Laura Dern helped Steven Spielberg get David Lynch in The Fabelmans
Laura Dern calls David Lynch's part as director John Ford in Spielberg's autobiographical drama "the greatest thing that ever happened."
Aux News laura dern
What does it take to bring two unique yet similarly revered titans of filmmaking together? Sometimes, just a little bit of Laura Dern. David Lynch’s recent cameo in Steven Spielberg’s autobiographical drama The Fablemans delighted audiences in theaters, on Twitter, and beyond. As it turns out, Dern was behind the legendary link-up, which she discussed during a sitdown with Michelle Williams as part of Variety’s Actors on Actors series.
Speaking to Williams, who plays Spielberg’s mother Mitzi in The Fablemans, Dern reveals that she had a hand in convincing Lynch to take on the role of director John Ford. Dern says that Spielberg sharing his desire to cast Lynch with her made her feel as if she had been invited into a “sacred space”— still, she wasn’t so sure Hollywood’s favorite weatherman would want to go on camera.
“I was like, ‘Oh, he’s not going to want to be in a movie, I don’t think,’” Dern recalls. “But Steven was so determined and asked if I would help with an invitation. And they spoke, and then I luckily became a bit of a mediator of promising David he could do it. And I even got to read the scenes with him and talk about his wardrobe and just listen to the process once he agreed to do it. David worships John Ford like Steven does.”
As it happens, Speilberg’s adoration for Lynch work was mutual, and Dern shares that Lynch himself illuminated some of his connection with Spielberg in a conversation that made her “laugh so hard.” By Dern’s own admission, it’s a story she hasn’t even told Spielberg yet.
“I said [to Lynch], ‘I’ve always wanted you [and Spielberg] to be friends. You remind me of each other in such completely different ways,’” Dern says. “And David said, ‘It’s true. We have this thing in common. We have a vision and we have to make our vision. Steven goes out there and he has an idea, and a million people have that same love of that vision.’ And he goes, ‘It’s the same with me. I have a vision and I make it—and hundreds of people have that.’”
10 Comments
I had heard of the cameo but by the time I saw the movie I had forgotten what that cameo was, when Ford shows up I was like “Damn, this is familiar, is that Tom Waits, or…”And then he opens his mouth. Magic. Good for her.
It was so funny, the endless takes of Ford lighting the cigar felt like Spielberg throwing his own Lynchian flourish.
Speaking to Williams, who plays Spielberg’s mother Mitzi in The FablemansObviously the character is a stand-in for his mother, but Spielberg’s mother’s name is Leah; Williams plays Sammy Fabelman’s mother Mitzi. I finally got around to this movie the other day; I thought it was very striking how Lynch’s Ford is dressed like Quint in Jaws. Google Images shows Ford dressed kinda like that in later years, but the khaki hat and army jacket seemed to intentionally evoke Quint.
I’m curious to see when they’ll make the correction…
It’s almost exactly this outfit, IIRC from the movie that I saw three weeks ago. A friend sent me this link after we both saw the film. I love this interview.
Ever since that scene, I can’t stop noticing where the horizon is in every movie I watch.
That’s been a running joke at my job for a couple weeks now.
Watch Ford’s The Searchers and My Darling Clementine and bask in the genius of the exterior compositions
Waaah. I want UNRECORDED NIGHT so bad. That stack of scripts he had a few years ago ready to go! So tantalizing.
And it’s the best part of the whole movie