1997 APT PUPIL
"Todd supplies Dussander with a fancy-dress Nazi costume and revives the old man's latent violence by forcing him to march up and down his kitchen. I did the routine a half-dozen times on film - the sinister panic of the finished scene, depends mainly for its effect on the music and film-editing of John Ottman." Enlarge
1997 APT PUPIL
"Dussander's basic expression is of contained anger - he invariably looks annoyed by the cat, the boy, the weather, the world beyond his whisky and his appalling memories of his fascist youth." Enlarge
1997 APT PUPIL
"I am familiar with the glamorous cut of Fascist uniforms - 'Countdown to War' (in which I impersonated Hitler, using his own words), 'Richard III' (Oscar-nominated designs, inspired by the Third Reich) and 'Bent,' where for once I was the victim of fascism." Enlarge
1997 APT PUPIL
"This is Dussander slumped at home, television-bound, half-drunk before his restless peace is shattered by the arrival of Todd's accusations." Enlarge
1997 APT PUPIL
With Bryan Singer (Director)
"I was very impressed by Bryan's first full-length feature 'The Usual Suspects' and I checked with Kevin Spacey that he'd enjoyed filming it. Bryan casts his actors well, often taking a risk. On set, he will not leave a scene until he has seen just what he needs for later editing. He watches filming on a video monitor, often with a visiting group of friends, whose comments encourage him." Enlarge
1997 APT PUPIL
"This collage substitutes my face for Heinrich Himmler's, inspecting actual inmates of a Nazi labour camp." Enlarge
1997 APT PUPIL
It's a Wrap! (L to R) Bryan Singer, Ian McKellen, and Brad Renfro at the end of filming, April 4, 1997.
"This was my last day of filming interior scenes at Occidental Studios, built for Mary Pickford and the oldest working studio in Los Angeles.
"Brad Renfro was a good pal to me. From opposite positions of age, experience, nationality and temperament we met and at once trusted each other. He was not yet 15 years old. His brio and enthusiasm for all aspects of filming were contagious. During shooting 'Apt Pupil,' he wrote directed and acted in a short video of his own devising." Enlarge
Photo by Gregory Cooke
1997 APT PUPIL
"This was the day of the Cats - there were 4 identical ginger toms. The docile cat which could be thrown and shaken and swung in the air and just miaowed for more. The cat which could move to order. A third who could eat on cue.Then there was the feral cat only to be approached by its trainer, wearing an armoured glove! All feline manouevres were achieved by the bribe of edible paste, overseen by an animal rights official, who was on set to protect the 4 pussies. At the end of the very long day, the cat-defender paid me her greatest compliment: 'I have been watching films made for 20 years - Sir Ian you areas charming and as talented as any animal I've ever worked with.'" Enlarge
Photo by Gregory Cooke