Peter O'Toole on Being an Altar Boy, His Newest Film, and Camel-Riding | The Dick Cavett Show

(Continued from Part 1 of this interview.) Peter O'Toole and Dick continue their discussion, bringing up O'Toole past experience as an altar boy and forgetting the bell for Catholic Mass and his newest film, The Ruling Class.
Date aired - September 13th 1972 - Peter O'Toole
For clip licensing opportunities please visit www.globalimageworks.com/the-...
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

[@ZOGGYDOGGY]

"We make people adjust to a society that makes them sick." Peter O'Toole speaking about the film The Ruling Class.

[@stewartmcneill2262]

What an enigma he was the real deal just loved him

[@josephclark4153]

O' Toole ,was such a brilliant actor. He could read the ingredients on the back of cereal box and make it sound Shakespearean .I didn't know he was such a shy man .

[@lorenzoblum868]

There's something tragic about cereal boxes. So big yet so empty. So colorful on the outside yet so dull in the inside...

[@josephclark4153]

@@lorenzoblum868 exactly 🤣 well said !

[@lee-annebarrett366]

He was wonderful in the film with Audrey Hepburn, the chemistry between them was delightful to watch.

[@davidclarke9783]

The great man walked past me in a Bar in Dublin in around 1971-2 ,, I stopped him saying Mr O Toole may I thank you for the many great pleasures you have givein me.. and the World over the years. He looked at me and with a smile then this loud booming voice said what a marvelous thing to say? Barman give this Man a Drink ..winked and went on .

[@aliofly]

Brilliant!

[@tarnopol]

The Ruling Class is one of the best satires--of any form or genre--ever. Truly fantastic film--go see it!

[@jonathanowen4075]

It's brilliant, and O'Toole is amazing in it.

[@kevin-parratt-artist]

I had begun to make arrangements to meet him, for a portrait session, I was bring delayed at home by family matters .. .. then just when I was reconnecting, he became gravely ill and never recovered. 😢🙏

[@neilmoore7194]

50 years later and he is still GREAT FUN!

[@lorenzo.t.674]

Is?

[@srvuk]

Love the breakdown of physiatrists and the 'standards' of society. O'Toole definitely had something in terms of insight.

[@somethingyousaid5059]

50 years ago. Just this afternoon I was thinking about how many celebrities (actors and actresses, singers, politicians, etc.) were alive 50 years ago that aren't alive now. A list of thousands no doubt.

[@CarlosVega-wl2pm]

This is immense. The manipulation we are accustomed to being deconstructed so many, many years ago... Blows my mind, and relieves me at the same time. Thanks Peter and Dick!

[@kinocappuccino]

More of these, please!! So much charm and insight. What a gem and window into another time when talk shows were actually substantial ...

[@Jackkenway]

My thoughts exactly, that's why I don't watch them anymore, I'd rather watch these old ones with Dick or Johnny.

[@DenkyManner]

Before these uploads I had no idea he suffered from acute shyness. It's amazing he's such a good speaker and raconteur despite feeling so nervous, it didn't shut him down like it does for many people.

[@jairosantanafigueroa4139]

Granted, I think the booze helped him to loose up, too hahaha

[@danielsalisbury245]

6:07 For one of the realest moments in American television interview history.

[@44032]

My favorite line from 'The Ruling Class': Lady Claire Gurney: How do you know you're God? Jack Arnold Alexander Tancred Gurney, 14th Earl of Gurney: Simple. When I pray to Him, I find I am talking to myself.

[@jazminratzlaff5357]

Love all his grand iconic legendary films and interviews, what a class regal larger than life enigma, gentleman, renaissance raconteur and multitalented creative actor. Adore what he’s wearing here, he looks cute and handsome with his glasses and beard and great interview by Dick Cavett. 💯 accurate description of the The Ruling Class, the most forward free thinking individuals are the ones that are labeled “mad”, “bonkers” and “crazy” by society and the shrinking and confining that is conforming and rules of how one should always live. This really shows Peter’s eloquence and thoughtful deep intellect. Also the camel riding part had me rolling on the floor laughing. 😍🥰😘🤩👑⚜️🌟✨💎😂🤣🥵👏🏻🤤📺🏆🫶🏻😆🇮🇪 ❤️ ♥️ 🎩

[@jonboz7585]

I loved his movie, “The Ruling Class.”

[@JD-jc8gp]

Peter took a long break from acting around this time and I believe he also tried quitting drinking because his health was suffering. The beard is a leftover from The Man of La Mancha. He must have just completed filming and the movie saw its release in December of that year.

[@kamuelalee]

Love to see the whole interview with O'Toole.

[@walterzielinski6654]

From 4:20 minutes into this video until ~ 9:45 Peter O'Toole compresses into 5 mins, 30 seconds everything what one would minimally want to obtain from a university education. On a philosophical level, I think. As a man of a certain age, being able to put the words he spoke then into their proper historical context, it strikes fear into one's heart to hear him say " ...in a world that is precariously sane". That was in 1972. From the painting entitled with the great questions of life, one is tempted to ask the last two: 'What are we?' and 'Where are going?'

[@tomcarl8021]

I was an altar boy as well. Occasionally, we'd ring the bell at moments when it shouldn't, and not ring it at moments when it should. It was hilarious and our priests got a kick out of it, actually. They were good guys and it was all in good fun. None of the boys I grew up with who became alter boys had aspirations to be priests, but we did it for two reasons: 1) Since church was so stultifyingly boring, we found that if we were given tasks as altar boys and actually put to work, mass went by quicker than if we were sitting in a pew with the parishioners. We didn't suffer that awful feeling of wanting to sleep because we had to be alert to perform the tasks at hand. 2) We found our parents, particularly our mothers, were so proud of us for volunteering to be altar boys. If we were getting bad grades in school, or we were often mischievous in class and misbehaved, the fact we were volunteer altar boys made us look good in adults eyes. Adults would think 'Well, little Johnny is a class clown and gets bad grades, but he's an altar boy so how bad can he be"?

[@mikephalen3162]

The best part of being an altar boy was being able to sit on the altar, cooled by fans, while the parishioners sweltered in the packed pews in July.

[@iggyspirit]

The world has really gotten poorer without him...

[@Jackkenway]

These 13 mins, just these 13 mins have more substance and interesting ideas than any talk show has these days, that's sad.

[@dixonpinfold2582]

With hair and beard fitted out, as it were, for the role he was then in, how ordinary he looks! It shouldn't be amazing, but it is. Also amazing: a mere month earlier, he was still in his 30s!

[@ontologicallysteve7765]

9:25 So poignant. Relevant beyond belief!

[@boxfox2945]

Interesting, after watching him in phantoms'

[@britpackdog4545]

You forget he was young once I'm so used to seeing him older and more pickled

[@Billkwando]

Yeah but here he looks like he'\s styled for the role of Satan or something. If you compare him in LoA and Creator, for example he's not much different, other than hair color and a few wrinkles. This was like a Madonna-style image change, LOL.

[@Billkwando]

Seasoned _and_ pickled!

[@starsparkle999]

@@Billkwando Rather than th "role of Satan" he was still styled for Man of La Mancha which came out in in December of that year of this interview. Of course I loved him in Lawrence of Arabia, but also Goodbye Mr. Chips was excellent too.

[@Billkwando]

@@starsparkle999 Thanks for filling in the background info!! :)

[@KJ-xc6qs]

Alter boys assist the priest.🔔✝⛪

[@lorenzoblum868]

The altar boy may alter boy. Not the opposite.

[@krishnan-resurrection714]

..Is it people then were cleverer ..or people now are stupider ? !!!

[@thisbandreallystix]

I think its indubitably both, and more's the pity.

[@dylanj.wadham5103]

"Clipeen" he says.

[@Every-picture-tells-a-story]

Father O’Toole God….

[@Ciara1594]

According to his ex wife Sian Phillips, he gave up drinking (after he nearly died from an illness resulting from his years of heavy drinking) and substituted pot instead. Which made him benign but boring. I don't find him boring. 🤷

[@jezebeljones659]

Batty as a moorhen, he was.

[@ljbasgall]

Is hi beard for his role in Man of La Mancha?

[@ianbauer4703]

I believe you're right. The film was filmed that year -- early 1972 -- and released that December.

[@NxDoyle]

*Altar

[@kilroy2517]

"Alter boy"? Education - what is it for?

[@andreasmodugno]

ALTAR boy...

[@paulhicks3595]

Possibly ‘altar ‘ boy.

[@akrenwinkle]

Alter? Like the kids post: SMH.

[@QuadMochaMatti]

Yeah, they've been altered for life, after the skeezy priests diddled them.

[@ianbauer4703]

Alternate Boys?

[@akrenwinkle]

@@ianbauer4703 Alter egos?

[@akrenwinkle]

@@starsparkle999 Exactly what nation do you think the purveyors of the Dick Cavett Channel come from and live in, and what is their primary language? It was they who didn't know alter from altar, not the people watching and commenting. Now I'll judge you: I cannot possibly be the first to notice you're self-righteous, self-serving, and insufferable, the lady at Whole Foods whom her acquaintances pretend not to see, then move along quickly.

[@CASTSTONE]

Cavett really was a terrible interviewer. Lucky his guests werew great.

[@lorenzoblum868]

So you say. Not everyone agrees....

[@CASTSTONE]

@@lorenzoblum868 Most people with half a brain would agree. I've seen enough of his interviews to form a valid opinion. He only occasionally asks good questions, he can't pick up a conversation, he's awkward and cringy (not in a good way like Letterman or Conan) and his attempts to plug himself can be excruciating to watch. He made me appreciate self-deprecation in talk show hosts.

[@lorenzoblum868]

@@CASTSTONE the main difference between you and me so far is that I did NOT insult you. Says enough. Goodbye.

[@2flyabove]

I think Cavett was a great interviewer. Doesn't interrupt, listens, good questions... down to earth....

[@zakhobbsmusic]

@@CASTSTONE He is somewhat awkward, BUT, actors and other creative types love to be able to talk freely while feeling comfortable and that's exactly what Cavett did that makes his interviews so great

[@salvatorecollin73]

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