As a seasoned movie critic who has witnessed the rise and fall of many a silver screen legend, I must admit that “Saturday Night” is a film that left me both entertained and intrigued. The dynamic between J.K. Simmons’ Milton Berle and Cory Michael Smith‘s Chevy Chase was nothing short of electrifying – a clash of titans, if you will.
In Jason Reitman’s film “Saturday Night,” based on real events, we find ourselves in a situation where an esteemed, elderly comedian from the past, Milton Berle, encounters a self-assured, rising star, Chevy Chase. Given their contrasting backgrounds and egos, it was inevitable that they would collide. The encounter was not so much about passing the torch as it was a display of who was superior, more like “mine is bigger than yours.
J.K. Simmons portrays Berle, a beloved comedian from the past who earned the title “Mr. Television,” opposite Cory Michael Smith’s character in the biographical comedy-drama. When Reitman proposed the role to Simmons, the Academy Award winner admits he felt intimidated, but was reassured that they weren’t seeking an impersonator for the part, but rather a skilled actor who could capture the essence of the man.
Even though Simmons hadn’t previously reviewed the script before taking the role, he was aware it would be a secondary part with key scenes here and there, which he was content with. Upon reading the script for the first time, he couldn’t have been more pleased. “It’s like a snowball picking up speed, with people either joining in or trying to dodge its path,” he describes, illustrating the film’s frenetic, dynamic energy from start to finish. Moreover, the character of Berle is skillfully integrated. “Berle, along with the NBC executives, represents everything that these young, rebellious, counterculture individuals aspire to replace and despise,” Simmons explains. “By this point in his life, Berle was a fairly miserable individual who was reluctant to acknowledge his decline, but he knew it on some level.
In the movie, there’s a specific moment featuring Smith as Chase that he found “just a nice touch,” he mentions. This scene showcases Chase confronting Berle for flirting with Chase’s fiancé (portrayed by Kaia Gerber). A verbal sparring match ensues between the two, with Chase mocking Berle about his age in a way that suggests he’s past his prime, and Berle hitting back that Chase is insignificant in show business and can offer far less to Chase’s fiancé than Chase. To underscore his point, Berle then exposes himself by unzipping his pants and displaying his penis.
For multiple decades, Berle was known as a difficult colleague and a womanizer with a reputation. Additionally, he was infamous for his large size in that regard, which wasn’t just gossip, but supported by numerous stories over the years, some even witnessed firsthand. On one occasion, Berle would reportedly display his private parts to others, boasting about it. As Simmons remembers, this provided an opportunity for us to creatively portray the incident in various ways, under Jason’s guidance. He guided us through different versions, some more overt and others subtler, to play the scene effectively.
The scene is icy cold with twist of snark and a splash of bitters. In it, Berle wasn’t just calmly and coolly blowing steam, but he was getting off on telling this young kid who was trying to replace him. “Whatever respect there may have actually been for each other, there’s no way they’re going to admit or show any of it,” Simmons explains. “It’s that pissing contest on different levels. I think Chevy’s disdain for Milton Berle and that world is just typical youthful arrogance. You know, ‘Nobody was funny until my generation came along.’ Berle walks in with his cigar and his overcoat and his tuxedo and, you know, still considers himself king of the hill, even though inside he knows he’s sliding down. So many comedians have that sad, dark side. And as I researched, I found out what his childhood was like — this poor guy never had a chance to be a decent human being. He was not a happy guy.”
Smith admitted that before the release of the film, he wasn’t acquainted with the tales surrounding Berle and his personal affairs. “I hadn’t been privy to all these whispers and the supposed pride he held about this matter,” Smith chuckles. “However, it’s quite astonishing how many anecdotes have been shared with me since the movie came out. These stories range from firsthand experiences to secondhand accounts from others who’ve heard similar tales. Interestingly, I even met a critic who told me a story of standing next to him at a urinal and Berle saying, ‘Now don’t peek.’
For viewers of the movie, here’s an interesting tidbit: Smith discusses the execution of a particular scene in the film, along with a funny mishap involving a prosthetic. J.K.’s character had a silicone device connected to him for authenticity during each take. The scene was generally handled smoothly, but on one occasion, the device slipped off completely and hit the ground – an incident that happened when the cameras were focused on Smith’s face.
As a film enthusiast, let me tell you that a prosthetic penis wasn’t something I had ever anticipated needing for a role, and when it arrived unexpectedly during my Atlanta shoot, I was genuinely taken aback. “I hadn’t been aware of it until I reached Atlanta,” I recall. “I assumed the camera would be at waist level, and the rest would be left to the imagination. Needless to say, things didn’t turn out as expected. We weren’t aiming for an X-rating, but I never thought a prosthetic would even be involved. When Jason first mentioned something about me fitting it, I chuckled, thinking it was a jest. But then the props guy brought it in its luxurious velvet case, as if it were a precious violin.” I laugh as I remember, “And that’s how it all began.
Wait — there’s more. Smith shares: “Jason said there were only two reasons they used visual effects: One was to change the time on some of the clocks in the background because test audiences were hyper aware of inaccuracies on the clocks. And the second was to match color of his prosthetic to his skin color.”
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2024-10-12 02:49