The identical yr that Tom Cruise starred within the authentic Prime Gun he co-starred alongside the good Paul Newman in Martin Scorsese’s underrated gem The Shade of Cash. The film about pool sharks would win Paul Newman a long-overdue Academy Award, however it might even be a studying expertise for Tom Cruise, who acquired to be taught one thing fairly necessary on the toes of the grasp.
A clip from The Graham Norton Present just a few years in the past just lately went viral on YouTube which incorporates Cruise recounting a few of his time spent taking pictures The Shade of Cash. The issue got here when Cruise selected his wardrobe for a specific scene when it was a lot hotter than it might be when the scene was truly shot. Cruise defined…
We’re taking pictures The Shade of Cash in Chicago… I used to be there and I attempted my wardrobe on in the summertime, and I used to be like ‘I’m going to have a leather-based jacket, t-shirt. I’m going to have my hair blown again. It’s assured as much as 90 miles an hour. And there I’m in January and I’m taking pictures this scene…I’m telling you it’s so chilly I can’t even converse.
As a fan of The Shade of Cash, which was truly a decades-later sequel to a different nice movie, The Hustler from 1961, I do know the scene very nicely. Cruise’s character Vincent and Eddie Felson, in one in every of Paul Newman’s finest roles, have had an argument, Cruise is strolling down the streets of Chicago in January, and at evening. Eddie drives alongside attempting to persuade Vincent to settle down and get within the automobile.
I had by no means actually thought of how chilly Cruise most likely was whereas filming this scene. The snow on the bottom is apparent. It needs to be freezing. Apparently Cruise needed to stand close to heaters between takes to heat up, however Cruise then realized he was the one one struggling within the shot, as Newman was a lot hotter. He continued…
I’ve this scene the place he’s within the automobile and I’m subsequent to him. I look in. I’m like ‘What?’ He had the nice and cozy coat. He had the heater in there… He simply cherished the truth that he’s driving this automobile and he’s acquired the electrical heater, the nice and cozy coat, and I’m within the t-shirt. And he checked out me. He’s like ‘T-shirt.’ Stated, ‘You tried your wardrobe on in the summertime, didn’t you?’ ‘Sure sir, I did.’ He’s like, ‘Watch and be taught, child. Watch and be taught’ I by no means forgot it.
Paul Newman was actually one of many greats. He had the kind of Hollywood profession that the majority can solely dream of, and he clearly discovered just a few issues alongside the best way. Cruise says he now at all times pays consideration to not simply the place, however when his motion pictures will likely be filmed so he’s higher ready for the climate. And Cruise has now change into the trainer for a lot of younger actors. No phrase what number of of them have chosen the improper wardrobe.