Malcolm McDowell comments on four of his films.
Hugo Pool
"The ring dang do. That is quite an oddball of stuff, but I wasn't allowed to use any of the good stuff because they are showing the films. Actually I love Hugo Pool, I like all those film bits. It's funny how the bastard children get away."
How did you get cast for Fairie Tale Theater?
"I was married to Mary Steenburgeon we were asked as a couple to do one of those Fairie Tale Theaters that Shelly Duvall was producing, Greg Clifford was a friend of mine from years ago, back when he worked with Robert Altman. He asked if we would do this Little Red, Mrs. 'ood. Little red riding hood, as we had a baby girl, I don't think our son had arrived yet. So we of course jumped at it. A very nice part for Mary and a great part for me. It was brilliantly written and they made me a big rubber face which I instantly discarded. I said I'll make 'em believe the wolf or else you wouldn't know who the hell it is if I where this thing. I immediately got rid of that. Also you couldn't move your face, you can't express. I've got a very rubberized face anyway as many critics have often told me. So that was fun to do, it was great fun. I remember adlibbing few bits here and there. I remember saying to the poor actress who was playing grandma. I looked at her and went, "Hey! You're no oil paintin' are ya?" And she came up to me afterwards and said, "What did you mean by that?" I went, "Oh, I don't know. I was just in character." She said, "well, what does it mean 'you're no oil painting'?" I went, "Well, it means just that you are quite...you know - homely, but you're not really." She said, "Well, that's awfully rude." I said, "Well, it's not personal." My kids liked it anyway, they loved it."
Tank Girl
"Tank Girl was one of those things that missed beautifully. I mean it was a terrific (idea), yeah sort of. There are lots of fans of the comic book who loved it. If Tank Girl's your thing, hey - you'll love anything they throw up there basically. Anyway, I did think this was one really good scene. It was kind of fun sticking the guy with the thing draining the water. That was my ad lib, which I have to say is the only good line in it, 'Lovely.'"
My Life So Far
"I love that film, of course it died the death. Another one that died the death. Hugh Hudson, I thought he was on splendid form, it was a wonderful cast - Colin firth, who I like very much, is a very good actor, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Rosemary Harris was wonderful. A great cast. Irene Jacob who played my exotic French Fiancée. That was fun, it was great. We shot it in Scotland, but unfortunately it was the time before I took I up golf. I was staring at these idiots going around St. Andrews going, "What the hell do you want to waste time for?" Now of course now I'd give anything to play it."
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