Martin Landau talks about his role as Bela Lugosi

[Tonithenightowl]

Landau disappeared and Bela emerged in the mind of the viewer. There is no higher praise for an actor. Mr. Landau deserved that Oscar beyond a shadow of a doubt. I have rarely seen such a brilliant performance. When some get an Oscar we wonder why, we didn't have to wonder this time.

[davycrocketful]

it was an amazing performance..well deserved oscar..

[CoolerKing37]

"Mr. Landau, you were great on 'Mission Impossible' with Peter Graves!"

"FUCK YOU! Graves does not deserve to smell my shit!"

[seitzmateo]

Sad that Martin Landau won a Oscar for playing Bela Lugosi when Bela Lugosi was never giving the credit he deserved. He was a brillant actor who deserved better.

[Sotnas]

One of the most truly deserved Oscar wins ever.

[1805movie]

I wonder why there isn't a video where Martin Landau wins the Oscar?

[SPRLDR]

I'd love to watch a proper, old-school Dracula film starring Martin Landau. He makes a mesmerising Lugosi.

[walkharder]

wow, he actually mentioned his mouth/teeth which I agreed on before I saw this that it was the only thing that he didn't seem to portray "Lugosi." I admire how he knows what he couldn't mimic. Either way he did a top performance as Lugosi and he definitely deserved that Oscar. I love this film and I love all that Lugosi did for us

[bugabugaman]

i was expecting a pork chop spitted into the face of the interviewer hahaha oh family guy x'D

[tootsiejoon]

I love Martin. Such talented classy and brilliant guy. 

[RatkosKorner]

Landau wasn't just acting as Bela Lugosi. Landau WAS Bela Lugosi.

[E07WORLD]

I think that this was Landau´s Best Performence.

[homemoviescolorado]

I was in a schlocker with Landau and Martin Balsom just before his Lugosi role.  A prom and great actor no matter what he is in

[SaturdayNightmares]

meet Martin at Saturday Nightmares Expo June 3rd-5th. Screening of Ed Wood, Q&S's and autographs all weekend.

[taraz3d]

When I first saw "Ed Wood", I didn't recognize Landau and asked myself who was this helluva good actor (I knew him from North by NW, MI, Space). In the scene of the fight with the octopus, I couldn't retain tears.

[Vortex42]

Martin Landau is a Master of his craft.

[Tod661]

No offense..Senise earned that oscar..Lt Dan won that oscar..Martin got a deserved one at the wrong time

[CorkerDoggy2214]

@Tod661 Aw, hell. Gary Sinise and Martin Landau both deserved it. There.... Haha!

[creaturebotman]

@Tod661 ..

Senise did an outstanding job for sure but I think they called it right for Landau. The Oscars should change the rules and give multiple Oscars for the same category such as in this case.

[toddsmitts]

He almost played Spock!

[Dgamer21]

Martin Landau is Bela Lugosi. When I'm watching the movie, I start forget that it's not really him playing Lugosi. They're almost completely identical!!!

[ShesGreatle]

I am Hungarian and I loved his Hungarian accent in the movie. :D

[socalkevinz]

cant help think of family guy :P

[praszu]

I think he was even better than Lugosi himself. I saw the original movie with Lugosi and i more like the 1994 "Beware of the dragon" scene than the 40's one. His "RRR" in "Pull the string sentence" and the "beware" (bee ver) stuck in my mind for good.... Best scene from "Ed Wood"!!

[praszu]

Beware!! Beware!!

Pull the string!! (akcent on RRR!!)

[CaptainBuckRogers]

So great in his Outer Limits episodes and as Rollin Hand in Mission Impossible.

[woollybully100]

"the oscar goes to Martin Landau, its shadow to Bela Lugosi."- best review of his performance.

[maxx88]

PULL THE STRING PULL THE STRING!!!

[Zinefilika]

@maxx88 xD

the best line!

[sattaravy]

To win the Oscar in a year with all the best films - Forest Gump, Pulp Fiction, Shawshank's Redemption etc... Against flawless performers like Morgan Freeman, says it all...

[edko426]

Landau was brilliant in this. I love this film. He made the film.

[killingjoke99]

god Martin Landau is amazing... im only 19 and i know so much about this guy lol him and Tom Berenger are my 2 favs =]

[AtomicComicNerd]

This man is a great actor he made me cry and he was Bela Lugosi one of my favorite films of all time and since I want to become a filmmkaer this film teaches me to follow my dreams

[godzilla964]

When I told my grandma that Landau played Lugosi, she said "I always knew Martin Landau was a vampire".

[GrettelsObsession]

Landau looks like a down ass homeboy

[abumpinthenight2]

Landau as Lugosi... one of the great performances

[funkynubman]

Karloff can smell my shit for all I care.

[Muzzy337]

Outstanding performance.

[TheFutureLooksGrimm]

I love Johnny Depp but I noticed he sounded a lot like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie when he sounded like Michael Jackson

[docbrownenterprises]

He also did a good role at coming out of Lugosi's character.

[darkhyena]

Man, I am undecided whether or not Landau or Christopher Lee should have portrayed the elderly Dracula in "Bram Stoker's Dracula"

[GuinnevereB]

He's a wonderful actor, seems very down to earth, and he isn't bad lookin', either! I've seen him over the years in TV (he did Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, etc., back in the early 1960s, before Mission Impossible) and later in movies. He's always given good performances with a humanity and sympathy that are displayed even (to a lesser degree) in his villains. Fascinating to hear him speak; I find him most charming. He surely did deserve his Oscar.

[Pat2296]

Such a classy and talented man, and he looks great!

[Jewzabel]

Interviewers need to just shut up and listen!

[junka22]

I just saw Ed Wood for the firs time, man Landau was amazing as Lugosi!

[LKKruse]

Martin did, but what's really sad is that Bela was never even nominated because horror movies didn't get recongized by the people who do the Oscars.

[balrog13571]

I know and that sucks. I mean we get Oscar's for comedies, romance, action/adventure, science fiction etc, but horror (unless you count very rare circumstances) never gets it. It's been around just as long as any other genre. Granted there's alot that suck today, but the Universal horror stars definately should have got one each. But I'm still glad for Landau. In a way he's getting more fans in today's generation for Lugosi. It made me respect him and Lugosi even more.

[ItBrandonSilver]

Not necessarily. Some horror films have won Oscars, but they were good horror films.

[balrog13571]

Well yeah I mena things like Silence of the Lambs and all. I said they rarely get nominated. Still they technically gross alot more than some films the first two weeks and some become cult films so I guess it evens out.

[LKKruse]

Another genre that didn't get recongized was Westerns, and they were hugely popular in the 1930s and '40s. And no true "Horror" movie has actually won an Oscar. The Horror genre was a sub-genre. The main genre is the one that gets categorized at the Oscars.

[Philmacrakken]

"BULLSHIT!"

[skarules111]

why the hell is the presenter saying it like "LOOGOOSEY"

[FlowinEnno]

Karloff? KARLOFF DOESN'T DESERVE TO SMELL MY SHIT!!!!

[elsoda]

question...did he win an oscar or was he nominated? cause if he was not....HE DESERVED IT!

[Hannibal47666]

He won(1994 best supporting actor)

[skarules111]

im pleased to say he did win it :)

[elsoda]

thanks for the answer....darn it...he deserved that oscar like no one...he was amazing....

[PPforever]

I totally agree!

A hell of an Actor!

[lennhart]

Landau was absolutely BRILLIANT in this role!

[dooronron69]

martin landau is a brilliant actor,

[Denialtwist]

PULL THE STRING!

[knop95]

he was very good.

FUCK YOU!!!

[AndthentherewasJason]

"LETS SHOOT THIS FUCKER"

[tomkes100]

cha5 good news BELA LUGOSI did receieve an award shortly before his death in 56. i have a photo from a horror magazine. if you like,let me know,ill look it up and tell you&all the name of the award.Its s huge trophy hes holding in his arms near end of his life. Im a horror sci historian. i knew as i say 1000 performers of yesteyear, i have a website on old films etc.Lugosi never hated KARLOFF.thats PR .they were rivals only. Lugosi was nothing like in the film ED WOOD.I should know. TOMKES

[tomkes100]

tod Morgan many thanks.If thats you 22 in the video Im love it.You like Ed G Robinson on Whats My Line/ I knew the panal& Ed G from 1954.I got stories for you,.Matchbox 20 I love .You run the gamat.Great. LUGOSI yes he wasnt a foul mouthed dirty old man. its my job to know.He was highly cultured destroyed by Hollywood.I knew 1000 performers in the buisness. we should chat. now i must answer the man regarding lugosi never won an award .HE DID. read my next comment God bless TOMKES

[cha5]

It's great that Landau won an award, it's just sad that the real life Bela Lugosi never did in his lifetime.

[tomkes100]

Martin landau is supreme actor, he dd lugosi well & Ed Wood the film is great but im a horror film historian. i know my facts, bela lugosi wasnt a filth mouthed man but a high cultered aristocratic gentleman. shame on the writers who had poor martin swear all the time. regardless LUGOSI IS THE GREATEST DRACULA HANDS DOWN. DESTROYED BY A CRUEL HOLLYWOOD . He will live on in eternity .god rest his gentle soul.TOMKES a man who knows his facts & his horror films this i assure you.

[ToddCMorgan]

That's exactly right!!!

[kingramizo]

i swear to god i thought martin executed bela lugosi's part perfectly

for a second i thought bela was really there

[mrttwo]

I thout so to just genius performance

[kingramizo]

i wish there would be more movies like "ed wood"

everything sucks now

its all for the mainstream people

all movies now are either remakes, resurrections from our childhood and screwing them up, or just plain sh*t

sorry but i miss good ol movies

[jmorris023]

The interviewer is pompous, he's including himself in the interview. We don't care about you, let Martin speak!

[65Dart]

"Nobody gives two fucks for Bela"; that was great....

[springmist775]

bella lugosi is the best draculla hand down

[GameSlave125]

hah this guy is great :]

[ingibingi2000]

boris carloff is a cocksucker

[annjar69]

he plays a voice in "9" ?

[DemonFishy5]

he's 2

[I4gotmyMANTRA]

Seeing him like this makes me better apreciate his work. 'Mazing.

[miketodd67]

Hey what's with all the thumbs down to my "nobody gives two fucks for Bela" comment? It was in the movie when Ed tells him he's a big star and Lugosi says he was once but now nobody gives a crap. Do some freakin' research and watch the movie Ed Wood.

[warftrat87]

"All right, lets shoot this fucker!"

[JiMMyJaM08061991]

its so fucked u how much of a transformation he went through to belike lugosi

[amnaki]

Landau is a master of acting...best performance ever...he was mesmeric ..

[theSuperMetroid]

I do

[chudster]

Hahaha people giving you thumbs down obviously aren't aware that's a quote..

[mikethemovieguy93]

Martin was the best. Ed Wood is one of my favorite movies!

[kickfostermac]

I've read/watched that the real Bela was polite and mannerly.His son said Bela wasn't a foul mouthed pervert like Tim Burton made him out to be.

[Derdoppelgaenger]

I don't think Tim Burton made a pervert out of Bela Lugosi. On the contrary, i think there's something truly poetic and tragic about Tim Burton's Lugosi. And I think they all made a great job!

[FireCrashers]

Martin Landau did a good job he looked almost exactly like the real Bela Lugosi

[TMTGeneralDeath]

Martin Landau did a very good job in his role

[ProjectFlashlight612]

Landau wasn't playing Lugosi....he WAS Lugosi. A superb performance, and that Oscar was richly deserved. Been a fan of the Landau (as I call him) ever since Mission Impossible. Space: 1999, too, of course. Top class actor - too big for TV, really, yet it's the small screen where he made his mark.

[brothacoffee]

I just finished watching Martin Landau's performance in "Ed Wood" and it was good. I know he won Best Supporting Actor for this role, but I think Samuel L. Jackson should have won the award instead for his role in "Pulp Fiction". I think his performance was much stronger & entertaining than Mr. Landau's.

[awepittance]

i disagree about Sam Jackson should have won the award, think about it, Sam Jackson acted like... SAM JACKSON in pulp fiction he didn't play a new character or morph into an already existing person. Basically what i am saying is that he played himself, entertaining yes, but great acting? no

[brothacoffee]

It was great acting. That role has stand the test of time. How was he acting as himself? I believe if another actor would have portrayed this character, the movie would not have had the same success & as it does now. There was passion & feeling behind every line that was quoted in his role. What can I say, like the quote on the wallet in the movie states "Bad Mutha Fucka", thats what his character.

[gunfiremessiah]

Johnny Depp and Martin Laundaus performances were the greatest in the history of American Cinema. Best film ever made.

[XE1GXG]

@ProjectFlashlight612 your comments on Martin Landau right on the mark. He is always great in whatever role he plays.

[cococokoipho]

@ProjectFlashlight612

totally agree with you, it is a shame hollywood did the true respect that Bela deserved in his time :(

[Johnny123456789x]

@ProjectFlashlight612 Yes. He was amazing.

[Hania454]

You took the words out of my mouth. Excellent performance.

[yaywhewclips242]

Martin L. was just terrific in this role. He really deserved the Oscar.

[Noiseferatu]

Indeed he did - for various reasons.

Great guy he is.

[Sshelly34213]

"Ok let's shoot this fcker" lol

He was amazing

[racingrubberbiker]

Martin Landau certainly deserved his Oscar for "Ed Wood" - full of pathos. He was also creepily good in an early role in "North by Northwst"

[petsounds75]

What's interesting is that the old Howard Stern prank call of Landau's Lugosi has turned people onto Ed Wood, Lugosi and Landau. Plus it brings viewers onto Burton's often overlooked Ed Wood.

[CrittermationsPictrs]

Landau is extremely intelligent.

just listen to the Ed Wood commentary.

[procommenter]

Lugosi was not a profane man. It's

shameful that his character had to be assassinated in the name of comedy.

[itsalyssanotalisa]

Yeah, the profanity was a shame, but I wouldn't say his character was assassinated. I watched Ed Wood first, and because of Martin Landau's portrayal, I became interested in Bela Lugosi's life and career. Tim Burton's movie got me into watching Dracula anyway, so I can say I'm turning into quite a fan.

[procommenter]

The ends don't justify the means. Betraying Lugosi as a raving loon, which his friends say he wasn't, is an assassination of Bela's character.

[Sshelly34213]

How the hell do you know?

.

[procommenter]

I've read much of Lugosi's life. Those who

knew him say that he was well-mannered,

gentlemanly and did not swear.

[Sshelly34213]

Well its a movie

get over it.

[procommenter]

Yes, it must be gotten over...

[Sshelly34213]

I think so, it seems to bother you immensely to the point where you cant even recognize a brilliant performance for what it is.

[procommenter]

Sure. It would've been interesting, and of borderline brilliance, if Landau's Bela had urinated against fire hydrants & telephone poles. What a hoot that would've been! Maybe in "Ed Wood II"?

[Sshelly34213]

I have no idea what you're talking about..

[TibetKanagawa]

Beautiful man, who did an amazing piece of work capturing my hero Lugosi!

[NorceCodine]

I think Landau was one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood, kind of puzzling why - I was suspecting that it had to do with Space 1999 (I think some Hollywood-types didn't forgive that Landau took the job in a British production) but who really knows...

Anyway he never got the laurels what others did with half of his talent, and thats Hollywood for you; just a bunch of dopes in suits.

[dapoetmaster]

Character actors like Landau quite rarely get their just rewards....but he is a great great actor....I am glad he won.

[gstut1]

look at dem titties!

[smerdley]

Martin Landau is a fine actor, but I saw him playing a Mexican on a rerun of my favorite TV western series "The Rifleman"--and I was embarrassed because his "Mexican accent" was absolutely TERRIBLE. He was worse than Jaime Farr, playing a gypsy on "The Andy Griffith Show".

[ShaftInAfrica920]

Is that something you might be interested in?

[funkyfru]

Top man.

[savvy24]

What a charming man :D

He portrayed Bela so well.

[deathforyou2008]

Bela was the best forever 1!!

[virulito]

WHAT A WONDERFUL VOICE HAS lANDAU.

[anton1990]

Landau understands Lugosi's brilliance.

[Grunt6869]

Landau is no Bella Lugosi.

[anton1990]

Nobody is, but Landau did a fantastic job of paying tribute to Bela.

[DanTDrac]

Yes he did portray Christ..There is a picture of it in one of the bios.

[DanTDrac]

I have always loved Landau's work, but I HATED the movie...Too much missing information..Where was his wife? Where was his Son???

[Dab137]

it was the time around when his wife left him, but i dont know where his son was

[DanTDrac]

I was refering to Hope...She sent him letter while he was in rehab and he went and sought her out upon his release..

[Dab137]

who the fuck is hope?

[DanTDrac]

Hope was Lugosi's last wife..She was a secretary for one of the major studios and wrote him while he was in rehab..

[Dab137]

your a big fag

[DanTDrac]

Takes one to know one sweetie...

[yukarinoitami]

I think Burton left that kind of information out because he wanted to focus on Legosi's reletionship with Ed Wood. The movie was, after all, about ~him~, not Legosi.

[cha5]

Imagine Stewart as Dracula? uh no thanks.

[cha5]

True Dracula was pretty tame, Although it came out a few years after Nosferatu and it was based on a really stagey Broadway play,

Whenever I hear someone who only know Lugosi through Dracula and Ed Wood films say that Lugosi couldn't act I'll always point out some of his other films like

The Island Of Lost Souls

The Black Cat

The Body Snatcher

in those last two films Karloff and Lugosi were outstanding IMHO.

[theSuperMetroid]

Even in Ed Wood films Bela was good

[cha5]

Yeah Karloff and Lugosi did have a rivalry but they also respected each other as professionals, I really got tired of that "Karloff is a ****sucker" line,

Small wonder that both Karloff and Lugosi's families have issues with Burton and his film.

[n1cholson]

Landau's performance in Ed Wood was absolutely brilliant.

[AnitaLife27]

I'm quite familiar with the Ed Wood oeuvre. Landau's Lugosi is perfect! It would have been easy to go over the top with the accent, yet he got it to the tee. In his scene from "Bride of the Monster"..."Home, I have no home." etc. he takes the same words Wood wrote from the movie and puts such emotion into the read! He brings the tragedy of Lugosi's life into an otherwise silly soliloquy, very poignant. Absolutely blew me away! I'm so glad he got Oscar recognition for this role! Richly deserved!

[kwanjin1]

I have loved Martin Landau since I first saw him on the first Mission Impossible shows in the sixties....He only kept getting better with age!

[manupeSUI]

It's great that he mentions the movie Mistress in this interview. In fact, his performance there really is at least as brilliant as the one in Ed Wood. I can highly recommend Mistress. It has an absolutely terrific ensemble cast.

[chekist1917]

Landau is right on, he either got into Lugosi or Lugosi got into him. What a great role he did!

[quicksite]

Wow, that is one of the most articulate interviews I've ever seen discussing how an actor took on a specific role. The way he talked about having to learn all new signals to the face -- the economy of Bela's movements -- and how he really looked nothing like him -- that was so eloquent and so perfectly observed and expressed. (i don't know why I've never seen this til 2008??)

[HalfBaked19]

a truly great performance

[AmrVamp]

Thank u very much for the excellent video

[straker2]

Love Martin Landau. Great in everything he does. My childhood hero from Space:1999, so brilliant in Ed Wood.

[dierfo]

Martin Landau is amazing!

[Wol1verine]

Totally deserved the Oscar for his portrayal. Loved his performance. Amazing.

[AmrVamp]

Amen