As soon as upon a time in Hollywood, the charismatic heavy with smarts and a coronary heart was a well-recognized archetype in mainstream cinema — assume Robert Mitchum, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan, or James Coburn — however the latest passing of Michael Madsen, on the age of 67, might properly mark the top of that specific chapter in film historical past. Although he made his breakthrough because the psychotic, ear-slicing Mr. Blonde in Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 debut Reservoir Canines, Madsen was able to a lot, far more, though it’s truthful to say that solely his work with Tarantino ever made essentially the most of that soulful expertise. Which different robust man might have delivered the road, as he did so memorably in Kill Invoice Vol. 2, “That girl deserves her revenge, and we need to die” and sound like they meant it?
The next interview occurred 10 years in the past in February, excessive within the mountains of Telluride in the course of the shoot of The Hateful Eight, Tarantino’s wintry Western with a whodunit twist, by which he performed the mysterious Joe Gage. The director had chosen the city in Colorado for its predicted snowfall, however, for fairly a while, none got here, preserving the crew on their toes.
I met Madsen throughout a lull in manufacturing; although the speak was ostensibly concerning the movie at hand, the actor couldn’t assist however digress, at one level welling up behind his rockstar shades as he recalled his early days as an actor, pumping gasoline for the likes of Warren Beatty, his odd-couple friendship with Sergio Leone, and, after getting a bit too cozy with Tarantino’s laser-like auteur specificity, his fractious interplay with the mainstream movie trade.
Elements of this interview have appeared elsewhere, however that is the total trade, and it’s very revealing, even right this moment. How a lot of what he says is definitely true is difficult to show, and he actually had his personal specific fashion of self-mythologizing. However then, to cite John Ford’s 1962 film The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, “When the legend turns into reality, print the legend.” It’s a reference Madsen would have dug; certainly, simply yesterday, he handed into legend himself.
DEADLINE: How did you get entangled with The Hateful Eight?
MICHAEL MADSEN: Nicely, first, I simply wanna bear in mind one factor.
DEADLINE: What’s that?
MADSEN: You already know, when Budd pulls his sword out [in Kill Bill Vol. 2] it says, “To my brother Budd, the one man that I ever beloved.” And I might identical to to start out by saying that I’ve that sword. And I might say to Quentin that there must be one that claims [the same thing]: “From me to Quentin — the one man I ever beloved.” I wanna go on document by saying that.
DEADLINE: That is the third time you’ve labored with Quentin…
Nicely, it’s truly the fourth. I’d prefer to say it’s the fourth time, ’trigger he minimize Hell Trip. You already know, Hell Trip wasn’t releasable once they completed that factor. ’Trigger numerous individuals had had their fingers on it. And he took it, and he put it again collectively like a jigsaw puzzle. And he mounted it. And it’s a a lot better film. And I prefer it so much. However the purpose it’s good is ’trigger he minimize it.
DEADLINE: Is that the 2008 Larry Bishop film?
MADSEN: Yeah. So, I feel Hateful Eight’s the fourth one, actually. To be sincere.
DEADLINE: When did you first hear about it?
MADSEN: Nicely, you understand, I used to be truly sitting with a few cops. I used to be in my home and a handyman that we had had absconded with some issues from the home — my spouse’s watch and a few jewellery. And I once I discovered, I mainly informed the man that I used to be going to trigger him…
DEADLINE: Discomfort?
MADSEN: Sure, sir. And so, his father ended up getting in contact with me saying that he had a checkered previous and I ought to forgive him. However I ought to file expenses on him in order that he would take it severely. So, I did. And I had a few cops at my home. I used to be sitting within the kitchen with these policemen, and I used to be speaking about this fella, and my cellular phone rang. I infrequently reply the f*cking factor. I at all times wanna see who it’s first. And I by no means reply it. And for some purpose, I don’t know why, I answered it. I mentioned good day. It was, “Hey, Mike, it’s Quentin.” And I hadn’t spoken to him because the time I used to be gonna do Django. He was looking for an element for me in Django.
DEADLINE: What half did he give you in Django?
MADSEN: The one half that I wished was Leo’s half. I wished to play Calvin. I believed it was the very best position within the movie. However he wished me in a smaller position, and it wasn’t figuring out someway, so it didn’t occur. However I hadn’t heard from him since earlier than that. You already know, there’s all these silly vicious issues on the web, like, “Madsen owes Quentin $1 million,” and, “Madsen won’t ever work with Quentin once more” — all this silly sh*t, you understand? And I’m going, “Hey, man, what’s up?” And he goes, “Ah, I simply wrote this Western. And I would like you to be in it.” I mentioned, “Actually?” And he goes, “Yeah.” And I’m going, “Oh, properly, OK.” So he goes, “Why don’t you come over?” We used to try this on a regular basis. That occurred for Kill Invoice. ’Trigger he wished me to play a personality named Mister Barrel in Kill Invoice.
DEADLINE: Who was that?
MADSEN: Mister Barrel was a man who had a masks on a stick. It was a Lone Ranger masks, and he’d whip it up and maintain it in entrance of his face when he was about to kill any individual. He was a part of Uma Thurman’s bodyguard crew. So, at some point he rang me up and he mentioned, “Pay attention, I don’t need you to play Mister Barrel any extra. I would like you to be Budd. Come over.” So, I went over. My sons have been swimming in his pool, he had a bottle of tequila, and we drank some tequila. He mentioned, “You wanna play Budd?” I mentioned, “Yeah, man.” And he goes, “Nicely, I already gave the half to a different actor. So, I’m gonna have to inform the opposite actor that he doesn’t have the half. So, you gotta give me a pair days to work that out. However I would like you to be Budd.’ And I mentioned, “OK.” Then he goes, “However I would like you to learn it proper right here in my home.” Which I did. I sat there and I learn the entire script in his home whereas he walked round doing issues.
So, it was the identical factor with Hateful Eight. He mentioned, “Will you come over?” And I mentioned, “Now?” He was like, “Nicely…” And I mentioned, “OK, can I come tomorrow?” He mentioned, “Yeah, come tomorrow.” I mentioned OK. Now, I do know his gate code. And I mentioned, “Did you alter your gate code?” And he goes no. So, the following day I went over to his home, and it was as if we hadn’t solely seen one another the day earlier than. He has a lot nice stuff in his home. I imply, I don’t know in case you’ve ever been in there…
He’s acquired a lot nice stuff in there, man. He’s simply acquired the best sh*t in there. Y’know, me and him, we each love films a lot. And he has so many issues which might be so cool. Like, memorabilia stuff. And he gave me Hateful Eight. And I mentioned, “Holy sh*t, man!” And he goes, “Nicely, y’know, learn it.” I’m like, “Proper now?” And he goes, “Nicely flip to web page…” no matter. So, I did it. He says, “Only a couple strains.” So, I learn, like, 4 strains. He goes, “OK, OK. That’s nice, that’s nice.” He gave it to me, and I took it house. I learn it and I noticed it was in all probability the best half he’s ever wrote for me, you understand?
DEADLINE: What occurred then?
MADSEN: I left, like, three days later to go to Italy, ’trigger I used to be capturing an image in Rome. A few week later I used to be in an elevator with any individual, and the man he was with, he was his cellular phone. And he goes, “Oh sh*t. Holy sh*t.” I’m going, “What?” He goes, “Tarantino’s not gonna make Hateful Eight.” I say, “Oh no, why?” He says, “Any individual leaked the script. Any individual gave the screenplay to somebody.” I went, “Oh my God.” And on the web, it mentioned, “I’ve solely given the script to 3 individuals — Tim Roth, Michael Madsen and Bruce Dern. And I do know for positive it wasn’t Tim.” And I’m like, “Why would I do this?” I imply, he had inadvertently fingered me, proper? So, I known as him up from the foyer of the resort on the Valadier in Rome. And I mentioned, “Quentin, within the identify of God, would you please make a public assertion that I didn’t leak your script?” And he began laughing on the cellphone. And he thought it was so humorous. And I’m going, “Nicely, I didn’t clearly do it, so please inform somebody.” In the meantime, on my Fb, I’m getting messages from individuals, saying, “You traitor. You ignorant f*cker — you’ve ruined our life.” And I’m like, “I didn’t do it!!!” It was so humorous. Even my very own son, he was like, “Dad, why did you do this?” I used to be like, “I didn’t do it!!!” Any individual truly put on the web an image of me. They’d Photoshopped an image of me and Edward Snowden, and I’m giving Edward Snowden the Hateful Eight script. It was actually an uncomfortable time.
DEADLINE: Did Quentin do something?
MADSEN: No, and I saved saying, “Please, please, do one thing. Do one thing, please.” And so, the genius that he’s, as an alternative of publicly, like, falling down in entrance of everyone, he decides to stage a dwell studying on the Mary Pickford Theater, for f*ck’s sake. Proper? And I heard that he was gonna do that publicly. And I used to be pondering, OK, does he assume that I’m the one? And so, I known as him. And he by no means solutions his f*cking phone ever. And he answered his cellphone. Which was astounding to me. And I mentioned, “I see you’re gonna do that factor over on the Pickford Theater,” and he goes, “Yeah.” I’m going, “Nicely, I’m Joe Gage.” And he goes, “Yeah.” And I mentioned, “So I’m gonna be in it?” He goes, “Yeah.” And I’m going, “OK.”
DEADLINE: So, you needed to ask him to search out out?
MADSEN: That’s variety what Quentin is like. Right here’s a shaggy dog story. You already know when Uma Thurman is buried [in Kill Bill], once I bury Uma? She’s within the field. And she or he will get a razor out of her boot, and he or she cuts the ropes on her boot. That razor is the very same razor that I used as Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Canines.
DEADLINE: How have you learnt that?
MADSEN: We have been in London on the premiere of Kill Invoice. We’re strolling exterior. And Quentin goes, “So, how’d you just like the film? “I’m going, “Oh, it was fairly good.” And he goes, “No, no, no — how’d you like it? How’d you want that scene when she’s buried?” And I’m going, “It was nice, man. It’s fairly good.” And he goes, “OK, so… what concerning the razor?” And I’m going, “The razor?” And he goes, “Michael, that was Mr. Blonde’s razor. I gave it to her to make use of within the film.” And I’m going, “Oh my God. Why didn’t you inform me?” And he goes, “I used to be ready so that you can ask me.”
DEADLINE: The dwell studying sounded wonderful. What sort of rehearsal time did you may have?
MADSEN: Nicely, you understand, I’m no theater actor, that’s for positive. I actually am not. The entire theater factor to me is form of pointless. I simply don’t get it. However we learn by means of it for about two weeks to get able to do it. Then all of us sat in chairs, and we had like, you understand, these steel issues, these orchestra stands, to place the scripts on. All of us sat there after which Quentin got here out. He had an enormous cowboy hat on, and he form of officiated over the entire thing. Y’know, there have been lots of people there. They have been all dressed up. I bear in mind everyone was all dressed up. And it was fairly an affair. Fancy garments.
DEADLINE: Have been you nervous?
MADSEN: I really feel very uncomfortable on stage. I’m a movement image actor, you understand? I should be in movement. I’m very uncomfortable simply sitting. And so, for me, it was educational. I imply, we’d learn it so many instances that I already knew it. So, I didn’t actually should, you understand, research. However it was attention-grabbing as a result of the vitality within the theater was so massive. It was simply massive. And afterwards Quentin mentioned, “Wow, that basically went properly.” He goes, “I didn’t assume it could go that properly.” And we have been like, “Yeah, it did, man.” The Weinsteins have been there — Bob and Harvey have been strolling round — and it appears to me like that’s when he made the choice to make the film. ’Trigger he had mentioned he wasn’t gonna do it. However he informed the entire viewers, he mentioned, “You already know what? I rewrote the center, and I rewrote the ending. So, what you guys simply noticed ain’t gonna occur. And also you gained’t know what’s gonna occur until you see the film, ’trigger I rewrote it. So, f*ck everyone, proper?” He gave everyone a punch. And the rewrite is so stunningly, insanely good. However I don’t know the place it comes from. I actually don’t.
DEADLINE: I’ve learn the script, it’s implausible.
MADSEN: Oh, it’s greater than implausible. That’s simply one more reason why I really like him. ’Trigger let’s face it; I wouldn’t have a profession if it wasn’t for him. I might have been useless and buried way back if it wasn’t for Quentin. My life would have taken a nasty flip. However… He’s a f*cking genius, man. I’ve a lot enjoyable with him… [Pauses] Once I was a little bit boy, I actually didn’t know what to do with myself. I used to be in hassle fairly a bit. And I beloved movement photos. I don’t know why, nevertheless it appeared like there was one thing noble about it. About storytelling. Typically after we’re hanging out, he is aware of about these moments in movies that I bear in mind from being a little bit boy. And we share a data with one another about films that I’ve by no means had with some other director I’ve ever labored with — I by no means had it with some other director I’ve ever labored with. And I’ve been with some fairly good cats, man. I made some good sh*t, man, y’know? Donnie Brasco and The Getaway and all that. It was all fairly great things. However with him, there’s this bizarre form of symbiotic notion we now have with one another that I’m so blessed to have. We’ve had it from the start. And he’s kind of a movie historian. I imply, there’s like nothing about any film that I’ve ever recognized in my life that he doesn’t already learn about. And it’s fairly weird. It’s… Are you able to ask me a query, so I don’t simply maintain rambling?
DEADLINE: Inform me about Joe Gage. What was it concerning the character?
MADSEN: Nicely, to start with, I’ll let you know the very best story of all about me and him. And it form of sums it up. It actually does. It form of sums up the entire thing. When Quentin requested me to do Kill Invoice, I used to be making a Western in Mexico. I had gone by means of Durango on my approach again into California, and I purchased that white hat. That f*cking Stetson, proper? So, we began to do the read-throughs in Culver Metropolis for Kill Invoice, and I began displaying up on the read-throughs with that f*cking white hat on. I’m simply engaged on making an attempt to determine who Budd was, what my character was gonna be, and all that. And I saved getting in that white hat. And Quentin he comes as much as me and he goes, “You’re not gonna put on that hat.” And I’m going, “What?” He goes, “Within the film. After we shoot the film, you’re not gonna put on that hat.” And I’m going, “I’m not?” He goes no. And I’m going, “Look, Budd lives in a trailer. He’s a bouncer in a strip membership. His swordplay’s over. He’s a bum, he’s an fool. He’s finished. I wanna make a form of like a cool character out of him.” And Quentin goes, “No, no, no. I would like you to chop your hair too.” I’m going, “Actually?” He says, “Yeah. I would like all of it minimize it off and also you’re not carrying that f*cking hat.” I used to be like, “Nicely, all proper.” However I didn’t minimize my hair, and I saved going to rehearsal in that f*cking hat.
DEADLINE: How come you put on it within the film?
MADSEN: In the future that we have been doing the props — I used to be getting propped up — and Quentin comes strolling up behind me and he goes, “OK, OK. Michael, Michael. Y’know, the factor is, now I can’t image you with out the hat. Since you maintain carrying that goddamn factor, and so, y’know, now I get it. OK, fantastic.” I’m like, “Oh, I can put on the hat?” He goes, “You may put on the hat.” The primary stuff that we shoot is the stuff on the graveyard the place I’ve to bury Uma. I gotta pull her out of the truck, throw her down, make this provide to her of a flashlight, and I acquired a can of mace that I’m gonna spray it in her eyeball. And I didn’t wanna begin with that scene. I didn’t need that to be the primary stuff we shot. ’Trigger I didn’t know what to do with Budd, proper?
However we did it. It was like 3am within the morning. There I’m in my hat, proper? And so he shoots it. And we’re all like, “Yeah, OK, cool, proper, proper.” So, then we exit to Barstow to shoot the strip membership scenes. And, you understand, the truck pulls up. I get out of the truck, I smoke a cigarette, I acquired my hat, I’m all cool. I stroll throughout the parking zone. Growth, increase, increase — right here comes Budd. We shot all that. Then I’m in my trailer and impulsively there’s a knock at my door. It’s Quentin. And he provides me some handwritten pages. He goes, “That is what we’re gonna do right this moment.” And it’s the scene the place f*cking Larry [Bishop] is telling me take off that f*cking hat. That “sh*t-kicker” f*cking hat. And, y’know, I’m not that good of an actor.
See, once I take that hat off, I’m actually Michael Madsen. I didn’t wanna take my hat off. It had develop into an integral factor with me. And I didn’t wanna do it. However I needed to do it. ’Trigger he wrote it. ’Trigger he wrote a scene the place I’ve to take it off. It was so demeaning. It was so demoralizing. And I took the f*cking factor off, and I watched that scene many, many instances. And it’s humorous, ’trigger, you understand, it’s a defining second for Budd. As a result of for some purpose it provides Budd pathos. It provides him… He instantly turns into a person. He turns into an individual with a conscience. And he turns into an attention-grabbing man, and also you go “Wow, man, Budd’s not such a nasty man, is he? However the genius of him pondering to try this to him as an actor, that’s madness. I imply, that’s George Stevens. That’s John Ford. That’s Hitchcock. That’s a narrative that I’ve not informed many instances, however he knew, psychologically, that it was gonna come off that approach on the display screen. And I feel it gave Budd a morality within the piece when not many different characters have that.
DEADLINE: Nicely, speaking about morality, The Hateful Eight is a really attention-grabbing movie when it comes to morality. Everyone has a darkish aspect.
MADSEN: Yeah, once I first learn it, I wished to be John Ruth. And I bear in mind pondering, “Quentin, hey, no, I’m John Ruth, man. Who’s this Joe Gage particular person? I don’t wanna be the cowboy fellow, man. I wanna be John Ruth, man.” However then once I get to the half the place he’s f*cking throwing up blood on the ground, I’m going, “Oh properly, perhaps not…” [Laughs] And he, then I understand Joe Gage might be the very best position within the movie.
DEADLINE: Why do you say that?
MADSEN: Nicely, as a result of, to start with, he wrote it for me. And, you see, I used to be an enormous Steve McQueen fan. And I do know that Steve, he didn’t love to do rationalization. He didn’t wanna clarify plot. He didn’t wanna be the man who says, “Nicely, see, the explanation that buckboard’s arising the highway is as a result of… blah, blah, blah.” Steve’s not gonna do this. He’s simply gonna be the man that sits there. And also you surprise what the f*ck is on that man’s thoughts, y’know? And I’m a lot better that approach. I don’t wanna have so much to say. And so, Joe Gage, he’s there by means of the entire goddamn story. However he doesn’t actually have an entire lot to say. And also you don’t actually discover out why he’s even there till it rolls again and you discover out who he’s with and what they’re doing. And that appeals to me tremendously. I don’t wanna be all over with ten completely different monologues. There’s a variety of speaking in that film. I imply, Sam and Walt have a variety of dialogue, man. You already know, I don’t wanna be that man. I’m pleased to simply sit there and when the time comes… When the weapons come out, that’s the enjoyable half for me.
DEADLINE: It’s attention-grabbing that your character writes so much.
MADSEN: Nicely, I wrote 4 books. I’ve written 4 books of quick tales and poems and issues. Tales about my life once I was a little bit child. And Quentin is aware of it. ’Trigger I’ve given them to him. And it’s humorous, as a result of each time I’ve ever given him a guide, he’s by no means went, “Oh, Michael, wow, your books are nice.” He by no means mentioned a f*cking phrase. However now right here I’m, Joe Gage, and he goes, “So you understand why I made Joe do this?” I’m like, “No, I don’t know why.” He goes, “Since you’re a author, Michael. So, I wrote that within the half for you.” See so it’s like a private praise, that he allowed me to have my man do this. Despite the fact that he’s a f*cking butcher, let’s face it.
So how has it the shoot been? To begin with, what’s it been like with the 70mm digicam?
MADSEN: Nicely, I’m fascinated by it. I imply, I hate the digital sh*t. I hate the hi-def sh*t. The primary time I heard any individual on The Hateful Eight set say, “Test the gate,” it was like I virtually acquired a f*cking hard-on. I used to be like, “Oh my God, man.” My balls began to tingle. I used to be like, “Oh my God, verify the gate. Test the gate. Test the gate.” It was such an exquisite factor to listen to.
DEADLINE: When was the final time you’d heard that?
MADSEN: Most likely been about eight or 9 years perhaps since I’ve heard that. As a result of it’s all this silly digital sh*t. And I don’t prefer it in any respect. And it’s like crucifying what a film’s speculated to be, a film, man. And to be on the set, you understand, to see that nice massive, f*cking Panavision magazine field, man. You see that massive machine, you understand? It’s like, wow, man, wow. Wow, we’re making a film right here, you understand? There’s lenses that they’re utilizing that they final used on Ben-Hur for f*ck’s sake. Do you know that?
DEADLINE: Yeah.
MADSEN: I imply, I’m sitting there the opposite day, I’m sitting in entrance of the digicam and Bob Richardson is, like, the best. I imply, it’s not simply Quentin, you may have Bob capturing you. There’s a variety of nervousness that doesn’t exist. ’Trigger you understand he’s gonna get you. And you understand he’s gonna get you good, you understand? And I used to be him, and I had heard the factor concerning the Ben-Hur factor. And he’s all informal, Bob, and he’s simply sitting there, doing his factor. And I mentioned, “Is that this one of many ones that they used on Ben-Hur?” And he goes, “Yeah. And I’m going, “Proper.”
MADSEN: Y’know, who will get to try this? You already know what I imply? Cinemascope, Tremendous Cinerama, that’s what created films, y’know. And for Quentin to be the man who’s bringing that again is such an exquisite, wonderful factor. And he needs everyone to be chilly. He likes it that we’re right here within the chilly. He needs us to truly be chilly. And we f*cking are. You already know what I’m saying? The weather are what they’re. We’re truly within the parts; we’re not pretending to be chilly. We are f*cking chilly. You already know what I’m saying? And who else is gonna get away with that besides Quentin Tarantino? He informed us, “You guys. Pay attention, you’re gonna be chilly. We’re not placing any heaters in Minnie’s, OK?” And everybody’s like, “OK, Quentin.” However it’s f*cking freezing in there.
DEADLINE: It appeared fairly heat within the dailies.
MADSEN: Nicely, you get used to it. However you don’t should act such as you’re chilly simply ’trigger you might be f*cking chilly. Outdoors the home windows they’re blowing this faux snow, however they solely do this when it’s probably not snowing, simply to maintain it going. However it takes me an hour to dress. ’Trigger I acquired a variety of sh*t on. And by the point you get your f*cking pants on, and your gun, and your vest, and your sh*t, you begin to truly understand how robust it could be, or how robust it was, to truly dwell in that day and time and to be a kind of guys. Y’know, I mentioned the opposite day, after we have been sitting within the coach, “Are you able to think about what it could be prefer to journey 50 miles on this f*cking factor? It’s no surprise everyone’s killing one another.” I imply, no surprise they have been all killing one another. You understand what a troublesome, laborious life it actually should have been. And I feel Quentin’s into the realism of it — I imply, he needs it to essentially occur extra so than simply to fake it’s occurring. And he’s been that approach since Reservoir Canines.
DEADLINE: Nicely, this script jogged my memory a variety of Reservoir Canines…
MADSEN: I feel, in a very bizarre approach, it’s an homage to Reservoir Canines. To begin with, Tim and I are in it. I’m Mr. Blonde and he’s f*cking Mr. Orange, y’know? There’s a variety of bloodshed. It’s like a bizarre spaghetti western model of Reservoir Canines. Zoe Bell was Uma’s stunt double in Kill Invoice. There’s a scene in Kill Invoice when Budd’s in his trailer, and The Bride’s creeping round exterior. She’s acquired her sword; she flings open the door and he or she’s gonna are available and get me. I’m standing there with a shotgun — BLAM! — and I shoot her. That was Zoe Bell who took the ratchet and went up into the air. And now she’s within the f*cking Hateful Eight taking part in Six-Horse Judy. And I’m gonna shoot her once more. So, you see, there’s this bizarre continuity. Quentin has this insanely great approach of creating positive every little thing is related to one thing else.
Y’know, he’s seen movies of mine that I’ve by no means even seen myself. And he is aware of dialogue that I’ve mentioned that I don’t even bear in mind saying. He’ll carry it up out of nowhere in the midst of the day generally: “’Member that point, ’member once you mentioned that one line?” I’m like, “You noticed that?” “Oh yeah, I did, yeah.” Like, how the f*ck…? I did a TV collection known as Vengeance Limitless. And he’s seen each episode. He’s even put in strains that he’s heard me say in another obscure f*cking factor. ’Trigger he loves it.
DEADLINE: Going again to Reservoir Canines — how did you get entangled with that?
MADSEN: See, I don’t actually know. I did a film known as Kill Me Once more with Val Kilmer. And there’s a scene within the film the place I’ve a man tied up in a chair. And I’m hitting him with a baseball bat, then I’m going round behind him, and I minimize his throat in sluggish movement and his chair falls over. I’ve a reminiscence of him telling me that he noticed that, and that that’s why he thought-about me for Mr. Blonde. However then a pair years later, I went on a chat present, and somebody was asking me how I acquired Mr. Blonde. I informed that story — I mentioned, “Nicely, Quentin noticed me on this factor, Kill Me Once more.” After which once I noticed Quentin at his home, he goes, “Why the f*ck did you say that?” I’m going, “Nicely, you informed me that.” He goes, “No, I didn’t. That’s not why I forged you within the movie. I by no means even noticed that f*cking film.”
So, I don’t know. However I do know that I used to be at an company, one of many larger businesses, and so they despatched me the script. I learn it and I believed it was actually unbelievable. I mentioned, “Hey, man, I actually love this.” I had finished Thelma and Louise with Harvey Keitel. All of my scenes with Harvey, sadly, have been minimize out of the film. Not all of them, however me and Harvey had finished a couple of scenes collectively that weren’t within the movie, whether or not for plot purpose or timing or no matter. However I used to be actually unhappy that it was minimize out, as a result of I really like Harvey. He’s Godfather to my son Max. However once I heard that Harvey was gonna play Mr. White, I used to be like, “Oh my God, I’ve to do that.” And my brokers, consider it or not, they have been like, “You already know, no one is aware of this man, Quentin. He’s acquired no cash. No one’s gonna receives a commission. You may wanna take a cross.” And I used to be like, “No. Not solely am I not gonna take a cross, I’m gonna hearth you f*ckers. So, f*ck you, OK? ’Trigger Harvey Keitel is Mr. White. And I’m gonna go shoot with Harvey Keitel.” However I wished to play Mr. Pink.
DEADLINE: Actually? Why was that?
MADSEN: As a result of Mr. Pink had so many extra scenes with Harvey. Extra interplay. And I so very a lot wished to have that with Harvey. I hadn’t even met Quentin at this level. One of many producers known as me up and he goes, “Hey, man, what the f*ck is mistaken with you?” I’m like, “What do you imply?” They go, “You have got this position, Mr. Blonde. We’re providing you this position. What’s your downside?” And I’m going, “Nicely, you understand, I form of wanna play Mr. Pink. And so they have been like, “Oh my God. No, man, you’re not taking part in Mr. Pink. And I pushed it. In my naiveté! And eventually they known as me, they mentioned, “OK. Quentin’s at twentieth Century Fox. Harvey Keitel’s on the town. They’ll meet you within the bungalow behind Fox lot. And Quentin says that you could are available and you’ll learn for Mr. Pink.” So, I truly went in, and I auditioned for Mr. Pink. Despite the fact that Mr. Blonde was on the desk.
I went in there and that was the primary time I met Quentin. He was standing there. Harvey was sitting there. I bear in mind Harvey had naked toes for some purpose. I don’t know why. I keep in mind that. However Harvey was sitting there, and he was like, “Hey, Mike.” And I’m going, “Hey, man.” We hugged one another, ’trigger we hadn’t seen one another since Thelma and Louise. And Quentin’s like, “OK, let’s see what you bought. Go forward.” I had memorized all of Mr. Pink’s stuff, proper? And I used to be like, “Yeah, OK, watch this sh*t.” Harvey did it with me, and I believed I used to be actually getting there. I believed I actually acquired it. On the finish, Quentin seems at me and he goes, “Nope, you’re not Mr. Pink.” And I’m going, “Oh man. Oh man. Oh f*ck.” After which he goes, “I have already got Mr. Pink.” I’m going, “Who’s it?” He goes, “Nicely, it’s an actor in New York I met, his identify is Steve Buscemi.” And I mentioned, “Who the f*ck is Steve Buscemi?” He goes, “Nicely, no one is aware of him now, however they’ll. And he’s gonna be Mr. Pink.” After which he goes, “Right here’s the factor, you’re not Mr. Pink, you’re Mr. Blonde. And in case you’re not Mr. Blonde, you’re not within the film.”
DEADLINE: So, you took that shock properly!
MADSEN: Reluctantly, I took the position, which ended up, like, altering my life. I imply, it actually gave me a profession in movement photos. It actually did. I imply, I’ve finished some 160 movies. And the one ones that anyone ever needs to speak about are those that I made with Quentin. Particularly Canines.
DEADLINE: It’s been mentioned that you simply have been fairly uncomfortable with the violence in that movie.
MADSEN: No, it wasn’t that I used to be uncomfortable with it, it was I didn’t actually perceive what the large deal was. ’Trigger I didn’t actually see it as being so violent. I didn’t actually perceive what the large to-do was.
DEADLINE: And it’s been mentioned that you simply had hassle entering into character.
MADSEN: Oh no, there was just one half the place… [Pauses] See, Quentin permits me to improv. And he doesn’t do this with everyone. Actually. He actually doesn’t. For some purpose he lets me do stuff that isn’t scripted. And if he doesn’t prefer it, he’ll say, “Michael, no, you’re not gonna do this.” However there are issues that I’ve finished in Kill Invoice and in Canines [that he kept]. Like once I was talking within the [severed] ear. That was not within the script. I did that on the spur of the second, as a result of I used to be nervous. I minimize the ear off, and I walked into body with it, and I actually didn’t know what to do. Quentin was off-camera, and he was going, “Throw it. Toss it. Toss it. Throw it. Michael, throw it.” And I simply didn’t actually wanna throw it. I’d simply minimize this f*cking man’s ear off. You already know, why have I finished this horrible factor? So, I began speaking within the ear. And then I threw it.
Three days later, Quentin comes as much as me and he goes, “Ah, bear in mind once you have been speaking to the ear?” I’m going, “Yeah.” And he goes, “We’re gonna maintain it within the film.” So, y’know, he’s good that approach. However after we have been rehearsing the scene with Kirk Baltz [who plays the policeman], Kirk began going off on one, saying, “Don’t burn me, I’m a father, I’ve youngsters, oh God, I’ve little youngsters, don’t burn me up…” I mentioned, “Y’know, Quentin, I’ve performed villains and I’ll be a nasty man, however I gotta draw the road someplace. I’m not gonna kill any youngsters. I’m not gonna kill any ladies. That ain’t my factor, man. And if he’s gonna say that, if he’s gonna begin speaking about being a father and having children, there isn’t a f*cking approach that I’m gonna drop that Zippo. I’m not gonna mild him on hearth. As a person. As an actor. At the same time as Mr. f*cking Blonde. Someplace, the person has to have a conscience of some variety. And if he says that, man, I’m not gonna f*cking burn him up.” Then Quentin goes, “Nicely, truly, you don’t anyway, as a result of Tim shoots you. And I’m going, “OK, that’s true.”
DEADLINE: So, you didn’t find yourself having to play it…
MADSEN: I didn’t should do it. For me, it was like a James Cagney factor. As a result of in case you watch Angels with Soiled Faces, Jimmy Cagney, he performs Rocky Sullivan, and the Bowery Boys are in it. He’s a gangster and he’s, like, the large hero to all of the juvenile delinquent children. And on the finish of the film, he goes to the electrical chair. Pat O’Brien involves him and says, “Rocky, pay attention, I would like you to show rooster. I would like you to be yellow. I would like you to be scared once they throw the swap. Be scared. You already know, do it for the boys. ’Trigger they assume you’re supercool and so they’re gonna develop up such as you. Don’t do it. Exit like a f*cking rat.” And he goes, “Ah, f*ck you, Father,” and he punches the guard. “F*ck you, man!”
They put him within the chair and there’s this excellent, great shot the place you don’t see him, however there’s a shadow on the wall. And impulsively, man, you understand it’s about to occur. Rapidly, Cagney begins this mournful sound: “I don’t wanna die. Please don’t kill me.” It’s so unbelievable. Oh my God. After which it leaves you with that query in your thoughts — was he actually afraid to die? Or did he do this for the boys, ’trigger he knew what he was, and he didn’t need them to develop up and face that very same destiny? Now, I had learn Cagney’s biography, and in his biography the particular person writing it, the ghostwriter, no matter that’s, requested him what did. He requested, “Did your character do this for the boys or was he f*cking scared to die?” And Cagney goes, “That’s a query that I’ll by no means reply.” And it’s the identical for me, with Canines. You may hear Kirk faintly say one thing about having youngsters and being a father. After which I get shot. So, for me, it’s like, “OK, when Mr. Blond heard that, would he have set the cop on hearth? Would I set him on hearth?” That was my little Cagney second. I acquired that from Quentin, see. The great thing about that form of unanswerable query.
DEADLINE: He’s very keen on that.
MADSEN: Huh?
DEADLINE: The suitcase in Pulp Fiction, as an example.
MADSEN: Oh, in fact. He wrote Vincent for me. I used to be speculated to do Pulp Fiction. However what occurred is. Promise me that you simply’ll write this, only for the f*cking document, man.
DEADLINE: OK.
MADSEN: You already know what, I used to be capturing a film known as The Getaway. I had 4 days off throughout that film. I actually wished to see my son, Christian. And it was Father’s Day. I wished to go to LA, and I wished to see my son for Father’s Day. I left Phoenix, Arizona, I went to LA, I noticed my son. Had an exquisite, good afternoon. It was a fantastic, great Father Day. And my agent mentioned, “Oh, you’re in LA.” I’m going, “Yeah, man. And he goes Larry Kasdan needs to see you.” And I mentioned, “For what?” And he goes, “He’s making Wyatt Earp.” And I’m going, “Wow. Nicely, f*ck, man, I wanna be Doc Holliday.” Man, I wished to be Doc Holliday. Due to Kirk Douglas. Kirk Douglas in Gunfight on the OK Corral is the best f*cking Doc Holliday that anyone’s ever performed and no one will ever do it any higher. A part of me was like, “Come on, man. You may’t contact it.” However I wished to do it. I wished to strive it. That was my boyhood dream — to be Doc Holliday, man. I believed, man, “I can smoke this f*cker, man. I’ll be so good. I do know what to do.” So, I went to see Larry. I sat in his workplace, and I mentioned, “Hey, man, I mentioned, I gotta return to Arizona, I’m capturing this f*cking film known as The Getaway. And, you understand, I wanna play Doc Holliday.
He began laughing, and he leans ahead, he goes, “Now, properly, Michael, I have already got one other actor to be Doc Holliday, and y’know, it’s not gonna occur.” I’m going, “Nicely who’s it?” He goes, “Oh it’s Dennis Quaid.” I began to rise up and he goes, “How about Virgil? What do you consider Virgil?” Then I noticed, properly, Virgil, he walks down the OK Corral, doesn’t he? So, in my thoughts I’m pondering, wow, man, I’m gonna stroll down the OK Corral. I’m gonna repeat Western historical past, man. I did Reservoir Canines, and I did The Getaway and I’m taking part in all these savages. Now I’m gonna be Virgil Earp, man. And I’m gonna stroll down the OK f*cking Corral. And I mentioned, “Yeah, Larry, completely I’ll do it.” Proper then and there I mentioned, sure, I’d do it.
The following day, I used to be at CAA. They wrote up my contracts and signed me as much as play Virgil Earp in Wyatt Earp. I went again to Arizona; I completed The Getaway. I went to New York to do publicity for The Getaway. And Quentin rang me up and requested me if I’d learn a script. I used to be on the Regency Resort in Manhattan, and the f*cking script was on the concierge. I learn it and I believed, Holy sh*t, y’know? It was fairly goddamn good. So, I known as my agent, and I mentioned, “Hey, man, I acquired this factor from Quentin.” And he mentioned, “Nicely, you may as properly neglect it.” I used to be like, “Nicely, why is that?” “’Trigger you’re doing Wyatt Earp.” I couldn’t get out of it. Larry wished two and a half weeks of rehearsal earlier than capturing the film. Which in my thoughts was a whole and whole waste of time. And if they might have let me out of the rehearsal time, I might have finished each films. However he wouldn’t do it. Larry wouldn’t do it.
Y’know, if Wyatt Earp had turned out to be some massive Academy Award-winning film, I might have been genius, proper, ’trigger I didn’t do the gangster image. However then once more, if I had finished it, no matter would have occurred to John Travolta? ’Trigger he was doing films about infants speaking. He was over. You already know what I’m saying? So, you understand, I simply had this dialog with Quentin in Cannes final 12 months. We have been driving in a automobile, me and him. And he was saying, “What in case you had been Vincent?” And I’m going, “Nicely, y’know, I considered it a variety of instances.” He goes, “Michael, the factor is it could have been a special film.” I mentioned, “It might. However Quentin, actually — would it not have been the large factor that it was with out Travolta?” Wasn’t that a part of the entire thing, that John got here out of obscurity? He had the lengthy hair. It was this large factor. And actually individuals began taking a a lot larger take a look at Reservoir Canines due to Pulp Fiction. So, initially, it was Larry Fishburne and me. Larry Fishburne turned it down. And that’s when he went to [Travolta and] Sam [Jackson]. However I couldn’t do it as a result of I used to be below contract for Wyatt Earp. And all these years, man, it’s this factor. This lingering factor. No, man, I didn’t flip it down. And if I had finished it, it could have been a special factor. I wouldn’t have performed it that approach. I wouldn’t have finished it like that. It might have been a special factor. And it could have been a special film.
DEADLINE: It’s attention-grabbing, it seems like an much more completely different movie now as a result of neither Travolta nor Bruce Willis are as well-known as they have been again then. It seems much more like a personality piece.
MADSEN: Yeah. I noticed it on the seaside in Cannes at an out of doors screening.
DEADLINE: I used to be there; I noticed it.
MADSEN: OK, I imply, it was fairly mind-boggling. And body by body… I can’t assist it. Quentin informed me the identical factor, he goes, “I’ve at all times imagined you in all these scenes.” And I watch the film and I form of I understand what I might have finished that may have been a bit completely different. I feel it could have been a little bit extra edgy.
DEADLINE: Travolta performs him as fairly dopey…
MADSEN: Yeah, yeah. I had by no means met John till Cannes of final 12 months. I used to be at an out of doors cocktail factor. I walked in and I used to be wanting round and somebody mentioned, “Oh, hey, Quentin’s over there.” So, I walked across the nook and there’s Quentin, however he’s sitting with John. And I had by no means met John earlier than. It was so awkward. I used to be like, “Oh f*ck, man.” However I wasn’t gonna cease and switch round. So, I went proper as much as the desk. And John stood up. He stood up, and as I walked over, he hugged me. It was such an odd second. It was very unusual. You already know, it had develop into a turning level in each of our lives. It was so weird. ’Trigger Quentin, for years, has been threatening to make this film known as The Vega Brothers with me and John. Actually, I requested him the opposite day, “I’m going, Quentin, let me simply ask you flat out, are we ever going to essentially make The Vega Brothers?” And he goes, “Nicely, not until somebody invents a time machine. However I undoubtedly wanna do one thing with you guys. There’s one thing about you two guys collectively that I seen that day once you met. There’s one thing there. And it’s in my mind.” I went, “Nicely, OK.”
DEADLINE: You began out with Quentin when no one knew who he was. Is he extra assured now, or has he at all times been assured?
MADSEN: He’s precisely the identical as he was in Reservoir Canines, he simply has so much larger toys. He’s acquired a a lot larger stage to play on. However he’s precisely the identical. His vitality to me is wonderful. He’s so excited, and he loves making films. It’s so good to be round that form of vitality. In case you work on a movie, often you go in and also you’re form of like, “Nicely, y’know, man, I don’t know — this factor may not be so good.” However once you’re working with Quentin you already know that it’s gonna be good. All of the nervousness is gone. ’Trigger you understand it’s gonna be one thing: that is in all probability gonna be good. And it’s due to him. Y’know, he has this boyish masculinity. He loves what he does, man. He loves each minute of it. And he laughs at his personal materials. Which makes me snicker, ’trigger he’s laughing at one thing that he truly wrote.
To me that’s actually humorous. It’s like we crack up collectively so much. He has this loopy form of drive to essentially make issues actual and make it work. And he’s the one man who’s efficiently been in a position to be part of collectively horrendous violence with an odd, unusual undertone of humor. Everyone’s been making an attempt to repeat him for 20 f*cking years, and no one can do it. They will’t get there. They’ll by no means have the ability to do it. In case you watch tv, any day you watch TV, they’ll be some individuals strolling in sluggish movement in a f*cking toothpaste industrial. Or they’ll use some jingle from Kill Invoice or some sports activities factor or one thing. His films have been injected into the human psyche. And folks assume they will copy it, y’know. And so they can’t for some purpose. You already know, Sally Menke, who sadly died?
DEADLINE: I met Sally, sure.
MADSEN: Nicely, you understand, it’s a trigger of huge unhappiness in my life that I by no means actually acquired to know Sally that properly. Again within the day, I used to be a reasonably… I used to be form of… I used to be… I don’t know what the phrase for it’s, however I used to be…
DEADLINE: Exacting?
MADSEN: Huh?
DEADLINE: Exacting? Demanding?
MADSEN: No, I used to be simply… I used to be very impatient. I acquired it from my dad. I used to be an impatient cat. And I simply didn’t actually have a variety of time for something. And I simply was extremely cynical. And I by no means actually acquired to know Sally. However she was Quentin’s goddess of modifying. I imply, the 2 of them collectively have been such a power. They knew how one can minimize me. I bear in mind her saying to me as soon as, “Michael, you may have all form of issues that you simply do. After we watch your stuff, we attempt to seize sure issues that you simply do and put them in there.” And since she had recognized me, over time, she was in all probability chargeable for getting sure issues. I used to be so unhappy when she I heard that she handed away. That’s simply blew me down. It was so f*cking unhappy. I do know for Quentin, it should have been actually unhappy too ’trigger he misplaced one in every of his key gamers. And everyone was like, whoa, what’s gonna occur to Quentin? However clearly he’s persevering.
DEADLINE: Yeah.
MADSEN: He’s acquired Bob [Richardson] now. You already know, Andrzej Sekula did Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Canines. However now he’s with Bob and, between the 2 of them, they’ve 5 Academy Awards. Holy sh*t, man. That’s fairly good. Perhaps I’ll get a kind of. I feel it’s time for me to get a little bit trophy.
DEADLINE: Quentin likes to have an journey together with his productions. He went to Santa Barbara for Demise Proof, Germany for Inglourious Basterds, Japan for Kill Invoice. You didn’t journey to Japan, did you?
MADSEN: I used to be gonna go to Beijing ’trigger I used to be gonna play Mister Barrel. However he swapped me out for Budd, so I didn’t find yourself going.
Besides, you’re in a really abandoned setting. The place does Budd dwell?
MADSEN: In Barstow.
DEADLINE: Yeah. It’s away from the town, is what I’m saying.
MADSEN: Yeah, the desert. Yeah.
DEADLINE: Yeah. I simply surprise if that’s attention-grabbing for you as an actor…
MADSEN: Oh yeah, it’s part of the entire journey. I imply, take a look at this, man. I’m from Chicago. I’m a f*cking blue-collar child from Chicago. I used to be an auto mechanic, man, y’know? I imply, what the f*ck am I doing in Telluride? Y’know, with ski individuals, Making a film. It’s a part of the entire thing. It’s large, and he is aware of it. Quentin does these items on function. He is aware of that the setting creates a actuality. Like, I’m Joe Gage, all proper? And once I go on the set, let’s simply say that I might have a drawer. If I open that f*cking drawer, there’s gonna be stuff in there that Joe Gage would have. That you could be by no means, ever see on display screen. It’d by no means be within the film. However it’s there. It’s there ’trigger Quentin put it there. ’Trigger he wished it to be there. He creates this after we have been doing wardrobe — once you go in in your becoming, he has mannequins with the opposite characters’ wardrobe on. So, once I’m getting wearing my sh*t, I’m within the room with my gang. With the outlaws. They’re proper there with me. On mannequins, however they’re there, you understand what I’m saying?
It’s loopy. It’s madness. However how great it’s, proper? He had this little doll known as Johnny West. Or not less than I feel he was known as Johnny West. That’s a plastic doll that he had known as Johnny West. And goddamn it, he was like, “That is Michael Madsen.” He gave it to wardrobe, saying, “That is Michael Madsen. And so they made my garments precisely like this f*cking doll.
DEADLINE: What kind of doll was it?
MADSEN: Like, a GI Joe-size cowboy character. Do you know that in his home he truly has the video retailer that he labored in? He purchased your complete contents of the shop. The stock, the cabinets, the f*cking calendar, the f*cking money register. And he put it in a room in his home. So, once you go in his f*cking home, he’ll take you proper upstairs, you go in it and also you’re within the video retailer that he labored in. ’Trigger he purchased all of the sh*t. He has all of the VHSes and the f*cking Beta tapes… Oh my God. He has the bar from Kill Invoice. Bear in mind the bar the place Gogo stabs that man within the stomach?
DEADLINE: Yeah.
MADSEN: OK. He has that bar within the basement of his home. He had it dismantled and shipped from f*cking China to his home. And rebuilt it down in his f*cking basement. I imply, he has a recreation room the place he has all video games and lunchboxes. All this loopy memorabilia from Kung Fu and from The Rifleman and from Bonanza and simply essentially the most obscure sh*t you ever imagined. Whoever even knew they made a board recreation for a few of these reveals, y’know? And my character is that this unbelievable mixture of characters like The Virginian. We talked about The Virginian. And I introduced up Vera Cruz with Burt Lancaster. I wished my hat to be like Burt Lancaster’s hat in Vera Cruz, and that’s precisely the f*cking hat that I’ve. I actually appreciated The Virginian, ’trigger he at all times had that super-cool black vest. And in addition Nick Barkley, who was performed by Peter Breck in The Massive Valley. I wished to do some Nick Barkley. I wished to do some Virginian. I wished to do some Burt Lancaster — these are the characters that have been put collectively for Michael Madsen to be Joe Gage.
Who else does that? I imply, what an exquisite factor, to have all that going for you. You already know, to be in a cowboy film, paying homage to the fellows that you simply watched — the fellows that have been in your reminiscence as characters. And even the character’s identify. My different character identify [in The Hateful Eight] moreover Joe Gage is Grouch Douglas. Quentin is aware of I really like Kirk [Douglas], proper? I mentioned, “You named me f*cking Grouch Douglas as a result of you understand I like Kirk, don’t you?” He mentioned, “Oh yeah, in fact.” So, you understand, I even acquired that. It’s an exquisite factor, man. It’s a present that you simply get. My little son is right here [in Telluride]. My spouse and my son are right here, and I really feel just like the hand of God is like on my shoulder, y’know? Like, “I gotcha, Mike,” you understand what I imply?
DEADLINE: Is it true you began in theater?
MADSEN: Huh?
DEADLINE: You began with theatre, didn’t you?
MADSEN: Nicely, you understand, that entire factor form of acquired blown out of proportion. I imply, I did perhaps about two months with Steppenwolf in Chicago. I did some scene-study lessons. However that’s all.
DEADLINE: So it wasn’t an enormous deal?
MADSEN: Nah, it wasn’t what it was made out to be on the web. There’s a lot bullsh*t on the web. It’s all bullsh*t. The whole lot they are saying about me on there may be all a crock of f*cking bullsh*t. I went there for about two months. I used to be very, very impatient. I wished to get on with sh*t, OK? I wished to go to New York. I went to New York, and I met Sergio Leone. Like, Sergio Leone walked round his home in a gown with an enormous pot of pasta. Consuming it out of the pot with a fork. Talking in Italian. Telling me I must be an actor — I must be an actor. He informed me that I reminded him of Henry Fonda. I imply, what a praise from him, proper? He wished to place me in a film.
I stayed at his home in his brownstone, and he lived proper subsequent door to Katharine Hepburn. In the future he calls me upstairs. I’m going upstairs. He seems over the sting, and I look over the sting. He didn’t converse a variety of English, so he had an interpreter named Brian. Brian would inform me what he mentioned. I look over and I see this previous girl with this massive hat, and he or she’s gardening. And he goes, “Hepburn, Hepburn, Hepburn.” I checked out Brian and he goes, “Yeah, man, that’s her. That’s Katharine Hepburn.” He lived proper subsequent door to Katharine Hepburn. F*cking dwelling in New York, proper? It was so wonderful. I’m going, “What’s she doing?” And in Italian he mentioned, “Oh, she’s selecting up sticks.” And she or he was — she was selecting up all these tiny little twigs out of the backyard, for some purpose. And he informed me, “Michael, you ought to be an actor.” In Italian. I used to be a really younger man. I didn’t know what the f*ck I used to be doing. I used to be fixing vehicles at Joe Jacobs’ Chevrolet [in Illinois].
DEADLINE: So how did you meet Leone?
MADSEN: Nicely, this actually bizarre factor occurred. It was my sister Virginia, who, y’know, acquired nominated for f*cking Sideways.
DEADLINE: Oh yeah.
MADSEN: She had an agent, ’trigger she was doing singing telegrams. And she or he was doing theater. I had went with a buddy of mine, I used to be going to highschool to be a paramedic, ’trigger I believed perhaps I might make more cash than fixing vehicles. My father was a firefighter, and my dad actually wished me to be a cop or a firefighter. So, I figured I’d be a paramedic. Y’know, I believed it’d be cool using in an ambulance and saving individuals — that form of factor. However this child that I went to highschool with was an actor. His identify is Chip. And he requested me to go along with him to this audition, ’trigger we used to trip the practice collectively to go to highschool. So, I mentioned, “OK, man.” I went with him to this factor. And there was like 50 guys on this massive auditorium. There have been individuals from LA.
They have been casting a film known as WarGames. I watched these guys go down one after the other and so they’d sit down on the desk, and so they’d learn. Then, 10 seconds later, the individuals doing the auditions are like, “That’s nice. Goodbye.” And these guys would stroll out all unhappy. Chip went down there, he mentioned two phrases, and so they have been like, “Thanks very a lot. Thanks.” I believed it was so humorous. When he’d completed, I acquired as much as go, ’trigger we have been leaving collectively. We’re strolling out the door. And this man was sitting there ± Marty Brest is who it was. Who later did Scent of a Girl and all this different stuff. He was sitting there, and he goes, “Hey, the place are you going?” In entrance of all these individuals. And I’m going, “We’re leaving.” And he goes, “Why?” I mentioned, “What do you imply, why?” He goes, “Why didn’t you learn?” And I’m going, man, I didn’t come right here for that, man. And he goes, “Are you an actor?” And I’m going, “No, man.” He goes, “Oh, is that this your buddy?” I’m going, “Yeah, man. And he goes, “Do you wanna learn?” I’m going, “Nicely I don’t know. Probably not. I’m positive I’m not gonna sit down at that f*cking desk, I’ll let you know that.” And he goes, “Nicely, we’ll do it over right here. Let’s go over right here and do it over right here away from everyone.” And I used to be like, “Wow, OK.”
In the meantime Chip needs to kill me. Y’know, I do know now why, however I didn’t perceive why he was mad then. He was like, “You f*cking asshole. You’re gonna do it, aren’t you?” And I’m going, “Nicely yeah, man.” So, I went over, we set these steel chairs, and we sat down, and he gave me two pages to learn. He goes, “OK, I’m this man and also you’re that man.” And I learn it with him. He says, you understand, “Have you ever ever considered being an actor?” And I mentioned, “No, man. I imply, I like Humphrey Bogart and I actually like Robert Mitchum, and I get what they’re doing. I perceive it.” He goes, “You already know, in case you went to LA or New York, you’d get work as an actor.” I mentioned, “You assume so?” And he goes, “Yeah.” I mentioned, “Nicely, buddy, you understand what, man? I acquired about $400 to my identify, so the possibilities of that occuring are f*cking non-existent, OK? It ain’t gonna occur.” He goes, “You already know what an agent is?” I’m going, “Yeah, yeah, my sister has an agent.” He goes “Oh what’s her identify? And I informed him. He goes, “I do know her.” I’m going, “Oh you do?” He goes, “Oh yeah.” And he goes, “So if I wished to succeed in you, I might attain you thru her?” I went, “Yeah, positive.”
And, like, every week later, my sister is available in the home — my sister who had been doing theater all by means of highschool, and singing telegrams, and having voice classes, with Marilyn Monroe posters in her room, whereas there’s me stealing vehicles and, y’know, simply doin’ unhealthy stuff. She is available in the home, and he or she goes, “Did you meet some individuals from LA?” And I’m going yeah. And she or he goes, “Nicely my agent needs to speak to you.”
I used to be like, “Actually?” She goes, “Yeah.” So, I took the f*cking practice down there. I went in her workplace, and he or she goes, “You already know these individuals from California, they wanna provide you with an element in a film?” And I mentioned, “What, are you insane?” She goes, “No, no. It’s a small scene that takes place to start with of the movie. You’re a soldier in a missile silo. You and your buddy should concurrently flip keys to launch a ballistic missile. And your associate chickens out and he can’t do it.” John Spencer was the opposite actor. She goes, “Do you wanna do it?” I’m going, “F*ck. In entrance of a digicam? Oh my God. Oh, my sh*t, man.” She goes. “They’ll fly you to LA, they’ll put you up in a resort, and so they’re gonna provide you with $900. And I used to be like, “Holy f*ck, man. Holy sh*t, man.” Then she goes, “However there’s one factor they need you to do.” I’m going, “Oh my God, what’s that?” And she or he had a kind of f*cking camcorders. Bear in mind these goddamn issues the place you set the VHS tape in it, proper?
DEADLINE: Yeah.
MADSEN: And she or he will get it out and he or she places it on the desk. She factors it at me, and he or she goes, “Simply inform a narrative.” I’m going, “Inform a narrative about what?” And she or he goes, “Michael, I don’t know. Simply make one thing up. I don’t care. I’m gonna begin it and I would like you to simply speak.”
DEADLINE: What did you do?
MADSEN: A few week earlier than that, I had been on this little diner. And this man sitting subsequent to me was being an actual asshole to the waitress. Simply being a dick, man. I simply let it go on for some time, whereas I used to be consuming, however I used to be getting offended. She was form of cute, y’know. So lastly, I took the mustard pot and I went [he makes a whooshing sound] I shot it proper in his face. And I informed the story of doing that. And she or he despatched that f*cking tape to Cis Corman who was Sergio Leone’s casting director. I don’t know why she did that or why that occurred, you understand. However shortly thereafter, they flew me to New York.
They f*cking put me on a airplane and… I’d by no means been out of Chicago. I went to New York Metropolis. Sergio Leone wished to satisfy me. And I stayed at his goddamn home, man. He informed me he wished to place me in movie. After which, sadly, he died. After which I went to California and did this silly f*cking factor — WarGames. I didn’t wanna return to Chicago. No f*cking approach. So, I acquired a newspaper, and I appeared within the need adverts within the newspaper, ’trigger I knew that I might get a job at a gasoline station anyplace on the planet Earth. And there was a full-service gasoline station attendant wanted in Beverly Hills. On the Union 76. At Crescent Drive and little Santa Monica Boulevard. And the second day I used to be in California, I f*cking went there and I utilized for the job, and I acquired employed. I went to MGM Studios, and I shot WarGames. They nonetheless had the large neon lion up on prime, y’know, with the large numbers on the soundstages. And the primary time I… [Madsen chokes up.]
DEADLINE: Are you OK?
MADSEN: Yeah, no, I’m fantastic. It was raining. It was raining the primary day I acquired there. I’ll always remember it. I needed to take a taxi. And I acquired out of the cab, and it was raining so laborious. I couldn’t consider it was occurring.
DEADLINE: So, you form of caught the tail finish of previous Hollywood…
MADSEN: Oh positive, Schwab’s was nonetheless there. Schwab’s was on the nook of Laurel Canyon and Sundown. I used to go in Schwab’s daily and have lunch in there. I went to Bartels’ Harley-Davidson once they have been on Washington Boulevard, and I acquired my first bike. I acquired my first Harley, my ’74 Sportster. And I had a job on the gasoline station. So, by the point I acquired finished with WarGames, I made sufficient cash on that factor to hire a little bit condo. I had an condo up by Griffith Park up on Western and Franklin. I had my f*cking motorcycle, and I might drive daily to Beverly Hills to go pumping gasoline. I drove a tow truck. And I modified flat tires.
DEADLINE: Did you pursue films on the similar time?
MADSEN: Nicely, I didn’t know what to do. See, lots of people used to come back in there. Warren Beatty would are available there. Jack Lemmon would are available there. Jack Lemmon would roll up in his f*cking MG and I’d give him gasoline in his f*cking automobile. Warren Beatty would are available actually late at evening and he would at all times use the payphone inside. No one had cell telephones again then, so he’d go in and he’d put change within the f*cking cellphone, and he’d be on the cellphone. He’d come again out and he’d stare at me, you understand. And he requested me one time, “Are you an actor?” And I’m going, “Yeah, properly I’ve finished a little bit,” and he goes, “Actually?” And I’m going, “Oh yeah.” He goes, “Do you may have any headshots?” And I’m going, “Nah, I don’t.” And he goes, “Nicely you must, you gotta get a few of these.” I’m going, “OK, man.” And he goes, “You already know, in case you ever do this, ship one over to my workplace.” I’m going, “OK, Warren Beatty, the place is your goddamn workplace? “And he goes, “Oh, it’s at Paramount…”
Don Knotts used to come back in there. Cicely Tyson would are available there. Peter Falk would are available there. All these individuals I had seen in films my entire life would are available there; I’m pumping gasoline of their f*cking vehicles. I used to be wiping their goddamn f*cking windshields, you understand? There was one specific lady — we grew to become keen on one another. And she or he would are available and, y’know, she often had a little bit quick skirt on. I used to be pleased to scrub that window! I began staying at her home once in a while, and he or she launched me to an agent. And it was Andy Friedman, with the Smith and Friedman Company, and so they began submitting me for episodic tv. I did St. Elsewhere, I did Miami Vice and Tour of Obligation, Jake and the Fatman. And Cagney and Lacey. The episode of Cagney and Lacey I did, Tyne Daly gained an Emmy for. Didn’t even point out my identify when she acquired her Emmy. And I used to be so… I bear in mind feeling so form of like… Wow. It wasn’t concerning the ego or the celebrity, I simply thought, “Wow.” The entire episode was about me and her. And she or he gained an Emmy for the f*cking factor, and he or she didn’t even say something about me. And that was my first realization about Hollywood, proper? The insidiousness of the entire f*cking factor.
DEADLINE: However you appeared to get by means of it…
MADSEN: Nicely, I saved pumping gasoline. I bear in mind once I acquired Thelma and Louise. I informed my boss, I’m going, “Hey, man, look I acquired this film and I’m gonna go do it.” And he goes, “Y’know, why didn’t you inform us you have been an actor after we employed you? Goddamn it.” I used to be like, “Nicely I didn’t actually assume I used to be, man.” And he goes, “We want you round right here, Michael. Make up your f*cking thoughts. The possibilities of you making it any additional are a billion to 1. You bought these silly TV reveals you retain taking day without work to do and now you’re gonna go and do a f*cking film, is that it?” I used to be like, “Yeah.” And he goes, “Nicely goddamn it, you’re fired.” I used to be like, “Oh man. You give me two {dollars} and 50 cents an hour and I acquired my little motorcycle over there. And I dwell up on Western and Franklin. I feel I’ll take my shot. I’ll take my likelihood, proper?”
DEADLINE: So, what retains you within the enterprise?
MADSEN: LA is a festering wound. It’s a festering wound that has gangrene. Y’know, LA is all about crucifying. Constructing individuals up after which crucifying them. They discover out one thing adverse about you and so they fry you on the f*cking griddle, man. And so they like it, y’know. However I don’t give a sh*t, ’trigger I’ve at all times stayed employed and I’ve at all times saved working. I’ve 5 sons. I’ve been married 3 times. I might have finished with out that, however my spouse and my sons are every little thing to me, and I’ve been in a position to give them a fantastic life due to what I do. I’ve been everywhere in the f*cking world. Who will get to go all world wide? Who will get to try this? Just a few dumbass, f*cking juvenile delinquent from Chicago. I’ve been in all places. I’ve been everywhere in the f*cking planet making films. Rumors of my demise are tremendously exaggerated.
DEADLINE: Do you may have any regrets?
MADSEN: I don’t remorse not doing Pulp Fiction. However I do remorse making Wyatt Earp. As a result of I can’t say something good about Wyatt Earp, y’know? It’s boring. It’s lengthy. It’s silly and boring. It’s an enormous close-up of Kevin for 3 f*cking hours. I bear in mind I acquired the quote of the day one time. I acquired the quote of the day on the decision sheet: “There’s a rumor that Wyatt had some brothers.” Y’know, I want I might say one thing good about it, as a result of the one f*cking purpose I did it’s ‘trigger I wished to stroll down that goddamn avenue to the OK Corral. If I had recognized how lengthy it was gonna take to stroll down there, man… We did it, like, 10 instances. And if I knew that the film was gonna be that f*cking boring and silly, I might fairly have rode the horses down there — taken a f*cking taxicab or one thing else.
However no, Quentin’s photos are… there’s one thing very individualistic about every one in every of them, everybody that he’s finished. I occur to really feel like I’ve been in the very best of his work. I’ve been very fortunate to be in the very best ones that he’s made. Kill Invoice is ridiculously nice. It’s higher than anyone even provides it credit score for. Django — I wished to play Calvin in Django. I wished Leo DiCaprio’s half. To me that may have been the best half within the movie. Clearly, that didn’t occur. However, you understand, Canines was his first shot, man, and to be in that was a reasonably goddamn, fairly cool factor, and over time it simply will get larger and larger and larger and larger. And now in The Hateful Eight, I’ve actually come full circle with him. Richard Gladstein was the producer of Reservoir Canines and Quentin acquired him again for Hateful Eight. Now that’s fairly cool, proper. I imply, it’s a pleasant, good package deal. It’s an exquisite blessing.
