The ultimate contribution to the 7th Art of the immense artist that was David Lynch will therefore be the marvelous sequence of Spielberg's “The Fabelmans”, where he played John Ford. A composition for which he was paid in appetizer biscuits!
The Fabelmans is a fascinating and very moving X-ray of Steven Spielberg's childhood, on the intimate wounds and passion of an immense filmmaker in the making. And, among the highlights of the film is the final meeting of young Sammy Fabelman with an absolute Hollywood legend: John Ford.
One-eyed, equipped with an eye patch, cap screwed on his skull, and voluptuously puffing on his big cigar, the filmmaker is played in this brilliant sequence by none other than David Lynch, whom Spielberg did not even imagine he could convince to act.
In a very sad irony, it is therefore on this absolutely marvelous composition that this immense filmmaker, who profoundly marked the history of cinema, delivered his ultimate contribution to the 7th art; at a time when the world of cinema is mourning his death at the age of 78.
“I didn’t want to do it.”
“At first, I don't know why, but I didn't want to do it. There was the pandemic, and other problems. But Steven and Laura Dern are friends. Laura pleaded for me to accept. Then Steven m spoke. I told him that Peter Bogdanovich should do it instead: he had known John Ford, he would have been perfect. But Steven replied: “No, no, no. You're the one who has to do it, David. –Okay, okay, okay…” Lynch confided to Cahiers du cinéma.
Adding: “When I accepted the job, I realized that Steven Spielberg was a great guy. By that I mean: a really good human being. I ultimately loved working with him, for him. I only shot only one day, but it was a lot of fun.”
Here's the sequence again, for fun..
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In the December 2023 issue of Empire magazine which included a long interview with Lynch, he facetiously revealed the bargaining chip he had accepted to play this role, certainly short but memorable: he had literally been paid… in candy! Or rather as aperitif biscuits. And it's not a joke.
“A big bag of Cheetos in my dressing room, yes. [NDR : les Cheetos sont des biscuits apéritif soufflés, un peu à la manière des Curly]. I love it. Whenever I can, I try to get some. I know it's not really a healthy food. So whenever I can leave the house and I'm lucky enough to have some… But I don't have them that often, honestly.
So when I can get some, I want a big bag. Because once you start swallowing them… You'll eat quite a few before slowing down and saying “stop”. Otherwise, with a small bag, you would be doomed to wander around for days to find more [..] It tastes absolutely amazing.
The verdict is as follows: “the horizon line in the middle is boring” [NDR : allusion à une réplique de John Ford dans le film, où il demande au jeune Sammy de lui indiquer la ligne d’horizon dans un cadre]. Cheetos are exciting!”
It would seem like a joke, except to remember that we are talking about David Lynch, the only filmmaker who was capable of producing a daily weather report on his YouTube channel. And therefore, to philosophize about the virtues of Cheetos.
