiographical play "The Glass Menagerie."

[@markseymour5655]

I was just thinking the same thing. He was charming, wasn't he?

[@susanedrington4878]

Napoleon House is one of my fav bars. Lived in Nola from 1990 to 2005.

[@MrGarysugarman]

Interesting to hear TW say he depends on the kindness of strangers when faced with eating alone.

[@janetparlato4341]

Dick Cavett, thank you!!

[@peterdavino4408]

But for God's sake Cavett takes himself so damn seriously & goes on and on about architecture and history etc etc & poor genius Tennessee had to sit there & have a giggle at the whole thing. Let's be honest- Tenn was bored to tears with the pompous Cavett & couldn't wait to get out of the interview & go have a drink! There were no probing questions & the interview went nowhere because Dick couldn't give his enormous ego a rest! And what happened with Mr. Williams is what this county does to it's artists when they're no longer considered relevant- thrown to the curb and discarded with not a single shred of respect. The French don't treat their artists that way.

[@michelez715]

I agree. I wasn't remotely interested in Cavett's droning stories about Napoleon's house, and the woman who tortured slaves, and what sort of an idiot expected to see ONE iron balcony in New Orleans? Tenn's natural courtesy never faltered, but Cavett was unbearable. I wanted to hear Williams talk, not listen to Cavett's inane opinions.

[@peterdavino4408]

@michaelz I couldn't agree with you more! The French have a beautiful relationship with their artists and treat them with the respect they deserve regardless of whether or not they'te still producing art or not. In the US everything and everyone is disposable. They take it and toss it and it's such a disgrace. Artists are not commodities like dishwashers but human beings who contribute something rare and beautiful to the world's cultural landscape.

[@michaelcelani8325]

​@@michelez715.....Cavett was a dull, jealous little Turd..!

[@mattwaller5636]

I love his tie

[@brutusalwaysminded]

I normally enjoy Cavett's interviews and I enjoyed the tour of New Orleans but he didn't ask Williams a single intriguing question. Thanks, nonetheless. Good to see Tenn.

[@s.l.george1219]

totally agree--except for the very last question and the answer by TW was very illuminating.

[@atiphwyne5609]

@D Stuart Surely the same could be said to you.

[@jamelle8495]

Mr. Cavett is correct; there is something in the air there❤

[@carolgoering6585]

His brother didn't care what Tennessee wanted and buried him in St. Louis.

[@zharapatterson]

I think 🤔 that was a wrong thing to do. A person shouldn't be buried, in a place they couldn't stand when they were alive, in my opinion it's bad luck.

[@brian_nirvana]

when he gazes up and speaks, he's speaking to the gods.

[@Hands2HealNow]

Dick Cavett was and likely is still a fun and exciting conversationalist.

[@joealexandra7185]

The pouring of kettles of hot water through the floorboards was written into Streetcar -- it happens on the poker night, and Stanley simply moves the table around, to avoid it.

[@erikhaagensen7260]

Good show.

[@MelancoliaI]

How this man came to personify the South is one of the great ironies of world history, up there with the Christianization of Rome. But he did, and does.

[@lynnturman8157]

You mean...there used to be cities in America without gas stations & walmarts on every corner?

[@DannyJKay]

Another lightweight Cavett 'interview'.

[@clifton1943]

Is there anyone aware of Mickey Dunnigan, personal secretary to Tennessee during this time ?

[@roburbinati358]

I was hoping they'd talk about playwrighting

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

It's nice to see Tenn sober.

[@jcmangan]

and very rare

[@bawoman]

It's nice to see Tenn

[@johnnypastrana6727]

He is drinking wine...after the first iced tea...he is higher than a kite actually.

[@oneseeker2]

Sober? Not here...

[@freyrik]

5:02 am in Florida. Sippin green tea. Wildlyfe

[@tylerlately]

As a fan of Gore, I wonder what happened between them. Gore said a few times that Tennessee was sensitive and always thought someone was attacking him

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

Mr. Williams did an interview with Mike Wallace in 1958 (KZbin). He is very honest about himself and his nature. It's always interesting to see where people are in their lives. He had a play off-broadway to save some humiliation. It was not well received. Being cruel to a sensitive soul such as he is akin to pulling wings off a butterfly.

[@olewetdog6254]

The only place in Louisiana worth visiting......aside from my parents' house.

[@treyrader]

Lafayette is pretty cool too

[@mdtys]

i want them suits!

[@teeniebeenie8774]

dick had fantastic guests but omg he was a lousy interviewer.....

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

Exactly. Why I watch it is for the guests.

[@michaelcelani8325]

​@@bovnycccoperalover3579...... ... Once the audience realises Cavett is just a journalist and is not knowledgeable about any of the Arts, then his failures of any of the great artists becomes obvious. The Dali interview is especially awful and even ridiculous.

[@degalan2656]

There are those that crave attention… and there are those that think… really… really

[@Robertbrucelockhart]

Is it sad that his brother refused to honor Mr. Williams wish to be buried at sea, or does it matter at all?

[@johnnypastrana6727]

This interview is way too droll and serious...Cavett is at times overly cerebral and dry. It just doesn't seem to ever takeoff. He puts Tennessee on the spot too many times...be better if he would just let him wing it.

[@michelez715]

What on earth do you mean by droll? Followed by serious?

[@inderjitgabrie835]

🙏👍

[@TheViaducts]

I prefer the water

[@xy47402]

Dick Cavett in a brief swimsuit. Yes!

[@celladora31]

Damn commercials

[@treyrader]

3 ft below sea level

[@Eudaimonia88]

No wonder this interviewer's name is Dick. Why do presenters always feel the need to make an interview all about them instead of the usually far more interesting person they have the privilege of talking to? Watching Dick's antics before he jumped into TW's pool is all one needs to see in order to know what kind of self-aggrandising super-bore he is. I tried to focus on TW's words... and block out the posturing puppet interviewing him.

[@michelez715]

Agree with you 100%.

[@whatsgoingonwhy9096]

the french quarter is a massive, festering cesspool now.

[@linniem5982]

I think you are right.

[@EvaDoran1]

Wish Cavett had not talked so much.

[@jesuscastanares4968]

MARLON BRANDO'S EARLY 1960S MOVIES IN BACK & WHITE ( B&W), ARE USUALLY TAKEN FROM THE AWARDED DRAMAS BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS , AND ONE OR TWO FROM THE NOVELS BY, JOHN STEINBECK, A NOBEL-PRIZE, AWARD WINNER. STEINBECK LIVES AT THE CITY OF SALINAS, A FARM -DISTRICT IN MONTEREY PENINSULA, OF CALIFORNIA. THERE IS THE SALINAS CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY CALLED, "THE JOHN STEINBECK LIBRARY". EXAMPLES: 1) "VIVA VILLA. ", STARS MARLON BRANDO, AS PANCHO VILLA, ( WITH JEAN PETERS, AS VILLA'S WIFE, AND, ANTHONY QUEEN , AS HIS YOUNGER BROTHER. THE MOVIE IS DIRECTED BY ELIA KAZAN. THE SCRIPT IS BY JOHN STEINBECK. 2) " . . . ", IS DIRECTED,TOO, BY ELIA KAZAN. 3) " ON THE WATER FRONT", STARS MARLON BRANDO , WHO DID SO WELL, THAT HE IS BEING HIGHLY PRAISED AS AN ACTOR, AND THE MOVIE IS QUITE FAMOUS,TOO, AND, ALSO MADE MOVIE- DIRECTOR ELIA KAZAN , EQUALLY FAMOUS. CLASSIC MOVIES ARE USUALLY TAKEN IN A BLACK AND WHITE COLOUR, ( B&W), DURING THE 1960S , AND MOVIE-DIRECTOR, ELIA KAZAN, USED IT USUALLY IN HIS MOVIES. ELIA KAZAN IS QUITE FAMOUS AS A MOVIE DIRECTOR, A JEW, WORKING IN HOLLYWOOD. BLACK AND WHITE (B&W), IS FAMOUS, TOO, IN THE 1960S,AS THE MOVIE- COLOUR OF NEGATIVES, BEING USED BY SOME WELL-KNOWN MOVIE DIRECTORS, WHETHER IN FRANCE,IN ITALY, OR IN SPAIN, BUT, SPECIALLY, BY ELIA KAZAN, OF HOLLYWOOD .

[@michelez715]

Elia Kazan is also famous for naming names during the HUAC hearings, the McCarthy witchhunt. Kazan betrayed colleagues because he wanted to continue making big bucks in Hollywood. The scriptwriter of "On the waterfront", Budd Schulberg, did the same as Kazan. I have read that Brando had to be persuaded to do the film, he was so disgusted with Kazan.

[@teddycuthbert]

42:38 - 43:20

[@exquisiteevents8317]

deliberate cruelty

[@michellemarchesseault4230]

I refuse to believe this is tea.

[@paulhorn27]

I love Tennessee Williams but I could never stand Dick Cavett. He just seems so phony to me, too self-effacing. It doesn't ring true to me.

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

Still watch him because of his guests.

[@AmericasChoice]

I think he wasted so many opportunities with so many great guests with inane questions and feeble attempts at humor.

[@AmericasChoice]

@@bovnycccoperalover3579 Same here.

[@ericwinnert]

Williams laughs too much and Dick talks too much.

[@michelez715]

I think Williams laughed to cover his discomfort with the idiot Cavett. Just for once, wouldn't it have been nice to have a literary critic interview a great writer, instead of an airhead like Cavett, who obviously thought he was at least as important as his guest?