During the filming of the Ali/Frazier fight scene in "American Gangster" filmed at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island , N.Y., I was hired as an extra to play a gangster. I was originally seated alongside Jon Polito but then director Ridley Scott moved me one row up to sit in the same row as Denzel Washington. Sitting behind me were Mr. Polito and Armand Assante. The protocol is that extras do not engage in conversation with the actors unless invited to do so. Mr. Polito was extremely engaging, and at one point, I turned around with a serious gangster look on my face, pointed at him and said, "I have a bone to pick with you!" He suddenly looked concerned and asked what it was. Recalling this great scene with him and Dustin Hoffman I replied, "I still haven't forgotten how you treated Willy Loman!" Mr. Polito exploded in laughter. "Did you like it?" he asked. "It was the best "Howard" I ever saw" I responded to his great delight. It was an interesting shoot, and I now recount to friends as family how I twice took personal direction from Ridley Scott. The first was to move my seat; the second was even more personal: "Would the gentleman with the white hair please move slightly to the right; you are blocking Mr. Washington." 🙃 R.I.P. Mr. Polito, you were an amazing actor and true gentleman.
Yup, and the smoke/mirrors they use: " you need a rest", "come back in a few weeks and we'll talk"...Will never happen, once you walk out that office you're old news that will never come back
This is for rent or you can buy it. What a great cast...Stephen Lang, John Malcovich, Kate Reid, Charles Durning...and a great set and interpretation...Hoffman is terrific and very new in his take.
Howard is my favorite character in this movie. He has a big heart but, like everyone else, he's all caught up preserving his empire. Dear entrepreneurs, your empire isn't everything. People may come and go but the world is small enough for souls to haunt you back.
@@patriceaqa288 I agree. Your niceness is nothing if you can't show up your true character. My cousins are successful agency people and show plenty of goodwill giving gifts, but they're like Howard when it comes to dealing with relationship problems.
@@joeridgechua I think given, from my understanding of the play (having watched it 50 damn times plus with teens flirting and using laser pens the whole time) that he was legitimately in a position to help Willie here? The firm was doing well, and it's essentially called the 'babe ruth' position in America, whereby someone who has given their life to something permanently becomes, however small, a part of that company. Even if he lost initially on an overall financial scale he would've saved Lomans' life.
This shows how cruel businesses can be. He worked his whole life for this company and they couldn't let him have a few years at home with his wife. That is what it's come down too. I hate to make this political but without some regulations on businesses it would be even worse.
Howard is terrible it really shows you how society can easily replace Someone who they don’t see as valuable anymore as well he said “ you can’t eat the orange, and throw The peel away- man isn’t a piece of fruit”. Death of a salesman is truly a piece of art.
Creating believable performances in Death of a Salesman clip The director of “Death of a Salesman” uses pacing and dialogue very effectively to create a sense of tension, drama and relatability. Looking at the second clip, one cannot help but try to project himself as if he were in the shoes of the Salesman character. The urgency in his mannerisms is very effectively expressed by the actor, and the directorial decision to prolong the interaction makes his distress all the more relatable. For several very long minutes since the start of their interaction, the boss continuously avoids the real topic of conversation. That immediately establishes the character's relationship and respective position. The salesman makes multiple attempts to get to the bottom of what is on his mind, but his boss would rather not hear it. Devoting several minutes to that interaction alone had resulted in establishing character and creating emotional tension. From that point on, the Salesman basically uses every trick from his professional experience to convince his boss to let him work from the offices. While doing so, the audience learns a great deal more about the main character. He starts by appealing to emotion by invoking his ties to his bosses father, he goes on to claim he suggested the name surname ‘Howard’ to the boss's father when he was naming him as a child. Then, he tries telling an anecdote that is meant to reflect his experience and values: he tells of an old Salesman that manages to make his living by selling merchandise across thirty four states by simply phoning up his clients. He claims that this character became his hero because “[he] realized that selling was the greatest career that a man could want. Because what could be more satisfying… [than being able to] pick up a phone and be remembered and loved by so many people?” For a brief second this long stream of dialogue seemed to have a profound effect on the stubborn employer, but all to no avail. Again, the director is creating sympathy towards the salesman by showing the extent of effort he puts into the negotiation. He may have not managed to move his boss, but an audience watching such an interaction from the side is guaranteed to feel something for the pleading man. Then, the directors makes another interesting creative decision. He gives the main character an opportunity to let out and express the emotional turmoil he is going through by making the boss step out of the room for a moment. This expression comes about both directly, by the salesman stating “[I can’t believe that] I yelled at him”; and also indirectly, by having the salesman mess up his bosses favorite sound recording machine. All these various implicit and explicit interactions serve to create dimension for both characters. They also create emotional tension which is amplified by the increased relatability of the two men, and proper pacing ties it all together. The emotional impact of every action is expressed by the proper reaction. And since the director was careful to give the characters time to properly express themselves from various emotional angles, the scene turned out to be extremely effective.
Willy tried his hardest to convince Howard to give him a local job with a guaranteed salary, but he failed (or didn't even try) to explain what he could do for the company and what value he could add working in the local showroom. One of the typical questions that a prospective employer asks in an interview is "Why should I hire you." If your answer is about your personal needs and not what you can do for the employer, that kills your chance of being selected. Willy emphasized his own needs and his perception of the company's obligation to him. not how he could benefit the company. He failed to "sell himself".
@@simplock Sorry to hear it! Willy is such a hilariously repulsive character that we should take at least some pleasure to see his failures - think Wile E. Coyote or The Wet (Sticky) Bandits.
During the filming of the Ali/Frazier fight scene in "American Gangster" filmed at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island , N.Y., I was hired as an extra to play a gangster. I was originally seated alongside Jon Polito but then director Ridley Scott moved me one row up to sit in the same row as Denzel Washington. Sitting behind me were Mr. Polito and Armand Assante. The protocol is that extras do not engage in conversation with the actors unless invited to do so. Mr. Polito was extremely engaging, and at one point, I turned around with a serious gangster look on my face, pointed at him and said, "I have a bone to pick with you!" He suddenly looked concerned and asked what it was. Recalling this great scene with him and Dustin Hoffman I replied, "I still haven't forgotten how you treated Willy Loman!" Mr. Polito exploded in laughter. "Did you like it?" he asked. "It was the best "Howard" I ever saw" I responded to his great delight. It was an interesting shoot, and I now recount to friends as family how I twice took personal direction from Ridley Scott. The first was to move my seat; the second was even more personal: "Would the gentleman with the white hair please move slightly to the right; you are blocking Mr. Washington." 🙃 R.I.P. Mr. Polito, you were an amazing actor and true gentleman.
DEFINO!!!!
Unfortunately, scenes like this play out for real every day. Corporations and big business place no value in loyal employees. I felt his pain.
Yup, and the smoke/mirrors they use: " you need a rest", "come back in a few weeks and we'll talk"...Will never happen, once you walk out that office you're old news that will never come back
Such a sad scene, almost made me tear up.
This is for rent or you can buy it.
What a great cast...Stephen Lang, John Malcovich, Kate Reid, Charles Durning...and a great set and interpretation...Hoffman is terrific and very new in his take.
Dustin Hoffman is a magician I tell ya. What fluidity, projection, and range. Hands down top 10 best actors to ever do it.
Aside from the fact that he always walks as if he has a stick up his ass.
Howard is my favorite character in this movie. He has a big heart but, like everyone else, he's all caught up preserving his empire.
Dear entrepreneurs, your empire isn't everything. People may come and go but the world is small enough for souls to haunt you back.
is he really such a 'nice'man though? I think he could've helped Willie out more than he did.
@@patriceaqa288 I agree. Your niceness is nothing if you can't show up your true character. My cousins are successful agency people and show plenty of goodwill giving gifts, but they're like Howard when it comes to dealing with relationship problems.
@@joeridgechua I think given, from my understanding of the play (having watched it 50 damn times plus with teens flirting and using laser pens the whole time) that he was legitimately in a position to help Willie here? The firm was doing well, and it's essentially called the 'babe ruth' position in America, whereby someone who has given their life to something permanently becomes, however small, a part of that company. Even if he lost initially on an overall financial scale he would've saved Lomans' life.
He carried Willie on salary for a good while. A business is not a charity. Plus he was offered a job that he turned down.
@@Murray9452 i actually agree. My opinion has changed pver the last 2 yrs. I'm starting to favor capitalism.
This shows how cruel businesses can be. He worked his whole life for this company and they couldn't let him have a few years at home with his wife. That is what it's come down too. I hate to make this political but without some regulations on businesses it would be even worse.
I have to learn this hole scene for my exam in an few weeks with their accents as well xxx
How did it go in the end?
Adoration, sentiment, adulation , so sad that he never got it but it is also sad that he even wanted it
master class , respect guys
6:14 My god the acting...
He's the modern day King Lear. Now he's down to forty dollars a week.
rip jon polito great actor
Howard is terrible it really shows you how society can easily replace Someone who they don’t see as valuable anymore as well he said “ you can’t eat the orange, and throw The peel away- man isn’t a piece of fruit”.
Death of a salesman is truly a piece of art.
Wow doesnt even sound like Jon Polito. great actor, Miller Crossing in particular
Miller's X'ing is all I know of Jon Polito until now and man! He is great. Great as Johnny Casper and great here too
Hoffman is Willie. He’s an icon.
I remember him from "Crime Story." Also Stephen Lang.
A must watch TV series that sadly, was cancelled long before it was supposed to end.
john polito looks totally different from his coen brothers movie roles. slimmer and clean-shaven
6:14 I'M TAUUUUULKING ABOUT YA FATHA!
WHICH year? Thanks.
1985
Creating believable performances in Death of a Salesman clip
The director of “Death of a Salesman” uses pacing and dialogue very effectively to create a sense of tension, drama and relatability. Looking at the second clip, one cannot help but try to project himself as if he were in the shoes of the Salesman character. The urgency in his mannerisms is very effectively expressed by the actor, and the directorial decision to prolong the interaction makes his distress all the more relatable. For several very long minutes since the start of their interaction, the boss continuously avoids the real topic of conversation. That immediately establishes the character's relationship and respective position. The salesman makes multiple attempts to get to the bottom of what is on his mind, but his boss would rather not hear it. Devoting several minutes to that interaction alone had resulted in establishing character and creating emotional tension.
From that point on, the Salesman basically uses every trick from his professional experience to convince his boss to let him work from the offices. While doing so, the audience learns a great deal more about the main character. He starts by appealing to emotion by invoking his ties to his bosses father, he goes on to claim he suggested the name surname ‘Howard’ to the boss's father when he was naming him as a child. Then, he tries telling an anecdote that is meant to reflect his experience and values: he tells of an old Salesman that manages to make his living by selling merchandise across thirty four states by simply phoning up his clients. He claims that this character became his hero because “[he] realized that selling was the greatest career that a man could want. Because what could be more satisfying… [than being able to] pick up a phone and be remembered and loved by so many people?” For a brief second this long stream of dialogue seemed to have a profound effect on the stubborn employer, but all to no avail. Again, the director is creating sympathy towards the salesman by showing the extent of effort he puts into the negotiation. He may have not managed to move his boss, but an audience watching such an interaction from the side is guaranteed to feel something for the pleading man.
Then, the directors makes another interesting creative decision. He gives the main character an opportunity to let out and express the emotional turmoil he is going through by making the boss step out of the room for a moment. This expression comes about both directly, by the salesman stating “[I can’t believe that] I yelled at him”; and also indirectly, by having the salesman mess up his bosses favorite sound recording machine. All these various implicit and explicit interactions serve to create dimension for both characters. They also create emotional tension which is amplified by the increased relatability of the two men, and proper pacing ties it all together.
The emotional impact of every action is expressed by the proper reaction. And since the director was careful to give the characters time to properly express themselves from various emotional angles, the scene turned out to be extremely effective.
Willy tried his hardest to convince Howard to give him a local job with a guaranteed salary, but he failed (or didn't even try) to explain what he could do for the company and what value he could add working in the local showroom. One of the typical questions that a prospective employer asks in an interview is "Why should I hire you." If your answer is about your personal needs and not what you can do for the employer, that kills your chance of being selected. Willy emphasized his own needs and his perception of the company's obligation to him. not how he could benefit the company. He failed to "sell himself".
Jack Lemon
You’d have to have a heart of stone to watch this without laughing.
I found the scene rather depressing.
@@simplock Sorry to hear it! Willy is such a hilariously repulsive character that we should take at least some pleasure to see his failures - think Wile E. Coyote or The Wet (Sticky) Bandits.
@@ConcealedCarrier Your comment is repulsive.
@@ConcealedCarrierRepulsive ? Why repulsive ?
miller was a filthy communist. the play while brilliant is just propaganda