"I think it's the opposite. It's an unusual film because it's very hard for men to feel through a female protagonist, to feel their way to what a woman feels. But men just don't want to do it. Who knows why? Maybe it's just uncomfortable for them. But with The Devil Wears Prada, many men loved the Priestly character because they thought: 'That's me. I'm misunderstood. All I want to do is run things cleanly and clear away the bull****. ' A lot of people feel that - underappreciated in the job they do. But it's so rare for men to empathise with a woman's plight." 2008 guardian interview
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter
I know that other users on here have said that just because performers in his films, both live-action and animated, have told wonderful stories about him does not male him an angel, but here's one I forgot to share.
Lisa Davis Waltz, who voiced Anita Radcliffe in 'One Hundred and One Dalmatians' had some kinds words to say about him. He originally wanted her to voice Cruella de Vil, but she did not think she was right for the part and wanted to try the role of Anita. He allowed her to try reading that role and agreed that she was better suited for that part.
Quote:
After all, here was the great genius Walt Disney, and he'd made a mistake, he brought me in for the wrong role. But I got brave enough, and I said, "Excuse me, sir, as you read this, I can hear the role of Anita and I really am Anita, I'm not Cruella," and he said, "Would you rather try Anita?" and I said, "Please, sir, could I, could I?" He said, "Oh, yes, of course."
So we switched, and he read Cruella De Vil and I read Anita, and it was perfect. I was Anita. And he heard me and he looked at me and he smiled at me, and he said, "Yes, you're right, you are Anita." And that's how I became Anita, thank goodness I did, because here so many years later, and it is the job of which I am most proud.
That is very amazing. Were you able to work with Walt much?
Yes, I was. He was very prominent at the studio during all of his movies, very much a hands-on person. I think that's the studio had so many wonderful quality products was because he was there. And he was not a demanding man at all. He was kind, compassionate, warm, he was charming. But he did ask for perfection and anybody who worked with him will say that, that he strived constantly to get everything right.
Right. People had critical thinking skills back then. Plus, just because times were different does not mean that the people being criticized would have been different now than they were before. We still have racists, elitists, classists, anti-non Christian, anti-Christian of a different denomination, and homophobes among many other things despite this supposed enlightened period in the U.S.
Anyway, maybe Meryl is angry that she didn't get to play Emma Thompson's role in Saving Mr. Banks and is taking it out on Disney. You know she wants all the roles.
Actually, Meryl was the first choice to play the role in SAVING MR. BANKS. Still don't see the big deal about her comments when you read the speech in context.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
I never trust cats and my trust in women took a severe blow when I learned that my mother smoked three packs a day and took tranquilizers the entire time she was pregnant with me!
You know how we live in this post-racial society. The Supreme Court is killing affirmative action and thinks the Civil Rights Act is no longer needed because racism no longer exists. Closer to home, we have a Miss Saigon thread where everyone keeps telling the Asians that there's no racism and that Broadway is the last place you'd find it.