EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with YANKS Co-Star LISA EICHHORN
By Mark Sheppard
On the 40th anniversary of the fifilm itself, we thought it was only right to bring you an exclusive interview with one of the fifilms leading stars, the one and only Lisa Eichhorn. Our very own feature writer and friend of Lisa, Mark Sheppard managed to grab a chat with the fifilm star from her home in the US.
Forty years since the release of the movie ‘Yanks’, in which you starred with Richard Gere, what particular memories do you recall?
I remember the sense of responsibility I felt toward John Schlesinger for giving me the opportunity and to myself for wanting to create a character that was truthful. And, I remember the kindness of the people and the places where we fifilmed.They are etched into my memory like old friends.
In 2014, you visited Stalybridge with co-star Wendy Morgan to an exhibition ofYank’s memorabilia,presented by myself and Joyce Raven, and then in August to Saddleworth for the Yanks weekend, with us once again, it must have brought back many fifine memories?
I’ve had the privilege of working in the North of England
more than half a dozen times in my career. I’ve worked at the
Royal Exchange Theatre several times, in and around
Manchester on “Cracker”, as well as last autumn in Yorkshire
on the yet to be released “Deus.” I have always loved working in the North and every time I come I have fond memories. Obviously,YANKS is very, very special because it was my fifirst fifilm and my fifirst time in the North.
When I read the original script, I noted there had been some alterations in the actual fifilm, Did you improvise some scenes during the making of the movie, or did it involve ongoing re-writes?
I didn’t improvise a single word or scene. I wouldn’t have presumed to do that so early in my career. It was only years later working on new plays or low budget fifilms that because of my experience I might have been invited to collaborate in that way.
I believe you fifirst met Director John Schlesinger for the role of the Shop girl Jean Moreton in December 1977, How did that come about?
My agent was eager for me to start doing fifilm work. I’d already met Jack Clayton and been cast for a project that got cancelled, so,YANKS was the next. It was also a big deal because of the subject matter and John’s intentions to discover a new Julie Christie.
You were nominated for a Golden Globe award for best actress, and also for best new star, for your role in Yanks. This must have been one of the major highlights of your career? But I also note you were nominated for a BAFTA, in your next fifilm the Merchant-Ivory production ‘The Europeans’ which you fifilmed in Boston I believe.A very proud moment for you?
Honestly, I was naive about the benefifit of winning awards at that time. I’d studied at RADA and been in England long enough to know that you just “carried on.”These days social media has changed everything. I dare say I would have had or been taught to have a different response to promoting my career now with the early opportunities I received then. I was proud of my achievements but unprepared for campaigning. Some lessons in life are learned later.
You were the Producer, co-writer, of the fifilm ‘Defenders of Riga’ Latvia’s offificial
entry to the 2009 Academy Awards, Did you attend this, and who did you meet?
No, I didn’t go and in the end, the fifilm failed to make the fifinal cut of entries.The Latvianproducer declined my help in Hollywood until it was too late to help promote the picturein any timely fashion. I don’t mean to be unkind, but the entire saga of the making of thafifilm and the producer coming back to me after I had offered my help the year beforewould make an article on its own.
Lisa,You have starred in movies such as ‘Cutters Way’ with Jeff Bridges, which youwon the Best Actress Award ( American Division ) Deauville fifilm festival. A proudmoment no doubt? In fact, it was deemed as the most underrated performance othe decade by the American Film Institute?
Yes, I’m proud of my work in CUTTER’S WAY and at that time for whatever reason, read about the Best Actress win long after it had happened.At that time festivals were nothe career-shaping, buzz-creating, fashion hyping vehicles that they have become.
You have appeared in many fifilms such as ‘The Wall’ also‘The Vanishing’, Moon 44,’ The Talented Mr Ripleyhowever one of my favourite movies you starred in wa‘A Modern Affair’ distributed by TriStar. Why has it onlybeen seen by so few? In fact, it won The Long IslandFestival Audience Award.
A MODERN AFFAIR is one of my favourite characters.Thefifilm was done for very little money by Vern Oakley and awith other fifilms having completed the project, there was noan equal amount of money to market it.
You are described as an Actress, Writer, and Produceand one of your passions is the Theatre, Having appearedin many productions both in the UK includingManchester, and the USA, however, you once mentionedto me in the past, that playing Joyce Gresham in‘Shadowlands’ based on C.S. Lewis was a favourite roleof yours?
I believe as an actress or actor one is fortunate in a career to have even a handful oroles that satisfy all elements of production and casting, where the cast gels and aresimpatico and the production design lifts the material to what I would call special. Jo Readdid that at Salisbury Playhouse with SHADOWLANDS. Audience members came backmultiple times to see that production often coming up to me after the performance withtears streaming down their faces. I’ve experienced that at the Royal Exchange, durinMISFITS as well.
Is it true that the late Alan Rickman who would later play the Sheriff in ‘RobinHood Prince of Thieves’ encouraged you to audition at RADA to become anactress?
Yes, we met at a cocktail party given by his Latymer Upper School English teacher.Wehit it off immediately. I still have letters from him telling me how special my performanceis inYANKS and not to have plastic surgery! He also came to me before he made DIEHARD to ask me about fifilm acting and then many years later when I was staying withhim he asked me if I thought he should play Snape.Of course,I said yes.At that time hehadn’t read any of the books and I was hooked. He came to every play of mine he couldwhether on Broadway or at the Royal Exchange! I would also add that Alan and I had thepleasure of working together on JUDAS KISS.
And fifinally Lisa, many people would like to know did Matt ever return to Jean apromised at the end of the movie ‘Yanks’ ?
I was told at the time of fifilming that Matt did not return to Jean and Danny did returnto Molly and their twins.
Lisa may I take this opportunity in wishing you every success for the future, andhope to see you soon when you are over here from the USA and thank you fotalking to me once again.
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