#a disproportionate reaction to a creative conflict and probably (like he said) about a culmination of things not just that

[burtlancster]

apparently all mike wallace had to do to get him to answer this question was play truth or consequences

#there’s more than one story in the buford biog about him losing his temper and then breaking down afterward #bc he was upset with himself and also confused about why he always exploded like he did #but this interview was in 1948. he was aware that it was a problem from the beginning #it’s his irish temper + the emotional inheritance from his mother #but also i think he was massively insecure about certain things #like when they were filming ssos (from tony curtis’ memoir american prince) sandy mackendrick wanted burt to #slide down the booth in jj's first scene so falco could sit next to him and therefore it could be more intimate but #burt was adamant that jj hunsecker wouldn't slide down for anyone nor would he let himself be boxed in at a table without an escape route #but sandy had his own vision so they butted heads and the second sandy raised his voice burt upended a table #a disproportionate reaction to a creative conflict and probably (like he said) about a culmination of things not just that #financial liability and the fact that odets was writing scenes they were filming hours beforehand for one #does he want the push back bc the conflict breeds better ideas and he just doesn't know how big and scary he is? so it comes off worse than #what he intended? #or is he exploding bc he's sensitive about sharing his creative ideas and doesn’t want to be judged harshly #probably a combination of creative conflict and resolution being a part of his process and needing to feel like the bestest boy #but hes so fucking hard to pin down bc there's examples that contradict all of this #photoplay magazine #1948 #1940s #clipping #i should just post this whole q&a