My guest, Candy Clark, and I discuss:
- Candy Clark: Actress known for her role in American Graffiti
- Academy Award Nominee: Candy Clark received a nomination for her role in American Graffiti
- Stories about Co-Stars: Candy shares some amazing stories about Ron Howard, Richard Dryfuss, George Lucas, Cindy Williams, Bo Hopkins, and Charles Martin Smith
- More American Graffiti: Discussion about the sequel to American Graffiti
- Idea for Another Sequel: Candy and host brainstorm an idea for another sequel to American Graffiti
- Memories of David Bowie: Candy shares some memories of David Bowie from their movie The Man Who Fell to Earth
You’re going to love my conversation with Candy Clark
Hashtag Fun: Jeff dives into recent trends and reads some of his favorite tweets from trending hashtags. The hashtag featured in this episode is #AutomobileAMovieQuote
Social Media Tip: Jeff goes on and on about the reply limiting feature on Twitter
Featured on the show:
Hashtag Game:
#AutomobileAMovieQuote
Hosted by:
Tweets featured on the show:
- https://twitter.com/BadBoxArtMarc/status/1179894200265039872?s=20
- https://twitter.com/JRNoblin/status/1179894731104382977?s=20
- https://twitter.com/robyndwoskin/status/1179893827378827264?s=20
- https://twitter.com/dangermarin/status/1179894909383278594?s=20
- https://twitter.com/JWButta/status/1179897042975543297?s=20
- https://twitter.com/WonderKat365/status/1179893945582665738?s=20
- https://twitter.com/MunaNawabit1/status/1179894280535588864?s=20
- https://twitter.com/realsusandixon/status/1179895857522438144?s=20
- https://twitter.com/mrjafri/status/1179894370759262209?s=20
- https://twitter.com/hellofelicia14/status/1179900449035636736?s=20
- https://twitter.com/genghisjon30/status/1179895595722403841?s=20
- https://twitter.com/ByrdMan0914/status/1179895354042572801?s=20
- https://twitter.com/Rachels_Ratchet/status/1179894436395831296?s=20
- https://twitter.com/mickru79/status/1179899727078477826?s=20
- https://twitter.com/redbox/status/1179905174996967425?s=20
- https://twitter.com/sunkisseeddd1/status/1179894009168322560?s=20
- https://twitter.com/Superbokka/status/1179894046774444038?s=20
- https://twitter.com/Anythingpork/status/1179897910382780416?s=20
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Announcer 0:00
Looking to sound like you know what's going on in the world pop culture, social strategy, comedy and other funny stuff. Well join the club and settle in for the Jeff Dwoskin show. It's not the podcast we deserve. But the podcast we all need with your host, Jeff Dwoskin.
Jeff Dwoskin 0:15
All right, bow. Thank you very much for that amazing introduction. You get the show going each and every week, and this week is no exception. Welcome, everybody, to Episode 39 of live from Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin show. I'm your host, Jeff Dwoskin. Great to have you here. I'm so excited that you're back once again for another amazing episode. How amazing is this episode? It is so amazing. We have got the wonderful Candy Clark with us today. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, Candy Clark, Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nominee, you loved her in American Graffiti. You loved her and The Man Who Fell To Earth and she's here and Candy shared so many amazing stories. You're gonna love it. And that's coming up in just a little bit.
In the meantime, though, don't forget to subscribe to Live from Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin Show on your favorite podcast app, whether that be Apple podcast, Google podcast, Spotify, I heart Pandora, humbly Podchaser, whatever your podcast listening device of choice is, subscribe. And also do me a favor. I would love it. If you shared your love for Live from Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin show with all your friends and family, whether that be in your monthly newsletter that you send out or every email, put it in your footer of your emails, whatever it is you do, you know, just slip it in there. That'd be totally cool. every tweet just ended with Oh, and by the way, you know, that kind of thing. That's all I'm asking. Just Yeah, that's it, just those little small things help.
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And now it's time for the social media tip! Okay, I got a real cool quick tip for you on Twitter. Sometimes you're tweeting something and maybe you don't want to hear anything from the peanut gallery. So I dug a little bit more into this. I don't know if I've mentioned it in the past, but you can limit who replies to your tweet. So what that means is normally when you tweet, anyone can reply to the tweet. But now you can actually change that setting you can change the setting from everyone can reply to only people you follow can reply to a tweet that you tweet. And the other option is only people that you mentioned in the tweet. So in the tweet, you might say, hey, at big my hair, what's going on with you. And then only big mocker that's me can actually respond to that tweet. If you want to have a one on one conversation with someone, that's how you would do it. But really, if you want to have a one on one conversation with someone dm them. So this really would just be if you're trying to get someone's attention maybe who's not following you. And you just want them to notice you. This might be good if you're doing something controversial. You don't want trolls to bug you. But in general, I don't know. I think if you're going to be on Twitter, you need to open it up and take what comes because that's the type of platform it is. And that's the social media tip!
One of the amazing things that keeps me going each and every week is when I receive letters, notes, emails from all of you out there and my fans, thank you. I received this one note recently and I thought it was extremely, extremely touching. And it read dear Jeff recently I had a hole in my heart and upon listening to a recent episode of live from Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin show you showed me how I could fill that hole and make my life great again. Your ad for kitchen tables last week changed my life. For years I've lived with the kitchen, not knowing what was missing until I heard your ad for kitchen tables. Realizing a kitchen table is just what I needed. I bought one and my life has never been the same Now we have a place to eat. People come over and they have a place to put their keys down. It has changed my life and forever live from Detroit. The Jeff Dwoskin show will have a place in my heart. thank you on behalf of my entire family signed your fan forever, Fred. Well, thank you, Fred. That means a lot and I'm going to save this letter and frame it and cherish it forever.
This week's sponsor old harper whiskey. That's right old harper whiskey. If you need a pint of whiskey you need old harper available at any liquor store. Just go and tell them that you heard about them from live from Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin show and you'll be eligible for the old Harper whiskey cruising pack. That's right. And exclusive from the live from Detroit the Jeff Dwoskin show the old Harper whiskey cruisin pack you get a pint of old Harper, a three Musketeer, a ballpoint pen, comb, beef jerky and a couple of flashlight batteries. You'll be the envy of everyone on this trip. All right. That's cool. So definitely check that out that's available across the country. Just don't forget to mention live from Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin show to get the full cruising pack. You won't regret it.
You know what else you won't regret listening to this amazing conversation I had with Candy Clark.
All right. I'm excited to welcome to the show actress Candy Clark, you know are from American Graffiti and The Man Who Fell to Earth. So excited to have you here candy. Welcome to the show.
Candy Clark 6:26
Thank you, Jeff. I'm excited to see someone to talk to
Jeff Dwoskin 6:33
if you're listening at home just grabbing hold Harper and along with us kick back.
I totally want to just start out by going you look exactly like Connie Stevens.
Candy Clark 6:46
Really? I thought I look like Sandra Dee
Jeff Dwoskin 6:50
if you do my podcast, I'll let you touch the upholstery.
Candy Clark 6:54
I mean, feel it. I mean, wanna get in the back seat.
Jeff Dwoskin 7:01
I love to talk about American Graffiti. All right, such an iconic movie was made first. So how did you how did you get into acting? You started as a model, right? Did you make the transition from modeling to acting to landing the role in American Graffiti?
Candy Clark 7:15
Well, I went from modeling to extra. I did a extra thing on a film called Who is Harry Kellerman? And why is he saying those things about it was a Dustin Hoffman film. And I was in the crowd scene of about, I don't know, 200 people. And we just went through this revolving door all day long, and came out as a crowd. And there was Dustin Hoffman. And you know, it's really neat. I really liked it. Plus, they had a table full of doughnuts and stuff. And mostly you sat around, and then you do this crowd scene. So I went back to the casting director that had given me this crowd scene part. And I said, I want to do more of this extra work. But while I was there, there was a another casting man, this was in New York City. There was another casting man named Fred ruse. I was introduced to him. And Fred said, Hey, you want to come with me to watch him do the screen test for the Godfather? Sure. That was back when you would just walk off with a stranger and not think a thing of it wound up going to watch them. The place was in Queens. And I went day after day and hung out with Francis Coppola and watch Jimmy Caan and all these actors, you know, shoot their screen test for the Godfather was just kind of, you know, right place at the right time. And I really enjoyed it. And Francis was really nice to me. And he and I kind of worked out this little thing. I had a long cape that I wore all the time and a hat. And we worked out this thing where he was pretending to crank me down. And so I would bend my knees and my feet would disappear. And then it would crank me back up. Anyway, he almost lost the Godfather because the producers when he sent the dailies in he had left this this silly little dopey thing at the end of the reel of his screen tests. And he told me later that they almost fired him for, you know, shooting frivolous stuff. And but that was how I kind of got my start. And then Fred ruse remembered me and started calling me. He was the one that brought me out to watch the screen test. And he was the casting person. And he started calling me to try out for this part in this film called fat city. And I said, No, I just want to be an extra. I don't want to do any acting, you know, and it involves memorization. And I was always a very poor student in school. I even had a hard time doing a book report. Remember, you had to get in front of the class. Well, maybe you didn't have to because you're a lot younger and prettier than me. But anyway, I kept refusing and then he said All just come out to California and try out. And I went and I tried out. And I, after I did the scene, which was very complicated, I had no idea about acting. I just kind of read the scene didn't act it, just read it. And then as I was walking to the elevator, they said, you're gonna have to come back for a screen test. And I just remember saying, No, I just want to be an extra. And so the next thing I know, I flew back out to California did a screen test. I remember I was up against Margot Kidder. And another actress named Jennifer saw, there was Jeff Bridges, and I got the part and I got a boyfriend that day, Jeff, nice. And I were together for three or four years of wonderful years. But yeah, it was just something I fought. But they went out and I was really happy they did. I can't imagine going back and continuing the modeling career after a certain age, you know, it's kind of over in that department. I could have been an extra I guess, for forever. And that's the story of how I got my start. And it was a film A john Houston film called Fat City. Great film
Jeff Dwoskin 11:13
Was the connection to Francis Ford Coppola hide that led you to American Graffiti. He produced it right? No,
Candy Clark 11:20
Fred ruse wound up being the casting director on that. Yes. And then he had me try out. And I thought it took place in the 50s. So I wasn't, I had done fat city. And I had only done one little TV thing in between that and my audition for American Graffiti. I was always very bad at auditioning. I wasn't having any luck. But I did a room two to in between. And then when I came time to meet George Lucas, I thought, well, I'm just going to dress up in a 1950s outfit. I heard the movie took place in the 50s. And so I was the only one dressed in costume waiting in the lobby was so embarrassed. And then I went in and met George, he didn't say anything is very quiet, man. A couple of weeks went by and I had read the script. And I asked my manager pemaquid I said, you got to send me back. I love the script. I really, I did I get it? She said, Well, they don't ever want to see anyone after they've seen them and rejected them and turn them down. I didn't get past first base. But anyway, I went back dressed as myself. And there was I went back and saw George Lucas. I didn't mention that I'd been there before. The next day. I know I was asked to do a screen test. And it was take the screen test took place it Haskell Wexler is a commercial shooting house called dove film. There was about 200 actors there, waiting to try out for parts very nerve wracking. And I remember seeing Judy strangest from room two to two and I was for sure she was going to get the part. Then I finally went in and they call my name, you know, is there for hours, call my name and I go back into this little alcove. And there's a park bench. I meet Charles Martin Smith, who's playing toad. And there's George Lucas and he's got like a little video camera may not a plastic reel. You know, it was a low budget film, Charlie and I had this scene where says Buenos dias, Buenos noches. And then, you know, and I say, really? I thought I look like Sandra D. And, you know, we did that scene. And I knew I wasn't going to get the part. I just knew it. Because Charlie was so much shorter than we were gonna play a romantic couple. They always like the leading men to be taller than the lady. And I'm like, Oh, god, I'm never gonna get this. He's like, 5457 This looks weird. But anyway, I got it. It was amazing. I think I got it because I didn't try very hard because I knew I wasn't going to get it.
Jeff Dwoskin 14:06
Sometimes the best things come to you and you don't want them.
Candy Clark 14:09
Yeah, don't wanna can't do it. Anyway, Charlie, and I, we got hired I, he and I drove up to San Francisco, in my car. My Volkswagen, we broke down in Santa Barbara had to have the Volkswagen engine overhaul. And then we finally made it up to San Francisco. And they were saying, Well, God, where have you been? Because we had left at four in the morning to get up there and we get there at midnight. They have like three dresses. They said, well, you gotta try them work. We were exhausted. And so I tried on that blue and white striped dress. It felt perfect. I said, this is it. This is the one it's great. Next I know are like working. Most of the film was shot at night. And we did cheat a little bit. The goat killer scene was shot. Day for Night. They just add a filter and make it look Dark but the rest of it was night shooting 28 nights of up all night and trying to sleep in a Holiday Inn in San Rafael in the day, which is impossible at a hotel motel. People splashing in the pool and banging slamming their car doors not realizing that the actors need sleep anyway, it was a real challenge. And I loved it. And the film took off like a rocket and became one of the best 100 films of all time in the American Film Institute lineup. Very proud of it. Was that a good answer? It was like a mile long.
Jeff Dwoskin 15:39
You brought it home. You brought it home candy, that was great. So what was it like working with you didn't have scenes with everybody? But I mean, like, I assume because it's a holiday and you're all hanging out?
Candy Clark 15:49
Oh, yeah, we all hung out.
Jeff Dwoskin 15:51
I was like your drive is Ron Howard. Cindy,
Candy Clark 15:54
everyone was great. We you know, we did have a few bad boys on the set, namely, Harrison Ford and Paula, Matt. We gossip about him. You know, we say what did they do last night? Or you would wake up and you would see beer bottles on top of the revolving holiday inside? Like how did they get up there and put those beer bottles pranks like that were happening all the time. So me Ron Howard. Cindy, you know, the the good kids would always be gossiping about you know, what did they do last night Cadillac windshield got cracked. And you know, eventually Harrison and Paul and Matt got separated and Harrison, I think had to go to another hotel.
Jeff Dwoskin 16:42
So on screen rivalry and then offstage shenanigans between
Candy Clark 16:46
shenanigans. Richard Dreyfuss, I'm waiting for him one day to go to lunch, you know, and I'm waiting in my hotel room is really late. I'm like cheese. And then finally a knock at the door. I opened the door. He's soaking wet. With a big goose egg on his forehead. Apparently, Paula, Matt and Harrison had taken him by the arm and the leg, both sides and tossed him into the shallow end of the pool. very foolish. But he lived. It wasn't paralyzed. I think he had to wear his hair kind of down smooshed around to cover this lump on his forehead. But yeah, we made it through. We made it through
Jeff Dwoskin 17:26
Ron Howard Ron, he was a TV guy, right? And so yes, he was a big TV guy, right. And so he was
Candy Clark 17:33
our only star really, he was really 18. And he'd been an actor all his life since he wasn't a two year old, basically. And he was really sweet and mellow and no attitude or no stuck up. No, nothing. Just I think it was happy just to be in a movie because he'd really been in television all his life. And at that time, movies had more status than TV. Right now TV has some pretty heavy status with HBO and Netflix and all of that. But back then it was kind of Oh, TV. I think Ron was really happy. And he showed me a little film that he had won in the Kodak. I think he'd won second place in the Kodak student film contest. And it starred his brother, and it was one continual take. They weren't allowed to cut. It was really good. And he had brought one of those viewers where you crank it with put your eyes up to this viewing port, and then you crank it with your hand. I'm like, wow, Ronnie, you're really good. I know. The rest is history. A man's a superstar. And did really well. He wanted me to be in his one of his movies. I think it was Eat my dust. And, you know, I read it. I didn't care for it that much. But that was his start. I think with Roger Corman, you know, I think it had some success, but it allowed him to go further and do more movies.
Jeff Dwoskin 19:04
Seems like a lot of people got their start with Roger Corman, Roger
Candy Clark 19:07
Corman, yes. The King of low budget films, but he'd always give newcomers a chance and that's all they needed.
Jeff Dwoskin 19:14
I think my first Ron Howard movie was night shift that he did.
Candy Clark 19:17
Yes. And I think that was what he got after Eat my dust. They could see that he could direct and you know what? Because I turned him down. He never asked me to do another thing.
Jeff Dwoskin 19:29
Well, I hear he listens to this podcast, so he'll probably hear it and give you
Candy Clark 19:33
Oh, really? I'm sorry, please. I'll do anything. I'll crawl over hot coals just hire me once. I'll be an extra
Jeff Dwoskin 19:44
i think i think we're putting it out into the universe. I think you're gonna get a call from
Candy Clark 19:50
well, Bo Hopkins recently got a call from Ron Howard for the first time since American Graffiti boas in that movie, hillbilly elegy.
Jeff Dwoskin 19:59
Oh, That ball nice. Yes. Nice. So yeah, it's funny like watching rewatching the movie now it's hard for me like to not be looking and going wait Cunningham is is, is with Shirley and Cindy Williams. The characters like it has such a happy days feel I did meet Cindy Williams wants.
Candy Clark 20:18
She's very sweet.
Jeff Dwoskin 20:20
So sweet. So nice.
Candy Clark 20:22
Very nice. Very, very nice to people.
Jeff Dwoskin 20:24
What was Richard Dreyfus? I guess this is early Dreyfus. This is before jaws he
Candy Clark 20:29
was you know, he's a very high energy quick talking. But at that time, he was in a severe depression. His girlfriend had, I guess, dumped him. And he spent most of his time when he was off in his room in his bed. I think crying for years, he would never watch American Graffiti. It took him about 35 years to finally watch it because he had such bad memories of that time. And so
Jeff Dwoskin 21:01
that's that's sad. That's too bad.
Candy Clark 21:03
I know.
Jeff Dwoskin 21:04
Cuz it because in the movies chasing the perfect woman,
Candy Clark 21:07
yeah. Must have dredged up some real depression, but he never could get her either.
Jeff Dwoskin 21:14
Right. They had the one phone call at the end. Was that Suzanne Somers?
Candy Clark 21:17
Yes. It was who parlayed that woman's a genius. She parlayed that little part, a little tiny part into an empire career exercise. Maven. And you know, she did really well, really well from that was her springboard to, to fame.
Jeff Dwoskin 21:35
Yeah, and okay. I
Candy Clark 21:36
don't think she had any dialogue. She just mouthed. I love you. And that was it. She didn't even say it out loud.
Jeff Dwoskin 21:43
I didn't blame her to drivers for chasing her around. Oh.
Candy Clark 21:48
Yeah, that T bird wasn't bad either.
Jeff Dwoskin 21:50
It was great. Great. I assume you bonded pretty good with Charlie Martin Smith. You guys had all your scenes together?
Candy Clark 21:58
Oh, yes, we did. And I recently saw him. About a month ago, someone wanted a signature of Charles Warren Smith on a album that they had all the signatures except mine. And Charlie's. I went over to where he lives. And he came down fully mass. I took picture of me and Charlie and the album with all the signatures, put it on my Facebook page. And other times when there's not this virus going around, we see each other, you know, several times a year. He looked good. He looked great. he shaves his head. It just suits him so well. He just looks very handsome.
Jeff Dwoskin 22:38
He's a good dude.
Candy Clark 22:38
He's a good dude.
Jeff Dwoskin 22:40
Is there anyone else who you kind of stay? I mean, except for of course, we're not going to speak of Ron Howard anymore until he calls you.
Candy Clark 22:47
I put it out there. Ronnie. Come on.
Jeff Dwoskin 22:49
I'm gonna make I'll make some calls.
Candy Clark 22:52
I speak to Beau Hopkins quite often. He and I have done a lot of Hot Rod shows and personal appearances together, you know signing autographs, etc. traveled all over with American Graffiti. So I speak to him quite often ruins on Facebook, McKenzie, Cindy, if they post I always comment. I'm so glad we have these formats that we can tune in and talk to people and see what they're doing and see how they're doing. It's been really thank you computers.
Jeff Dwoskin 23:22
It's an amazing time to it is the amazing time. So with the movie, I love the whole. It was almost like Wolfman jack in the music was the narrator of the movie and I just loved Yes, loved. loved that. I've always loved wolf Wolf and jack. Like he was like one of those things. The Wolf Man jack, I hadn't thought about him in years when I was just rewatching. The movie. Love Wolf Man, jack. He's such it's such a powerful character in the movie for only having kind of like one little scene with Dreyfus later on in it. But yeah, so cool. Did you get to meet him? Or was he like, just in that one?
Candy Clark 23:56
No, I met him afterwards and got a assigned autograph from him. But years later, there was some sort of charity thing. No, I didn't meet him. He only worked that one evening. And I tell you, if you didn't have to work, you didn't show up. You just tried to get some rest, because we would get picked up around 430 start working around six, six to six in the morning.
Jeff Dwoskin 24:21
What was George Lucas like, as a director?
Candy Clark 24:24
Well, he's a very quiet person, you quickly learn because it was a low budget film that he was going to print and move to the next scene after one maybe two takes and so you quickly learn to get it right the first take because you know he was going to print the mistakes and just move on fast. And we shot that whole thing in 28 nights with all those people and all those different locations. So he was working like a you know, a slave and in the day He was editing and Haskell. Wexler was flying down to Los Angeles from the Petaluma, San Rafael area. And every day, and he was working, shooting commercial. So at the end, they got, you know, more and more hollowed out and tired and exhausted looking and barely even talking, but we knew what we were supposed to do. And we did it. And you know, there were a few couple of scenes that I didn't like, and I wanted to redo it again, then it goes, nope, we're moving. Because it's, you know, it's permanent. Once it's filmed, it's forever mistakes. And also, it was a great experience. But George was very quiet and exhausted. And so it was Haskell, but we made it
Jeff Dwoskin 25:49
with George under pressure just because he was coming off THX 1138. Right, which
Candy Clark 25:54
was a dismal failure, I think. So he got Gloria and Willard high IQ. And I guess he hired them. They were the writers. You know, they did a film around George's experiences in high school and people he knew and turned out these experiences in high school where exactly what was going on and where I came from Fort Worth, Texas, and all over the US. But what is really nice about this film, even in Japan, they love it. And in Sweden, they love it. They just love the cars mainly they love the cars. There's so many people who love restored cars and hot rods. There seems to be hundreds of them in that movie.
Jeff Dwoskin 26:37
You mentioned you do shows Do you ever make it to Detroit to do the Woodward cruise? We have a big thing where Yes,
Candy Clark 26:44
Bo and I made it to the Woodward dream cruise. And we were at this restaurants, deacons pub, I think it was sure Oh my God, I remember that show is really on its feet. And it's a drive by show there are people walking, but mostly it's and what is strange about that show, they let just ordinary cars go. And then there's, you know, Hot Rods and collector cars. And then there is a Volkswagen van or that's not even old. It's and so it was like this mixed show. And we were in a parking lot of duggins pub, you know, we were doing okay, signing pictures. Mostly people were drinking that a beer garden and all of us, you know, and then suddenly, Dan Haggerty from
Jeff Dwoskin 27:34
Grizzly Adams.
Candy Clark 27:35
Yeah. Grizz suddenly, Dan Haggerty is walking past with a roll around suitcase with all his pictures in hand. He says Can I sit at your table? And he kind of like takes over our tables spreads all these pictures out? Boy, they're like, Whoa, what just happened? It was like such a strange happening of Dan Haggerty walking past and then joining our booth. It was a really neat show not only did it that one time,
Jeff Dwoskin 28:08
well, maybe when when the roads back to normal. You'll do it again.
Candy Clark 28:11
Yes.
Jeff Dwoskin 28:13
Woodward dream cruise for anyone listening. It's just people driving slow. And I'm just one strip in Detroit.
Candy Clark 28:20
Yeah, and this big Boulevard. They don't even stop the regular traffic. They just have it all mixed in. That's how they did it then I don't know they still do it that way. It started like
Jeff Dwoskin 28:31
a week early. People just sit out there if you if you love if your idea of of taking three hours to go five miles is a joy for you.
Candy Clark 28:43
Ah, it is packed with people. It was amazing.
Jeff Dwoskin 28:47
Yeah. As I was kind of just doing some research in my head. Well, I had always thought or may you know, these myths that go around, you know, like, urban legend, I guess I always thought that happy days was based on American Graffiti. And it turns out, not true.
Candy Clark 29:02
Well, it was after Gary Marshall saw graffiti. I think this was in the works. But it wasn't quite like American Graffiti. It was about some teenagers. I think, you know, Ron Howard was 18. And he was going to be acting in it. And they really changed it because I don't think they had shot anything. He was just booked to do this, you know, in between his TV series, you know, then it kind of molded itself closer to American Graffiti.
Jeff Dwoskin 29:36
Right. That's it. That's how I read it existed before. Yes. And then after American Graffiti was such a hit. more of it made it seem reminiscent of American Graffiti. Yes.
Candy Clark 29:47
Yes.
Jeff Dwoskin 29:48
It wasn't just so people go Connect Rock Around the Clock. Fine.
Candy Clark 29:52
Yeah. And it might have been not as vintage. You know, I don't know. I never read the original script to happy day. It could have been current, but then they made it more, you know, into the past. Right, you know, with the hoodlum, the Hey guy in black leather and Letterman jackets and all this stuff, which is reminiscent more of the 50s and 60s.
Jeff Dwoskin 30:16
It's funny when you watch the movie, it's such a different time, right? You have Mackenzie's films character who is what 12 in the movie just jumps out of the car, one car and into John's car in the movie, and then they spend the whole movie together.
Candy Clark 30:33
And he's off with a stranger. I told you that? Yeah, when I went off with Fred Ruse and bounders selves. I mean, it was just a different time. You know, people would hitchhike and not think anything of it, and they wouldn't be murdered or serial killed. It's just like the sweeter time
Jeff Dwoskin 30:52
so simpler times. Definitely. And then just
Candy Clark 30:56
people were nicer to each other. And you didn't have to worry. If you got in someone's car, would you? You know, make it home that evening? Not like today.
Jeff Dwoskin 31:05
Okay, so let's let's so American Graffiti comes out. We mentioned it was one of the top 100 films of all time, but we did not mention a certain someone getting an Academy Award nomination.
Candy Clark 31:18
Oh, a certain someone who was that you? Oh, yeah, that's right. I have a plaque that proves that I was there. And I got nominated.
Jeff Dwoskin 31:33
Oh, do you get a plaque of your nominee? I got a plaque. What's it like when you hear like you were nominated for an Academy Award.
Candy Clark 31:39
It was very exciting. You know, you're like two weeks you're getting patted on the back, hug. Kiss. Everybody wants to know you get flowers from the studio and you're the center of attention. And then the Academy Awards happens and back then we used to dress ourselves now. You know they have all these stylists and multi $1,000 gowns on but back then you would buy your own outfit, do your own makeup your hair and show up. I remember Linda Lovelace. I was at the Academy Awards and she remember Linda Lovelace. Oh, yes, yeah, she arrived on a like a Cinderella carriage with a horse horse drawn Cinderella carry all dressed in white lace. So you know, it was used to be more individual. I remember Marlon Brando. And for a while they were boycotting actors were boycotting the Academy Awards. And Marlon Brando sent, you know, this American Indian lady to accept the award or to reject the award, I think it was and you know, it used to be a lot more controversial and more kind of homespun. I remember I was sitting on the second row me and Jeff Bridges, my boyfriend from fat city. And there was Tatum O'Neal sitting in front of me and then Sylvia Sidney, I knew I wasn't gonna win. I just, you know, you just have a feeling about things. So Sylvia Sidney was sitting down the aisle from me, and I was wanted to see her reaction when they announced her name, because I figured she was in this movie, summer wishes winter dreams. Oh, Linda Blair and Madeline Kahn. Anyway, so I'm looking down the aisle because I want to as an actor, you want to see emotions and see what it's like. And I'm looking at her and they say, and the winner is Tatum O'Neal, it was like nine year old takes the award from Sylvia Sidney devoted her whole life acting. That was like such a shocker. And there goes Tatum, she gets up on stage. She's wearing a little tuxedo. And but it was wonderful. There was a party after you know, the, the grand party afterwards and it was just fabulous.
Jeff Dwoskin 33:54
You have to sit there and practice smiling. face to face.
Candy Clark 34:03
Because I had no speech be like going on stage and doing a book report front of the class. No.
Jeff Dwoskin 34:11
See, you did not write a speech you were you're that
Candy Clark 34:13
now I knew I just had a feeling that I wasn't gonna win. I thought Silvia Sydney would win. Boy, was I wrong? You know,
Jeff Dwoskin 34:21
it's still super cool to be nominated. It
Candy Clark 34:23
was super cool. And you got a plaque, one of five people,
Jeff Dwoskin 34:27
right? So I'm saying like, it's a huge honor. huge honor.
Candy Clark 34:30
It is. And it's, you know, I'm a member of the academy and, you know, that's that's a lot of fun because you get to see screeners and screenings and not this year. I've watched, you know, the academy movies on my home computer, which isn't quite the same as going to the theater, you know, having a order party and wine and you know, food afterwards. So anyway, we limp along and we'll be out of this soon. We'll get her vaccines. Very excited about that. Yes, I want to out of this mess
Jeff Dwoskin 35:04
will be out soon will be out soon. So as I was I was watching American Graffiti and my Amazon firestick very nicely says there is a more American Graffiti which I didn't Yes, I watched it. I liked it, I thought is a sequel, it was great that they didn't try and get all of you into the same scenario again, like that
Candy Clark 35:26
was the failure of it. People wanted more of the same they wanted the next night. It was complicated. It was made into four different New Year's Eve. Yep. And people spent half the movie trying to figure out what the heck's going on?
Jeff Dwoskin 35:41
Well, maybe with time I you know, just when something's high, right, and it's like, good, like, and then they do a sequel, right? I mean, like when the Star Wars sequels everyone's like so and like, you know, I remember like later episodes of Seinfeld people are so these aren't as good. And now you watch them in any order. And everyone loves every episode because they don't know what season they're watching, right?
Candy Clark 36:00
Yes.
Jeff Dwoskin 36:01
So when I was watching this, I thought, because one of the things I hate like, I love Wayne's World, Wayne's World to ridiculous, you know, I mean, like, there's like, you can't capture the exact magic when the original story is a magical moment. Right?
Candy Clark 36:16
That's true. And the actors have changed. They've lived live for a couple of years. And they're not as you know, wide eyed and bushy tailed, as they were when they first did. The first one, you know,
Jeff Dwoskin 36:28
and the reality is, once people graduate, anyone knows this from their own lives. You everyone goes into their own thread. So like you said, and so at the end of American Graffiti, right, they say, John's character gets killed by a drunk driver.
Candy Clark 36:43
Oh, I was so mad.
Jeff Dwoskin 36:45
I was so mad. Terry's character is missing an action. And then I think Ron Howard became an insurance person and I'm blanking on probably whatever Richard Dreyfus is, was Richard Dreyfus is the only person who really didn't come back for the sequel everyone else now, at least for a little tiny bit. You can finally got a scene with Harrison Ford.
Candy Clark 37:08
A Policeman
Jeff Dwoskin 37:09
he's a policeman's I met and he just, he just agreed to come on set one day and
Candy Clark 37:13
I guess for George, you know,
Jeff Dwoskin 37:15
Joe gets shot. And then so it happens in four sequences one year, the year where john is eventually killed the year where Terry's character
Candy Clark 37:26
for New Year's Eve, four separate New Year's Eve,
Jeff Dwoskin 37:29
and then you're that you're 1966 Ron Howard and Cindy Williams are
Candy Clark 37:33
and I'm kind of like a stripper. You know, the boss wants me to dance with a snake. Yes. Anyway. And then she and then my boyfriend breaks my heart. That New Year's Eve
Jeff Dwoskin 37:48
you did but it led you to a career to be a western country singers. Yeah. Because you at the end of this sequel, do get a little blurb at the end. And then we find out what happened
Candy Clark 38:01
I'm the new Tammy Wynett
Jeff Dwoskin 38:02
Exactly. Well, not. It's classic status as the original I thought it was each of the New Year's Eve segments has its own tone and feel to it years ago.
Candy Clark 38:14
Ron Howard and Cindy are heading for divorce. But you saw that happening when they were dating. They were always arguing
Jeff Dwoskin 38:21
he never should have stayed whether he should have in the original college. They
Candy Clark 38:25
should have gone off with Buddha. She was more fun.
Jeff Dwoskin 38:29
And then you got the whole Yeah, Ron Howard is a big jerk in the sequel. I did not Yeah, you got it. You gotta say it was Cindy Williams a year. Tough woman and all that kind of stuff and sticking her ground. She just wants a job. And Ron Howard doesn't work. Like,
Candy Clark 38:48
oh my god.
Jeff Dwoskin 38:50
But then you you had a great thread too. I mean, like, and like yours was shot. I'm trying to think of what the word for the style was. But hair like it was like three panels. It was very, very stylistic, and I enjoy and then Terry's scenes which are in Vietnam. And then you do find out what they don't show john get killed. You do find out that it's kind of implied in the scene. But like, Yeah, you do find out that Terry actually doesn't die. He just desserts,
Candy Clark 39:19
desserts and he leaves and I always thought he wound up in some Vietnamese village, maybe the bigger town, hoochie Minh city or something running a some sort of gambling. I don't know, you know, something illicit because now he's in Vietnam. You know, and it's war time in Vietnam. And you know, a lot of black market stuff is going on. Right?
Jeff Dwoskin 39:42
Maybe we need more more American Graffiti and you to get back together.
Candy Clark 39:50
Joe, the pharaoh got shot, but did he really die? You know, we don't know. So we can dredge him up and there's Debbie pushing them around in a wheelchair. shot in the chest so he's paralyzed from the waist down or the chest down me and Joe the pharaoh up together I don't know but
Jeff Dwoskin 40:10
even more
Candy Clark 40:14
yeah even more whether you want it or not American Graffiti
Jeff Dwoskin 40:19
those are fun anyone listening if you haven't seen the sequel definitely check it out it's it's it's I think it's ambitious whether it's remembered as a classic or not in terms of sequels I think it was give it a chance give it a chance give it was what I enjoyed it I really
Candy Clark 40:34
great music
Jeff Dwoskin 40:35
Yeah, the music well both of them do i mean combined. I was trying to fly by I just bought American Graffiti on vinyl. I was trying to find it because I'm really into old records. You know, like we had old records I mean, like literal record like not buying old copies or going to you know, shows and trying to find original press. Oh, yeah. And so there's
Candy Clark 40:53
a lot of people just like you I go to a state sales and you record guys you fight you elbow each other out of the way. It's delicious. You run record collectors are vicious when it comes to a box of LPs
Jeff Dwoskin 41:09
holds records. It might be sad anyway.
Candy Clark 41:11
Oh my God, I've watched you.
Jeff Dwoskin 41:14
I love going to I like more than a state says I love going to like old going to use record stores. Because it's like I miss and
Candy Clark 41:20
there for hours.
Jeff Dwoskin 41:23
I just miss like being surrounded by things and yeah,
Candy Clark 41:26
and I watch you guys you stand there and flip through. I mean, for hours, you're just like they're stuck flipping through boxes and boxes. Every once in a while you'll find a nugget.
Jeff Dwoskin 41:39
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
Candy Clark 41:40
There's always a nugget. They're
Jeff Dwoskin 41:42
worth something. Always in the dollar bin always has some kind of gem in their
Candy Clark 41:47
panning for treasure.
Jeff Dwoskin 41:50
I do have one question on a different movie. The Man Who Fell to Earth?
Candy Clark 41:53
Oh, yes.
Jeff Dwoskin 41:54
Which is the movie David David Bowie.
Candy Clark 41:58
Oh,
Jeff Dwoskin 41:58
it was funny. It was funny. I was watching it. I must have never seen a movie where Rip Torn was young. Oh, yes. Cuz I it took me a minute. I'm like, it's torn. And then of course, you know, He's, uh, His voice is.
Candy Clark 42:14
He was even younger in previous movies that he did. Oh, yeah. It was when he was kind of middle aged.
Jeff Dwoskin 42:20
I know. But I like I'm used to him from like men and black and get Larry Sanders and dodgeball. And I was just like, so I did just one question, because I know, you've been kind enough to spend as much time with me. But one question is, were you actually carrying David?
Candy Clark 42:35
Oh, well, I thought I could because he's, you know, at that time, I was in the gym a lot. And I had some, you know, pretty good muscles and my arms and legs. And I thought, he looks skinny looks like, yeah, I can do this. I crowds bend down, and I tried to lift him he's just dead weight supposed to be pretending that he's passed out. So it was impossible. I tried like two or three different times, I couldn't even get them an inch off the ground. They rigged up. I remember it being like a skateboard with a pole with a bicycle seat. And he's balanced on this. But my brother said no, they on the camera, they had some sort of forklift thing. And they lifted him up that way. So there's two different versions of what really happened. My job was just to keep his legs pinched up and his back pinched up. And he's supposed to be kind of passed out. So to keep them in frame. So as feet wouldn't be out of frame or his head wouldn't be out of frame, I had to keep him squeezed pretty tight. And then get him to the bed and slide him in the pit. So it was all done with, you know, lifting devices. But it all had to be spontaneously thought up because I was for sure that I could no problem. I can lift this guy that we had to quickly rethink and get him there on a skateboard and a little forklift thing. You don't ever see those things. It looks like I'm doing it. But it was, you know, hard to walk down the hall. If you notice I look a little bow legged because there's a pole in between. Anyway, it was fun. Every bit of that film was fun to do, and also a challenge.
Jeff Dwoskin 44:27
What is this one great memory you have just to wrap everything up with David Bowie.
Candy Clark 44:32
What I really liked about him, we had a lot of scenes together and a lot of dialogue and the dialogue was really good written by Paul Meyers Berg taken from a book called man who fell to Earth. I just liked the way he didn't mind running lines and you know, running the scene over and over. And a lot of actors don't like to do that. And it really helps me to memorize when I hear it over and over and do it by wrote, you know, memory. And because I'm not a quick study I like i said i was a poor student. I like to study, I attribute his not minding rehearsals to his music career, because every time they change towns and go to a new venue, they have to go check out the stage plays some music that they've done 1,000,001 times and think nothing of it. So what I remember about David was his great worth work ethic, and he was really valuable to me, you know, so we could get the dialogue Word Perfect period for period dot four dot, you know, when you have a great script, you know, you want to respect the work of the writer. Well, I
Jeff Dwoskin 45:45
can't thank you enough for sharing all these memories with me. It was so great to hang out with you.
Candy Clark 45:51
Yeah, it was fun. And your questions were very, very good. Oh, thank
Jeff Dwoskin 45:55
you, candy.
Candy Clark 45:56
Oh,
Jeff Dwoskin 45:56
you're the sweetest. Thank you. Oh, Candy
Candy Clark 46:01
sweetest the sweetest,
Jeff Dwoskin 46:03
the sweetest ever, ever. That's why your name is candy. Thank you so much.
Candy Clark 46:08
Well, you are so welcome.
Jeff Dwoskin 46:10
All right. How fun was that? How awesome is candy Clark. She's the awesomest. Everyone. If you haven't in a while, it's time to check out American Graffiti again, time to watch the man who fell to earth and then also watch more American Graffiti and then let me know on Twitter what you thought of it. I really enjoyed it. Watch everything again. And tell me what you thought report back. And you know what time it is now though, everybody. It's time for the hashtag roundup trend of the week. That's right. This is where we pick a hashtag from one of those amazing games from hashtag round up. The hashtag roundup app is totally free. Just search hashtag roundup on Apple, iTunes or Google and play along with us every day. Also, follow us on Twitter at hashtag Roundup. There's games all throughout the day, every day. You'll never be bored on Twitter. All right. All right. This week's hashtag is a good one hashtag automobile, a movie quote. That's right. We're taking the American Graffiti movie, the car theme from the movie, mashing it together. And we end up with the amazing game from fresh coast tags. Hashtag automobile, a movie quote. And don't forget all the tweets I'm about to read will be retweeted at Jeff Dwoskin show on Twitter and in the show notes. So find them, retweet them, show them some love. And don't forget to get the hashtag roundup app play along and in the future one of your hashtags may end up on the Jeff Dwoskin show. Alright, here we go. Hashtag automobile, a movie quote. They may take our lives but they'll never take our freeways. May the Porsche be with you. I'll make him an Oldsmobile he can't refuse. Don't feed any AMC Gremlins after midnight. These are some excellent hashtag automobile, a movie quotes. All right. Here's one. Toyoda, I've got a feeling we're not in Nexus anymore. Frankly, my dear. I don't give a trans-am. You can't handle the Tesla get through the charger Volvo's where we're going. We don't need Volvo's merge or merge not. There is no try. Hello. My name is Inigo Toyota. You killed my father. Prepare to die. Merry Christmas You filthy automobile. On Wednesdays we wear Pinto. Are you talking to Miata? Are you talking to Miata? Are you talking to me? rosebud rose by spot with great horsepower comes great responsibility. Mama always said Life is like a Ford transmission. You never know when it's gonna give out. And finally, one more trip to go with the wind. Frankly, my dear. I don't give a Datsun. All right. Those are some awesome hashtag automobile movie quotes. And thanks again for having fun with us this episode. This has been Episode 39 the amazing candy Clark. can't thank you guys enough for coming back each and every week. Don't forget to subscribe, like tell your friends. And we're gonna see you next week.
Announcer 49:12
Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the Jeff Dwoskin show with your host Jeff Dwoskin. Now go repeat everything you've heard and sound like a genius. catch us online at the Jeff Dwoskin show.com or follow us on Twitter at Jeff Dwoskin show and we'll see you next time.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
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