Ethan Hawke has recalled his amazement at seeing the late Robin Williams deviate from the script during the making of Dead Poets Society.
Robin Williams didn’t follow the script in Dead Poets Society.
The late Hollywood star led the cast of the 1989 coming-of-age drama as English teacher John Keating and Ethan Hawke – who was a teenager when playing student Todd Anderson – has recalled the challenges director Peter Weir faced as Williams had no qualms about deviating from the screenplay.
In a career retrospective interview with Vanity Fair, Ethan said: “Robin is a comic genius. But dramatic acting was still new to Robin at that time.
“And watching that relationship like, in the room — I was four feet away while they’re talking about performance — and that was something you don’t un-see. Robin Williams didn’t do the script, and I didn’t know you could do that. If he had an idea, he just did it. He didn’t ask permission. And that was a new door that was opened to my brain, that you could play like that.”
Ethan was particular impressed by the way Robin – who took his own life in 2014 – and Weir collaborated despite their contrasting methods of working.
The 54-year-old star said: “They worked with each other. That’s exciting — that’s when you get at the stuff of what great collaboration can do.
“You don’t have to be the same — you don’t have to hate somebody for being different than you are. And then the collective imagination can become very, very powerful, because the movie becomes bigger that one person’s point of view. it’s containing multiple perspectives.”
Ethan has linked up with director Richard Linklater once again on his new movie Blue Moon – in which he plays tormented Broadway lyricist Lorenz Hart – and he was very grateful for the filmmaker’s support.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz at the picture’s BFI London Film Festival premiere earlier this month, he said: “This movie was almost like playing a character who is walking in front of a firing squad and can’t stop talking. He is absolutely terrified that the world is leaving him behind.
“It’s such a complex part and I don’t think I could have done it without Richard. It’s his passion, his intelligence, his grace and his care. That’s how you do it.”
Blue Moon follows Hart in the grip of alcoholism and depression and Hawke explained that he did not feel the need to explore “addiction” on the big screen but found the “beautifully written” picture impossible to turn down.
He said: “Life has taught me about addiction and artistry, I didn’t need this part. It’s a beautifully written piece. Exploring Larry makes you think about a lot.”
However, the Reality Bites star was relieved to wrap filming on the project.
Ethan said: “Highlight day on set? Wrap! It was so exhausting playing this part and trying to get inside this world. I remember when we wrapped I felt amazing.”
Robin Williams ignored Dead Poets Society script
