Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/23723
I said, “Sir, why all this?” And he said, “You’re the best recruiter we’ve ever had!” [shared laughter] KH: Let me cover a little SAG stuff with you. I know you were at the mic, I think it was 1960, Reagan still president of Screen Actors Guild, and, if you recall, addressed some major questions. And it meant a lot that you were up there speaking for members of the union. I’ve heard this mostly from [former SAG President] William Schallert. EB: Bill Schallert, I tell you, he was prejudiced anyway. He and I loved each other! And he always said nice things about me. KH: And there were a group of SAG members and you were head of it. And they were major stars, mostly from television, with their own series…Do you have any recollections from your board service? I know it was about a three-year period. EB: I know I served on the Screen Actors Guild Board until I started my own production thing. Ten I had to leave because of the fact that you can’t do both. It was a wonderful experience… And I was just as happy when I started up my own business and could get out. I felt that there were times when Screen Actors Guild was all for the actor, which was good, and they still are, but there were some people in there that just didn’t get along with each other. It was kind of push and pull, you know, like they have Republicans and Democrats today. But it all straightened out and, hey, we got you, God bless you. KH: We’ve smoothed some things out… EB: I know you did! KH: How ’bout directors you worked with? You worked with so many really great and interesting directors. EB: Oh marvelous. I worked with Bob Aldrich. And Mike Curtiz, oh what a DVR ALERT In recognition of his Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, Turner Classic Movies pays tribute to Ernest Borgnine on SATURDAY, JANUARY 29 (all times Eastern). 54 SCREEN ACTOR - Fall/Winter 2010 SAG.org Bad Day at Black Rock, 1955 (8 p.m.) wonderful man he was. And there were so many others…But there was one that didn’t like me too much. [Alfred Hitchcock] had a big sign up at the studio that said “Te Birds is Coming!” We were making McHale’s Navy there, so I made a sign, “McHale’s Navy are Here!” and I put it on his Rolls Royce and he didn’t like that too much. KH: [laughs] In your long and wonderful career one of the things that struck me were the number of just great actors that you worked with. One right “I had no idea what an actor was, what he did, how he did it and everything else… But I wanted to be an actor and the rest is history.” aſter the other. You mentioned Vera Cruz—that’s Lancaster and Cooper. Not to mention From Here to Eternity, Bad Day at Black Rock and we can go on and on. EB: Bill Holden comes to mind right away. He was a wonderful actor. And Ben Johnson. And I could say a thousand names right now if I could remember half of them…Gary Cooper. I remember one day we both had a late call. And they sent the car for Gary and they said you can ride in the same car, so I was going to sit up front and Gary says, “No, no, no.” He said, “Come back here with me.” So I sat in the back with him. And he looked at me and he said, “You’re doing The Dirty Dozen, 1967 (9:30 p.m.) Private Screenings: Ernest Borgnine, 2009 (12:15 a.m.) all right, aren’t you?” And I said, “Why, I don’t know what you mean, Sir, but I guess I am. I’m working.” He said, “I sure wish I could act like you.” And I looked at him and I said, “But Sir, you have two Academy Awards!” He said, “I got ’em for saying, ‘Yep.’” [shared laughter] But you know something? Tis man in my estimation was one of the finest actors I ever worked with. I’ll tell you why: He listened and he acted in kind. KH: You’re not one to pontificate, but I wonder if you had some words of wisdom for me, for us. Te world is changing before our eyes so quickly, but trying to hold on to that kernel of actors helping out actors… EB: You know, Ken, I’ll tell you something, we live in a day where we have independent producers. And some independent producers are not worried about actors. Tey’re worried about what product they can get out in a hurry and make a lot of money. Unfortunately, there are an awful lot of actors that are not working, simply because there’s no call for them. But I think if we started out with producers being a little more intelligent about the kind of pictures that they’re making and using the kind of actors that should be working as actors—someone who’s really S-A-G. If only producers and actors got together and said, “Hey, listen, let’s do some good stuff. It’s going to take an extra penny, but by golly, let’s do it!” KH: Well said. Ernie, you’ve been a member of Screen Actors Guild, and a vibrant one and a famous one for 60 years now. And we are so honored to be able to bestow the Life Achievement Award on you from Screen Actors Guild this coming January. And it’s been a pleasure and a great honor for me to sit here and shoot the breeze with you for awhile. EB: Yeah, it’s a pleasure. My pleasure, believe me. Marty, 1955 (1:15 a.m.) The Wild Bunch, 1969 (3 a.m.)