ROD STEIGER, 1925 - 2002
From the docks of New York to the rural back roads of Mississippi to the war torn Russian steppes, Rod Steiger reveled in creating some of the most overpowering and difficult men on the screen. He could be a total scoundrel, embodying Machiavelli's idiom that "it's better to be feared than loved" in the movies. But as an actor he refused to be typecast and his wide range included characters who were secretly tormented (The Pawnbroker, 1965) or loners (Run of the Arrow, 1965) or eccentrics (The Loved One, 1965).
Along with Marlon Brando, Steiger helped bring the 'Method School' from the Group Theater and Actors Studio in New York to the screens of Hollywood. The Method technique, taught by Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg, insisted on complete immersion into the character's psyche and resulted in intense, dramatic performances and performers. Steiger made his first significant screen appearance as Brando's older brother in On the Waterfront (1954). Their climatic scene together in a taxicab is one of the great moments in American cinema.
It was a short leap from playing a crooked lawyer in On the Waterfront to playing the shady boxing promoter in The Harder They Fall (1956). Based on the tragic tale of true-life fighter Primo Carnera, The Harder They Fall details the corruption behind the scenes of professional boxing bouts. Steiger is a fight manager named Nick Benko who enlists newspaperman Eddie Willis (Humphrey Bogart in his final screen appearance) to drum up publicity for a fixed prizefight. While the boxing scenes were often brutally realistic, the most powerful dramatic moments took place between Steiger and Bogart on the sidelines.
As mob boss Al Capone (1959), Steiger got to play another man you loved to hate. He vividly depicted the criminal from his swaggering early days to his pathetic demise from syphilis. In Doctor Zhivago (1965), Steiger was the only American in the international cast, playing the hateful and perverse Komarovsky. During the production of Dr. Zhivago, Steiger often found himself at odds with director David Lean. Schooled in the British tradition, Lean valued the integrity of the script and demanded that actors remain faithful to the script. Steiger, on the other hand, relied on improvisation and spontaneity. When kissing the lovely Lara (played by Julie Christie), Steiger jammed his tongue into Christie's mouth to produce the desired reaction - disgust. It worked! While it might not have been Lean's approach, it brought a grittier edge to the prestige production and made Komarovsky is a detestable but truly memorable figure.
Steiger dared audiences to dislike him. As the smalltown southern Sheriff Gillespie in In The Heat of the Night (1967), Steiger embodied all the prejudices and suspicions of a racist. When a black northern lawyer, played by Sidney Poitier, arrives on the crime scene, Gillespie is forced to recognize his fellow man as an equal despite skin color. Here, Steiger's character started as a bigot and developed into a better man. He finally claimed a Best Actor Academy Award for his performance as Sheriff Gillespie.
Steiger was an actor's actor. A chameleon who didn't think twice about diving into challenging roles that others would shy away from. In the Private Screenings interview he did with host Robert Osborne he admitted that Paul Muni was one of his idols because of his total immersion into his roles. Steiger said, "I believe actors are supposed to create different human beings." And Steiger showed us a rich and diverse cross section of them.
by Jeremy Geltzer & Jeff Stafford
Poolhall Junkies
Brief Synopsis
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Obsessed by the world of pool, Johnny could be one of the best. But his mentor and "trainer" Joe, a shady hustler who decides how and who Johnny plays, is holding him back from his dream. When the day finally comes, Johnny breaks from Joe. This leads to only one thing--violence. Joe is beaten up by
Cast & Crew
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Mars Callahan
Director
Jeff Gross
Performer
Michael Rosenbaum
Ernie Reyes Jr.
Michelle Ainge
Glenn Plummer
Film Details
Also Known As
Pool Hall Junkies, Pool Room Junkie
MPAA Rating
Genre
Drama
Sports
Thriller
Release Date
2003
Distribution Company
Gold Circle Releasing/Samuel Goldwyn Films
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 34m
Synopsis
Obsessed by the world of pool, Johnny could be one of the best. But his mentor and "trainer" Joe, a shady hustler who decides how and who Johnny plays, is holding him back from his dream. When the day finally comes, Johnny breaks from Joe. This leads to only one thing--violence. Joe is beaten up by some of Johnny's buddies as a sign to leave him alone, and with this final act of freedom Johnny leaves the world of pool-sharking. However, Joe is hell-bent on seeking revenge for the beating he took, and he soon finds a new protégé, Brad, who is just as good--if not better than Johnny. The two are pit against each other in a "race to nine" showdown that ends up in a high-stakes game of pool for large sums of money, respect, and more importantly--Johnny and his brother Danny's life.
Director
Mars Callahan
Director
Cast
Jeff Gross
Performer
Michael Rosenbaum
Ernie Reyes Jr.
Michelle Ainge
Glenn Plummer
Alison Eastwood
Jerry North
Peter Dobson
Michael J Aronin
Orien Richman
Mike Massey
Mars Callahan
Richard Portnow
Christopher Walken
Phillip Glasser
Kristina Santoro
Dimitrious Deslis
Chazz Palminteri
Anson Mount
Ricky Schroder
Bojesse Christopher
Robert Scott Mccloud
John-paul Salisbury
Chris Corso
Billy Lamb
Peter Mark Richman
Nathan Stevens
Shannon Engemann
Rod Steiger
Lissa Pallo
Mick E Jones
Stephen Book
Gino Dentie
Harry Lee
Crew
Aaron Alexander
Assistant Sound Editor
Michael Anthony
Assistant Sound Editor
Chris August
Foley Artist
Paul E Avery
Lighting Technician
Brian Baade
Property Master
Jasmine Bailey
Hair
Jasmine Bailey
Makeup
Roe Baker
Casting
Nick Barfuss
Hair
Nick Barfuss
Makeup
Billy Bates
Stunt Coordinator
Billy Bates
Unit Director
Diane Beam
Set Production Assistant
Karen Beninati
Producer
William Bergman
Song
Jonilyn Bissett
Accounting Assistant
Charles Blaker
Song
Chuck Borden
Stunt Double
Alex Boynton
Lighting Technician
Paul Brooks
Executive Producer
James Brown
Song Performer
James Brown
Song
Mike Browning
Best Boy Electric
Tim Bryson
Song
Mars Callahan
Screenplay
Andrew Casciato
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Andrew Casciato
Sound Effects Editor
Rachel Chabries
Assistant Camera
Shawn Chou
Assistant
Dan Christensen
Boom Operator
Chris Corso
Screenplay
Brad Costill
Driver
Tom Cox
Lighting Technician
Paul Crosby
Song
Jennifer Cusentino
Coordinator
Chris Dabaldo
Song
Maxim Dembow
Song
Maxim Dembow
Music
Maxim Dembow
Song Performer
Robin Dimaggio
Song
Robin Dimaggio
Song Performer
Robin Dimaggio
Music
Dave Dinnall
Song
John Carlo Dwyer
Song
James Ent
Caterer
Dave Erickson
Assistant Camera
Steven Erickson
Dialogue Editor
Steven Erickson
Adr Editor
Nathan Esplin
Driver
Judy Evers
Costume Supervisor
Samuel Fischer
Chief Lighting Technician
Samuel Fischer
Medic
Leigh French
Voice Casting
Terry Gaertner
Production Coordinator
Lenny Gall
Production Assistant
Effney Gardea
Driver
Joe Garland
Song
Peter Geoco
Sound Mixer
Carol Gillson
Co-Executive Producer
Richard Glasser
Music
Nick Groce
Production Assistant
Jeff Gross
Song
Jeff Gross
Song Performer
Jeff Gross
Music
Ilene Grossman-arciaga
Music Supervisor
Brady Hallogen
Titles And Opticals
Michael Hamm
Consultant
Juli Harrison
Set Costumer
Gerald Hartley
Sound Mixer
John Hermansen
Associate Producer
John Hermansen
Assistant Director
Sean Hewitt
Titles And Opticals
Kevin L Hiatt
Song
Jeremy Hoenack
Dialogue Editor
Jeremy Hoenack
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Jeremy Hoenack
Adr Editor
Jeremy Hoenack
Supervising Sound Editor
P C Irving
Song
Bill Jeffs
Driver
Ben Jensen
Stunt Double
Kate Jesse
Boom Operator
Jeff Johnson
Casting Director
Jessica Jordan
Script Supervisor
Dennis Jorgenson
Driver
Heather Joyce
Coordinator
Todd Kleitsch
Makeup
Dennis Kurumada
Steadicam Operator
Robert Laliberte
Production Designer
Nancy Lanham
Coproducer
R Scott Laoughran
Assistant Director
Robert Leblanc
Technical Advisor
Nicole Lee
Art Director
Dakota Lucas
Assistant Sound Editor
Rodd Mann
Assistant Location Manager
Paul H Maritsas
Sound Mixer
David Mastron
Post-Production Accountant
Catherine A. Mccabe
Assistant Director
Catrine Mcgregor
Casting Director
Darren Mclaughlin
Grip
Ron Mendelsohn
Song
David Julian Mendoza
Assistant Director
Glenn Miller
Song Performer
Linda L Miller
Unit Production Manager
Robert Morris
Director Of Photography
Don Muirhead
Steadicam Operator
Jeff Murray
Transportation Coordinator
Douglas Nelson
Craft Service
Vincent Newman
Producer
Scott Niemeyer
Co-Executive Producer
Joseph A Nittolo
Co-Executive Producer
Wayne Novotny
Song
James O'keefe
Driver
Jeffery Peterson
Caterer
Kristin Peterson
Costume Designer
Lamond Reynolds
Driver
Maria Ricatta
Sound
Kristina Santoro
Location Manager
Josey Sappington
Song
Charles Sargent
Grip
Rita Schrag
Titles And Opticals
Andrew Schrivner
Best Boy Grip
Edward Smith
Driver
W Sam Smith
Driver
Noah Southall
Adr Mixer
Seve Spracklen
Production Accountant
John Starks
Song
Jack Stewart
Assistant Camera
Jim Stewart
Titles And Opticals
Darcy Stilson
Craft Service
Nathan Stock
Boom Operator
Carol Stutz
Assistant Editor
Dana Swartout
Transportation Captain
Tracey-lee Taylor
Photography
Vincent Tolman
Set Production Assistant
James Tooley
Editor
Tucker Tooley
Producer
Alex Torres
Key Grip
Norm Waitt
Executive Producer
Dustin Ward
Production Assistant
Todd Warren
Stunt Double
Fred Wesley
Song
Louis Williams
Grip
Chuck Winston
Color Timer
Bill Withers
Song
Bill Withers
Song Performer
Carla Woodmansee
Extras Agent/Coordinator
Michael Worthen
Assistant Camera
Tomoaki Yamamoto
Loader
Yong Yun
Production Assistant
Yong Yun
Extras Agent/Coordinator
Travis Zariwny
Assistant Camera
Film Details
Also Known As
Pool Hall Junkies, Pool Room Junkie
MPAA Rating
Genre
Drama
Sports
Thriller
Release Date
2003
Distribution Company
Gold Circle Releasing/Samuel Goldwyn Films
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 34m
Articles
TCM Remembers - Rod Steiger
TCM Remembers - Rod Steiger
ROD STEIGER, 1925 - 2002
From the docks of New York to the rural back roads of Mississippi to the war torn Russian steppes, Rod Steiger reveled in creating some of the most overpowering and difficult men on the screen. He could be a total scoundrel, embodying Machiavelli's idiom that "it's better to be feared than loved" in the movies. But as an actor he refused to be typecast and his wide range included characters who were secretly tormented (The Pawnbroker, 1965) or loners (Run of the Arrow, 1965) or eccentrics (The Loved One, 1965).
Along with Marlon Brando, Steiger helped bring the 'Method School' from the Group Theater and Actors Studio in New York to the screens of Hollywood. The Method technique, taught by Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg, insisted on complete immersion into the character's psyche and resulted in intense, dramatic performances and performers. Steiger made his first significant screen appearance as Brando's older brother in On the Waterfront (1954). Their climatic scene together in a taxicab is one of the great moments in American cinema.
It was a short leap from playing a crooked lawyer in On the Waterfront to playing the shady boxing promoter in The Harder They Fall (1956). Based on the tragic tale of true-life fighter Primo Carnera, The Harder They Fall details the corruption behind the scenes of professional boxing bouts. Steiger is a fight manager named Nick Benko who enlists newspaperman Eddie Willis (Humphrey Bogart in his final screen appearance) to drum up publicity for a fixed prizefight. While the boxing scenes were often brutally realistic, the most powerful dramatic moments took place between Steiger and Bogart on the sidelines.
As mob boss Al Capone (1959), Steiger got to play another man you loved to hate. He vividly depicted the criminal from his swaggering early days to his pathetic demise from syphilis. In Doctor Zhivago (1965), Steiger was the only American in the international cast, playing the hateful and perverse Komarovsky. During the production of Dr. Zhivago, Steiger often found himself at odds with director David Lean. Schooled in the British tradition, Lean valued the integrity of the script and demanded that actors remain faithful to the script. Steiger, on the other hand, relied on improvisation and spontaneity. When kissing the lovely Lara (played by Julie Christie), Steiger jammed his tongue into Christie's mouth to produce the desired reaction - disgust. It worked! While it might not have been Lean's approach, it brought a grittier edge to the prestige production and made Komarovsky is a detestable but truly memorable figure.
Steiger dared audiences to dislike him. As the smalltown southern Sheriff Gillespie in In The Heat of the Night (1967), Steiger embodied all the prejudices and suspicions of a racist. When a black northern lawyer, played by Sidney Poitier, arrives on the crime scene, Gillespie is forced to recognize his fellow man as an equal despite skin color. Here, Steiger's character started as a bigot and developed into a better man. He finally claimed a Best Actor Academy Award for his performance as Sheriff Gillespie.
Steiger was an actor's actor. A chameleon who didn't think twice about diving into challenging roles that others would shy away from. In the Private Screenings interview he did with host Robert Osborne he admitted that Paul Muni was one of his idols because of his total immersion into his roles. Steiger said, "I believe actors are supposed to create different human beings." And Steiger showed us a rich and diverse cross section of them.
by Jeremy Geltzer & Jeff Stafford
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Expanded Release in United States March 21, 2003
Limited Release in United States February 28, 2003
Released in United States on Video August 26, 2003
Released in United States Winter February 28, 2003
Limited Release in United States February 28, 2003
Released in United States Winter February 28, 2003
Expanded Release in United States March 21, 2003
Released in United States on Video August 26, 2003
